South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1837-06-17

gibls monument in the history of the
Bible, the first spot that could be call
ed holy ground, raised in me feelings
that had not been awakened by the
most classic ground ofItaly and Greece,
or the proudest monuments Of the arts
| in Egypt.
Continuing our ascent, the
old monk still leading the way, in a.
bout quarter of an hour we came to
the table of rock standing boldly out,
&running down, almost perpendicular
| ly, an immense distance to the valley.
| was expecting another monhish le-
gend, and my heart thrilled when the
monk told me that this was the top Of
the hill on which Moses had sat dur
ing the battle of the Isralites and the
Analekites, while Aaron & Hur sup
ported his uplifted hands, until the sun
went down upon the victorious arms
| of his people.-From the height !
could see, clearly and distinctly, every
part ofthe battles ground, land the whole
vale of Replidirn and the mountains
beyond; and Moses, while on this
spot, must have been visible to the con-
tending Armies from every part of the
field on which they were engaged.
IS stand on the very peak of
sinai-where Moses stood when he
talked with the Almighty. Can it be,
or is it mere dream3 Can this max
ed rock have been the witness Of that
great interview between man and his
Maker2 where, amid thunder and
Lightning, and a fearful quaking Of the
mountains, the Almighty gave to his
chosen people the precious fables Of
his law, those rules of infinite wisdom
and goodness which, to this day, best
teach man his duty towards bis God,
his neighbor, and himself?
The scenes ofmany ofthe incidents
recorded in the Bible are extremely
uncertain. Historians and geographers
place the garden of Eden, the paradise
of our first parents, in different parts Of
Asia and they do not agree Upon the
site of the tower of Babel, the noun
tains of .Ararat, and many OF the most
interesting places in the Holy Land
but of Sinai there is NO doubt. This is
the holy mountain; and among all the
stupendous works of Nature, mot a place
can be selected more fitted for the ex-
hibition of Almighty power. 1 have
stood upon the summit of the giant
Etna, and looked over the clouds float
ing beneath it upon the bold scenery
of Sicily, and the distant mountains Of
Cabria; upon the top of Vesuvlus, and
looked down upon the waves Of lava,
and the ruined and half-recovered CT
ties at its foot; but they are nothing
compared with the terrific solitude and
bleak majesty ofSinai. An observing
traveller has well called it ga perfect
sea of desolation." Not tree, or shrub,
or blade of grass, is to-be seen upon the
bare and rugged sides of innnmerable
mountains, heaving their naked sum-
mits to the skies, while the crumblipg
masses Of granite all around, and the
distant view of the Syrian desert, with
its boundless waste of sands form the
widest and most dreary, the most ter
rife and desolate picture that imagina3
ton can conceive.
The level surface Of the very top OR
pinnacle is about sixteen feet square,
At one end is single rock about TWEEN
ty feet high, on which, as said the
monk, the spirit of God descended,
while in the crevice beneath his favour
ed servant received the tables Of the
law. There, on the same spot where
they were given, I opened the sacred
book in which those laws are recorded,
and read them with deeper feeling
of devotion, as if were Standing near
er and receiving them more directly
from the Deity himself.
"Give me specie--give me hard mo-
nev for this note" said mechanic to
the paying teller ofthe Bank. Here
it is my friend" OFF he goes, jung
ling the half dollars; "Aha!" said he,
this is the true thing; something to
.touch-sonAething to feel. How bright
and shiny these half dollars look! jack