Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-06
THURSDAY, JULY 6, 1926.
From the London Literary Gazette.
MIRIAM; OR THE POWER OF TRUTE


MIRIAM; OR THE POWER OF TRUTH.
A Je,cisa TaIe---by the author Of Influence
Miriam is religious tale, founded on an in
teresting anecdote Of an American Jew, who
was converted to christianity by the dying ad-
moni,ions Of an only child, beautiful girl, who
unknown TO her father, had embraced the chris
tan faith This anecdote has been amplihed In
very excellent and well told tale, full Of pathos,
and written in very pleasant style Wequote,
as specimen the dying scene:
"Miriam turned pale, and with great solem-
nifty replied, 'Aye, yet such love on earth, my
father, is idolatry, and must in mercy be rivea
asunder, lest its false light should lead you 10
eternal darkness. But added she, raising her.
self and looking at her father with an express
sion never afterwards forgotten, do you iors
me?-not for what | am TO you-but apart
from yourself could your love grant me one So
lemn request; and solemnly fulfil it3 Could it
forgive the violence which that request might
do the dearest feelings Of your bosom?-and
forget all else, save the purpose fo- which it
was asked, and her who asked it,"
"Imlah felt alarmed, for although the voice
OF Miriam was calm, and her counlenance Sc
rene as cloudess moonlight, he believed that
her mind wandered in some delirious phantasy;
till suddenly recoectiDg the fatal alliance he had
engaged her to fulfil, he beckoned Corah to
leave the room, and then replied, Miriam, nv
beloved girl. proof against every test-my love
could bear and suffer ALL and far more than you
could require. Then ask your BOOM; it shall be
freely granted at whatever cost it claims; for
be assured any thing that can give peace TO
you, brings happiness 10 me. But compose
yourself now, my child, and we will talk Of
earthly cares, when health calls you back to
act in earthly schemes
"'I am composed, my father replied Miri-
am, 'as one, who standing on the verge Of eter-
nifty, looks only on eternal things. And now I
thank YOU tencerly for the boon you grant-a
boon for which alone have cravsd life ana Ilme.
So saying, she drew from underneath her pill
low little Testament, and laying II IN lmahs
hand, then pressing them together within both
her own, exclaimed, take that precious book,
my beloved father, and let it be your guide
Jour counsellor-your comfort! May the Lord,
in His infinite mercy, make the stumbling block
Of ISRAEL your rock and your salvation; and
while you read, may His holy spirit teach you
to believe--to revere--to receive! And now dear
precious parent, remembering the last solemn
promise so sacredly pledged 10 your dying
Child, for your own sake-for hers beseech
you, speak no more against Jesus OF Nazareth.
the redeemer Of Israel-the Messiah, the one
and only Saviour Of all mankind Exhausted
by the feelings and energy with which she ut
tered this solemn charge, Miriam fell back, and
the cold dews of death hung on her pale face,
as nature struggled with its last resistess con-
queror Im!ah, who knelt by her side, his hand
still grasping her sacred legacy, was motion
less as herself and ielt as if he had lost all pow
he
uttered groans Of agony, such as perhaps alone
could have reused the departing spirit of Mi
RAM back TO earthly thoughts. She opened her
eyes once more, and laid her icy arm, for mo-
ment around her fathers neck, in token that
her last love was his then quietly crossing her
hands upon her bosom, and looking up to Hea-
ven with countenance frightened with glow
of holy feryor, she exclaimed, dearest father!
and now, oh! blessed Jesus, do thou come
quickly Again her head fell back, and with
enc long but gentle sigh, her happy spirit
winged its flight to God.
''Imlah remained for some time appalled, and
motionless, gazing in fixed despair on the ST.
lent lips OF his child, as if waiting again to hear
their eloquence. But the dreadful stiffness
which now pervaded all around, where not one
SOUND, one sign, was 10 OTtdk liiat awful
solitude, recalled him 10 faint sense of what
had been; and yet it was The disordered sense
which fancy sometimes lends 10 picture dreams
like real things; or to embody It's own faint sha-
dows into the frightfIl phantoms OF insanity
Still did he look on Miriam, and still grasped
the little volume which he knew was associated
with her last words. But what were those
words? The avowal Of an apos,a,e! And yet
was tina: heavenly smile, which gave even death
semblance fpeace-one Of apos,acy? Could
a guilty hereto meet the awful Judgment OF an
offended God, as Miriam had done? Miriam
an apostate!-a hereto? Oh! no, rather lei
Christiany be true, and Israel fall at last be.
Meath the scourge Of Christian victory-thau
Miriam, the last daughter of David's line, be
so accursed And now great drops of agony
stood on the cold forehead Of Imlah, as thought:
like these passed through his bewidered mind
and in groans of deepest anguish, he CALLED
loudly on the name of his said child, as if SHIT
could still dispel the dreadful visions of shs
fearful dream. But alas! it was too surely
waking reality; nothing could move or chang
the sweet calm smile of her for whom never be
fore had Imlah called in yaip!"