As everyone prepared to witness the chuppah ceremony, there came the sound of bitter weeping

IT

was a joyous time in the butcher’s home. Preparations for the wedding were underway. The butcher did not want to cut any corners, and he ensured that this wedding would be grand and beautiful in every way possible. The best musicians were hired and guests were invited from far and wide to participate. A huge building served as the wedding hall, and the butcher and his family could not have been more excited.

It was not just about the aesthetics, of course. The bride and groom were very special people — so refined and imbued with the best middos, as the butcher and his wife had tried their hardest to raise them well.

At the wedding, all the poor people from the nearby cities were invited to participate. The butcher ensured that they would be treated with the respect and dignity they deserved, especially since the bride herself had been homeless many years prior.

As everyone prepared to witness the chuppah ceremony, there came the sound of bitter weeping. The butcher hurried over to the area where the beggars sat. There he saw a young man crying, his shoulders heaving as he lay his head upon his forearms.

“My son… what is the matter?” The butcher placed a hand upon the man’s back.

The young beggar lifted his face, his cheeks wet with tears, and shook his head.

“I-it’s hard for me to tell you….”