Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-09-21
Select Gales.
Mary MagdaIene,
A TRADTTIoN OF MAIN.

Marv arose from the crimson pillow on which
she had been reposing, and approaching the win
dow drew back, with slken rope the heavy
draperies of purple inwrought with gold, which
shaded the apartment from the direct rays of the
sun. and gazed with thoughtful brow on the
quiet city of Main. Beyond its walls lay the
sea. whose waters reflect back to heaven the
thousand respIendent lights and shadows scatter
ed along the western horizon by the flashing rays
of the setting sun, and in the far distance like
streak of gray cloud lay the mountains of Judea
Many shallop, richly laden, was gliding over
the still waters; some bound outwards, trelght-
ed with rich dies and stufls of Nazareth; some
coming into port, bearing treasures OF gold ana
Jewels from distant lands; others with costly
silks and fine paintings, polished mirrors OF sill
yer and steel, and pearls and wrought ivory from
the Ionian Isles. The chant of the oarsmen
as their oars splashed laziIy in the glowing wa
tiers. came family and sweety on the ear, and
the white sails scarcely swelling in the breeze,
looked like saffron-tinted clouds, Then came
stealing and chirping on the stiffness the vesper
hymns of birds, and blending as they did with
the gradually decreasing hum of the crescent
city as the evening mist qrooded over it, they
were sounds which shed over the spirit of Mary
Magdalene something like peace. A band of
Young and beautiful maidens now trpped along
with lars, and filled with the purest well in the
CITY then came a crowd Of children dancing to
the cymbaIs and lutes and trailing after them
long vines of flowersl and interviewer wreaths-
and sending out their joyous laughter and
sound of mirth, which well accord with the har
mony Of music.
Mary Magdalene turned her eyes YEARLY a
way from these tokens of peace and joy, and
leaning her head against marble pillar, and
wept A low sweet voice aroused her, singing
an old Jewish song, which told in sad poetry the
tale of broken heart The singer was a young
and lovely girl, Just blushing into the morning
of life, her skin was like polished ivory, save
where rose tint flushed her cheeks and dyed
the tips of her tapered fingers. Her large blue
eyes were cast downwards, and the full red lips
Just parted enough to reveal two rows of pearl
like teeth her exquisitely formed arms and bust,
combined with slight graceful figure, now half
hidden by profuslon of rich sunny hair, which
fell back from her sad childish forehead, and
swept the mosaic pavement, completed the beau
tiful picture. Mary started as the voice told
her that her slave had been a witness to her emo
ton, and raising her magnificent form to its ut
most height, while her commanding black eye
flashed with anger, exclaimed, Thou here "a
way, slave how dost thou dare to see me weepF
The timid voice was stilled, and the fair bead
bowed in silence and tears. After gazing on the
Young maidens few moments, during which
short space, contempt, and an expression of mys-
terious bitterness alternately changed her coun-
tenance the touching and beautiful grief of Adj
di moved her better spirit, and chased away eve
Al nit CCoroo hitbo~ i
di-come hther, poor bird. Forgive thy mis-
tresss hayward mood, and sing again; but sing
something to enlighten my heart, for it is heavy
and sad child sing something to stir the still
fountain of gadness; sing, sing Adds not
thy cage gilded one-then wherefore sad and
sentp
THE star that lit thy path, lady, is gone out.
Zimri, the widows son is dead
Ha dead poor child, | pity thee Yet Ad-
di come hither would tell thee, maiden, to
cherish a love for the dead let it not go out,
and leave thy heart, like the waters of the sea
whose suIlen waves cover those oden cities which
were destroyed in their might and glory by Je-
hovah Thou hast heard of the fruits which
grew on its banks 2
yes, Lady
Let love 90 out, and thou wilt be like-like
me, yes, Add, me-beautiful and bright to the
eye, but within, bitterness and-ashes; but
harkP
"Oh, lady, sobbed the young slave, that
sound of grief is the wall of Zimri's mother and
kinsmen; they are bearing him past to the grave.
And Add rushed to the window, and straining
her eyes through the misty twilight, saw the bier
on which was laid the dead body of Zimri, and
over it the bending form of his widowed moth
er, weeping and by the light of the torches
which they carried, the sorrowfu faces of his
kinsmen
'They are coming, lady, she cried to Mary
who had thrown herself again on the crimson
pillows of her COUCH Oh, Zurich, is that still
form never more to move? Methnks see now
the smile on his white lips and the waves of shi
ming hair on his gentle brow. See, lady, they
are beneath the window, and the pail has fallen
so closely around him that you can see the beau.
ty of his form even in death. Ha! why do they
stop-a crowd Observation-Disclosures il
is the Prophet Jesus and his followersr
Mary started from her recumbcnt posture, and
throwing back the tresses of long black hair
which had fallen like veil around her, with
look of intense anxiety gazed on the face O
Addi who unheedng her mistresss emotion
palms in his majesty-his brow is like the eve
ming star, and his serene lips drop honey. HI
approaches the widow-he looks on her tear
with eyes of tender pity-he speaks-he raise
his face towards Heaven, and reaches forth hi
hand and lays it on the dead T and with lou
and piercing shrek, she rushed forth into tn
streets
Mary stared up with an expression OF wonder
and dread, and looking down on the crowd be
low saw the youth arising from his bier at tn
command of Jesus. She saw him, with tn
warm breath of life in his nostrils, who fe,
moments past was dead and cold. And as tn
shouts of the assembled people rent the air, man
of whom were now willing to believe and wo
ship Him who had done the miracle, he bowe
his head meekly on his bosom, and gathering IL
folds of his garment around him, glided nois
lessly away from the multitude.
After long hours of abstraction, Mary life
her head from her bosom, and approaching mi
ror folded her arms, and gazed on her image vii
an expression of scorn and bitterness; anon tea