The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-10-08


egant mansiol, which had heen reared
i'll The place where the uncomfortable
hut If thclr ancestors formerly stood and
pleasure was courted IN those gilded
halls.
The heavens were oycrclouded,, and
the siens Of an approaching storm were
perceived soon the rain fell in torrents,
and The wind blew in iu,y but that
mansion was nnshiken amidst thr wind
aud The storm, and within, The lighted
taper disclosed he inhabitants engaged
in the dance, while the walls echoed
with songs and mcirlment. The rain
continued. The inmates saw with fear
and snrprize, the wdiors rise above the
surface of the earth, the voice OF music
was hushed, and the noise Of the dance
was heard no more. Days and weeks
passed, but still no cessation was per-
Ceived in the storm, and thai vretched
few, driven from story TO story, at last
found themselves on the top of the build
ING, with The waves Of a boundless ocean
dashing around Them. Suddenly the Gu
noe was seen eli ling slowly towards
thom, and with frantic joy they receis-
ed this short reprieve from approaching
destruction. But their provisions soon
began To iail, aud the horrors of famine
stared them i'll the face the tunIultuons
waves began To rise still higher, and AT
last, a shrill piercidg shrek was heard
above the storm, announcing tho end oi
the yolaries oil pleasure.
The waters passed away, and The shat
tered canoe reposed on the fertile plains
Of Egypt. There il lay, exposed 10 the
vicissitudes of the seasons Tor many u
revolving year, until the destroyer, time
had crumbled il 10 dust. The grass
grew luXuriously from its ruins, aud
furnished food for an OK, who sought
this spot for feiIcshment and repose. -
Thus the dust Of the canoe gave lis multi
ment 10 the grass, which by digestion
and assimilation, became Incorporated
with The animal machine. But the no.
bic OK was taken, aud he is next seen,
yoked with many others, drawing an
immense and pondrous stone. Upon
turning a projecting point oi rock, what
a noble scene appears before the eyes.
The pyramids Several are completed,
but the last and largest are not yet fin
ished, and these stones are intended Tor
that purpose. The naughty king of T.
Egypt has erected them, that bls name
might be immortalized, but ii is already
unknown 10 history it has been lost in
the CONFUSION OF ages, and ] am not per-
mllted to disclose it. In few short
months, fatigue and severe treatment
deprived the OK Of life, and hls remains
were buried about IA mile from the pyra-
mids.-From his ashes sprang an olive
tree, such as are often met with IN that
fertile country, but not until ages and
centuries had rolled away; not until
thai very spot had been watered by the
blood of thousands.
A peasant had reared his hut beneath
its shelie, iug shade, and often when he
returned from his daily task, would he
pluck the fruit. that grew upon us bran
ches aud oar il with delight. But one
BRIGHT evening, when The moon was shi-
ming IN all her loveiness, the peasant
path remained untrod, and his seat un-
occupied; ms wife prepared his meal s.,
bur no husband returned +; his children
slept, but no fathers bonedlcllon had
saluled them closing eyes. All where
was the iaiheri A famished leopard had
pursued him, and attacked him with ir-
rcsistibo fury he fell a victim TO his
adversary and served 10 gorge his era
wing appetite, and the peasant of the
plain formed pant of the leopard of the
forest. lie was beautiful beast, and
his spotted skin and gentle look, might
have impressed OF the mind of the OBJ
server, the thought that, cruel passions
found no entrance into his breast. Bnl
he lived not long party oil hunters
mel the noble animal; their arrows,
birbed with steel, pierced his hrart, and
the life blood issued from the wound.
lie WIS dcprived'oi his skin which was
sent 10 Rome, where lis unequallcd beau
ty, procured high price; and II was
soon seen in the tent Of Caesar on the
plains Of Gdn. From thence ii follow
ed Inn through his various fortunes, un-
til his timely death threw it into other
hands. Dnt il is unnecessary 10 trace
ii, among all its diilerentowners; suffice
il to say, thai Roman Soldier, wear
ing around hun faded leopard skin,
was Killed. BY lightning in the mountains
of Arragon, aud buried in the sleep oil
death, decay seized upon him, and upon
the skin in which he had been wrapped.
The lofty chestnut of Arragon appeared
in this lorsaken spot, partly nourished
bv the dust of the leopard skin. Mean
Will the see Of Rome had extended It's
power over nearly all the nations of Eu-
rope. A species Of religious enthusiasm