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

ened with flights of arrows, and with huge
stones thrown from the catapults. The solid
hills of Jerusalem shook beneath the tramp Of
her defenders, who, aroused to repel the as
sault, came forth from every dwelling and
poured down to meet the foe. With famisheC
faces and garments still bloody from former
combals, they crowded to the battlements, fam
ily gathering to family, tribe to tribe. and al
to the banner of Israel, each shouting the ap
propriate war crv," Glory TO Judah-on, mer
of Zebulon-ho, tribe of Benjamin"
Fierce and terrible was the contest which
ensued, and for hours Miriam gazed on it, hel
emotions fuctuating with the success or repnlse
of the Jews Though herself Christian,and
believer in the fulflment of prophecy which
foretold the fall of Jerusalem, her heart never
theless was with her countrymen. NOW she
grew pale with fear as the Romans from then
wooden towers gained footing on the wall
beneath the temple: now she breathed more
freely when she beheld the Jews rally and cast
the foe down the ba.tlements. But, as the sun
declined toward the West, the assallants grad
ually gained on the defenders, until final.
the gates were forced. and the streets filled
with the triumphant Romans. From her ele-
waited rost, Miriam beheld women and child
rem run shrieking before the enemy, who,
ruthlessly pursuing the fugiiives, spared none.
From a wall, Immediately beneath her tower,
body of archers still maintained their posts,
while others tore up the battlements and hurl-
ed the stones on the invaders below. AT last
night set in. But the fires Of confiagratlon,
kinded ir different places either by accident
or by design, lit up the scene with almost the
radiance of day and this in spite of temp
est whose dark clouds, towering on the edge
of the horizon, added its gloom and horror to
the scene.
The temple stood right over against where
Miriam watched, and for long time, she
breathlessly regarded the conflict raging at Its
oates. She knew that there was her sire light
ing for his land and liberty; and this height
ened the Intensity of her interest. Once the
combat paused for space, as II there was u
parley, and she began to hope there would be
n capitulation. II was when Titus, for the last
time. offered terms of surrender. But the
Jews scornfully repelling the profiered boon,
the conflict soon began anew. The battle now
raced 6ercer than ever. To and fro along the
outer ranks the tide of war surged, but finally
the defenders were overpowered, the legions
advanced shouting, and cries of horror rose
from the sons Of Israel on every hand Soon
a light thread of smoke issued from the high
est point of the sacred edIfce, just over where
.be HOLY of HOLES stood, and Immediately at
terward a tongue of flame leaped up, dlsap-
peared. and flashing forth again burned stead
liz. The lower courts Of the temple were al
ready ON fire. 1t was an awful and terrible
spectacle, such as the world perhaps has never
seen and the whole population of the city ut
tered groan of horror as they beheld II.
H;gb in Heaven the moon waded, blood-red,
,brouoh ominous clouds; the lightnings, on the
lower horizon, flashed wildly and the flames
of the sacred edifce, whirling and cracking
on birh. threw their luIid light Oh the edges OF
the clouds above, or danced back from the
long marble colonnades of hundred palaces.
The war shouts of the legions, comminglins
with the agonizing cries of the Jews, who, on
seeing the Holy of Holes in flames, gave up
all in despair, added TO The sublimity and ter
ror of the hour Truly it seemed as II an
avenping Deity was vindica ting his insulted
majesty and laws
Suddenly Miriam behold crowd OF fuS;5l-
tives. who had been driven from the temple
advancing toward her, pressed hard by the
victorious lepions At the head OF the panic
s.ruck multitude, endeavoring TO check ITS
mad career. she recognized her father, his
grey hairs floating in the night-wind, and the
blood streaming from many wounds. She had
been left in her present position for security
and the wisdom of the selection had been
nroved by her being undisturbed through al
the horrors of the day, but now she lost every
thought of her own safety, and thinking only
of her parent, rushed down staircase afiel
staircase until she reached the street. and, un'
locking the door of the deserted tower, passed
ont The street was filed with her country
men. despair written in every face ; but al
burryinn 10 the succor of the fugitive banc
with which her father fought. She was borne
onward in the torrent. Soon she reached the
very centre of the tumult, and heard close
hand the tramp of the advancing legions. Blu
cruitless were all her efforts 10 reach her sire
Tn vain she strove to pierce TO the from, whert
she caurht a glimpse of him fighting in vair
sbe shrieked his name; in vain she imploret
those around her to aid her in her pious WISH
The battle thickened: arrows and javelins flew
4 ike hail: each man had to think of himself a
Ilone and. at last, Miriam sank insensible-
When she recovered her consciousness th'
voice of tumult had passed off to the distance
and she found herself supported by some on'
in the shadow of lordly colonnade- n soi'
silyery light fell around. The change iron
the uDroar and press Of the strife to this que
made her think, for moment, 'nd' Sue n" q"
nasscd from Garth and the illusion resolved 1t
self into conviction when she beheld the fact
Of Publius gazing tenderly down on her.
Where am II" she whispered, and smiled
family "Oh Publius, said mot we shou't
: meet in Heaven :"
"Nay dear one" answered the living rub
: Inns lyon vet survive on earth: Look a
r ron, Won and see! This sweet light IS tina
Of the moon, but afar you can behold the glare
Of conaagration, the lumult of the stTiie, a an
all the other horrors attending the fall OF thu
t oo' YOUR voice in the crowd, and reached
Won lust in time to save You from beng tToa
hon Under foot. AT once l bore you hl.her
leaving to my lieutenant the command OF my
brave soldiers"
Miriam had chung to him as he spoke, mel
ewes eagerly pursuing every lneament OF M
e e3 as if to assure herself 1t was IN
JosJ her Publius she saw. When he eonciuG
od 80 sbe nre.sed his hand, and lcnged TO ask
I;n no how he still lived, when she had oeheVeo
LIN I'm, d do But she thought of her SIRE
"'in -, - sbe said. "do YOU know augn'