Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1869-04-09
M is CE Il N.Y.
From the Banner of the South
Legend OF the Wandering Jew.

AZ
GFrom The Banner of the Soulful
Legend Of the Wandering Jew.
A wild and terrible legend Is that of the
Middle Ages, which porsoniied tho jewish
nation by the traits of tho wandering Jew.
It represented an old man, with naked feet,
uncovered head, and long, white beard wan.
dering ccaselcsly over the earth. His face is
pale, u mark of blood is upon his forehead,
his eyes burn like sapphires beneath the OBJ
lique lids. With an eagle like nose, and
bioodlcss lips, squalid and harsh in features,
and clad in u coarse WOODEN gown, he ever
pursucs, with staff in hand, his intcrminablo
journey. Speaking all languages, and tray.
ersing all lands, knowing not tho purpose of
God concerning himself, and ever driven on.
ward by a secret impulse, he is transported
from place to place with tho speed of the
wind; and as the long centuries SUCCESSFULLY
close, his old age renewed with the vigor of
youth, in order that no may complete the
weary round of ages. The people wonder as
he hastens past. Once or twice only has he
paused to tell his story. He was Of the Jew
ish nation, Ahasuorus by name, and shoe
maker by trade-Dwclling in Jerusalem he
prosecuted our Savior, and was of those who
Dried "Crucify Him" The sentence of death
having been pronounced, he ran to his house,
before which Jesus was to pass on the way
to Calvary. Taking his child in his arms,
he stood at the door with all his family, to
behold the procession. Our Savior, weighed
down by the burden of the cross, leaned for
n momcnt against the wall, and the Jew, to
show his zeal, struck tho innocent one a cruel
blow, and pointing to the place Of execution,
babe him go on. Then Jesus, turning to the
unfecling child Of Israel, said:
'Thou refused rest to the Son OF God;
] go, for it must needs be
But for thee there shall be no rest
Or rcpose until I return.
Go forth on thy long journey.
Leave thine own; traverse mountains and seas,
Pausing neither in the cities nor the deserts,
Now wherc-not even in the tomb,
AS an example to the universe, and bearing
Everywhere the weight of my heavy curse,
But shalt not die until tho day of judgment"
He assists at the execution, and then goes
forth a mysterious stranger whose feet shall
become familiar with all lands.
How, age after age; he longs for the sweets
Of death, he must live on ; his dust shall not
minglc with that of his ancestors. He drage
himself from a gloomy cavern Of Mount Car
mel, shaking the dust from his beard grown
even to his knees. Nine grinning skulls
are before him. He scizes and hurls them
from the top Of tho mountain, aud they 60
bounding down from rock to rock. They arc
the skulls Of his parents, Of his wife and six
small children, all of whom have been able tc
debut he cannot. He rushes into tho
flames Of falling Jerusalem and attempts t.
bury himself beneath the crumbling ruins o.
Rome; but in vain. Flying from cities and
and mon, the wandcrer seeks tho solitary
places of the earth. lie climbs the ~cyorlast
ing mountains; passed beyond tho region Of
verdurc and of dashing torrents, his feet tread
the seas of amethyst and opal. Above him
are only peaks shrouded in mists and eternal
SHOWS. The daring eagle scars not so high
There are no sounds save the cracking gla
oicrs. The soul seems almost to touch the
heavens aboye-Phero, surely, the Wander
ing Jew shall rest? No. A pursuing ange
unshcathes a sword Of flaming fire, and 10
the wandcrcr beholds once more in the heav
ems the drama of the crucifxion. The wa,
from earth is storied with myriads of cclles
tial beings, radiant with light. Before hin
arc all the martyrs and saints and sages, VII
have ever lived and died. For o moment h
gazcs upon the vision and turing away, chase,
by the sword of flame and demons Of fright
full form. Then he again wonders ovor tn
earth, ever, with fine pieces Of ooppor'in hi
pocket, ever with the mark of blood upon hi
forehead. Maddonod with the agony of life
he throws himself into the crater Of Etna
but the boiling liquor and s%ulphurous fame
: harm him not. The floods Of lava vomit hin
forth, for his hour is not yet come. Embark
ing upon the sea, tho wind rises its surfao
into mountain waves, the vessels divide, an,
all perish save tho Wandering Jew. To-
light to sink in the ocean, its waves cast hin
upon the hated shore. He plunged into
hundred bloody conflicts without sword O
shield. All in vain. The lcaden balls rair
harmlessly upon him battle axes and Seine
tars glance from his charmed body. Whcr,
mounted squadrons fight with the fury Of de
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