Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1854-09-06

I Emperor hts only thiowii OFF his disguise. =
F'Ho Ezhdt t6oG sayest is Ef5Ie, Prytiieus nor
have hitherto ,ehtertained a. suspicion; but
should his resentment set against our l4nost
noble faith, lnartyredr mpltitgdes will realize
| ere long the Yisien OF unclolnleda agleryah
dust atFthis moment. their conversations was
interrupted by youth, who suddenly threw
Iiopen the deor and exclaimed, '.fhe cifsfis On
fse'p 3keieitg s on fire '''i .-iah a17a2. 9fi
Prytheas and rYaiens were astoiisi,c}e abe.
yond nieisurc at this sudden and unexpected
! qnnouqcehneat though they did not fan to
| observe, at a glance, thai the pale and item
bling youth belonged TO a Aensehold Of ike
| faith Mithat hemselYes. Rising hufTiedlyisroIn
their seats. with anxious looks ard trembling
steps, they found their way cautiously into
the narrow street when, Cooking up through
the pitchg tl,aasness, they Observed the light
of the IuriC flames, from u dozen or more diff,
fsreht p6i}fs reffe Sled ii the ciotted skies
After After. gazing for time in lbfwildered amaze ),
plesnf5 they returned in silfinee. 2ildEseatod
! themselves as before bas sw 7adss fzg .ssf fgE
Il NJ Neither for, semo time, sentured yto speak
They sat Inotioiiless as statues, inE stale of
deep mentafabstraction, gazing on theslnar-
ile fi6of worn rodGll and uneven by the tread
Of centuries. The subject hpoii Which they
had Just been c6nversing foreboded no good :
and nov this additional. fact, though wholly.
igRorat OF its cause OF extent, had gwed them
iato silence, and turned the Thoughts 7a6each, !.
in uBeA Hliaseif At lgas, evident b0aaNer,
that il had onls sisrved to4incroasc tiieiD aAq-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. !; and, Under sic scir'csInl-
stniees, eonfrmdd their f4irids I'M the belief,
tl?at fr6ubfors tinics were at hand. isa7a2i3
..s.Well, oyalen5.' at length said Irytbsts, ).
soar God reignfth J; the EtnpcTqy canhiot Iarsal
h2air Of our beads yithoYt BIS perF2siaa5on RMS 53
end i persecution Gems OH il ef4ijit shis
bidding -ss4o5.r .s5-9
falens made no reply, but sat with ms eyes
still fixed ON the door, absorbed in thought.
Alteration giiisliy dzaisins them
llp;sand looking Prgthcus fulhindbe iaee she
safd sslatt, What OF the frog the cityss on
fire IJass tto-i 7wrsyseruf
fam IS glare III the Hcavens ?''-
.s&h. Yes: and they conducted ny thoughts
far hey ond the rudy glare, far into fIle. depths
of that eternal day, when kingdoms and men.
shall have vanished, ard when this ..nortal
shsI, rave put on inmortaiity.''al sfarE5s-
'sSuch thoughts, PiytheIs, anay sycil possess
thy breast, and we'll may they iiat the7anxie-l
ties of the tibublea-souE But aidst tlloil not
see something Portcntous in that lurfd glare,
as of armies BATTLING rcEeetls strife; or men
women. and even helpless infants: writhng in
| torture, and expiring in the struggling
| fames.;'
sesiihe eyes failed to perceive, most noble
YaIens; nor could aught, think, but Thy fan
cy have pictured out from thence such por-.
tcntous tlingS and yet. it is most strange
.alost strange, PrytheVs !, Yes, passing
strange And my mind is somehow most
strangely pressed isa saiz ea
'.But hast not many city Of old been laid
4 IN ashes-soIne spark accidentally kindling
into flame, and spreading and widening the
/ breach, till naught but cfarred timbers, and
/ blaci1cned walls have marked the site. And
why may not this great city, that man hath
| built fall prey to the same devouring ele-
/ ment; yea, may not her idola, frous SINS call
/ for such vengeance.
/ SsIn TRUTH said Talens, siour. righteous
God might well be provoked to such wrath !;
/ but didst thou not see the light far separated
this botolcns no accidental spark, but some
hp4rposed wEath that would lay our city in
! luins.' 'reiissura5 r. " ase, F'Hss. 81 sess
|. ssrApd IS there apght beyond the power of
IioHr 0mEipotent Ruleran said Prytheus; sand
could not the inyisibIe spirits that do his
9pleasure, llimile the hidden spark into fame,
/ wherever He willed." e5iilgH
81 grant thee, Pryfl6,ls; but fear some
mortal hand now ministers to its execution
May be, its aosgnai for revolt for, in truth,
the nobility and Citizens Of Rome feel most
keenly the smart Of the Emperors recent edicts,
and no wonder if they should seek to stay the
arm that seems laised for their destruction.
But must bid thee good night, Prytheus ::
my family waits with anxiety my return.,i;
sand may the blessing of the one God at
/ tend thee, and the fears thou hast this night
expressed prove uniounded. And, most noble
friend, see that thy faith fail not. The way
to the life to- cune rs full of crosses it is
through fire and sword, and persecution, and
death; and ours may be tie martyrs crown.
1s1h Falens rose from his Seat and had laid his
Hand on the latchct Of the door, when starting
back. he. said; ssIIark what means that
heavy, measured noise in the street? Uearest
it pots Prytheus r., ..-,,.-. ..ss
sssFHll web bear it, butcanst not tell whence
or what it is. ''ts,s EDS .zlssz sfig saf
h. 7ss4ih now,;i said Valens, ssnay Inot right
i1y conjecture :1itissa band of ruffian soldiers
tsuch as. of late,s nightly stroll each street.
and narrow avenne, minions of the Emperor,
who do MS bidding. But, rnethinks, they
hasten to The right: nor need ] fear their meet
ing in the ,Fay reach my home" .~--s5