February 5, 1904
How Moses Mendelssohn Won His Wife
"The greatly-honoured Moses Mendelssohn, who was called the Socrates of his time, was visiting the baths of Pyrmont. There he became acquainted with the merchant Gaugenheim of Hamburg.
"Rabbi Moses," the merchant said to him one day, "we all revere you, but I my daughter especially reveres and admires you with the greatest enthusiasm.
It would be the highest honour to me to have you for a son-in-law. Pray visit us some time.
Moses Mendelssohn was very retiring and shy, for he was sadly hunchbacked.
At length he set out on the journey. He went to Hamburg, and sought out Gaugenheim in his counting-house. The merchant said to him: "Go up and see my daughter. She will be delighted to see you."
Mendelssohn made the visit to the daughter.
On another day Mendelssohn came to Gaugenheim's counting-house. He spoke of the agreeable and intellectual character of the daughter.
"Yes, revered rabbi," said Gaugenheim, "should I speak frankly to you? "
"Certainly."
"You are a philosopher, benevolent, and wise. You will not take it in bad part from the child. She was shocked when she saw you, because you "
" Because I have a frightful deformity ? "
Gaugenheim bowed assent.
"I thought so," said Mendelssohn.
"but yet I will call and take leave of your daughter."
He went up into the dwelling apartments and seated himself by the daughter, who was sitting near the window in a raised seat, with a piece of needlework in her hand. They talked together pleasantly and intimately, but the maiden did not look up. and Mendelssohn did not look at her.
At length the maiden put the question:
"Do you really believe that matches are decided in Heaven ? "
"Certainly. And something very usual happened in my case. You know that, according to a Talmudic saying, at the birth of a child it is announced in Heaven. This and this one will have this one and this one. Now, when I was born my wife was called out for me but it was also declared that she would, alas! have a fearful hunchback.
' Dear God.' I said,
'a maiden who is deformed will very likely be bitter and harsh. A maiden ought to be beautiful.
Dear God, give me the deformity, and let the maiden be beautiful and comely.' "
Scarcely had he said this when she fell upon his neck.
She became his wife, and they were happy together.
They also had beautiful and brave children." February 5, 1904 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64161677
