The Irish republic. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1867-18??, 1868-04-18


or hckets Of the PALE scen of Judea Before the
leay porche of each parakng of their evening repas
groups were collected who the wayfarers passed,
changed sautatons and blessings such peace of God
be with you and the answer the love of God be your
work. rising cheerfully into the tranquil evening light
AT length the pilgrim train arrived at the entrance OF
long ravine-whose lower sides followed by grassy
caverns along which opened many aged rock-tomb-
known the Valley of Sweet Watershe ordinary place
at which the Gaeans stopped for the night it being but
days journey from Jerusalem AS the cavalcade entered
and dlsmounted, tender gloom already filled the long
raylne through whose rocks gray and green, hundred
little streams slid and tumbed dripping from the lofty cliffs
ON the deep verdure, inervaled by clumps of lilies with
which it capeted The quickly pitched the tents and
kndled re for which the juniper bushes growing in the
crevasses afforded abundant fuel The matrons and maids
prepared the twilight repa and the cme and asses grazed
along the rocks drank the pools and the weary way
farer stretched the grass began enjoy food and rest
the while the brilliant floating from the wilderness
touched the humid cliffs with tender light and svering the
cascades and BROOKS which all sides paked and poured
filling the shadowy resting place with their peaceful user
and fresh tranquilizng musicminged at times with the
painve and ecstatic song of distant nightingale
After the several family groups had paraken of the feast
of bread apples honey milk and win before the opening of
the tents they and associated with their friends
selecting pleasant spot by spring whose cool lymph they
bent in their cups conversed many opc-on their rural
vocaon the feast at which they about to be present.
exchanged ideas moral precept law Messanal
promise in the later prophets rected passage of
their national history whose lay thick around them
deeds of herosm narrowing acts of votal sacrifice with
the heathen awful vengeances of Heaven the evdoers
and such like memories from the localities and
remote For from the entrance of the valley the
fos of the Jordan where the Ephamtes extermnated
by encompassing enemies and rising high against the
air. where the low stars burned soemny the Gibeonite
mountains where the daughter of Jepha wandered lament
ing with her companions There also the hill of Sebel,
where returning home the second dwindng in
the west her fathers heart strong and terrible in faith but
bursting with anguish beat in long embrace against her
own ere she smiled he plunged the sword into her faith
full filial breast.
While the pilgrim company thus wiling the hour
before rest two girls enwound wandered away
mote winding of the long valley where seated the black
rocks amid clusters of wild bushes they began singing
in alternate verses rude Hebrew dy accompanying them
selves small harp of cedar. And the radiant
streamed through the openings of the cliffs their dark
langud eyes, the pale beauties of their faces and bosoms
and their long ebon floating dsarranged the
night wind as thus they sang:
FIRST VOICE.
Now the rains and the dim clouds mourning banshed
Far DER the hills down the western waters,
With the of singing birds winter has vanished
And the bridegroom sun smiles upon lsraes daughters
In the streets of the towns heard the gay jingng
Of bracelets and anklets of gold everywhere;
And sweetly the scent of the vine blossoms mingng,
With the beat of the young lambs, the air.
And now Love- Love down from the hills in the noon
In the valley of apples, with soft cheek of bloom.
see him soft through the leafthickened gloom
And at eve haunt the hicket of fig at the turning,
Where the young and maidens dance in the moon
Blending each bounding pulse to the tune,
And sweetening each heart unto each, like plume
Of rich smoke that fondlng its folds in embraces,
Swaps springing and soaring in graces
From altar where myrth balm and aloes burning
VOICE.
Winter is gone and the fresh bright calm
OF spring is round us. Now in the valleys
Of Gilead, where the clear springs sparkle,