Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-12-09
Historical.
BY MISS HARRIET MARTINEAU.

within the walls of Jerusalem which are reported
by the monks to be the scenes of the acts and
suferings of Christ. There is no certainty a.
bout these; and the spots regarding which there
can be no mistake, are so interesting, that the
mind and heart of the traveller turn away from
such as may be fabulous. About the site of the
temple there is no doubt; and beyond the walls
one meets at every turn assurance of being where
Christ walked and taught, and where the great
events of Jewish history took place Let us 90
over what found in one ramble; and then my
reader will see what it must be to take walks in
the neighborhood of jerusalem
Leaving the city by the Bethlehem gate, we
descended into the valley of Hinnom, or Gehen-
ma. Here there are many tombs cut in the rock,
with entrances like door-ways. When | speak
OF Bethany, shall have occasion to describe the
tombs of the Jews. 1t was in this valley, and
close by the fountain of Sloan, that in the DAYS
Of Jewish idolatry, children passed through the
fire, in honor of Moloch. This is the place call
Tophet in Scripture, fit to be spoken of as it was,
as an image of hell. Here, in this place of cor
ruption and cruelty, where fires lowered about
living bodies, and worms proved on the dead
here was the imagery of terror-"the worm that
dleth not, and the fire that is not quenched."-
terraced, that the winter rains may not wash a.
way the soil and these terraces were to-day
green with springing wheat and the spreading
olives and zig trees cast their shadows on the
rich, though stony soil. Streams were led from
the pool OF Sloan among the fields and gardens
and all looked cool and fresh in the once heIlsh
spot. On the top of the opposite hill was the
Field Of Blood-tne field bought as burial place
for strangers, by the priests to whom Judas re-
turned his bride For the burial of strangers,
1t was used in subsequent ages Tor pilgrims who
died at the Holy City were laid there 1t is now
no longer enclosed but a CLEARINGHOUSE marks
the spot.
The pools all round Jerusalem are beautiful :;
the cool archlng rock roof of some, the weed
tuted sides and clear waters of ALL are delicious
The pool of Sloan is still pretty-though less
so, no doubt, than when the blind man, sent to
wash there, opened his eyes on its sacred stream.
The fountain of Sloan is more beautiful than the
pool. 1t lies deep in cave, and must be reach
ed by broad steps which wind down in the shad-
ow. A woman sat to-day, in the dim light of
reflected sunshine, washing linen in the pool
Here 1t was that in days of old the priest came
down with his golden pitcher to draw water for
the temple service; and hither it was that the
thought of Milton came, when he sang Of
"Sloa's brook that flowed
Fast by the oracle of God"
We were now in the valley of Jehosaphat :;
and we crossed the bottom of it, where the brook
Kedron must run when it runs at all but it
seems to be now merely winter torrent and
never to have been constant stream. When we
had assembled the opposite side of the valley, we
were on the Mount of Olives The ascent was
steep-now among tombs, and now past fields of
waving barley, decked with the shade of olive
trees. As we assembled, the opposite hill seemed
to rise, and the city to spread The horsemen
in the valley below, and woman with burden
on her head, mounting to the city by path up
Moriah, looked so surprisingly small as to prove
the grandure OF the scenery Hereabouts it was,
as it is said, and may reasonably be believed
that Jesus mourned over Jerusalem, and told his
! followers what would become of the noble city
which here rose upon their view GROWING the
sacred mount and shining clear against the cloud
less sky Dwellers in our climate cannot con.
ceive ofsuch sight as Jerusalem, seen from the
summit of the Mount of Olives The MoaE
mountains, over towards the Dead Sea, are dres
sed in the softest hues of purple, lilac, and grey
!
with its contrast of color its white or grey stones
red soil, and crops Of vivid green. But the cit,
is the glory-aloft on the steep-its long lines O
wall clearly defining it to the sight, and every
mnaret and cupoa, and almost every stone
marked out by the brilliant sunshine against the
deep blue sky. In the spaces unbuilt on witt
the walls; afe tufts of verdure; and espresso,
sprngng here and there from some convent gar
den. The green lawns of the Mosque of Omar
are spread out small before the eye, with thei
groups of tiny gray moving people. Fit is now
so glorious place to the eye, what must it have
been in the days of its pride Yet in that day
when every one looked for the exuting blessing
f Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity with
in thy places !" there came instead, the amenta
ton over Jerusalem, that killed the prophets ant
stoned the messengers of Jehovah, and who's
, house must be therefore left desolate.
The disciples, looking from hence upon tn
strength of the walls the massiveness of the TEN
pie buildings, then springing 4SO feet from tn
bed of the brook below, and the depth and rug
gedness of the ravnes surrounding the city o.
three sides, might we'll ask when those thing
should be, and how they should be accomplished
On the fourth side, the north, where there is n
tavlne, the Roman army was encamped. w
; could not see that rising ground, once covere
with the Roman tents, but to-day with corn field
! and olive grounds. The Romans encamped on
legion on the Mount of Olives; but it could no
do any harm to the city, and the only availabl
point of attack-the north side-was guarded b
a moat and three walls The siege was long
so long that mems hearts failed them for fear
: and at least one famished woman ate her owl
, child aid at last the city was taken and nearl
S destroyed; and Of the temple, not one stone wa
: left upon another. Now we were in the mids
3 Of these scenes to-day We stood where tn
: doom was pronounced; below US was the cam
e of the single legion have mentioned opposit
E was the humbled city, with the site of the tempt
Y courts; and over to the north was the camp O
the enemy. Here was the whole scene Of tina
"great uibulaton, such as was not known from
the beginning OF the world"
From the summit of Olivet, we went down t,
the scene of that other tribulation--that anguish
of mind which had perhaps never been surpass
ed from the beginning Of the world When Je
( sus had spoken these words" This words of chez