Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1852-04-16
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
| The roof of the counsellor's house was
| built after the manner of the east, havino
a Hat root, which was tagged with narrow
BLOCKS OF marble. hewn with much art.
and wrought with neat workmanship.
! Here were marble stands, from which
| waved the dwarf palms, and CLIMBING
along the terrace might be seen vines with
dark green leaves and white Or red berries.
his was nj time, for it was sun set, and
TIT spot for Festia of Samaria TO hold
converse with the counstl.o.'s daugh.er 4:
Tor he had sought her in marriage and she
had willingly promised to be his. Sun
sets have often been described, and poetry
hath found an unceasing theme in the
beauty OF an evening sky and however
weary we may grow Of hearing of the
spiendor OF the suns decline behind the
western hills, our hearts leap forth with a
pure and innocent holiness of delight, TO
greet the brlllance which fadelh SO softly
and family over the shining brow of Heav-
en-, and If there is one feeling of childhood
lett III our souls, it gushes forth from its
deep wellIngS in the midst of sin and NOR
al gloom, and CLEANS with as beautiful
glluerance as doth the meteors which shoe,
from the walls of Eternity, al d die ON the
clouds Of Heaven.
'Festla, said the lady Ziara, let not
thy mind be so troubled about the conlen-
uons OF The counseliors forget them all,
and rest Thy weary mind in this soothing
hour-see, fes'ia all things seem 10 rest
even the weary sentinels, as they lean
on their spears, and look forth from the
walls OF Jerusalem, appear to bless this
quiet, soothing light.
The young counsellor smiled, and look
ing ont on the scene, said,
Verify thou hast soothing tongue.
sweet maiden but thou hast not looked
beyond the walls of the city at the beauti-
tul scenes which lie there.
Thou dost not know, Festia, where my
eyes have been wandering ! for see green
wales and green vines and many shrubs
with summer flowers hanging thereon
and | see stream which is laughing most
cunningly, along through the lilies and
rushes, and the lnconstant thing whispers
tale of love to every blossom which
looketh down on its brightness. | see,
100, beyond the yallies, yon high blue
mountains which seem to me to be the
bulwarks of the world and the supporters
of Heaven
Fes ia smiled, and said. Ziara, thou
dost mind me of the southern maidens
who will take their harps and sing of every
beautiful thing. have seen some of the
southern maids, and comely faces have
thcy-llrge black eyes and but
continued he, gazing in the radiant face
before him. they mind me, too, OF a
mountain which hath brain of fire and
smoke; and thou dost seem as bright to
me as those arrows of light which the sun
shoo!eth from the quivers of his glory
Look look Festia those purple clouds
are rolling up, and waving and shining like
mighty army with spears and banners
and the white clouds do tremble so gently,
that they look like plumes floating from
the caps OF armed men. Oh, tell me, for
thou hast seen other lands, Is there fair
er than this our land of Judea ?
There is none brighter to me, sweet
lady F! for thou dost well here
He said no more, but casting his eyes
down, relapsed into his former moodiness.
She approached near him and bowing
down her head until her bright curls famed
his cheeks, whispered,
why is thy heart troubled dost doubt
my faith Is thy ear closed against me,
Festia p
Tell me one thing, lady-thou mayst
think Inc mad-but say doSt thou love
nsat'
Festia, alas hast thou not yet learned
what am +! My love, young counsellor
was given thee for aye. | am not wont to
change
Il did not doubt thy faith, but my heart
did yearn to hear thee say that thou dost
still love me, for it seemeth as if all else +,
had torsaken me. Hast thou heard, Ziara, /,
of this Nazarine who calleth himself King
of the Jews! well :-contentions have
arisen IN our council-chambers concerning
him. Herod and PLATE can find no evil /
in him; but the High Priests and the
Scrlbes, and the Pharisees, call him a
They say he stirreth up the
people to sedtion. Though he hath healed
the sick, the manned, The halt and blind
aye, he hath even raised the dead and