The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1867-05-15
Tho Wandering Jew.

iy's SalatMcl, ana we know not ol how
many other romanccs. DIR. j. O..
Moves has recently brought out vol.
umc entitled, "Tho Border Land Of
tho Christian and the Turk" in which
he gives. profcsscdly, the literal version
as it exists among the Mussemen:
A wild and terrible Legend is thet Of
tho middle ages, which pcrsoniGed tho
jewish nation by tho trials Of tho Wan.
dcring Jew. 1t represents an ola man
with naked feet, uncovered head, md
long white beard, wandering ccascIcssly
over tho earth. His face is pale. A
mark of blood upon his forehead. Ills
eyes burn like sapphire beneath their
obliQuc lids, with an caglc.l'kc nose and
blood like eyes, squallid and harsh are
the features, and clad III coarse wool.
on gown, he ever pursucs his intcmina.
bio journey. Speaking all languages
and travcrsing ali londs--knowing not
the purposes Of God concerning himself,
and even driven onward by secret I'M
pulse, he is transported from place to
place with the speed Of The wind and
rs The long centuries come succcssvcly
to n close, his old age rcncws itself with
tho vigor OF youth, i'll order that he may
complete the weary round Of ages
The people wondcras he fastened
past. Once or twice only has lie paus.
cd to tell his story. He was Of the
Jewish nation; Ahasucrus by name,
and u shoemaker by trade. Dwelling
in Jerusalem, he prosecuted our Savior,
and was OF those who cried "c1ucify
him" The sentence Of death having
been pronounced, ho,ran to his house
before which jesus WAS TO pass on the
way to Cavalry. Taking his child in
his arms, he stood at the door, and with
his family behel,l the procession. Oul
Savior, weighed down by the heavy
burden Of the cross, leaned for a momcn,
against the wall, and the Jew to mani
fest his zeal, cruelty struck the innoccn,
one, and pointing to the place Of cxecu
ton, badc him 90 on. Then Jesus
turning to the unlccling child Of Isrcal,
said:
Thou rcluscst rest to tho Son OF God ;
go, for it must needs be, but for thee
thcro shall be no rest or rcrosc until I
return. Go forth on thy journey leave
thlnc own; traverse mountains and seas,
pausing ncithcrn in tho cities nor tho
deserts, nowhere not oven in the tomb.
as an example % tho Universe, and
bearing everywhere Tho heavy weight
of my curse, much shalt thou long for
death, the dclvcrancc, but shalt not die
until the day jndgmentl' IIo assists at
the crnclfxion and then goes forth q
mysterious stranger, whose feet shall
become familiar with all lands.
How, ago after age, he longs for the
sweets OF death, and the reposc Of the
tomb. But in spite OF death, he must
1.-Two on, his dust shall not mingie with
That OF his ancestors. He drags himself
from gloomy cavern Of Monnt Car
mc, shaking the dust from The beard
grown to his knees. Nine grnning
skulls arc before him. TIo scizcs and
hurls them from tho top OF tho mountain.
and they go bounding down from roc k
to rock. They arc tho skulls of his pa
gents, of his wife and SIN small children,
all of whom nave bcou ahlo to die but
he can not. lIe rushes into the 0amo
OF q ling Jerusalem, and attempts to
bury himself beneath tho crumblinp ru.
ms Of Rome; but in vain. Flying from
cities and men, the wandercr socks the
solitary places OF tho earth. Pas.
sing beyond the region of vcrdurc and Of
rushing torrents, his feet tread tho seas
OF amethyst and opal Above him arc
only peaks shrouded in mist and eternal
SHOWS. The daring eagle scars not so
high. There arc no sounds save the
cracking of the glaciers. The soul
sooms almost to touch the Heavens a.
bove. There, surely, the wandering
jew shall rest. Mol An Angel un.
sheathes sword Of flaming fire, and 10
the wandcrcr once more beholds in tho
Heavens tho drama Of tho CruciGxion.
The way from earth to Heaven is
s'oricd with myriuds Of celestial beings
radiant with hight Before him arc all
the martyrs, the saints and sagcs who
ever lived and died. For q moment he
gazcs on this vision, this turns away,
chasedby tho sword Of fame and do.
mons oftrightlul form.
Again ho wapdcls over tho earth,
over with five pieces Of copper in hls
pocket, ever with the mark of blood
upon his forehead Maddcncd with tho
agony Of lilo, ho throws himself into the
crater OF -aGthc but the boilding liquid
am sulphnrous flames harm him not.
The Hoods OF lava vomit him forth, for
i''s time has not yot come. Embark.
'nS upon the sea, the wind raises its
surhcc.nto mountain waves the vessel
divides, and all perish save the Wander.
ing jew. Too light to sink in the
ocean, its waves cast him upon tho ha.
ted shore. He plmgcs into hundred
bloody conflicts without sword or shield :.
all in'vain. ! Tho laden batlleaxes and
cimeters glance from his charmed body.
Where mounted squadrons fight will,
the fury q { demons, he casts himself
under the feet Of l,orscmen, and is ul.