The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-03-27

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, snd
| 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 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 softer
feeling, 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-
hdential conversation.
"How desolate this place isi' said
the mother-bird. r5
"And it was once so beautiful, p 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 If
asked? He is SO good. Was it not He
who taught us to build our nest? and
am sure nothing can be better done than
that" -~- -------.-- III
''That isthe dificulty,D was the reply.
THE priestess does not know He is so
good, and is afraid to utter His name.
If she only called Him, He would
come"
els He near enough?"
"He is always near.
d" Are you sure ?" said the mother
bird. ''What can we do to help ber?''
"I do not know" replied the mate,
except it is to sing His praise. Per
haps she may listen, and understand
one day how good He is.
so all the spring the little happy
creatures chirped and sang, until the
nestlings were f1edged, and the whole
family few aTay.
But their songs had penetrated deep
into the priestess's heart. And one
night, when the enemy was absent, and
the wild beasts prowling far away, sire
threw herself on the earth before her
desecrated altar, and lamented and
wept. But for the first time her lamen-
tations, instead of solitary, hopeless !
wailings, echoing back from the ruined
walls, became broken cry for help.
"Thou, if Thou art indeed SO good
if Thou art indeed near, como and help
me, she sobbed; "repair my ruins. and
save me-
And for the first time, as she wept and |
implored, she felt the weight OF her
fetters binding hand andfoot, and, clasp |
ing her chained hands, she cried more
earnestly, "Come and set me freeY
And before the day dawned a voice
came softly through the silence
II viii come"
But with the morning light how bitter
was the sight which burst on her aching |
eyes All had been as desolate long |
before but she had never seen it as she
saw it now. Noisome beasts, which |
prowled fearlessly around her f; skulls
and CHASTITY skeletons of their murder |
ed prey strewn about; on the ground |
the broken, rusted harp /; on her hands !
the heavy chain; and, worse than all,
the door she had opened to the enemy |
ever open, and inviting his approach
Too surely he came. He Knocked her
hope until it appeared baseless as a !
dream and nothing seemed real but the |
ruin to which he scornfully directed her |
gaze, and the chain which now, for the |
first time without concealment, he held |
up triumphantly, dragging her by it TO
every corner of the polluted and ruined |
temple, to show her how complete and |
hopeless the ruin was. Then drawing |
A. Ts,l-. Eso,b4o, Abav, f,aforo o., 4I,o4 |
they CALLED and wounded her wrists, he |
led her 20 the imageo of herself, which |
he had adorned, and painted, and so
often fattered he dragged off the
tinsil ornaments, and effaced the delu-
sive coloring, and left her, at last, face
to face with the defaced and broken idol,
saying
This is the worship you yourself
have chosen Pursue it still. There is
no other for you.
She could not bear to gaze on it and
as he went she fell PROSTATE on the altar
steps, and hid her face ON the stones.
Yet still. though with but feeble hope,
she sobbed ont
IF thou art good-if thou canst help
me. oOme-oh, come, and set me free =
WEAKNESS ut last brought sleep; and
in her dreams she saw lovely vision Of
the temple as it once had been. While
columns cleaned, sweet and solemn
music sounded, and she herself minister
ed In white robes at the altar. before =
radiant form, on which she could
scarcely for moment gaze.
The awaking from this dream to the
desolation around he was more terrible
than all she had felt before. It must
have bereft her of reason. but for the
echo Of three cheering words which
seemed to have awakened her-''T VII
! come.
The aeKt day, with the light Of that
radiant vision on her heart. she dragged