Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-09-23

traordnary visitor.
'Whom wouldst thou sec 2 he enquircd.
MY child my own sweet Miriam = an
swercd tho Stranger.
Cornelius Immediately caused every ray
of the light of heaven to be excluded from
the chamber, placed the Stranger on his
right hand, and commenced chanting in a
low, soft tone, and in Il strange language
some lyrical verses, to which the Stranger
thought he heard occasionally response
but it was a sound so faint and indistinct that
he hardly knew whether itexisted any where
but in his own fancy. As Cornelius contin-
ucd his strain, the room gradually became
Illuminated, but whence the light proceeded
twas impossible to discover. AT length the
Stranger plainly perceived a large Mirror,
which covered the whole apartment, and ov-
cr the surface of which dense haze, or
cloud seemed to be rapidly passing.
Died she in wcdlock's holy bands ? in
CURED Cornelius.
'Slle was virgin, spotlcss as the snow.
slow many years have passed away since
the grave closed over her
A cloud gathered on the Strangers brow,
and he answered somewhat mpaticntly,
Many, many more than have now time
to number
Nay sld Agrippa, 'but must know $
for every ten years that have elapsed since
her death, once must wave this wand and
when | have waved it for the last time, you
will see her figure in your mirror.
'Wavc on, them said the Stranger, and
groancd bittercly, wave on and take heed
that thou be not weary
Cornelius Aerippa gazed on his strange
guest with something of anger, but he cxcus-
ed his want of courtesy, on the ground of
the probable extent of his calamitics. lie
then waved his magic wand many times, but
to his CONSERVATION 1t seemed to have lost
its virtue. Turning again to the stranger,
he exclaimed, who and what art thou, man!
Thy presence troubles nc. According to
all the rules of my art, this wand has already
described two hundred years still has the
surface of the Mirror experienced no altera-
ton. Say, dost tlou mock me, and did no
such person ever exist as thou hast described
- me 2
'Wave on, wave on! was the stern and
only reply which this nicrrogatory extracted
irom the stranger.
The curiosity of Agrippa, although he was
himself dealer in wonders, began now to
be excited, and "A mysterious feeling of awe
forbade him to dcsis from waving his wand,
much as he doubted the sincerity Of his visit
or. AS his arm grew slack, he heard the
deep solemn tones Of the stranger, cXclaim
ing, "Wave on, wave on !! and at length,
after his wand, according to the calculations
of his art, had described period Of nearly
| fifteen hundred years, the cloud cleared away
from the surface of the Mirror, and the stran-
ger. with an exclamation of delight, arose,
and gazel rapturously upon the scene which
was there represented.
An exquisitelv rich and romantic prospect
was before him in the distance arose lofty
mountains crowned with ccdars; a rapid
stream rolled in the centre, and in the fore
ground were seen cames grazing: IA rill
trickling by, in which some sheep were
quenching their thirst; and lofty palmtrec,
beneath whose shade a young female Of eX-
quisc beauty, and richly habited in the cos
tune of the East, was shcicring herself from
the rays Of the noOntidc sun.
lis she It's she y shouted the Stranger,
aud he was rushing towards the Mirror, but
was prevented by Cornelius, who said
'Forbcar' rash man, to quit tits spot !.
with each step that thou advances towards
the mirror. the image will become fainter,
and sloudst thou approach too near, i, will
entirely vanish
Thus warned, he resumed his station, but
MS agitation was so excessive, that he was
obliged to lean on the ann Of the philosopher
for support: whle from time to time, he
uttered incOhercnt expressions Of wonder,
delight, and lamcntalion. ''Tis she It's
she even as she looked while living How
beautiful she is Miriam, my child, canst thou
not speak 10 me : By heaven size moves
5 she moves Oh speak to me single word
/ or only breathe, or sigh Alas! al's silent
: dull and dcsolae as this cold heart Again
: that smile that smile, the remembrance
of Which thousand years have not been able
to freeze up in my heart Old man, it is IN
vainc to hold me | must, will clasp her!
As he uttered these last words, he rushed
Gan,icaIIy towards the Mirror; the scene
y represented within it faded away; the clouc
. gathered again over lis suriace, and the stran
: ger sunk senseless TO the earth.
When he recovered his consciousness, h,
e found himselfin the arms of Agrippa, wh'
2 was chatting his temples, and gazing on hin
l with looks of fear and wonder. He immedi
!; ately rose on his feet with restored strength
and pressing the hand of his host, he said
II Thanks, thanks, for thy courtesy and tn
= kindness and for the sweet but painful sigh
! which thou hast presented to my eyes
As lie spake these words, he put purs
: into the hand of Cornelius, bu, the latter re
y turned it saying, NAY, nay, keep thy GOLD
- friend; know not, indeed that a christia
= man dare take it; but, be that as il may,
shall esteem myself sufficiently repaid
'r thou wilt tell me who thou art
a. Behold J. said the Stranger, pointing I
:, large historical picture which hung on til
IL left hand of the room.
'e | soc,' said the philosopher, an exquisi'
=, work Of art, the production Of one of our be
"a and earliest artists, representing our Say
III our carrying his cross
or But look again y said the Stranger, fl