True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-09-05

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are more precious than jewels of fine gold.
But there was one who looked not forth
upon the pleasant scene with the same
beaming of the eye-the same expanding
ioyousness of heart as had been his wont
and this was Helon, the young noble of
Capernaum.
There had come deep and melancholy
change upon him. AS the gentle Spring
yielded to the fiery sway of Summer, there
had crept an unnatural sluggishness upon
his limbs; the blood coursed feebly thro'
its channels; fever parched his tongue
and pain, like fierce lava stream, swept
ever across his throbbing brow.
All day long, and through the still long
er nights, he tossed YEARLY upon his couch,
but the returning morn bro't no allevia-
ton to his pain racked form.
| Oh, it was sad to see him PROSTATE thus,
and hear the languid moan from his fever
stricken lips, and at times his wild and
earnest cry for "Miriam ! Miriam !"--thc
dream of his troubled brain
Illness to him, from infancy, had been
a stranger. But now, in his pride, and
his strength, and his beauty, the unwel-
come and unbidden guest had come.
For long time, not he nor those who
ministered unto him guessed the secret
malady that oppressed him. But when
; "His skin grew dry and bloodless and white
scales,
Circled with livid purple. covered him,
And from their edges grew the rank white hair
then those who loved him covered up their
faces in their mantles, wept, and fled away.
For then they knew the curse of Israel
was on him,-he was leper
X X x & x
Morning, beautiful as ever stole from
out the portals of high heaven, dawned
r upon Capernaum. Many people were
abroad for it was not an hour for indolent
repose.
Joy and animation sat on every coun-
tenance, and from smiling lips that spoke
the feelings of the heart, were heard the
friendly salutations of the morn.
All was life, hustle, happiness. But all
at once the busy murmur ceased, and 81
lence like pail settled upon the multitude,
for the warning cry came waited down the
streets
Groom for the leper! Room for the
leper"
. Oh, it was pitlful sight to see-that
wreck of beauty! The swiftest foot in
Galilee moved as if it were manacled =
That once noble eye-bright as that Of
the sky staring eagle-was cast down like
the eye of felon; and a form that had
been the most princely in the land now
stopped as with the burden of an hundred
: years
No costly raiment hid his shrunken
8 frame-naught save the leper's garment,
the foul sackcloth, twined about his loins;
the soft, brown, curling beard and the lux
uriant hair were shorn, and on his lip rest
6 ed loathsome covering, and ashes were
on his brow! And on be passed. The
throng shrunk back from him as though il
was a serpent passing by.
All spurned him, even those whom he
had feasted and honored in his palmy days,
-, and those who loved him well and would
have freely given all that he might be re-
stored. On, on, each step eliciting moan
Of anguish as his leprous feet pressed the
! sharp stones along the way crying
"Jnclean! uncIeanP
By all forsaken? Was there not in all
that mighty city one heart to speak word
of consolation to the cursed Of God
Must he go forth in his stupendOus griei
with that gigantic mountain Of fierce
= agony resting on his soul--and not word
g of comfort reach him--not one sympa'
thizing voice give him God-speed in his
s desolation?
y No! by the divinity of love! for 10
s as bird darts forth quick as a beam Of
light, from its opened cage, from out the
# palace gates of Ben-Rama bounds the dark
S eyed daughter of his love and though
e dishonor. pestilence, or death We're in the
e touch, she would have pressed the ghast
Q ly wanderer, plague laden as he was, be-
e fore Capernaum's thousands, to her snowy
e breast
Oh, the deep, fervent, holy love of wo
10 man! Show me a diviner attribute Of the
= human heart, and l will show you some
n thing implanted there by mightier hanc