The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-03-27
THE HOLY CITY,

1
A beautiful country lay stretched along the
eastern shore of the Great Sea. Mountains
reared their bold, majestic outlines round
about, and lifted their sublime heads beneath
a skv of coudess blue. Hills, clothed and
crowned with fruitrulness, rivalled the luxu-
Rance Of their intervening valleys. Plains
and rivers, forests and lakes, were grouped
in an ever varied beauty. Lofty cedars rose
in stately majesty, and towering palms spread
their wide branches over cities and thicky
clustering villages. Over its whole extent the
land reioiced and blossomcd as the rose, and
a numerous population made it instinct with
life, from its center to its utmost bounds.
The chief city of this delightful land was
built upon three emnences, and surrounded,
except on the north, by deep valley, which
was again embosomed with the hills. Power
looked down from her lofty towers, and
strength engirdled her with rampant of i'm
pregnablc mountains Luxury held court
within her walls, and wealth poured its gold
en tide into her bosom. Splendor was her
dazzling sceptre, when the eastern sun was
her robe and diadem, when iiushed in the
silence of moonlight, she listened to the mn-
sic of the brooksthpt sang their low song at
her feet. In her pride, she said, 81 sit as a
queen among the nations, lady of king
doms," and exutingly goried in the name
by which she was called, "The perfection of
beauty. joy of the whole earth" Thus did
Jerusalem sit enthroned among the hills of
her own glorious Canaan, proudly sovereign
rs an eagle upon her lofty nest, magnificent
as queen in her jewelled robes, and beauti
fnl as Eve in the midst of Paradise.
IL was time of intense public interest in
Jerusalem. Its temple, the progress OF whose
building had been an object of paramount
importance in the mind of every lsraelite for
seven years, was at length completed, and
thousands of Canaan were thronging to her
capital, to behold the finished glory of the
gorgeous structure which each had offered
willingly to build, and to attend the Feast of
its Dedication.
On the morrow, which was the eighth of
the seventh month, the soemnilies were TO
commence; for the Feast Of Tabernacles
drew nigh and it uas the will Of King Solo
mon that the people should observe the Feast
of the Dedication for seven days preceding
the seven days of the yearly feast, making
fourteen days of uninterrupted rejoicing
Moreover, as if all the rays of national so
lemDity were destined to converge to
this very point, the tenth of the same month
was the Great Day Of Atonement, and the
opening of the ninth Jubilee since the posses
sion of Canaan As the day declined, thou.
sands had already assembled, and were erect.
ing their tents in the valleys and mntchless
environs of Jerusalem, while every avenue to
the city was still alive with the joyous muI.
tiude that were passing their way thither.-
The tribes of Asher and Napthala swept
through the fertile plains of Esdraelon. The
Joppa road was lined with its pilgrim bands,
which had gathered from the shores of the
sen. Family after family Of the sons of
Reuben wound about the slopng declivity of
Olivet, and company after company still ar
rived by the way of Jericho, waving branches
of palm trees in their hands. AS each sue
cessive band caught the first glimpse of their
beloved city, their glad voices burst simulta
neously forth in sacred song, and Jerusalem
was sought unto on every side by her admir-
ing sons and daughters, with joy and praise,
thanksgiving and the voices of melody.
Within the city walls all was festivity and
rejoicing. Brother again met with brother,
aud friend with friend, while every citizen of
Jerusalem prided himself upon the extent of
his hospitaities, and. the costiness of his en-
tertainmcnts. The court Of every dwelling
was filed with guests, to whom its cooling
fountainsand marble pavements, its luxurious
couches and fragrant perfumes, presented a
most inviting welcome. Servants moved to
and fro, with napkins and silver ewers, and
the naster Of the house arrayed in his rich
est garments courteouslv bade II welcome to
every guest, and blessed him in the name of
Abraham.-Lye in Israel.