Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-09-03

man, at is not food for this wretchce
body thatI require: the herbs of the Gelc
and the waters of the dilch are good e
nough for that. l ask your aims fol
higher purposes. Do not distrust me
il my bearing be prouder than my ar
guments; do not doubt the strength Of
my sunken eye, when l tell you that ]
can read the skies as they relate the
fates Of men. Not more familiar is
the horn-book to the scholar than are
the heavens to my knowledge"
"What, art thou al astrologer!!"
"Aye, lady my fathers was SO before
me, even in the times when our people
had a home amidst the pyramids OF the
mighty-in the times when you are
told the mightier prophets ofthe Israel
ties put the soolhsayers of Egypt to
confusion: idle tales but if true, all
reckless now. Judah's scattered sons
are now destitute as ourselves but
they bend and bow to the laws and
ways Of other lands, we remain in the
stern stcadfastness Of our own" If
then, | give you more money, how will
it be applied ;" THAT is not a courte-
Gus question, but I'll answer it. The
most cunning craftsman, cannot work
without his TOOLS, and some OF mine
are broken, which | seek to repair-a-
mother crown will be enough" The
lady put the required sum into his hand,
and at the same time, intimated her de-
sire Of having a specimen OF his art.
ooh to what purpose should that be /?
Why, why seek to know the cause of
futuri,y I? Destiny runs on in a sweep
ing and resistless tide. Inquire not
what rocks await your bark the
knowledge cannot avail you, for caution
is useless against stern necessity"
"Truly you are not likely 10 get rich
by your trade, if you thus deter custom
| ers." SIT is not for wealth labor; /
am alone on earth, and have none to
love. | will not mix with the world,
lest | should learn to hate. The pres
ent is nothing to me. 1t is in commu-
Mon with the spirits that have lived in
times hat are past, and with the stars,
those historians of the time to come,
thatI feet aughl of Joy. Fools some
times demand the eXertions of my
powers, and sometimes l crafty their
childish curiosity" "Notwithstand-
ing | lie under the imputation OF folly
/ beg that you will predict unto me the
fate Of the child which shall bear"
DWELL you have Obliged me, and will
comply. Note the precise moment at
which it enters the world, and soon al
ter YOU shall sec me again" Within a
week the birth Of an heir awoke the
clamorous JOY Of the vassals, and sum
moned the strange gypsy to ascertain
the necessary points. These learnt
he returned home, and the next day
presented Sir Maurice with a scroll
containing the following words:
"Twcmty times shall Avon's tide
In chains of glistning ice be tied
Twenty miles the woods of Leigh
Shall wave their branches merrily,
In spring burst forth in mantle gay,
And dancein summers scorching ray:
Twenty times shall autumms frown
Whittier all the green to brown-
And still the child of yesterday
Shall laugh the happy hours away.
That period past, another sun
Shall not its annual journey run,
BEFORE a secret silent foe
Shall strike that boy 4 deadly blow.
Such as sure his fate shall be
Seek not to change his destiny"
The knight read it; and in that age
when astrology was considered a sci
encc as unering as holy prophecies, i
would have been little less than infideli
ty to have doubted the truth OF the pre-
d~iction. Sir Maurice, however, was
wise enough to withhold the paper
from his lady, and, in answer to herln
q%uiries continually asserted that the
gypsy was ali imposter, and That tn
object of his assuming the character o
an astrologer was merely 10 increase
her aims. The child grew in health
and beauty; and as we are the mo"
strongly attached TO pleasures in pro
portion to the brevity Of their contln
nance, so did the melancholy fate OF hi:
son more fully fix him in the heart o.
Sir Maurice. Often did the wondering
lady observe the countenance OF he
husband with surprise, as watching tn
~cndearing sportiveness OF the boy, M
coun,enance at first Frightened by tn
smile of paternal love, gradually darK
ened to the deepest grief, until unaoi
to his tears, he would cove
the child with caresses, and rush from
the room.-To all enquiries Sir Mau
rice was silent, or returned evaslVe an
swers.-We shall pass over the in'ahc,
OF Young Walter, and resume the mar
%rative Of the period in which he enter
ed his twentieth year.-His mother wa
now dead, and had left two other chi
dren. both girls, who, however. snare
r. rLo;r father,S love. which Wa