Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1859-10-28
From tho American Baptist, New York City
MIRIAM.

| M1R1 A NJ.
The character of Miriam has ever pos
sessed for me peculiar interest, deeper,
perhaps, for the veil of darkness that hangs
over her, only raised here aud there at
some eyentfll period Of her life. But how
brilliant are these occasional glimpses !!
After reading all the history We have OF
her, four distinct pictures remain before
the mind, Of the life aud character Of
Miriam.
First, we see her as an innocent child,
beautiful in her sisterly love and devotion,
anxiously watching the perilous cradle OF
her baby brother. What were the feelings
of that young heart, 50 early learning the
lesson of concealment, a, she noted the
wandering steps of the daughter Of the
cruel King! What fears and hopes must
have struggled in her breast! Sweet
young Miriam. early tried, early rewarded.
| can see thee now, meekly standing in the
distance, bravely hiding all the terror of
thy loving heart. l can see thee eagerly
Fastening forward to secure, for the moth
er, her dear and rightful privileges. Beau
tiful to us, as sister and as daughter,
seems the child Miriam! 1t was a strange
scene for the young girl to pass through,
but it is fitting commencement to her
stirring after-life.
Where do we fud Miriam next? No
longer q simple child, but a prophecies,
inspired Of the Lord, in the glory Of her
womanhood, leading the chorus of her
sisters to the praise Of Jehovah. Sand
Miriam, the prophecies, the sister of Aa-
ROD, took timbrel in her hand, and all
the women went out after her with tim
brels and with dances. And Miriam an
swered them, Sing ye to the Lord, for be
bath triumphed gloriously; the horse and
his rider hath been thrown into the sea
Gloriously beautiful art thou now, . Mir
IAN, looking around on thy preserved ma
ton, and the destruction of their foes,
with the song of triumph trembling upon
thy lips /! A prophecies, and leader Of
the people, high was the mission of Miri |
am. Who can tell what burning thoughts
filed her soul? what heavenly aspirations!
to what heights her proud ambition soar
ed or what womanly longings sometimes |
thrilled her heart to escape from all this
active life, to the quiet rest OF a happy |
home? Who knows her joys, her griefs,
her secret prayers! The inner life OF
Miriam is mystery. Looked up to by |
her sister women, their comforter, their
guide, to whom could she herself 60 for !
comfort aud guidance, but to the Lord, the
great God? o, blessed Miriam sent by
His hand before the people, let the air ring
with thy triumphant notes: "Siug ye to
the Lord, for be hath triuuphed! !"
Again we see Miriam, despOiled Of her
glory, fearfully chastened. Poor Miriam
vert thou also led astray by human ambi-
ton? What lesson is here for those who
exult in the good gifts of the Lord who
in their proud strength would rise above
the whole world o, there is danger in
talent, peril in genius, and fearful risk in
ambition, if it be not all consecrated to
the glory Of God. Poor Miriam this was
the hardest lesson Of thy life. But sure
ly this fierce fire consumed the dross of her
and Miriam the lowly, the sad,
was yet purer, higher than in her proudest
days.
Years went BY A single verse in the
Bible brings before US our fourth picture:
'sTben came the children of Israel, even
The whole congregation, into the desert of
ZiD, in the first month and the people
abode in Hadesh; and Miriam died there
and was buried there" Mum 20: l.
And so it ends. The loving sister, the
holy prophecies, the chastened woman,
,old and still in death! What record is
written on high of that strange, even'ful,
brilliant life? The volume is closed to US,
but one day it shall be opened, and one
Law, o Miriam We shall hear thy srium
,hant voice, chanting sgain-
o. .ngys Jehovah. .os ne hath s'os.0ssy
ise sor. ra bis .5s. Lsth tevs thfosa .to The ses