The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1873-03-27

builder could ever restore the ruin she
had wrought. So, after few faint
endeavors, she, rs he expected, would
give up in dispair, and sit covering
hopelessly on the ground afraid of Him,
whose priestess she was, afraid OF her
own voice
In such better hours he would again
grow bold, and mock her with the mem.
ory of the past, until the spirit of in
dignant resistance seemed reused within
her, when, once more softening his tone,
he would point her with fiattering words
to her own image on the broken altar.
He would show her the beauty still
lingering in its marred and weather.
worn feature, and help her to decorate
it with gay colors and tinsel ornaments,
placing in her hands the golden censer,
with the sweet incense which had been
made in happier days for far other uses;
and she would wave the fragrant COM
pound before the idol image of herself
But with the pure spicies which made it
sweet the enemy had mixed narcotic
poison, and as she languidly swung the
censer to and fro, her brain would be-
come intoxicated with the voluptuous
sweetness, until, in dream of vain
delight, she would fall asleep, and for
get all her miseries; and ever, as she
slept, he would rivet faster the chain
which, unperceived by her, was being
bound around her, every year making
range of action narrower and her move
ments less free.
Wild beasts, also, made their lair in
the desolate temple chambers, prowling
in and out where formerly meek and
heavenly beings had ministered, and
making the shattered walls echo with
their loud howls and sullen roarings,
where once had sounded strains of pure
and joyous music.
Thus day by day the ruin spread, and
the desolation and desecration became
more complete. But it happened one
spring that two little singing-birds came
back from the sunny cline where they
had wintered, and began building their
nest above the ancient altar There
was something in the spring-time which
often brought tears to the eyes of the
fallen priestess, she scarcely knew why.
The world seemed then like one happy
temple full of thankful songs and as
day by day, the sun repaired the ruins
of winter, and the choral services of the
woods took fuller tone, on her heart
there fell the mournful sense of the
ruins around her, which no spring-tide
could restore. Yet something of a softer
feeling, q melancholy which breathed of
hope, stole over her, as she watched
those two happy birds building their
nest and warbling as they worked.
At last, the nest was finished, the
happy mother bird sat ON her eggs, and
the pair had much leisure for con.
tidcntial conversation.
"How desolate this place is p said
the mother-bird.
"And it was once so beautiful, re-
piled her mate.
"Why is not rebuilt she asked.
"None can rebuild but the Hand that
, built" was the mysterious reply.
but would not the Architect come il
asked? He is 30 good. Was it not He
who taught us to build our nest? and
am sure nothing can be better done thai
, that"
"That isthe difficulty" was the reply
"rhe priestess does not know He is 81
good. and is afraid to utter His name
If she only called Him, He woult
e come"
as He near enough?"
: He is always near"
e care you sure?" said the nsothel
+ bird. "What can we do to help her
It 81 do not know" replied the mate
+ except it is to sing His praise. PEI
haps she may listen, and understan
If one day how good He is."
II So all the spriug the little happ
|, creatures chirped and sang, until til
t., nestlings were hedged, and the whol
,e family flew away.
e But their songs had penetrated dee
.e into the priestess's heart. And OF
t. night, when the enemy was absent, an
Y, the wild beasts prowling far away, 81
If threw herself on the earth before h
N desecrated altar, and lamented an
If wept. hnt for the first time her lame
le tations, instead of solitary, hopele
9, wailings, echoing back from the RUNE
IN walls, became broken cry for help.
h "Thou, if Thou art indeed so good
ol if Thou art indeed near, come and he
e, me, she sobbed; repair my ruins, al
TX save me"
to And for the first time, as she wept al
ID implored, she felt the weight of h
IN letters binding hand and foot, and, elias
ke ing her chained hands, she cried mo
es earnestly, "Come and set me free!
tn And before the day dawned q vol
he came softly through the silence
,lc 81 will come"
IS, But with the morning light how bitt
Ill was the sight which burst on her achi
nd ewes! All had been as desolate 10
Ia before but she had never seen 1t as
IN. saw it now. Noisome beasts, viii
cb ,rouIad fearlesslv around her; sku