Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-08-29
(From the Knckerbockcr Magazine. ]
Tent Life in the Holy Land.
BY VIM. c. PRIME.

We knew what we were to expect when we
opened this volume. That the author would visit
the Holy Land with the observant eye of a pain
ter, the deep feeling of n long cherished sympa-
thy, and the fervor of a Christian heart, we well
knew nor have we been in the least degree dis
appointed in either of these characteristics. The
book is full of them and what we especially
admire in Mr. Prime is, that when he feels, be is
not afraid or ashamed to show his emotion. His
is no dry detail of the mere facts of travel he
invests every thing which he describes with q
new interest for the reader sees what he secs,
and as it were through his eyes and he trans
fers, with equal felicity, his own emotions and
feelings to the hearts of his readers. 1t IL this
feature which makes the volume before us one of
the best upon the Holy Land which we have ever
encountered. We shall justify our high estimate
of the work by few extracts. In the following,
our author will be found approaching the " Sa-
cred City,"
ave paused a little while again in the valley
of Elah. and gathered few pebbles in the dry
bed of the brook where DAVID found his weapons
with which to meet the giant OF the Phlistines
an d then, every thing that was behind and around
us faded in interest as we began to realize that
from the summit of the hill before our weary
eyes would rest on the walls Of Jerusalem.
awe pressed our horses rapidly up the steep
hill, by a zig-zag path, which in our haste we
sometimes cut across, and thereby nearly broke
ccs There was q party Of Latin nuns, on sleek
and beautiful horses, riding slowly before us.
We passed them at q rafting gallop, and hasten
ed on, up the rough path now over masses OF
loose, rolling stones, on which our horses could
with difficulty find footing for halfmile, and as
the cold wind swept over the bleak and desolate
hills wrapped our cloaks around us, and drew
our hoods closely over our faces. The appear
nncc of every thing was desolate in the extreme.
For many miles, we had seen no evidences OF
human existence. Wild rocks were everywhere,
ragged and fierce in their utter barrenness, and
hill and valley were alike apparently cursed with
the curse OF G0D.
At length there was short space where the
road admitted of II gallop, our horses plunging
over the stones and finding footing as none but
Syrian horses could, and here s, and Whit
ley, and myself pressed forward. as swiftly as the
zip-zag path winding around rocks, and turning
short to the right or left. or often even in an
acute angle backward, would permit. Reaching
the summit of the ascent we beheld distant
view of desolate mountains lit In the rays OF the
setting sun, with dark, wild gorges between them,
all tending downward to deep valley, wherein
we knew must lie the Dead Sea. But we could
not yet see the city of our desires.
" A few steps forward our worn-out horses
stumbling rather than galloping over the rocky
path and hill, crowned with mosk and nina
ret, was before US in the distance, which my heart
knew by instinct was the Mountain of the Ascen-
sion raised myself in my stirrups, and, turning
to Miriam, shouted, " The Mount OF Olives" and
waved my hand toward it-aud then, as looked
again, before me, in all their glory and majesty
| bebed, magnificent in the light of the setting
sun, the walls Of Jerusalem.
IL had thought of that moment for years, in
waking and in sleeping dreams. / had asked
myself hundred times What will you do
when your weary eyes rest on these holy walls ~
Sometimes thought / should cry ont aloud as
did pilgrims Of old times, and sometimes that
should kneel down on the road as did the valiant
men who marched with GODFREY and with Rica-
AkD. But did neither.
my horse stopped in the road, as If he knew
that all our haste had been for this, and | mur'
INJURED to myself, Deus vult" and my eyes