Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-05-24

said they would not cut it off; though it
was very heavy; because all the world
would look at that rope before the car
arrived at its place Of destination and
they meant to have a place for every
one. They were very anxious 10 keep
as near the river as they could, and
were much troubled when the road
would go out of sight Of the water, land
when they would get in sight of it again
they would raise a cry pretty much like
that which Xenophon's soldiers raised
when they first got to the top Of the
mountain from which they saw the
Euxine Sea. They clung very closes
ly to the rope at which they toiled,
and kept their eyes on the river, the
sight Of which kept them in a de-
lightful frame Of mind.
There was another crowd which at
tracted my attention and caused con-
siderable curiosity in my mind. They
appeared very busy indeed.--were
very numerous, consisting ofmany hum
dreds Of thousands, and were mixed
up together, embracing all classes of
society. These kept up loud noise,
in which there was confused sound of
exhor;ation, and singing and praying,
and loud talking about their ''not car
ing much at whatropes people worked,
so they pulled hard;and let their neigh
bors alone" Upon turning my eyes
towards these and listening attentively,
| could distinguish a sound something
like, converted" "sonctifed" and then
there was burst like rolling thunder,
which sent forth a deafening cry of
"glory! glory!!!" 1t made me think |
was amongst the people who saw the
foundation Of the house oflhe Lord, in
the time of Ezra, who made such noise
that hearers "could not discern the
noise of the shout Ofjoy, from the
noise Of the weeping Of the people,"
Ezra III. Chap. Ii v. This vast
company was headed Dy an old man,
with his grey hair paIted on his head,
and flowing down over his shoulders;
who was preaching all the time about
"faith and conversion, and good works,
and going ahead" and kept on pulling
at the rope with all his might.
In this crowd there were many who
worked very hard, and were very zeal
Gus in exhorting others to be industri-
Gus and watchful, and there were some
who listened respectfully to the preach
ing oftheir venerable leader, land seem.
ed TO admire his zeal land piety and tai
ents, but hung on to their rope very
lazily and were apparently deadweights.
Sometimes they would yawn and
stretch their limbs, and complain of
being tired, and were half inclined to
stop awhile and rest, but on looking
back at the heavy car which kept roll
ling on, they were afraid to stop lest il
would run over them, or get so far
ahead that they could not again over
take it. and whenever one Of these lazy
fellows would drop off, l observed that
he always appeared very unhappy, land
had no zest for any pursuit or any
pleasure. This crowd would occa-
sionally become very industrious, as
though there was some invisible spirtt
at work amongst them, and their NUM-
bers would increase, and the heavy cal
would move on SO rapidly with the i'm
petus, that some of the other rope:
would get slackened. and those who
worked at them would have to quicker
their pace to draw them tight again
Ny impression was that this crowd o
people could have done much more
service, if they had not so many lazy
ones ar ongst them, and they seemed
conscious ofthis, and would sometime:
advise them to work harder or giv'
place to some new conner who wOulC
work.
1t would be impossible for me to tel
all [ saw in these crowds, but some few
things may be added. There we're
great many that moved onward witt
the rolling car, who did not pull, bu
seemed very intent on doing something
they would step out of the crowd Il
which they belonged, and shout Il
those who were working at rope, an'
throw their arms up over their head
and roll their eyes about in their sock
cts, and would stamp with their feet
and knit their eyebrows, and loo
w to the heavens, moving alon!
all the time as though they feare'
lest they would be crushed by the hea
Wy chariot. They seemed to be thy
ing TO get those who were already puI
ling at rope to change their place:
for when one of these noisy and ges
ticuIating drones would get the atten
ton Of one Of his neighbors, he woul
look this way and that way and the
sneak along into the crowd to whic
he had directed his voice and gestures
and would whisper something in tn
, ears Of the one who was attending, an
, take hold Of his wrists and loosen b
/ hold, and slip back again with h
: prey. This always produced a con
; motion among the crowds who Pulle
at the ropes; the crowd from whenc
the proseIyte was stolen, would tut
L L mr.