Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1847-10-28
a THE HOLY LAND.
BY HARRIET MARTINEAU. s.
Bcthlehcm...XiO iOM...Jerusal o lem.

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preparations for ouf departure, almos, dreaded
the inieres, which every day would now bring,
after The calm and quiet weeks we had spent
in The desert. Our encampGen, looked much
The same as it had done for a month past the
Arab servants busy IN taking down and pack.
ing the tents. and noisy quarrel going on in
the midst Ghis morning abou, pistol having
been stolen from one Of the tents :)--and The
differences were only thai there were specia-
tors standing by, and that our camels had given
place 10 horses aud asses. But, instead Of the
rock and sands of the desert, Hebron was be-
fore my eyes, and the hills were Abraham
spread his focks, and the spo. where he and
his family lay buried. And before night,
should see tlie place where David was born
and lived his shepherd life, and where Jesus
was born We had only twenty miles to travel
this day TO Bethlehem; bu, was quito enough,
for we were eager abou, every old tree, and
hill Top The shrubs grew finer. and the wild
flow ers more ab6ndsn,, the whole way though
The hills of Judah were wild aud stony in parts,
and no longer f, for pasturing such focks as
covered them when Abraham lived among them.
or hen the Hebrews dove in their cattle from
the desert, or when David in his boyhood a.
mused himself with singing smooth stones
feeding on the slopes We sal down 10 res,
and ca. under the shade OF a rock and spread
ing lree and for the hundred,h time since we
left Egypt, it occurred to me how liule we in
England can enter into the meaning Of David
when, in his divine songs, he speaks of the
shade of rocks, and of the beauty of "a Tree
planted by rivers of water" and all such cool
images When one has been slow y pacing on,
hour after hour, over garing sands or heated
rock, under sun which makes every Bit oil
leather or metal. and even ones outer clo,hing
feel scorching hot. and depressing ones very
breathing, the sight of patch Of dark shade Is
welcome beyond belief; and when one has dis.
mounted and felt The GOODNESS of the rocky wall
and of The ground beneath it, and gathered The
fresh weeds which cluster in its crevlces,
phrase after phrase OF the Psalms and prophe-
cies comes over ones mind, with life fresh
ness as swee, as the blossoms in ones lap
Our first Sigh, Of Bethlehem was beautiful.
We came upon it suddenly, just when the yell
low sunset ligh, was richest. Bethlehem was
on The rising ground on our right, massive look
ing (as all The villages of Palestine are) and
shadowy, as the last Gun rays passed over u 10
giId the western hills and another village which
there lay high up, embosorned in fig and olive
orchards. The valley between, oua OF which
We were rising. lay in shadow. Before US,
perched on lofty ridge which rose between
US and jerusalem, was the convent oil 81. Elias,
which we were 10 pass Tomorrow. was sor'
ry 10 turn away from this view bu, we had 10
take The right hand road, and ride through the
narrow streets Of the grea, convent, built over
the spot where Jesus is believed by The frlars
to have been born.
/, was TOO late this evening to see any Of the
sacred localities but ii was quite enough to
have the moonlight, streaming in during the
whole night through The window oil my lofty
convent chamber, aud 10 think that on this hi
took place the greatest event in the history o.
The world and that in the fields near the gen
lie Ruth went about her cleaning, Iule dream
ling in those DAYS OF her poverty, that from bel
meeting with Boaz among the reapers ol hi.
harvests, would arise such events 10 the humal
race lha, the shepherd grandchild whose d
vine songs were TO sooihe her old age, shouie
be the mighty king he was, and the father o
a vet mighlier, who should build the great tenn
Die Of the Lord; and that more distant de
scendan, should make these glories appear a.
childish toys in the presence OF his create
sovereignty over The universal human soul. A
wise man of late century has noby said ,ha
.. " Prosperity is the promise OF the Old Tesia
men,, and Adversely tina. of the New" o.
this hill was born the prosperity Of the old dis
pensa,ion and on this hill was born the Mar
of Sorrows, who knew the secret oftrue peace
and taught i, in the saying that il profits not
man TO gain the whole world if he lose his owl
soul.
In the morning we went into tho church
the convent cared lille for the upper part
with its chapels for Greek, Latin, and Arme
nian worship; and no. much more for the cav
ern. under ground. where the ffiars believe 'ha
Joseph and Mary remained while there was nj
8 room for them in the inn. If the town was to'
= full to receive them while the people were col
$ Ieced for The census, it is hardly probable iha
s they would repair 10 an underground cave bu
: in this cave mass was going on this morning
aud striking was the effect. after coming dow.
) from the sunshine Of the crowded cavern, WIZ
/. It's yellow lights and their smoke, and the ech
joes of the chanting. Were,urned when 'h'