Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-10-07

was born, and the marble slab which is laid in
the place of the manger When saw, through
out the country, how the Arabs now use the caves
of the hills to bed their goats and cattle, this be-
lief of the frars appeared less absurd than it
would with US; but still, it is so improbable that
the precise spot Of these transactions (whose inn
portance was not known till afterwards) should
have been marked and remembered that | felt
little interested in them in comparison with the
landscape outside, about whose leading features
there could be no mistake
From the bottom of the garden we overlooked
the great valley which expanded to the northeast;
and one enclosure there--a green spot now oc-
cuped by olive trees-was pointed out to US as
the field where the shepherds were abiding on
the night when Christ was born Behind it. to
the east, lay range behind rang of hills, stretch
ing Otto the north; and among these, we knew,
lay the Dead Sea, and the Jordan, where it pours
its waters into that lifeess and melancholy lake
AS we left the convent and village, and descend
ed the rocky road, with terraced vineyards and
olive groves on either hand, we knew that Joseph
and Mary must have come by this way from Je-
rusaem when summoned to the census; and this
was more to us than all the sights the friars had
shown US in their zeal and kindness We look
ed in at the tomb of Rachel, and at the convent
of Elias; but our eyes aud thoughts were bent
towards Jerusalem. | remember, however that
here first saw the waters of the Dead Sea, ly-
ing blue in little gap between the hills.
AS soon as bad mounted my ass before the
convent of Elias, | saw from our ridge some
buildings on the rising ground which now show
ed itself before us. | was not Immediately GER
w b,,t tbo
us. That rising ground was Zion, and those
buildings belonged to jerusalem though they
stood outside the wall. Immediately after, the
walled city itself came into view, lying along the
hills Most ofthe party were disappointed l
was not-partly because l knew we were APP
preaching it from the least favorable side and
partly because my expectations had much I'M
derrated the size and grandeur Of the city. What
we now saw was a line of white walls on the hill
side, with some square buildings and small white
domes rising within.
walked the rest of the way On our right
were hills the summit of one of which was Ac-
eIdama, bought by the priests with the money
which the wretched Judas returned to them,
when he found too late what he had done in his
attempt to force his Lord to assert his claim to
temporal sovereignty. On our left was the plain
OF Rephalm. When we arrived at the brow OF
the high ground we were on, we were taken by
surprise by the grandeur the scene. Zion now
appeared worthy of her name, and of her place
in the hymns of DNid, and in history We were
now overlooking the valley of Gihon, more COM
monty known by the name of Hinnom. From
It's depth, and its PERCEPTIONS rocks on our side,
should call it a ravne. This deep dell contains
the Lower Pool, now dry and the aqueduct from
Solomon's Pools is seen crossing it obliquely-
Its opposite side is Zion, rising very steepy still
terraced for tlllage in some parts, and crowned
by the city wall. To the right, sweeping away
from the ravine of Gihon, is the deep and grand
valley of Jehoshaphat, clustered with rocks, re-
lieved by trees, and leading the eye round to the
slope Of Olivet, which, however, is best seen from
the other side of the city. The black dome Of
the tomb of David was the next object; and after
that, the most conspicuous roof in the city--tht
great dome of the Mosque of Omar, which occu
pies the site of Solomons temple.
BY this time; there was silence among u.s.
walked behind our cayalcade, as it slowly as
cended the beautiful rocky way-glad of thu
silence permitted by each to ALL for it was no
possible at the moment-nor will it ever be pos
sible-to speak of the impressions of that hour
We entered by the Jaffa gate; and every echo o
our horses feet in the narrow, stony, picturesque
streets, told upon our hearts as we said to our
selves that we were taking up our rest in Jeru
salem.