Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-02-21

is gone-all is gone! But praised DC the Lo'o'
,ghotever he does is for the best He passed a
sleepless night, and early in the morning went
to the village, 10 see whether he could procure
a horse, or any beast OF burden, to enable him
10 pursue his tourney. But what was his sur
prise, not 10 find single individual alive!
"It appears that band Of robbers had enter
ed the village during the night, killed It's inha'
bitants, and plundered their houses. AS 500"
as Akiba had sufficiently recovered from the
amazement into which this wonderful occur
renee mad thrown him, he lifted up his voice
and exclaimed, 'Thou Great God, the God OF
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, now know oy eA-
perience, that poor mortal men are short sight
ed and blind: often considering as evils. wha,
is intended for their preservation! But thou a.
lone art Just, and kind and merciiul! Lad not,
the hard-hearted people driven me by their M
hospitality from the village should assured'y
have shared their fate. Had not The wind ex-
,inguished my lamp, the robbers would have
been drawn 10 the spot, and have murdered me
/ perceive also tina, 1t was thy mercy which de-
prived me Of my two companions, that they
might not, by their noise, give notice 10 the
banditli where was. Praised, then, be my
name for ever and ever!
Observation-Disclosures THE GREAT.
"Pursuing his journey through dreary de-
serts and uncul,ivatcd ground, Alexander came
to a small rvulet, whose waters glided peacea.
bly, along their shelving banks. It's smooth I'M
ruffled surface was the image oil conlentmcnt,
and seemed in its silence 10 say-!Ais Is the a.
bode Of tranquility and peace. All was stlii;
not sound was heard, save those soit murmur-
ing tones which seemed TO whisper into the
ear of the weary traveller-'come and partake
Of Natures bounty and TO complain that such
offers should be made in vain. 10 contem-
pative mind, such a scene might have sug-
eesied a thousand delightful reflections But
what charm could it have for the soul OF an A
leaander, whose breast was filled with schemes
Of ambition and conquest; whose eye was la
Iniliarised with rapine and slaughter: ana whose
ears were accustomed to the clash OF arms-to
the groans Of the wounded and dying? Onward,
theref fore, he marc he'd, vet, overcome by fatigue
and hunger, he was soon Obliged to stop; he
seated himself on one OF the banks oil The river,
took a draught Of water, which he found OF
very fine flavor, and very refreshing; he then
ordered some salt fish, with which he was well
provided, to be brought TO him, these he diP'
in the stream, in order TO take OIL the briny
taste, and was very much surprised TO ind them
emit very fine fragrance; Surely, said he,
'ths river which possesses such uncommon
qualities, must flow from some very rich and
happy Country; let US march thither;' following
the course Of the river, he al length arrived al
the gates ofParadise.-The gates were shut; he
knocked *, with his usual impetuosity, demand
ed Ambulance Thou cans, not be admitted here,
exclaimed a voice from within; 'fhisgafe IS the
;ansd the eb;.f sm f ,h snder he
Conque ror! will YOU no, admit me!' No. was
the answer Here we know Of no eonquerors
heir INF
the just can enter here Alexander enGea, ored
in ain to enter the abode Of the blessed; neither
enireaiies nor menaces a,aIed Seeing all at
tempts fruitless, he addressed himself TO the
uardian of Paradise, and said:-'You know
am great Klng-a person who received the
homage Of nations. Since you will not admit
me, give me at least something, that | may
show an astonished ard admiring world that
! have been where no mortal has ever been
before me?' Here, madman!' said the Guar
dian Of Paradise, here is something for
thee. 1t may cure the malades Of thy
distempered soul. One glance at il may
teach thee more wisdom than thou hast hither-
to derived from all thy former instructors. Now
60 Thy ways Alexander took it with avidity,
and repaired to his tent Blu, what was his
confusion and surprise TO find, on examining the
received present, that il was nothing but the
fragment OF human skull! And is this, ex- :
claimed Alexander, the mighty gift that they
bes,ow on kings and heroes Is this the fruit
of so much toll, danger and care! Enraged
and disappointed, he threw il on the ground
'Great King said learned man who happen
ed TO be present, do not despise this gift. De-
spicable as it appears in thine eyes, it We, pos
sesses some extraordinary qualities, Of which
thou mayest soon be con, inced il thou wilt or
der il to be weighed against gold or silver -
Alexander ordered it to BE done. A pair Of
scales was brought. The skull was placed in
one, quantity of gold in the other; when, TO
the as,opshment Of :he behodess, the skull o.
verbalanced the gold. More gold was added,
still the skull preponderated. In short, the
more gold there was pu, into the one scale, the
lower sunk that which contained the SKULL
Strange Exclaimed Alexander,) that so small
a portion Of matter should outweigh so large
mass OF gold Is there nothing that will coun-
terpoise il?'-'Yrs,' answered the philosopher
"a very little matter will do it, They then
took some earth, covered the skull with ii, when
imne dately down went the gold, and The oppo-
site scale assembled. This is very eAtraordina-
ry, said Alexander, sstonished; can YOU explain
this strange phenomenon?'-'Great,' King said