The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-12-19

iaise nalr anu was ready. Jack borrowed
very large parchment book, written in
Hebrew, and thus accoutred, we set out,
leaving our own clothes and ten dollars
as pledge for our safe return. s b..
! We found Captain Sanders at the cafe,
where Jack said we should, and very for
tunately, he was at small table alone,
with glass in his hand. Jack walked
slowly and totteringly towards him, aud
sat down on the opposite side of the same
table, and having rested the end of his
huge book upon the marble top, he opened
the volume, being careful to hold it so
that Sanders could look into it. The
captain did look into it, and when he saw
the strange char r.cters there, he was puz-
zled. The old aatrologer-for SO we
must call Jack-bowed his head upon his
hand, and at the end of some moments he
started up and uttered: i.s..-...
"Amcsfceno! Americas son is here!"
s..sesaAisas in e. most mystical idiom. Ina
mon,e.s5 more 10 fastened his eyes upon
aanG-rs, aud added "ipardon!" felt your
pfese.4ce?''
| Did you?" whispered Sanders show
ing by his very look that he was deeply
moved.
! 'Ies--1 was reading the stars, and I
cau.e 10 the fourteensh day of the years
first month, and l saw a new star fash
! tforsh. That sas the day ofyour nativity"
| (Jaek knew that the captain was born
on the fourteenth day of January.)
| Sanders was astoaished, and his hips
tremhled
"I ours has been dark tempcstuous
| iife!" resumed the astrologer, solemnly,
closing hi. book, and turning the globe
upon its skis. ''i'wo fair children lie bu-
ried in your native land. A wife now
"Whcs," graspsd the captain, turning
deadly pale, and trembling.
She walls for you, and prays!"
Sanders brcathed more freely.
"Shall | tell you more?" ~
"No-ye-yes!''
"All is not dark--you have seen much
joy. But cloud comes--a most strange
and curious one. I can read it not from
this" setting the globe aside, and taking
up the book.
What is it," whispered Sanders, while
Jack pored over this strange book in si-
lence.
'This is passing al belief" uttered the
astrologer to himself, still reading from
the cabelistic characters Ct the book.
There is g. torture-but it is not for
him! TITS for another-and vet he dies!
Wonderfsl.'
/ And thus speaking, the strange man
gazed iSedly into the captains face.
/ What is it?' hoarsely whispered the
anxious, sHpcrs:itious man.
''You afs TIE commander of ship"
said the sstrologer.
] Yes"
''Is there any one suffering there?'
| .No!n
| Then theIe viii to. Twill not be you
and yet you viii be the victim, for SO
it is written!p
But tell ne all! What do you see?
What do you rcad?"
''Thus / read, answered the astrologer,
in a voice that seemed to come from the
rallts beneath the house. There shall
be the sound ofwoe and wailing, as of one
in distress A lash shall make sharp mu-
sic in the air, and the waiting flesh shall
quivcr wheu it receives the stroke The
blows fall thick and heavy, and the suffer
ing one shall bow in shame and grief
His pain of flesh shall not equal his pain
of soul But yet read that you are not
the sufferer and yet, such shall be the
scene when you dict That is what !
hold SO wondrous strange! And my
record never yet deceived me! Surely,
! sir, you must be connected with this in
some way''
s "With what? How?" gasped the cap
tain agE
"With this scene have described. /
/ see the barred fesh-the lash--the wound
/ the oozing blood! | hear the wall and
the groan And your death is therc!---
Y GU must read the rest, for the heavens
tell me no more!" raa
t a"But wait--one moment! Answer me
one question: cried Sanders, now the We
ry picture of terror. '.Shal soon dic?"
/ a"'Tis not set down. You may live
long for all that | can tell, for this dread
scene have found is not fixed, it only
| appears as cloud which threatens you
But be sure of this: When you see what
! l have described, then you know your
hour draws nigh, and then you must
pray!" t9l. 81
Thus speaking the strange man left
the cafe, and followed him. In due time
we reached the Jews, exchanged our
clothes, washed our hands and faces, paid
two dollars for the use of the disguises,
and before dark were on board the ship
On the next morning, Captain Sanders
came off, and his first order was that Ben
Green should be set at liberty
!. "Will you fog hm!" asked the mate
"No sir.' whispered tho captain with
fearful shuddcr "And mind you," he
added in alquicker tone, .let no man be
struck on board our ship without my or
ders!' ~