Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-09-02
Correspondence Of the Phila. Ledger
Is Letter from Jerusalem
A LETTER FROM JAMES g. EV ER'
I - ~ AVA " \
HART. ESQ.
JERUSALEM, May 10. 1e5o.

carried to the mountains, and where he
bowed between the pillars, crushing the
Philistine lords and ladies in his last re-
venge; and then near Askelon, whose ru'
ms stfew the shore, and by the sites OF 9th
or places that have left no wrecks behind;
by Ashdod, where "Dagon fell fiat anu
shamed his worshippers," and Cain, me
city of Goliah and Ekron, snow rooted up,
whose slnit.en people sent away the ark OF
God, when the undriven kline went lowing
along the highway to Beshemesh, reJoic ng
the hearts of the reapers in the valley
Our way had thus passed two days over
plain so level, SO wide and cheerful, that
we Stacked our pace to feast upon ihe scene
II was the season of flowers and the time
of singing birds apd the voice of the turtle /
and the carol Of The lark were filling with |
swee, music this voluptuous vale ofSharon.
The day seemed like an hour, and the road
like garden path-old olives here and
there were white with vernal bloom, and
crimson blossoms shone like leaves OF fire
amidst the luxuriant branches of pomegran-
ate trees; and there were pinks, briget Us
stars upon the ground, roses worthy TIE
strains Of the sacred bard, and lilies such
as the delighted eye Of Christ remembered
v hen he uttered the parable of Providence.
We went on through fields Of grain and
tracts OF land, which men were plouging
for Indian corn, with an instrument like a
bended stick, drawn by heifers, such as
perhaps the earliest fathers Of mankind
employed, and ws reached Ramla, beau.i-
full among the palms, the Arimaihea of
Joseph, who buried Jesus; thence through
agap and along sequestered valley, up q
declivity, by the village Of the repentant
thief, frowniDg like fortress, and on a
road, if it can be called q road, which is
the dry bed ola winter torrent, filled with
stones Of every size and figure, wildly
hurled together, like broken walls or fallen
rocks, deep and slippery, winding and mar.
row, up and down, no turf, desoIate and
hot, every sep difficult, and every turn
perilous, the horse plunging, sliding, crawl
ing. sometimes on the mountain top, some.
times in q mountain gorge-here village;
then the vale Of Jeremiah; by Roman
ruin and over the brook where David gath.
cred the stones with which he smote the
giant, and up another rugged ascent, and
soon, with is embatlled walls, behsld the
sacred city
How solitary she seemed to sit upon the
desolute mountain, ''shorne of her charms. u
Her environs ''buried up like wilder
ness" The neighboring heights no lon.
ger crowned with groves, nor the declvi-
ties gay with gardens: the fruitful vine.
yards, The pleasant trees, the green pas
lures, and the still waters have disappeared
The soil that was rich in grain and flow.
ers, that flowed with milk and honey, thai
was the pride Of Jew and praise Of Gentle
has given place to naked rocks, and ster
ility almost universal reigns around. a
few olives still give their name 10 that me
morable hill where the Saviour wept ovel
the unrepen,ing city, and that spot callet
Gethsemane, sacred TO his agony and sor
row, when he prayed for the hour and n.
cup 10 pass. Some little culture is on
Zion, where David had his palace, where
is now his tomb, and in that valley of the
son Of Hinon, the scene Of Infamous wor
ship paid to Moloeh. On the Mount o
Scandal stands a srange''tree, almost alone
which tradition calls the gallows of Judas
tie betrayer.
Some delicious verdure and cheerful pom
egranates flourish at the base Of Ophel
watered by biest Silva's brook, nothing
grows upon the field of blood, it is as bar
rem as the highway; no stream flows il
summer along the channel Of kedron; an
that pool is dry where the tempting beau
yof Bathsheba bathing provoked the gull
of the enamored King. Within the tow
the streets, though paved, are as difficul
to travel as the road outside, lined wit
low, mean houses; now and then heap q
filth, perhaps carcass unburied, half ro
Ten and halt eaten; here horde of hdeou
dogs, there knot of savage Arabs, crowd
dragged pilgrims, some beggarly lookin
citizens, some forlorn Jews in greasy robe
and wide trimmed hats, some Turkish so
ders with pipes and swords, some wome
hermetically veled, without even visibl
eyes. Auiids. such objects, and sgl
unexpected as unpleasant, one uncor
sciously uses the prophetic words can III
be the city whose confines was proverl
that men called the perfection Of beaut
and the joy Of the earth;" was it hero th
God thought fit 10 put his name, whilh'
David brought the Ark with songs of m
sic; where S,lomon sat upon his ivor
throne, city where people were pee
''es h'ooSotc3 out "uO ioI Sot ti:C CuuSO LII
cherished them-that saved them-Ih
gave them food and habitation-,hey 70
got the miracles Of Egypt, Of the wilde
ness, OF Cannan-the divided waters, Il
falling :tpanna, the gushing rock, the d
ieated s1oes, the abundant possessions
Tney afollowed after strange idolotor
heather denominations, and 'soft forsook,"
Their living strength, and unfrequentcd IL
His righteous altars, bowling lowly down
To vestal Gods.a g..
Sacrificing on the eminent places, in |,
valleys and under the green oaks, to
cense. homicide and hate, they stoned i
Prophet sent to warn them of error and
danger, of sin and retribution and, fill
full the cup Of their trunsgrcssion, tn
crucifed Him who brought them n,
covenant, who taught them new CO
,nandment, who would have gathered tn;
under His wings. The day OF visita,