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

Ne
that every processing christians was aid
ing in the onward progress ofthe church
or hampering the wheels, and throw
ing obstacles in the way Of its advance
ment.
After the sermon was closed, and
the congregation was retiring, my excl
ted Imagination wrought out a group
Of images which interested me very
much. Thought saw vast chariot
or car, fixed on four strong wheels and
presenting the appearance of great
weight. In front Of this car a great
number ofropes were fastened for the
purpose of drawing. These ropes
were lined with an immense crowd Of
men and women, who seemed very in
tent on drawing The heavy car along.
The ropes were stretched in different
directions, some pointing directly in
front, and others turning little off and
some a considerable distance from the
centre of the road, and yet so far in
front of the car as to aid in moving it
along. thought the chariot moved
straight forward as though it was run
ming on railway from which it could
not be lifted or turned, although some
Of the ropes would have drawn it off,
because Of their direction, if there had
been no opposition. There appeared
to be but one disposition or purpose in
all these crowds, and that was to draw
the car to place which all could see,
and yet there was great diversity Of
opinion about the best way Of pulling,
and the best road to travel. One
crowd kept up continual muttering
or confused sound which appeared TO
be about the mountains, and ravines
which should be Stunned if all would
consent TO pull at their rope, and take
the road they wished to so.
These wondered much why all the
rest could not see as clearly as they
aid, aud why there should be so strong
a disposition TO pull at ropes which they
themselves would by no means touch,
even with their little fingers.
There was another crowd which
seemed very much chaffed in their mind
about something which afterwards
discovered, was the stubborn refusal
of all the rest to come over to their rope.
They said they were pulling in a most
orderly manner; were moving on very
smoothly, and had some most entertain
ing ceremonies, by which the labor was
hghtened, and the minds of the work
men called off from painful and aux-
lOus thoughts about difficulties in the
way. These seemed much engaged
in talking about the smoothness and
beauty of their rope, saying that their
hands were not even blis:ered, Though
this might have been ascribed to gIOUcs
which they all wore, and that no one
had right TO pull the mighty cal
along, but those I0h0 had hold Ofthei'
rope. This company was very small
at least tina; part Of the company thai
were working, but there was as much
commolion amongst them as if they
had been double their real number.
was very much pleased with their fine
appearance, they looked SO polite anC
genteel, and were evidently so much
pleased with their situation, and won.
dered so much that all would not &C
knowledge their superiority.
A third kept up a continual din
about the prejudices of all the rest to
their mode Of working, and though
could discover that one sound was
frequently repeated at the same mo
ment by great many voices. Whilst
was gazing on them and wondering
what was the matter, | discovered tina
the sound was a word something like
our word t1ater. This was cried ou
so often and al the top of their voice!
too, and they seemed SO eager about it
that | looked amongst them to see
there was not fire, and an engine, bu
| could see no FIRE 10 be put out, thong
,, there was evidently cOmmotion lik'
that we see in our towns in time OF fire
I Upon getting nearer l found that some c
the speakers tackled baptism to water
and would roll the words out most mu
! sicalIy, pretty much after the fashio
!. Of the spelling in the Lancastetial
!, school, to which went when l was
u little boy. II seemed to me that Their
were some foreigners or some ancient
y amongst them, fot there was word OIL
5 ten repeated which thought was a
old fashioned Greek word called" BaI
: ,idzo." But still the word was so o
k ten pronounced as an atnedncated ma
" tive Englishman would pronounce i
d "Baptizo" that my conclusion was
II was used, with the TWO former word
;. as watchword or countersign. Viii
y was wondering what they meant b
= all this ado, Tobserved that they wouI
} not let any one work at their roE
q nor even let him touch it., unless b
e clothes, and hands and hair were driI
r ping with water. | saw some al
rs proach and offer to take hold and hef
Dr. who had some wafer on their hair az
e faces, but one ran hastily to. the
m with little book in his hand, and VIII