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

II was evening in Capernaum. Noise
lessly as the breath of Time-softly as a
mother lulls to its golden dreams her pre-
cious child-had the tainted twilight sto-
len on--deepening and deepening until
the stars came out in myriads, and stood
with flashing helmets on, bright sentinels
guarding the frontiers of heaven. Like a
diamond dancing on a sapphire sea burn
ed the natal star of the First Born, and
many an eye in the land of Judea on that
glorious night gazed thereon with feelings
of holiness and love.
Moonlight, too, lent its magical inAu-
ence in rendering the scene one Of almost
unearthly beauty, as its radiance slept up
on the domes and towen, and snowy walls
of fair Capernaum, paving so golden a
path along the sea that the dream could
glide across and fade in the paradise of
Genuesareth-painting the lofty emerald
headed palms, the smiling vineyards clus-
tering upon the hills and creeping amid
the interstices of each garden bower where
the enamored flowers, in the porterres of
Galilean maidens, bent, their coquettish
heads to meet the soundless kiss from those
silver lips.
But who sits dreaming away the gliding
hours of eventide in yon high balcony Of
one of Capernaum's most regal piles? All,
who but Miriam, the child of Ben-Rama /;
Miriam-peerless-from the plains of Idu-
mea to snow-crowned Lebanon; Miriam
the pride and boast of the Holy Land?
Come, lover of beauty, and feast thine
eyes on loveliness greater than that which
forms the paradise of the followers of Ma
homet Ay, gaze and worship! Was
there ever ebon tresses more glorlously
luxuriant? Did the Orient's olive hue
e'er lay upon cheek of more harmonious
mould, or the deep verlnillion upon more
velvet lips? Was ever form more fault
less since beauteous Eve reigned queen of
Eden's floral halls
Tell me, 0, wrapt worshippcr !-sawest
thou ever in human eyes-those brilliant
mirrors of the soul--a finer blending OF
earth and heaven, save in the eyes of that
sainted one whose son has since been seen
'beaHng his cross up rueful Calvary 2
Never
And there she sits in her beauty-in
the glcam of the rising moon, as it rolls
its triumphal course up from the plains of
far Midian-therc she sits, waiting and
watching
Was it for the song of the belated fish.
erman, as his bark sped shoreward from
the scene of his daily toll, that she was
waiting? Was it the beauty Of the night
the distaut Jordon sweeping toward the
sea---tbe snowy, phantom sails, twin-wing'
ed in all, aud water, far out upon Tiberias,
she watched?
Nav; but for sweeter sounds-for q
dearer sight,-the coming Of her lover
the music of his voice! Not long must
she watch and wait. No laggard is he
who has won the love of Palestine's fair.
est for yonder he comes-past the foun-
tain that sings below in the garden among
the roses--with step as free as that Of
his proudest Arabian barb.
A moment, and his step sounds in the
stately vestibule; another, it glides along
the tesselated marble of the lofty balcony
and Judah's palmiest noble kneels at the
feet of his mistress-there in the chequer.
cd moonlight.
And well might she love him, with thu
best, the holiest love known to the hear
of woman.
"He was young
And eminently beautiful, and life
Mantled in eloquent fullness on his lip,
And sparkled in his glance and in his meir
There was gracious pride that every eye
Followed with benisons."
"Welcome, Helon thrice welcome !?
"Welcomc, sayest thou, sweet Miriam
How knowest thou but bring tidings tina
will sorrow thy heart, and dim with tear
thy radiant eyes? | have spoken witt
Ben.Rama p
"Ha! hast seen my father?" exclaim
cd the maiden, quickly, and the crimson
deepened on her oval cheek
"Yea, within the hour met him in tn,
market place, and taking him apart from
the multitude, told him my love for thee
and besought him that he would give mi
thee to wife," .
"And he said--what said he, HeloD 2
"lIe answered not but gravely strokec
his beard, looking down, and toyed with
pebble meath his sandal"
t"0h, HelouW !.
"And then cloud came over my spirit
hpO seemed aOeing afY off, But | re