True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1846-09-16

From the Ne,c York Observer.
MOUNT ARAFAT.
BY REV. J. T. HEADLEY.

is Mount Ararat The first named sum
nit in human history, it energies from the
flood and lifts its head over the water to
look down on all coming generations TO
the end of time. Whether it was changed
in that mighty CONFUSION which drowned
the world, or whether its lofty peak which
saw the swelling waters and marked their
steady rise remained the same, we know
not. At all events, the mountain looked
down ON the SWaying world at its feet, as
cities hoared from their foundations, and
came dashing against its sides, and beheId
a wilder scene than ever covered battle
field, as it heard and saw six generations
shrek and sink together. But whatever
may have been its former history, 1t now
stands the only memorial of the flood.
Rising like sugar loaf from the plain, its
top is covered with perpetual snow, and
has seldom been prolaned by human feet.
But there was a time when The sea rolled
over it, and mightier waves than ever yet
swept the sea, Numbered high above It's
crown.
Though the immediate appearance of
food that should submerge the world was
an event which staggered human belief,
vet Noah, obedient TO the voice of heaven,
began his ark of safety. There is no one
who does not lament that there is not
fuller antedeuvian history? We merely
catch the SUBMITS of events, and are told
of some half a dozen things that happened,
while all the rest is wrapped in lmpenetra,
BILE mystery We are told that the world
was drowned, but the particulars of that
terrific scene are left entirely to the imagn-
alton. 1t is only by the declaration OF the
apostle, that men were busy at their usual
occupations, seating and drinking, and
marrying and giving III marriage, I'LL The
flood came and swept them all away" that
VIC get any data by which we can form any
true conception of the catastrophe Yet
this statement is worth every thing, and
with it beloreme, Ihavesomeumes thought
| could paint the scene. Noah, whose
head was whitened by the frostS OF six
centuries, laid the foundation of the huge
ark. TIE fields were smiling in ver-
dure before his eyes; the pcriumed breezeS
noated by, and the music of birds and
sounds of busy life were about him, when
he, by faith alone, laid the first beam of that
structure that was 10 sail over buried
planet. When men, on enquirlng the
design of that huge odifica, were told It's
purpose they could hardly credit their
senses, and Noah, though accounted by all
avery upright and reSpectahlem man, became
Il lest for children. AS the farmer returned
at evening from the fields, and the gay
citizen of the town drove past, they chris
tened it "Noah'S Folly" Those more aged
aud sober shook their heads wisely, say
ing, "the old man is mad" Even the
workmen engaged upon it laughed as they
drove the nails aud hewed the plank, yet
declared they cared not so long as the
foolish old man was able 10 pay. Still
the ark went up and the days wonder
ceased TO be talked about When il was
finished and curiosity satisfied, IL was dis
missed from the mind as q passing folly.
Yet | have sometimes wondered what
people thought when they saw the beasts
of the field and the forest, and tie fowls of
the air; and even the venomous serpent
and the strong limbed lion coming IN pairs
to the ark. This must have staggered
them amazingly, and made the ark for
while fresh topic of conversation. At
length the patriarch with his family enter
ed-the door was shut in the face of the
world and he sat down on the faith ola
single promise 10 await the issue. That
night the sun went down overthe the green
hills beautiful as ever aud the stars came
out in the blue sky, and nature brealhed
long and peacefully. In the morning The
sun rose in undmmed spIendor aud noun
ted the heavens. Deep within the huge
structure, Noah could hear the muffled
sound of life without. The lowing ofherds
came TO his ear, aud the song of the hns-
bandman going TO his toll, and the rapid
roll of carriage wheels rolling past, and
perhaps the ribald shout and laugh ofthose
without; as they expended their vii on
him and his ark together. To say nothing
Of the improbabilily Of the event, the idea
was prepoSlerous that such a helmless
affair could outTide a wrecked world. Thus
day after day passed on until week bad
gone by, but still the faith Of that old man
never shook. AT length the sky became
overcast, and a gentle rain desceuded-to
Noah the beginning Of the aoOd-to the
world a welcome shower The farmer, as
he housed his cattle, rejoiced IN the re-
freshing moisture, while the city never
checked us gaiely, or the man Of wealth