The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-06-03

broughtupon the world;-they were cor
rupted by n1y arts!-Then phrenzy played
like wild-fre in every city, village, and
hamlet. Order and peace were forgotten;
open riot every where ruled.
Husband and child were forgot in the
fiery transports Of these angel lovers. Then
vainly in thunder spoke the voice of God!
Vainly the symbols Of virtue arose all over
the earth; they were troIden under foot
Innocent animals were savagely slaughter
ed; sin ran madly from land to land; war
unshealhed her sword; peace fled from the
earth. All this was my work; l foresaw
the effect, yet shrank not from the cause.
Then came upon me the awful verdict
of the supreme: the globe seemed convulsed
for moment, then in the awful stiffness,
when the heavens seemed to collapse, came
the still; serene voice, wander thou on,
thou wanton one, unfelt, unseen, till some
listen to thy tale, Zach century attemptto
speak, at length thy penance will be over,
thy wound be healed
"No one saw me. vanished from the
earth which had so long polluted. The
ground felt not my tread; the eye of Heaven
took no note of me. No shadow followed
when faced the sun, yet Isaw and felt the
hideous desolation had wrought. Soon
the fair earth was changed: hands were
murderously upraised; drunkenness swag-
gered and reeled bias pheming in the Streets;
demons Knocked and trampled on the holiest
ground, the fruits were turned to poison at
their touch. Every hateful lust famed with
tenfold fire. Molock and Belial lit their
awful fires, till God in mercy sent flood
to rebaptise the world and quench the flame.
Oh, could have perished, and thus esca-
ped the wild sobs of a drunken world, nor
hear the unavailing cries for help, the pray
crs, the curses and the groans, which al
most burst my heart. Noahs silent ark
foated TRANQUILITY on, bright with the last
hopes of universe. Long and sorrowful-
lyI hung over the wild waste of waters; /
saw the raven and the dove, which the
trusting patriarch sent forth as harbingers
of peace; the melancholy days-passed over;
faith had It's triumph, as it ever will; the
rainbow of promise cheered the old mans
heart when he lit up his altar-ire. aided
mar, with unseen hand, to till the stubborn
soil. l whispered virtuous counsel to his
ear, upheld him when he dropped, sup
, ported him when faint. Many germ Of
virtue did deposite on grateful soil; the
counsel of my heavenly friends when pure,
was not lost upon my soul Virtue and
love grew up again upon the earth; un-
seen l nurtured, and unfelt pruned. l
stood with Zardhusht, inspired his heart,
informed his mind. Watched with Abram.
Twas that showed to Jacob the symbolic
ladder, to prove that all men might climb
high as they would. Many time have
essayed to make a mortal listen to my tale.
have but found it vain: all fear the un-
seen; the sensible alone attracts their souls.
But as l am the cause Of this, have scat
tered arts and letters in the world, as some
E atonement for my great offence. They
form a bond between the seen and that
which never meets the eye.
{ "The great Prophet, whom thou adorest
so devouty, was raised up at my cntreaty,
for Allah never ceases to listen to my cry.
1 know my strength of heart know thy
love; therefore fear not to address thee.
Manfully hast thou listened and now my
tale is done, my melancholy fate is over.
Blessed, kind stranger, be thy days; bless
ed while on the earth, and Paradise hence
forth is thine!"
She ceased--I heard no more. But a
celestial form, as beautiful as Love, stood
in the air before me. Then the immortal
choir, that sweep their harps before the
throne of God, slow chaunted forth,
"Thy pilgrimage is done,
The golden prize is won;