Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-01-09
WASHINGTON, D. G., SATURDAY, JANUARY o 1858.


will not be prostrated by sorrow; they grid up
their loins of strength and say, My trust is
In God, who made heaven and earth, and |
will not be cast down Joseph, son of Ben
laddi, let not the love of woman, weak, fral
daughter of Eve, destroy thee in the full ma
turity of thy strength Be not slain, Benladdi,
with the piercing of an eye though it may be
brighter than the flash Of thy scimetar. Let
not thy soul melt at the music of voice,
though that voice be sweeter than the harp of
David"
Benladdi looked with surprise on the face of
the speaker, and slight flush spread over his
pallid cheek.
" Is it Omri, of Jerusalem, who speaks to
me?" s..
(" am Omri, and have seen thee often in the
Temple, where yet trust ! shall see thee a
chosen vessel of honor, f,r thou wilt not waste
thy life in useless sorrow.n ..- .. ..
would fain forget my griefs father; but |
am the last of my race, and shudder to think
that shall sink into the grave with none to
mourn over me and call me blessed"
"The world, Benladdi, is full of sons and
daughters take children for thee from the
poor and wretched. The time is coming when
Jerusalem will need the aid of the good for
the proud scorner and covetous are shaking
her corner stones and undermining her walls" !"
"Never, father, has Jerusalem stood so high,
or been so great and glorious. Our good king
is blessed Of Jehovah, and the world lauds him
to the skies. Surely, father, your fears are
groundless" ... .."
Omri shook his head "Do you see that
stream that sparkes far towards Mount Her
mon? OF whom does the Abana remind
your" ..........|
"Of one" said Benladdi, ''whose race is
hope, extinct; of the wicked Gehazi"
Jerusalem" said Omr, laying his hand
mpressively on the arm of Benladdi, 'has her
Gezhasis now, who would take talents and
changes of raiment, though God thundered his
displeasures from between the cherubims. Her
pride is at the height; her iniquities are al
most accomplished Young man, waste not
thy time and faculties God has given thee for
his glory, in useless lamentations; there are
many in the world who are pierced with sor
rows that walk in the counsels of God with a
perfect heart. Go with me in the mountains,
and will show you holy man, who, though
but an infant in years, and just sinking in the
grave, spends his life in prayer and good
works. Many fainting travellers, many dy ing
sinners have been relieved by him, and his
simple roots are shared with the meanest heg-
gar"
y w no is LnlS plouS youth, lather!
"No one XII ows who he is, or from whence
he came; but many will rise up and call him
blessed, short as his pilgrimage has been"
"How shall | find him, father?"
81 shall return to Jerusalem, said Omri, ain
few days, and will take thee with me to hear
the words of wisdom from the lips of youth, if
thou wilt promise to rouse thyself Remcm.
Der, nay son, the angel of death will not wait
for thee; thou hast but one life to improve.
Has the earth no enjoyment but love? wis
dom hath builded her house. God invites you
to enter and survey the wonders of his creation
but you slight the wishes of your Maker, to die
before an Idol"
81 will give myself to thy guidance, father, !"
said Benaddi; "thou shalt not find me sloth-
tul in spirit, or coyetous in desires"
"Then, farewell, my son, until the full moon,
when will go with thee to Mount Hermon. "
Omri came as he had promised, and they
journeyed pleasantly, until they reached the
widest parts of the mountain.
Benladdi looked around him with surprise.
The scene was new to him, and he expl essed
his astonishment that human beings should
choose such wild and dreary solitudes "Sure.
ly, father, good man might be more useful
among his felow-men."
"True, my son, and but few are willing to re-
main with no society but the sufferor-no re-
ward but their pray ers. Iti ouly once in many
generations that even an holy man is found
willing to live and die in solitude. But we arc
near the cavern Of the hermit"
As they climbed the hill, they met two
travellers who had visited the holy man, and
thought him too i'll to remain alone; but as he
desired they would not watch him, or remain
in the cavern, they had left him to epose, after
receiving his blessing and his prayers.
"This," said Benladdi, as they entered low
recess or cave 10 the rock, "is fitting home
for fox or jackall, but not for man"
"Sofly, my son." saidOmri; eve will not
disturb him, if he sleeps"
They entered in silence Omr had struck n
light, which he shaded carefully, and they
stood beside a sleeping youth, wrapt in robe
of coarse cloth, on bed of leaves IN A. corner
of the cavern. HIS face was concealed by his
arm, which was bare, his large sleeve having
fallen off to the shoulder; and Benladdi thought,
as he gazed on that beautifully delicate hand,
hid as it was by the raven locks of perfectly
formed head, that it was indeed youth and
one too of rare loveliness. The arm was so
wasted so small and thin, that it seemed but
shadow; while the ashy lip and labored
respiration told Of the suffering, even in sleep,
of that slender form.
| - w aJCn Dy niu WHiSpCIcu OulIl uC VIII
die without aid, and there is nothing here, not
even cup Of water. | will" said he as he
moved away "be with you as soon as posi-
BILE"
Benladd experienced an awe by no means
grateful to his feelings, when he found himself
alone with dying stranger; and when he saw
him move convulsivoly, with deep groan, he
trembled excessively. The sleeper pressed his
hands to his bosom, and, murmuring the name
of Benladdi, started up. Their eyes met. For
one moment, love, hope and joy seemed to il
lumne those sunkcn eyes, and glow like rich
sunlight over that wan and wu-worn counte-
nance; the next, the eye-lid had fallen on the
pallid chcek--a faint groan Of inward agony
trcmblcd on those quivcring lips, whilst slight
convulsive shudder shook the wasted form
and Zeuma sunk lifcless on the bosom of Ben
laddi.
When Omri returned, he was amazed to find
Benladd knceling with the hfelcss body pressed
madly TO his heart
Separate us not yet father" said he, as
Omr attempted to remove it. "Oh that |
could warm this palid form to life in my bo-
.,,,I InOl--1nnls NV fathpr " \ n cnniinupd