American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-04-05
'JEPTHAM's DAUGHTER.
by ADrLLA.

noly VIII, recording human transactions,
more touching and sublime, than the de-
scnption given Of Jepthah meeting bis
daughter after the overthrow of the chill
dren Of Ammon. He had made vow
that if he should conquer his enemies, on
his return homie, whatsoever should come
forth to meet him, should be offered as a
burnt offering to the Lord. He returned
in triumph, with the warriors wreath en-
circling his flushed brow; his heart, elated
with his recent successes, throbbed with
unusual animation as hewas drawing near
his home. But see! he stands transfxed
with horror; deathly pal!or supplants the
roseate Hush; for what does he behold! his
daughter. a beloved daughter, an only
child, coming .out 10 meet him with tim
brels and dancing! In one brief moment
his parental feelings are wound up to the
highest key; slowly his quiyering lips part,
and with tremulous accents, in which a
father S, agony is revealed, he says
"A Alas my daughter, thou hast brought me
very low, thou art one of those that trou-
Bile. | have made vow,. and cannot go
back" No repining at ler lot, no re-
proacbes escape her lips, but with true
tilial devotion warming her heart, she an
swered, '"My father. if thou hast made a
VOW, do unto me according to that which
has proceeded out of thy mouth" No
bitter words escaped her lips, no vain re-
grets ranked in her breast, only one re-
| quest she makes, and that is, for two
months to retire to the mountains, with
some of her boou companions, to prepare
herself for an acceptable offering
Methinks with the eye Of Imagination
we can behold that lovely group. on the
mountain summits, withlheir glossy treas
ses waving in the wild wind, their burning
temples cooled by Heavens .auspicious
gales. Behold Jepthah's daughter, with
her eyes raised 10 the vaufed sky, her
hands folded TO her tranquil breast, calm
lynturned to her weeping companions zand
say, ."Weep not for me, for | am going to
a place where no glitterng tear-drops. ever
course down the checks of others woes.
To- place where the wild, tumuliuous
heavings of the palpiaating heart are still
ed, where parting scenes are unknown;
there, to that happy, That bhssfal abode let
me 60; for my fathers vow must be fulfill
ed. l know that n,youE gay and happy
moments in after life, the recollections OF
these scenes win cause a'sy mpathetic pang
to thrill every fibre Of your hearts, at what
you term my untimely fate; but in reality,
It. is my early release" For two short
months that beautiful train of white robed
| virgins Inhabited their mountain home
The crescent and full-orbed moon cast her
tsifvery light Sonthe momitaiii' brow, re-
vealng, by thespale and, mellow, softness
ofher beams, that little band of female
I friends, in sweet repose on natural couch.
The signing wind would come in fitful
4 gusts, as ifdolefully singing the silent re-
| QUEEN to all her earthly hopes and anticl-
i pations. Oh, the melancholy pleasure,
the painful sympathy they experienced
Willie Scaling the shelving rocks, or walk
ipgo the sloping decliyity ofthat mount
of lamentatioh! The term that her grief
stricken father had given her has expired
and the last dirge like strain burst from
iEthrobbing hearts, and is borne along on
the silent breeze; wilder yetit rings, thro
1.-THE echoing cayerns, and returns laden
with the echoing sighs of nature as they
descend the sloping bank, with trembling
land faltering steps they advance; all save
. one hesitate to approach the altar. Tia
one, with modest meinand fearless step, j,
A Jepthah's daughter. She beholds bel
father awaiting her approach. Father,
| L.. bat la h,1 49,. t<
my mother" With countenance glow
ing with heavenly love she was clasped il
the maternal arms, which had SO often en-
, folded her in life's early morn, and utter
one word farewell Now she turns t
receive the last parting kiss from her faith
er's lips. He murmurs in her ear, "My
daughterl oh, my daughter!'' She nov
4 ascends the altar, erected by her father
trembling hands. One glance she cast
foyeg the assembled multitude. A murmu
of admiration for such flial love and he
roic fortitude, displayed by one so young
and Lovely, runs through the, crowd
Hark! her lips move; she speaks, and
9 heavenly lustre beams from her brigh
eyes; a sanity smile plays over herlovel,
n features. Farewell, ,dearfatherand moth
/. er, who first taught me the power Of low
divine; farewell, weeping friends, one an,
all; a long fare well, until we all meet in on
eternal home" The perfume Of that Of
Efering ascends, and paught now remain
: but the ashes of that once-animated form
Slowly the assembled multitude retire from
that sacred spot; silently they separate
and wend their way home, for the annal
/ Of time has never recorded a similar trans
action. With what heroic fortitude dij
{ she meet her fate with what unfiinchiny
tintegrity : difshe pass through the fer,
ordeal-with what firmness did she offe
herselfas sacrifice 10 her Makerl Sh
was nearer divinity 'personi6ed than an,
1other human being thateyer had existence
LA firm reliance on the promises of he
Maker always supported her; and we cal
! truly says in the language Of the poet
IT'S this, my friend, that sreaks my morning bright
pTis thisthat giIds the horrors of the nighknria