Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-02-07

inquired the boy, looking up earnestly in hi.
mothers face.
The tears were coursing freely down hel
cheeks, while, seated close by his side, hei
hand rested on his shoulder.
eyes, my child,'' said she, wiping the tears
from her eyes, ssthey were my fathers, and
many were their aff1ictions.''
ssBut why were they carried into Babylon, so
far away from their own country?''
'sBecause of their sins, my child.''
There was a short silence-the boy gazing
| thougstfully at the harp. and carelessly touch
ing its strings with his fingers, while the mother
leaned her head sorrowfully on his shoulder.
81 don't wonder your people wept. so far
away, in that strange land 81 think l would
have wept, too.''
eyes, my child, their beautiful temple on
mount Zion, and all the pleasant things they
had had there, came up to their remembrance
and drew bitter tears from their eyes. Even
the recollection of ones early home, and the
sunny pleasures of youth, in certain condi-
tions of life, may sadden the heart.''
| '.But why did your people hang their harps
on the willows? Couldn't they sing in that
strange land as well as in any other7 Isn't it
our duty, too, mother, to praise God in every
place, wherever We are !''
.'Perhsps, they were in fault, my child, but
| their sorrow and snguis hwere too great.
There is sorrow SO intense, that music is only
an aggrayation of it, and seems to do violence
to the feelings. All! my dear child, my people
were then called to time of weeping and
mo nnI,J hun hair
and mingled their tears with the sullen waters
s'But, sing on,'' said the mother.
In a moment his fingers were on the harp
Strings,-
'If forget the, Jerusalem, let my right hand
forget her cunning.
If do not rem ember thee let my tongue cleaye
to the roof of my mouth;
IF I prefer not Jelusalem before my Chief Joy
Here the boy suddenly stopped, and quickly
turned his blue, sparkling eyes up at his mother.
80! how 1 should like to &c to that place
Jerusalem! How your poor, dear people must
have loved - SAID he.
eyes. dearly-dearly! my child but it |
was worthy then of their love.''
ssAnd, O.! wasn't it there, the sweet singer |
of Israel himself liYed.''
Eyes, my child, but there're no such singers |
there now. The glory of Israel has departed. |
Her happiest and best days are gone. Her OIL |
i've yards and vineyards lie waste-her flocl<s
are scattered upon her mountains-her sons
and daughters wandering afar without
home or shelter-they are a poor, afflicted
gully people, said the mother, with sigh.
s'Guilty! 0, yes--they put the dear, blessed
Saviour to death. How horrid-dreadful thing
that was in them, mother! Wasn't it?
eyes; but they knew not what they did,
ssDidn't they hnolc he was the dear Saviour.
mother 2''
''No; their eyes were blinded.'
''Then they may be saved ,too-mayn'tt they?'
'sThey were not the less guilty, on that ac-
count, my child; but there's salvation for them
as well as others, if they repent and believe.
Many of them did repent, and the very blood
which their own hands had shed, washed away
their sins.''
ssWhat a Saviour what love, too' exclaim-
ed the boy, almost in an extacy. go! 1 should
like to go there, to see the land where he liv-
ed-where he died. I might see the very cross
itself-stained with his dear, precious blood
Butt know shall never go, mother.''
These last words were uttered with low
solemn, hestating voice; and as they were
spoken, he hung his head, and looked, sor-
rowful, at the floor. She gazed upon him
surprised, but said quickly:
''Perhaps you may, my child, when you
grow older. If I'm spared, We may visit the
and together. l should like to die there and
DC laid in the sepulchres of my fathers. It's
been IN my mind many year "a foolish de-
sire, perhaps, but natural, thinks
The boy still sat with his eyes fixed on the floor
''lt's nigh the hour Of meeting, my child ; I
7ou'd better go before it's late, if you still
hink you must go. TIN be dark tonight. /
,uess,' said the mother, rising from her seat
md looking out at a small window
Again she re-seated herself at his side.
81 must go, mother,-I feel must; but I
vas MISUNDERSTANDING, mother, of another }
erusalem-the New Jerusalem on high. That's
better and happier place still. There their
arps are all gold, and they're all sweet sing
rs there like David; and there can see the
ear, blessed Saviour face to face. I'd rather
o there IL think I'd be willing to go at any
me, if it wasn't for leaving you, mother''
The mother made no reply, but impressed P
md kiss on the cheek of her darling boy. a
"We're never too young to die,-are we, .
lother, if we only ready a'' said he, at the
sme time, laying his hand on hers.
,"And do you feel ready, my child7'' t.
s'I do, mother-I feel my sins are all washed b
way by the dear Saviour'S blood. feel some a
mes, too, as if must go to where he is soon n
TO that strange happy-happy place. Off i,