The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-02-03
The Jews Of Palestine.

FROM lne crescent anG Inc tTO5Ss
The Jews are fond Of news, and very partial to
foreigners, particularly 10 the English. | introduced
myself to venerable and noble looking Hebrew in
the street day, by asking my way the Pool Of
HeZekiah, whittier he cou.teously accompanied me,
and afterwards invited me to his house. We enter
ed by n very humble doorway from the silent street,
and passing through dark gallery Of length, en-
tered large apartment which e1ualled in oriental
Injury any that have yet seen. Tho ceiling was
slightly arGhcd, and crusted with staacttes of purple
and gold that appeared TO have oozed out from some
rich treasury above. The walls were or pannclcd
cedar, such dark and fragrant wood, exquis-
itey car led; and curtains Of Damascus silk wero
gathered into thick folds between pi,asters or CEDAR
polished, yet rugged with rich carving Tho win
dows were without glass but the foliage Of some
nnge trees softencd the sunshine into a delicious
gloom lending all the effect OF painted glass with tho
addition Of culver, which added GOODNESS to its
shade. The furniture simple, is customary in
the Enst, and consisted only of divans or wide siken
cushions, ranged round the walls but little elevated
above tho Aoor This was Of marble mosaic wrought
into floral embeu1s, such as bells, pomegranotcs sc
with white marble basis Of clear white in the midst.
A rich tulted carpet, in which the foot sank as in
a meadow, spread in each corner Of the upper
end; and leaving slippers the marble floor vo
took our seat the diyan When seated, my host
laid his hand upon his breast, and repeated the well
come. He then clapped ha hands; and ppes-an
unusual luxury among tho Jews-wcre brought by
two little black slaves with white tuncs and scarlet
caps. They retired, and Smoked the pipe Of re-
pose in such luxury and calm as my troubled pilgrim
age had seldom known til then. should have sup
posed myself in Pasha's serngio, but for
the gabardine and dark turban Of my host, and
that firm look Of lofty determination that is he seen
every Hebrew brow, undimmed by the disasters
and degradations Of two thousand years My enter
uiner spoke with respect Of Bishop Alexander aud OF
the other missionaries he said he gave them credit
for the best motives, but that it all to hope
to Proselytze his people. 1.-The Romans, 'he added
with enthusiasm, "cou!d not condemn Manus in
sight Of the capitol, and the Hill of Zion Is not like.
y spot FOR Jew forsake the faith of his orefath-
ers." 'Ihe Christians dc not honor Zion less" |
observed, 'because they also point TO Calvary. They
go with You hand in hand as far as regards this
worlds sacred history, and far beyond you them into
heaven which you have hoped for from the days of
Abraham, and which you will not receive because
different from that which you expected"
The dark eyes the Hebrew literally glowed be-
nehth ms grey ana Shaggy eyebrows, as he raised
his arm in vehement gesculaton, that conrasted
strangely with the repoSe of the Of his drapeed
figure. "Engishman," he exclaimed, in voice
that seemed to gurge from his heart "you know not
what you say" Suddenly the door opened the tap
estrv that hung over moved aside by benuti-
fully rounded arm which jewels cleaned and there
stepped fort female form which fascinated my at
tenlion as if had been vision. Imagine Rebec-
ca in all the chastened pomp Of dress and beauty
that Sir Walter Scott has painted with such vivid
words-even such as she stood before me, glorious
embodiment of all the best attributes Of her pure and
noble race. She might Eve herself have been, so
might her daughters have looked when angels sought
their mortal love. Miriam, Jael, Judith, and the
gentle Ruth all the heroic spirits Of Judas line,
might have been represented under that form, but
not the Maid Mother,) know not how she was
dressed, scarce know how she looked; but hnvo n
memory before my eyes that seems still to coniuse,as
it dazzled then. only remember Il light gauzy ur
ban, with gittering fringe falling gracefully over tho
shoulder, of black and shining HAIR that made
the forehead and delicutely Drowned cheek look
fair IL Circnssians; if thought OF luxury lowered
npon the richly rosy mouth it was awed into adnira-
ton by the large dark eyes, 50 fearless, yet SO mod
est, ganciug round if thoy read meaning in ev-
cry thing and everywhere,yc calm and solr:Posscsaod
in sher consciousness Of power.