Democratic banner., 1845-05-31
THE JEWISH RULER.
By L. u. BRaNERa

There WAS Q man OF the Pharisees,
named N~tchodemus, q ruler CT the
Jews the sas,e cana to Jesus by
night. ST. John. C. iii.
Darkness encircled the land called
..oly-nigh,, with her train OF shad-
ows, mantied mountain, hill. and val
aud deep sea-, & placid lake, and
gur2liag rivu!el. There we're no stars
visible-,he sweet sparkling things
were hidden beyond dense clouds
that had been clustering in the heav-
ems since The decline o! day; and the
lair noon yeAiured not 10 glance
from beneath her vapnry manns. lest
she should behold some devastation
on earth. Tor = rude and terrible storm
was porteniing. All nature appear
ed conscious Of the approaching bat
.le Of the elemsnts and hushed their
murmuring. Men, women, children.
birds beasts, and insects, remained
quiet and ~expectant. Soon the arul,
lery Of heaven, disturbed tie calm,
and fash after fash oflurid flames IL
Illuminated The vast Conceive and re-
vea!ed TO the sea benea,h--ihe cities,
towns, and villages, the hill sides and
pleasant wales OF blessed Palestine.
proudest among lis proud places
stood Jurusalem; her costly palaces;
her stately towers, her splendid
dones. spiers, and temples, brighten.
ing under each successive gleam. shot
from the electric heavens. The re-
v~erberating thunder and the Ions
stream of brilliant lightning we're sc.
conpsnied by ihick and fast ~fa'IiaG
rain, as though an ocean above gov,
vent 10 lis superiuous waves.
I'm al apartment; Of 6 rich Il sump'
Iuons dwelling Of that eastern cllmr
sat q Of lis IOveliest daughters min
isteriGg senderly TO a tall and %s,a;el,
man, who :osscd on a couch IN all II,
T~estiessness Of 4 troubled sp,ri., RnI
anon Gazed upon the eonfitl without
The chamber was supplied vita eve
~ luxury. and lighted ~ lamps emit
uag a swee, and pleasan: odor; Will,
;lpon tie forms OF tbs occHP1Hla shon'
jewels Of rare beauty ani value, su,
robings from The most "a: famed loom
al the fge.
The storm continusd an aocr; snt
s{.sn the dark drsPsFy fell from In
blue vault. & the beautiful Stars wer,
disclosed to view, one By opo, lik'
slittering gems, and the moon, genti
and smiling. scattered her rays unit
the expansive sky was flooded viii
mellow light and beautifying ever,
object. The breath ofco1atiess fow'
ers-such flowers thai bloom but !
eastern lands-foatod up and fic.
the atmosphere with delicious fra
grance, while every thing seemed ,
whisper
There's light to follow darkness Ger.
There's Joy for those who doubt and fear.
There's calm when threatening storms d
done;
There's peace 70, sil toreath the son.
"I,ook up, nv Lord; the element
have s1ayed their conteution-loo
up, | pray, and gladden. the heart
thy h~andmaiden,n murmurei the lutt
Ike tones OF Sarah, the wife OF Mic
odemus. "The gloomy clouds OF
scure The celestial orb no ionger-n
is brightness"
The ruler pressed HE head upon III
heart that Ihrobbed wildly beneath b.
costly robe Of purple and fine liner
and signing, replied: "There is n
brightness in my soul, Sarah; there
oaoght but darkness and gloom a
ways. In halls Of state, in synagogu
or temple, at home by thy side, my q
dored, or abroad, or tranquility elude
me; and doubt of a future kingdom
thoughts Of another lie, disturb m.
BOSOM"
"fIast thou heard OF the Nazarene
questioned his beautiful listener, Will
10 her face there sprang an e~xpfessio.
OF ave and reverence. Hast tho
harksned to the great teacher, who's
fame has extended all over our love
ly land; the ambassador Of God
whose voice has been heard on Oh
Ve''s Mount, in the garden, by tn
stream so dear to my heart, and else
whereof"
And there was that in the ligh, G
she Speakers beaming coun,enanc
that told a Christian woman's undy
ing faith in Him who hath gathere,
around him SO many Of hor fair sis
:err.
ale is ~ impostor, Sarah; he ha
deceived .hee and o~thers-our Mes.
All IS ys, 70 come,'' spoke the ruler.
'-D"st thou forget the miracle, h
has perfocmsdi There vas no de
oe?ton il the Awakening Of The nc
be brother OF the fair sister Of Beth
n from the s,umlers Of the cray