Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-03-31
rnE LerEes IN yxsusAsAN.

| In nv rambles about Jefusalcm ] pasSct
on several occasions through tho qoarter o
the lcpcrs. Apart from the interest attached
10 this unfortunate class Of beings iarisint
from the frequent allusion made TO thcfa u
Scripturc,) there is much in their eppcaranc'
and mode Of life 10 attrnct attention and en-
list the stranger Dirt and disease 60 revol
tingly together hero; a constantcryof suffer
ing swels upon tho dead air and sin brood,
darkly over tho ruin in that gloomy Inflated
spot Wasted forms sit in the door ways
faces covered with old white sails and sight
less eyes are turned upwards, skeleton arm'
distorted and infected with the ravage Of lep
rosy, outstretchcd from tho foul moving mass
aims, oh, stranger, for the love Of God alm'
10 feed the inexorable destroyer aims topro
long this drcary and hopeless misery
Look upon it, stranger yoa who walk forth
in all your pride aud strength and breath,
Tho fresh air Of heaven you who have Hevcj
known what IL is to be Stunned hyyoot tellov
man as thing uncleon and eccnIvcai yot
who deem Yourself unblcst with all the blcs
sings that God has given YOU upon earth
look upon il and learn that there iSa misery
above all that you have conceived in Soai
gloomiest hours---a misery that can be cndur
cd ;--learn that even lcpeN With deati
gnawing at his yitals and anccasinR tottorcs
IN his blood, cast out from the society OF hk
fellow man, forbidden TO touch in friend
ship or affection the hand Of the eatanted,
still struggles for life, and deems each hoot
precious that keeps him from the grave,
The quarter OF the lepors IL sad and i'm.
prcssivc place. By the laws Of The landwhich
havo existed from Scriptorel times, they are Is
olatcd from all actual contact with thcirtcllow
mon, yet their seems to be no prohihnion IA
their going out behind the walls Of Jerusalem
and begging by the road side Near the gate
OF Zion, on the way to Bethlehem, saw ma.
ny OF them sitting on rocks hidious faces an.
covered, thrs,mg forth their scaly hands fcl
aims. Their huts are r0dely constructed oi
earth and stones, seldom with more Than one
apartment, and this so filthy and loethsome
that il seems unfit for swine to dwell in.--
Hero they live and propagate, whole families
together without distinction Of seNS andtheA
dreadful malody is peTetoeted from gcdcre.
ton, and the groaus Of the aged and dying
are mingled with the feeble wall OF the Young
that are brought forth branded for a hfe oi
misery.
Strange and mouNfal thoughts arise in the
contemplation Of the sad condition andproba.
bic destiny OF these Inflated beings, Among
so many, there must he some in whose breast
'hV l'VNNA w ttV' iVNt 10 bhlfo"'tNi INV w
woman in its purcst sense, for ofSprine, for
all the cnlearmcnts Of domestic 6fewhich the
untaintcd are capable Of iee,mgi YET doomed
never 10 exercise the affections without per.
petuating the curse; soae, too, in whom thcF
are hidden powers Of mind, enknowA SaNN 10
themselves; ambition that corodes with una.
vailing aspiration; thirst for action that
burns increasingly yet never can beaSseagc(e
all the ruling passions that are Implanted IN
man for great and noble purposes mover 10
give ono moments pleasure UnmiNea with
perpetual gloom Of that coarse which Awclls
IN their blood
AS plod,cd my way Cor the last time
through this den Of Sickenmg sights, a VISION
Of human misery WAS Impressed upon Wyinin.l
that time canno, eflacc. passed when the
rays Of the sun were cold and the lights were
dim and there came out from the rcekiog
novels leprouS men, gaant With famine ana
they barcd their hidioas bodies and hoN(eA
like Wild beasts; aud womca held Get thor
loaihsomo and accarscd babes and tore away
the rags that covercd then, add pointing 10
the shapclcSs mass Shnekca Eor aims.
All was disease, sin and sosvpw wherever I
went and ast passed On, unable 10 relieve
the thoaSanth part Of misery's moAas St
dispair aud howlMg curses followea me, ana
the lepers crawlsa back into their novels 10
tot in their 6lth, and lie when God Nlsca,--
Cor MAJ, htelhgeSceN