Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-12-12

covered with heavy brown and gray striped
blanket or talma was slowly turning up
the soil with a plough of the rudest kind,
pulled by a tall and patient camel, or by q
small OK, and a smaller donkey, clumsily
yokcd together This open plain was the
"Plain of Sharon" and in the distance right
ahead Of us as we jouneyed eastward, were
high hills or mountains. They were in the
"Hill Country Of Judea." Our first night
In camp was in the Plain of Sharon at or
near ruined village called Loa or LYDIA,
where we went to sleep to the music of a
host Of Jackals, that live in the caves and
thickets of this region.
Our second day brought us into the Hill
Country Of Judea, where we found the sto-
niest, rockiest, and most dangerous roads
we ever dreamed Of Sometimes over the
top or the side of rugged mountain, then
down deep In a narrow valley, where we
were scorched by the burning heat of the
sun. Our second night pitched our tents on
high mountain-Be h-Horon-cclebrate
for the wonderful achievements of Joshua,
the defeat of his enemies, and his command
ing the sun and moon to stand still until he
had completely vanquished them. From
all the accounts this is doubtless the right
place. When we looked at the side of this
mountain, and the top of another, we i'm
agined we saw the Amorites in great num-
bers rushing before the victorious Israelites,
and thought Of how the Lord fought for the
Israelites-when He allowed the sun and
moon to stand still, and sent down great
hail stones, which killed vast numbers of
their enemy. This you have already read
in the 10th chapter of Joshua.
The third day we psssed through Gibeon,
celebrated city of the Old Testament. 1t
is mentioned in Joshua and Kings. There
Solomon offered up one thousand burnt Of
ferings, and God appeared to him in dream
and gave him his desire" Wisdom and
Understanding" adding thereunto Riches
and Honor" t..r
On the afternoon Of the third day we
came to Jerusalem, the city ruled over by
David, and by Solomon; the city where
Jesus preachad and taught the people, and
where he was crucified for the sins of man
kind. The city is surrounded by heavy
stone wall, about the same height as that
which surrounds the Reservoir, on the 9Th
Avenue and 42d Street, only it stands
straight up, and looks very old. We walked
our horses quietly around one corner Of the
city's walls to Its eastern side, and on our
left was narrow valley covered over with
tombstones. That is the valley of Jehosho-
phat. We marched along little way, de-
scended rough and steep road to the Val
ley, or rather a ravine, then assembled few
steps and paused, for our Dragoman pointed
to square walled enclosure near us, and
simply uttered the word, "Gentlemen."
We stopped, gazed, and were all very
thoughtful-you know why; for here it was
our Saviour used to pray-here was the
scene of his agony when he breathed the
Prayer, "Oh, My Father, if this cup may
not pass from me, except 1 drink 1t, Thy
will be DONE" Here, or very near by, Ju-
das betrayed him with kiss, and the other
Disciples forsook him and fled.
1t now being so late in the day we could
not enter, so we turned our horses heads up
the side of mountain, at whose base the
Garden of Gethsemane is. We were then
ascending the Mount of Olives or Mount
Olivet, and you may well suppose that our
whole feelings were absorbed when we
looked at that Mountain Path which leads
to the top, knowing that on that very path
our blessed Saviour repeatedly travelled. l
need not tell you that the peculiar interest
and associations OF this place had prompted
us 10 encamp on the top of the Mount of
Olives, for that you doubtless would sup
pose. Nor need say how earnestly we all
at once opened our Bibles, and read those
passages'in the New. Testament, which mem
tions this Holy place. and tho more we
read, and the more we looked around us,
the nearer we felt to approach the Son of
God, who here walked and talked and pray
ed, that we may all reach happiness and
Heaven.
TcoNcLusIoN OF LETTER NEXT WEEK.