Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-01-10
WANDERERS AND PILGRIMS.

A large tract of country lay spread
before NC; upla, d and lowland, hill
ard plain. The Whole land seemed
stirring with perpetual movement,
all in one direction from the bright
hills at its commcnc' mcnt, t, the
dark mountains at tho end. Earth
AZ sky seemed moving, as WHEN an
enormous flight OF migratory birds is
passing by, but car,h and sky were
really stationary. This movement
was orc constant tido OF human life,
cca,le ssly streaming across the land.
1t began on q range Of wooden
hills, with their sunny southern slopes
forest and fl Nv cry banks, anl grassy
and golden fi.lds. Down these slopes
j 'yous ban Is rap f::s': AS l looked
closer, saw the movement was not
inccSsant in the case nf each i.d;vid-
ua!; only tho cca-lcss passing OF the
great lido Of Ito made it seem 70
Merry groups paused on the hill sides,
and made f:.i"y gardens, and twincd
le;fy tcrts whcro they woul'l ait a
little while and sing and dance. But
OILY Ii tie while! No hand seem
ed diving them on; it appeared ONLY
an in ward Irresistible instinct, Yet
soon the bright gr,urs were scattered
and moved down a.ain ovcr the bills,
often never j ining more.
''Why do you hasten away from
these sunny s'opes?" sail "Therc
seems nothing 80 pleasant in all the
land besides"
"prrhaps not" the travellers re-
piled, with \ slight sish but it en-
dcd in snatch OF song as they dan
ccd gaily on. "Perhaps not, but we
nre race Of w .ndcrers! We Can
stay; and perhaps better things
await Us in the plain"
"Wnither arc you gning?' l a ked
awe know not" was tho answer !;
"on'y onward, on yard"
In the plain were buildings of more
solid construction, houses aid cities
And here [ observed many Of the
travellers would have gladly fingered
! but it, could not be- uumcstcud,,
and cornfolLa, and vineyards, all had
10 be left; and still tho lido of lie
Strcamcd on and on.
"Why?" I asked.
! cit is the doom of our race" they
said, sorrowfu'ly; "we area people O.
! Wanderers"
"Whithor ? Inquired.
awe d" not know" was tho reply ;
; "o' Iy onwart1s and onwa,ds to The
dark mountains"
Slower and sIo Hor grew tho foot
steps Of tho Wander. rs, more re-
g'etful the glances they cast behind.
Sl"werJ with fowcr puu<cs. The
strange RESTLESS impulse drove tho:n
ste: dily on, until, wcaricd and .tottcr.
irg they began ascent of tho. da. k
mountains.
"What is on the othcy ride ?" I ask.
I'd.
"rhe sea," they sail, "tho Great
Sea-"
GLOW will you cross it, and what
IS beyond?"
I'VE know not," they said, will
| bitter tears. "But we ure doomed
race Of wards, on
wards; we "ay not s'ay"
Thon first. percetscd that anon:
these muIti,uies of aimles. WaaIcr-
ers, there was one baud who KEEP
close together, and moved viii, .
frecdom and purpose. as If aheJ
journeycd on hot Fl onl a.@Ll;nd, irrc-
sistl 10 impulse, but from choice
+ fhcir locke were seldom Lnrned re-
! gretfuliy behind them, or only on III.
{ dark mountalbs They lo,ked t.
somoshing. higher.
l asked ,homa-' Why are you thu
|. hasting on:a ~
''We urs Pilgrims, lhey replied
wo ,wonld"oL linger ,he.e,,"~
r w " ,lher.are ) ON goi"gY"e in
-auircd.? . -
Z .sllomc y. they answered joyfalI,
i -"to Holy City which is 90
Homo" ssats@s : Z. s.at -
!. "But;h how DO sou fnov:ihe way;,a
| .atked, for mo barriers seemed 4
limit their path, 30 that any Of Oh