The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-03-27


hand commanding silence.
alt would be useless to speak, for over.
heard your suit. Did you not solicit my child:
love And is not that enough? Col And
you, Miriam, why have you not obeyed me
Come with me-"
Miriam, however, darted away from his side
and advanced to Publius, the tears falling fast
from her eyes.
"Gol" she said. "This is part of our cross
We shall meet in Heaven"
Sobs choked her utterance, and extending
her hand, which her lover seized and kissed
she turned back toward her parent. Puplius
held that fair palm as long as it was possible
then dropped it monrnfully, exclaiming-
Farewell, Miriam, farewell forever. Were
it not for the religion hold, and the hope Of
that reunion in better world, ] know not how
| could survive this hour
The whole of this latter scene had passed
so quickly that the angry parent had not been
able to interrupt it; but he now seized Miri-
ans arm and drew her away. Publus watch
ed the receding forms until they were lost in
the shru5bery then, with groan of anguish,
he turned in an opposite direction.
Publius was soldier of rank in the army
of Rome, and connected by ties Of relation
ship with the imperial family. Of noble
and generous heart, his Indignation was fire.
quenty excited by the oppression of the pro-
consul, and on a late occasion he had by his
intercession, saved the life of Miriam's father.
when arrested on suspicion of conspiring a.
gainst the state. The grateful Jew had invit-
ed the young Roman home with him, and anx-
ious to learn more of the social life of Judea,
than he had yet seen. Publius accepted the
hospitality. The charms of Miriam, the only
daughter Of the old chief, soon made an i'm
preston on the visitor. Together he and the
fair girl discoursed on literature, or played on
the musical instruments of the country, or saw
the chief and his retainers engage in the peril
Gus hunt of the lion in the deserts beyond
Jordan. 1t did not take long of such inter-
course to create love on both sides. Publius
was secretly Christian, and anxious that Mi
RAM should enjoy the blissful consultations
which that faith impaired, he gradually led
her to discuss the evidences of the new rehg-
ion. The Jewish maiden became eventually
convert TO his own belief Her familiarity
with the prophets of Judaism assisted in this
change Of sentiments, for, when her attention
was once directed TO it, she saw in every pre-
diction of .he Messiah, proof that the Saviour
had indeed come. As yet, however, Publius
forbore to speak of his love. But the near ap-
proach of his departure finally induced him to
declare his sentiments in the interview, whose
abrupt and fatal termination VIC have seen.
We must now pass over period of more
than four years, and transfer the scene to the
city of Jerusalem. In a high, fortified build
ing, from window which overlooked most Of
the city, sat Miriam alone and weeping. She
was changed terribly from the period when
we last saw her. Then the bloom of health
was ON her cheek, and the elastic step OF youth
marked her movements now she was pale and
attenuated by famine, and moved with languor
as if in pain. But she still wore the the rich
garments of a daughter of princely house.
Alas" she said, while her tears fell fast,
" the prediction which our blessed Saviour ut
tered from yonder hills, not many years ago,
is about TO be fulfilled. Jerusalem must fall.
Already the common people are devoured by
famine, and even we of higher rank scarce
know where TO find food. Discussions among
ourselves, added to the vast preparations OF
our enemies have reduced US to the brink of
ruin. The Romans have taken our exterior
defences and now prepare for the grand as
sault. My father, left alone of all his family,
for all have persisted in this siege, still strives
to animate his tribe; but ii will be in vain, land
he too must soon fall. Oh Publius," she con-
tinued, clasping her hands, and looking as If
she expected his spirit to hear, " if thou hadst
lived, he NIGH. have been saved but now that
is impossible: one who has been so conspicuous
in the defence of this fated city, will be among
the first sacrificed to the conqueror's vengeance
But thou art dead: the waves Of the Mediter-
ranean enclose thy form; for, flying before my
fathers malediction, thou didst perish in a short
month from our last meeting. | have borne a
widowed heart since then, but soon this worlds
griefs will be over, and our reunion occur In
better and happier state of existence
As she thus spoke, tumultuous shout rose
from without, and directing her eyes in that
direction, Miriam saw one of those sight:
which marked the latter days of Jerusalem
for, as our readers must have foreseen, this
was the period when the long siege uEdertak-
en- by Titus approached its close. A man
haggard and with excited mien, was seen run
ming wildly along battlement that overlooked
the Roman forces; and the shout was that o
the Jews at the sight of this singular and mys
FERROUS being for this was not the first time
he had appeared.
"Woe to Jerusalem" he cried, in shrill
unearthly voice" woe to the Holy City,
Woe woe woe -
! He rushed swiftly forward. as he spoke, de
precating with his hands the vengeance h
seemed compelled, by some supernatural pow
err, TO invoke; and, as he approached, thu
crowd made way for him, right and left. Hi
was now close beneath the window of Miriam
HWoe woe woep he cried. " Woe t.
the holy house, and to the people! Woe
woe ~
Just then Miriam beheld vast fragment o
rock, which had been projected from one o
the Roman engines, whirling in mid air Fo
an instant it almost seemed to darken the Ugh
of dav, while the whole armament was filled
with its hum. 1t scared, space, on high
and then came Kissing down in the direction
of the tower Miriam shrank back mechanic
ally.
The voice of the mad prophet had for ;
second stopped, but it now rose again more
terrible than ever.
" Woe to Jerusalem ~ it cried. " Woe tc
the house of David Woe to the Holy of Ho
lies. Woe ! woe woe to myselfl'
As he spoke these last words, the huge rocI
rushed down past the window of Miriam, and
the next instant, she heard crash and groan