The Portland daily press., 1865-11-04
Sunday Reading.
Scripture Illustrated by Eastorn Life.

oct1ptufS AAuSUrG65O Dy 15StSrA 4-1AS.
Much interest has been taken of late years
in the everyday life of the lowest classes IN
England, Ireland, and Scotland; and, through
the many books which have been published
on this subject, "ragged iieu in the LARGE cite
has been portrayed in living characters lead
ing to practical, Well-directed efforts in behal
OF those who need Christian sympathy and
help. An English lady, Miss Whately, daugh-
ter of the late Archbishop WhateIy. went to
Cairo, Egypt, for the purpose of establishing a
ragged-school for girls in that city. In a little
volume called Ragged Life in Egypt,n she
sketches with both skilful pen and pencil
the ways and manner of life Of the lower clas-
ses Dwelling among the poor, she learned
not only from personal visitation, but from
daily observation, their mode of life; for now,
as in ancient time, the "house-tops" are con-
stantly used for domestic toll end social enjoy
ment.
Her little book furnishes many Illustrations
OF scripture texts which, to those ignorant OF
Eastern life, now seem strange or Tanciiul, but
which are beautiful and suggestive when TAX
en- in their original meaning.
"The roofs are usually in a great state of lit
ter, and were it not that an occasional clear
ance is made, they would a5sllredly give way
under the accumulation Of rubbish. One
thing seemed never cleared away, however,
and that is the heap of old broken pitchers,
sherds, and pots that are piled up in solne
corner; and here there is a curious observation
to be made A little before sunset numbers
of pigeons suddenly emerge from behind the
pitchers and other rubbish, where they have
been sleeping In the heat Of the day, or peck
ing about to find food. They dart upwards,
and career through the air in large circles,
their outspread wings catching the bright GLOW
of the suns slanting rays, SO that they really
resemble shining yellow gold;' then, as they
wheel around, and are seen against the light,
they appear as il turned into molten silver.
most of them being pure white, or else very
light-colored This may seem fanciful, but
the effect of light in these regions can hardly
be described to those who have not seen IT,
Evening after evening we watched the circling
flight of the doves, and always observed the
same appearance. Though We have lain
among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of
dove covered with silver and her feathers
with yellow gold.' Psa. 6S :13.
at was beautiful to see these birds rising.
clean and unsoiled as doves always do, from
the dust and dirt in which they had been hid
den, and soaring aloft in the sky till nearly
out of sight among the bright sunset clouds
Thus abeliever, who leaves behind him the
corruptions of the world, and ls rendered
bright by the Sun of righteousness shining
upon his soul, rises higher and higher and
nearer and nearer to the light until, lost to
the view OF those who stay behind, he he's
passed into the unknown brightness above.p
With reference to the "street cries." Miss
Whately writes, perhaps no cry is more
striking after all, than the short, simple cry of
the water-carrier: The gift Of God -he says,
as he goes along with his water-skin on his
shoulder. 1t is impossible to hear this cry
without thinking of the Lords words to the
woman of Samaria: If thou knowest the
gift Of God, and who is it that saith unto thee,
Give me to drink, thou wouldest'haye asked of
him, and he would have given thee living wa
ter 1t is very likely that water, so inyalua-
bic and often scarce in hot countries, was
then as now spoken of as the gilt of God.' If
SO, the expression would be forcible to the
woman, and full of meaning.
"The water-carrier's cry in Egypt must all
ways rouse thoughtful mind, and make the
Christian wish and pray for the time when
the sonorous cry of tza-aatee Allah p shall be
a type of the cry Of one bringing the living
water of the gospel to the poor Moslems, and
saying, Behold the gift of God? "[-Am. Mes
senger.