The marriage service began, and at its conclusion the guests took their places at the banquet. At the head of the table sat the bridegroom, and at his side was his beautiful bride. The guests began to eat and to drink, when all of a sudden there was seen at the door of the room a beggar in rags and tatters, his skin yellow and unwashed, his hair unkempt and his stature bent. His eyes were flaming like fire, and at his presence profound silence obtained. Not a sound was heard within the room; all was hushed in strange suspense, till Joseph in a loud and fearless voice cried,—
"Come hither, good friend; you are most welcome at this, my marriage feast. At my side shall you sit, for here all are most heartily welcome, rich and poor alike."
Joseph told the servants to go to the door of the house and to invite all the poor who passed by to join his guests.
The beggar went to the seat next to Joseph's and sat down. Joseph waited on his unknown guest and gave him of the best. When the banquet was over the bride arose and retired to her apartment. Joseph arose likewise and was about to follow her when the beggar placed his hand on Joseph's shoulder and said in a whisper—
"I must have just one word with you in private, please. I cannot stay here much longer, but I have to tell you why I am with you to-day."
Joseph led him to an empty room and requested him to be seated. After a moment or two had elapsed the stranger began to speak as follows:—
"My friend, I am truly sorry for your own and also for your dear wife's sake, but I have come here on a very sad errand. I am sent to you against my will. It is God who has sent me here to take you to Him. Prepare now to leave the world and all its joys."
Joseph looked at his guest without fear, and in a very calm voice he said,—
"If this be God's will, so be it done in love and obedience. Nevertheless, I do beseech you grant me a respite—just one year in happiness with my wife, and then I promise to go with you."
"No, my good friend, it cannot be," cried the angel of death, who was in the beggar's guise. "Not even a month," said the angel, "not even the seven days of rejoicing appointed to be kept by bride and bridegroom, not even one day's delay, but this very day must you die even as the former three husbands of your beloved wife."
Joseph made haste to reply,—
"God's word is true, and He is true. If you cannot accede to my petition to grant me a respite, give me leave to go to my wife and to bid her farewell."
"This will I gladly allow," exclaimed the angel, "in return for your kindness to me this day; you knew me not—yet have you treated me as a friend."
The angel spoke so gently because his heart was full of sorrow. He knew that Joseph was a good and true man, and it grieved him to lead him through the valley of the shadow of death.
Joseph hastened to his wife's apartment and entered. He found her rapt in prayer with tears in her eyes.
"Quick, my beloved," he whispered, "my time is very short, I cannot stay here, I must hasten far away with the strange beggar. He has come to fetch me. Let me bless you for your unfailing sweetness and love; come, let me kiss you for the last time."
"If," she cried, "you hasten away I will go with you, for now we are one and nothing shall ever part us, not even cruel death itself."
With a passionate grip she took his hand and told him to lead her to the beggar. When she saw him, she said,—
"Stranger! you are still our guest beneath our roof. If you would repay our hospitality this day just grant me one little favour. Take me with my husband to the Eternal Judge and I will ask Him whether His holy word in the Law is true. Is it not written therein: 'And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her, let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle and another man take her'" (Deut. xx. 7)?
"Nay," cried the angel, "I will go for you and I will bring you answer again."
His sorrow for the unfortunate bride and bridegroom prompted him to do this service of love. The angel added,—
"I will join in the choir of angels who praise God morning and evening, and I will put your question before the Father of Mercy who dwells with the meek and the broken-hearted. I hope for the sake of both of you that Joseph's life will be spared."
In a moment the angel was gone and in another moment he returned. His face was shining with heavenly light and his voice was sweet and soft.
"Listen," he said. "Good friends! I rejoice to tell you that your prayers have been heard. Live well and long together, enjoy your life. The other husbands died because they married, not for love, but for greed of gold. They were hard-hearted, scorning the poor and the weak. You shall live to help others to live and to prosper. Farewell!" and in a second the angel was seen no more.
Joseph continued to be charitable and kind to all who needed his help. Whenever the people saw him they were wont to exclaim: "Truly charity delivers from death."