Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-11-01
aStlisttelIalr,reooulls,. oll
" [From Blsekwoojs Maguzine.1 i
A Story of the Golden Age.

Uehutliul Vhiey OF n small river WDIc
empties into the Caspian Sea, where rose
bloomed in perpetual spring-time, ~her
IAN sweet flowers flied the ali. with fra
grance, and all melodous birds with, SON
vas gathered one OF those happy grouI
offsmjlies into Which mankind were dlyi
ded in the first stnges after their .deluge
before there were ci,ies,. kingdoms, wars
and splendors, and wees aud crueltics .
more advanced civilization,
The vale Of roses glosed like new par
adise. The, mounip ms, whose glitterioi
peaks were like jeweed crown, surround
ed the valley and skleided It from the col,
blasts of tho Siberian, ,rwilds.t IS liver d cas-
sdes dashed down the precipices, through
ever green trees. fowering shrubs, ana
long, pendant vines. The emmerald gre on
sward that, sloped downa,o tine river awsl
bespan gied with Q thousand gay and oder-
ous, flowers; red Strawberries, glramed
through.the grass; the. ,clvmps Of fshruSbery
were flied with delicious berries; y and
grapevinesa loaded the dreesy with, purple
clusters. @ The cbo,cest frot gre y, sspoHta-
neously. and the upland tsrrsces were COW
cred ithwhsat and barley, ,sowedl by > The
lavish hand of nature for the fosd Of man.
s In this delightful scene were !scsttsred
groups OF rustic co,tages-small. .simple.ruds
in strueture, ,bui SO embowered with foliage
and surrounded with spreading irees.and so
in harmony with the landscape, o that each
cluster was new picture Of delight. Herds
of cattle lowed in the imeadows.r horses
neighed inr,hs rich pastures, and ,fOcks pot
sheep and goats gave beauty and attraction
to the landscapes q These were alte nded by
the shepherds and .shepferdesses, dressed iD
simple bot graceful robes, sndlcrowned
with flowers. With the lowing and bleat-
| ing Of the herds, the soltened roar Of the
distant cascades, the u,urmur ofthe summer
breeze 1.-The hum Of bees, were mingled the
melodies of rude shepherds pipes, and
choruses OF happy children at pay. The
old people--their venerable heads covered
with silver locks-sat in the shade oi
spreading trees. talking together iof the days
OF their youth, or relating the traditions, Of
their ancestors, and the events of their own
early davs.to the young people who gathered
around them foil oi affection snd reverence,
In this happy village of the almost for.
cotton past the wisest governed by his
counsels, and the most BE- uotitulwas queen,
Where al were lovely as perfect health
| freedom from care, and mnocence could
| m Ike them. Tamsr was the mos, beautiful
as her grandfather, Olm, wus esteemed
most sage. The mother Of Tamar, who, in
her youth, hpd held the place now f led by
her daughter, was esteemed for her virtue
and wisdom, as much as she had ever been
admired for her lov;iness. The beautiful
Tamar was beloved by ull--old and young
As she wandered along the romantic banks
Of the river, in the dewy morning, the blue
frmsment, with ito embroidery Of silver
clou ls, seemel but canopy; the trees and
shrubs nodded their ho1age; the flowers
sent up ! heir incense Of perfume; the birds
wstbled''heir melodies for h"r delight; the
very Rocks stopped grazing to lork at her,
the horses nsighed al heras she drew near
them; sweet-eyed gazeiies approached her
without lear. In this harmony of nature
she walkpd-its queen--robed in lnstrous
white, and crowned with choicast flowers.
Among all the youths taat admire'' iair
Tamar, two Of the wurthiest aspired to the
favor of her love. rlArnett was one Of the
braves, as well ss one ofthe mob est youths
oetEe valley. No foot was swifter0in the
race no arm stronger in'the flood. He
could climb the psecipice with the moun-
tain goat; his srrow pierced the eheari oithe
spotted leopard or tho tiercs wolf, that came
to prey on the flocks ofsshe-valley.' a'' sa'
His cousin ninn. Jsl.ph Assss scarcely inferior
to him In "a manly ,ports. They had grown
up together, and loved each other ike
brothers. Annette was dark-Jaleph fair.
Arne,te's black clustering LOCKS We're like
tbe ravens wing; Jaleph's shone ike the
golden sunshine on the sea. Arnette's dark
eyes flashed out the Ares under, his deep
sroys;, J,isph', reflected The hpes of. ,ths
ceruleap heavens, sg,,ey ~, r,fSa s,ss,
.b Both were brave, and strong. and heroic
If Annette had more strength and dignity
Jaleph had more skill ans, grace ~ One wal
statelier.in his walk, the, other more usria
in the dance.aiisaos 81 rsbag ida,, ss0s
Both lnvsd Tamsr. Ia a Iihoussnds ways
each tod his iove.b Annette sprssented he,
with gorgeous plume Of the bird, Of para,
disc. Jaleph wove for her garland o.
matchless beauty. made of shells and flow
ersa Annette trained for hsra sherse fes
40 the antelope. Jaleph learned to play thu
mi melodies which filled her innocent slumbel
with enchanting dreamsisrsH b1od 10 d y
Z. So beloved. Tamar was s,very happy p N,
one could tellwhichiswa she favored. -
Had each one been her brother, she couk
not Fave been more kind.1 The aged peo
pie, who Iovedes,ltheir children, looked OF
and shook their heads; for they saw gks'
this must end, and they feared that itmigh
ena IN sorrow. als slsdW i4saxs yil8q11g
WThe time came when Tsmar also saw
and felt thst the noble cousinsn loved he,
Lwl,h more than brothsfly olovss Annette
she more impesuoos, first declared bis pas.
sIsn.s 10 rre ~ noisiooh OBJ Do y.lfas.
-Issrsma,, : he said, besatiful Tsmar, + love
ltheee $50 81 iaesl 20 s9lysos o. Nad nos
'vDssra Aiuettep 'bseatbsd'fsom the open
heart oi the innocent maiden. ypd u al
hasWiA thou be 'mihe.'H We sit2 On VA
bl'Her lovely face, which hsd'sbssn radiant
with happiness, was eloudsd nov withdoobs