The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-09-16


well permeated with oozy, dark-green veins.
He shambled up to the brink of the chasm,
first casting around glance which seemed TO
say, q am no enthusiast know some things,
expect to be disappointed
Like the other inquirerS he gave us no direct
clue to his experience, but now and then vent
ed his feelings in a groan of dismal triumph :,
what he expected, he evidently found
After some time gazing ntently, in a sort OF
fascinated disgust, he suddenly turned round.
cleared his throat ASSUMED an attitude, and
frowning sternly at nothing, spoke as follows
"Wo! woi wo! to this vile and benghtedi
generation. Who shall save them from The
wrath to come Behold, they have put ne
day of their redemption they have al 1
the ordinances of the only true sect thG -
followed after new prophets; they ha<E pot
their holy faith in common works; they have
hardened their hearts against the customs Of
their fathers, and they are all in outer dark
ness together.
80, how altogether vile is the whole human
family! how weak how cruel-with what
natural tondness for all varieties of depravity
verify they are fends from the cradle and as
before remarked they are all in outer dark
ness together"
lie paused here moment to push back the
hair. which the oOzing perspration for he was
an eloquent mani had glued in clammy flakes
upon his forehead Then he resumed still
scowllng liercey into the general air:
Repent, D sinners Return once more to
the guidance of your spiritual fathers Fly the
fatal hope in human works, which are but the
snares OF Satan; strengthen your souls with
| the creeds of your ancestors grid on the whole
armor of the catechism; rouse your sleeping
zeal in foreign missions reverence the clergy
pay your pew rents Repent repent or We
are lost forever
| And here again the pious man took breath ::
he relaxed into melancholy smile his natu-
raj scowl was suddenly mufiled in meekness.
and, with Il praiseworthy simplicity and alb.
sence OF carnal pride, he took off his hat and
with his own hands held it in succession to
each of the assembled pilgrims
Having by this time ncared the entrance he
looked with II melancholy scrutiny at the col
lections, and, casting glance of forgiving
benedction ON the donors shambled gradually
from the cave
| magic garment of youth, that covereth a
multitude of failings O enchanted light OF
youth, wherein every weakness looks a glory.
and every folly a charm
| y beauty, dethr0neless autOcrat of the mil
lions. so long rs human hearts retain their hui
mainly shall thy smile suffice thee for sceptre,
and thy naked brow for crown.
1t was only rosy girl, who now stepped
from behind the hermit; simple child, whose
arm no strong angel would ever borrow to fur
ther his Woodwork whose lips no courier
from heaven would ever think to touch with
his message of prophecy mere bud of a
woman with the baby-dimpes not yet out of
her round soft arms yet, as she stood there in
the halo of her innocent beauty, my soul fell
down before her, in ready, unreasoning rever-
ence. ! seemed to be floating on the golden
waves of her voice; swayed with the grace of
her every motion; caught in the sun-brown
wonder of her hair
She leaned across the chasm, her arm en-
crcling the rock, her mouth half parted in
eager dreaminess her head bent down till
the rich warm cheek was lying close against
the stone. AS she stood thus, forgot to think
what purpose had brought her. saw but the
flow OF curls, and curves and dimples and the
brown liquid glory of young soft eyes and the
living crimson delicately threading through
the ripe, dainty icslr--the whole inexplicablc
magnetism of perfect physical life
; Doubtless the young girl saw, but after he
first reply to the hermit, she spoke not One,
her face grew pale and troubled but soon ;
change in the vision made her rise all happ,
and ashamed and stand before us a moment
like a sunset
"iiither, child said the hermit, seeing hel
n little bewildercd. And 80 she passed from
our sight
A sleek cat-like, excessively respectable per-
son. now bowed himself along, and folded both
hands conspicuously on the rock He was n
resident in the village, and reputed to be a
highly virtuous and wealthy man. What ter
rOrs had the mysterious waves for such an in
quirer Yet ut the first cautious look he
shuddered from the roots of his wcIl-brushed
hair to his respectable CATERS; ut the second
| the gentee accustomed smile forsoOk his face
to leave it drawn into lines Of strange, inexpli.
| cable fear yet he drew nearer and nearer the
| brink, rs u bird would lean to the charmer
his white lips parted aud quiyered, but no
sound came At length, with II mighty strug-
gle, he seemed to burst the chain that held
him spell-bound, and shrieking IA demon! a
demon rushed, half mad, from the cave
There was PAUSE and IA silence of conster-
nation; and then woman Approached pill
grim truly she, both in men and apparel
robed in long, coarse, iron-colored garment
young, but very grave and calm; not beautiful
except that her pale face was stamped with
sorrows own sublimity
She stood aepace in silent self-communiOn
then knelt ut the edge of the chasm, and gazing
intensely, moved her lips as if in continual
prayer
Long she knelt and gazed, and bent down
nearer and nearer, and her lips moved faster
and we felt that she would not 20 until the
very might of her desire had wrested an an
swer from the silence.
At last she arose put back the clouds Of her
fallen hair and then we saw that a great thing
had CHANGED to her soul. Still pale and grave,
she went out from among as she came but
AZ she passed, those near her bent down and
touched her feet and her garments, and each
man whispered to his neighbor, She has seen
the Angel"
A tripping foot was heard, and child stood
by the water--a fair boy with 10 boys frank,
careless bearing He looked, and stepped back
instantly
But see MyseJ" he said, in smiling sur
prise.
zee Myself
Eureka" cried the hermit starting for
ward with rapture. "Out Of the mouth of n
babe the Jehovah hath sent us wisdom blessed
through all the worlds be His awful name
Then looked from one TO another of those
yet with us; as leaps from cloud to cloud,
through all the Storm the lght-awakening
thunder so the boys word struck from heart
to heart, and instant Truth flashed up, assent
ing. And we looked up in each Others faces
some in joyful wonder, some in dismay; and
the hermit bowed his snow-crowned head in
reverence.
"Spake ] not truly" at length said the old
man, rising, when called this mountain lake
my world And listen now, my children now
] know that my words are true az ye have
sounded to-day this cavern chasm, NO shall ye
seek TO iathom the mystery Of life; as ye have
found in these depths each man his own inter