Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-06-13

arated, and occupying social positions
such as they, are spared 80 long TO meet
In this world OF change, and sleep, In the
evening of life, under the same roof.
Jerusalem and the River Jordan.
Rev. N. G. Burt, of Cincinnati, who is
travelling in the Holy Land, thus gives
his impressions of the Holy City and the
River Jordan: ..
The Jordan is an insignificant, dirty
stream, whirling amidst steep mud banks
and lined with willows AMI other trees
where they can get root. 1t would be
wholly uninteresting but for its associa-
tions. The Licking and the Big Miami
are large and romantic rivers compared
with it. The Jordan, however, has its
annualoverfow. And, rapidly asi runs,
1t never becomes dry, for the reasons that
its springs are far up on the slopes of
Snowy Lebanon, and the large reservoirs
of Galilee and Merom are its feeders.
But insignificant in itself, perhaps Jor-
dan heads the list of the worlds rivers
for its connections with history, with re-
ligion, and with our most intimate and
cherished conceptions of death and heav-
en-.
The stream widens at the ford where
we stopped, and into an eddy of the cur
rent path leads down, under pleasant
shade, to the edge of the "cold flood. ~
Only one of our party ventured to bathe.
We tasted the sweetish, earthly water,
and brought away samples of it, as we
had done from the Dead Sea- in tin bot
ties.
The ford at which we stopped is near
the point where the Israelites crossed
when advancing into Canaan. 1t is also
believed to be near where John the Bap-
tist preached, and where the Savior was
baptized. Moreover, thousands of Greek
pilgrims now annually bathe here during
Lent; not indeed as formerly, in one
mass, rushing by thousands, but a few
hundred at time, guarded by hesoldiers
of the Pasha.
The wind was fairly roaring through
the Jordan willows, while we remained
on its "stormy banks" and the clouds
seemed preparing to deluge us with driv-
ing showers. Nevertheless, we made our
way across the plain, through Jericho, to
our encampment at the Fountain of Eli
sha, without interference, finding the
site of the ancient city luXuriantly green
from the waters of the fountain, yet mis-
erably defaced by the wretched huts of a
few poor, squalid people.
We spent safe night by the fountain,
the scorpions which infest the place
keeping their stations, in the cold rain,
under the stones. Our tent roof turned
the showers, which fell heavily; and
morning having arrived, and the sun
having come forth in all his strength by
the time breakfast was we'll over, we were
ready for our pilgrimage up to the Sacred
City, distance of nearly seven hours.
The mountain-walls which line the
Dead Sea, extend along up the Valley of
the Jordan. We were encamped right
at the foot of the western range, and
somehow must penetrate the barrier in
order to reach Jerusalem. No opening
for some time appeared, but presently, as
we rode from our encampment south
ward, narrow and deep valley was seen
breaking through, and turning westward
we headed up this valley. And what do
you suppose we learned to be the name of
this valley, if not "Achor"-that in
which Achan was stoned? And did
there not seem to be singular fitness in
the prophets language, when he speaks
of the valley of Achor as a, door, and
as "door Of hope?"
The torrent which flows down the val
ley is supposed to be the brook Cherith,
at which the prophet Elijah was fed by
ravens. AS we passed through the AL
pine scenery of the first hour of our
climbing, we had fine views of the deep
gorges through which this torrent flows,
some of these being sufficiently excluded
to have answered the prophets purpose.
The solitary way from Jerusalem to
Jericho is still infested with thieves
The few people we met, even natives,
were almost invariably heavily armed.
OF course, we thought of the parable of
the good Samaritan; and, as at midday
we lunched by the ruins of an ancient
Rhan, on the roadside, we INDUCED the
fancy that this was none other than the
linn" to which our Savior referred in
His life picture.
In approaching Jerusalem, we travelled
for long distance through deep, wind
ing valley, over pleasantly smooth road,
which led us to the foot of the Mount of
Olives, on the side opposite that seen
from Jerusalem. The road from here
ascends steeply, making, perhaps, a
thousand feet of perpendicular elevation
before coming to Betham, beyond which
is a further rise of some hundreds of feet,
before the summit of Olivet is gained.
Sacred associations now thronged al
most Oppressively about us. We were no
doubt travelling the very road by which
He so often ascended to Jerusalem, and
along which He went only few days
before He suffered. There, too, was the
village of Martha and Mary, and not far
off was the spot where He recalled their
brother to life. And as we turned the
shoulder of Olivet, passing around it to
the left of the "Hosanna road, )" coming
upon the city expanded, to view which
even now is not without magnificence,
we were only little removed from the
spot where, amidst the acclamations of
the multitude, He halted in sight of the
city,, and wept over the prospect of its
desolations.