The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-05-17
Mount Carmel.

No part of the promised land creates a
deeper interest in the traveller, than the
rich and extensive bosom of Mount Carmel;
while barrenness spreads on every side,
and the curse of withered soil is felt on
hill, valley, and shore, this beautiful
monp tain seems to retain it's "excellency"
Of flowers, trees and a perpetual verdure.
The scenes in it's interior are often bold and
romantic in the highest degree deep and
verdant precipices, descending into lonely
glens, through which rivulet is seen
dashing wildly; the shepherd and his
at present as rich pasture ground as in the
days when Nabal fed his numerous herds
in Carmel. There is indeed character
peculiarly pastoral about the scenery few
gray and naked rocks, or sublime and USE
less cliffs. are here, as in the mountain of
fertility and vivid verdure, on 80 sultry q
soil, is deeply welcome and refreshing
more especially 80 the woods that wave
over the summit and sides. 1t is beautiful
to stand beneath their shelter on the brink
of the Mount and look far on every side,
land meets the eye. On the banks of the
'sancient river" on which "the strength of
the mighty" was broken, and the power of
Sisera swept away, no solitary tree spreads
it's shade the stream rolls between it's
green and naked shores these are 80 low
that the river overfows to some extent on
each side during the rainy season, and is
so deep and rapid as not to be fordable.
It was most probably during this season
that the army of Sisera, in its flight, was
in part destroyed by the waters, for in its
usual narrow course, the stream ia not of
sufficient width and power to be dangerous.
Just above, on the side of Carmel, is the
spot pointed out by tradition as having been
the scene of Eiijah's Staying the prophets
of Baal.
There is much of the picturesque about
the place the soil is strewd with several
masses of gray stone, around which are
many fine trees. 1t is pleasing and lone
ly spot, such as the imagination would
hardly have selected for so rsthless yet
necessary a deed. But if tradition should
err here, there can be no illusion with re-
spect to the scene of the memorable de-
scent of the fire from Heaven. When "all
Israel was gathered together unto Carmel"
it was clearly on this side the mountain,
where it descends gradually into the noble
plain beneath. The spot was fiuely chosen
by the prophet for the spectacle of his sacri-
fee, since the multitude of people coming
from the regions of Samaria, might stand
with perfect convenience in the splendid
and open area of Esdraelon, which is here
terminated at the foot of Carmel. The
declivity of the mountain, its brink dark
with woods. aud it's sides covered with
the richest pasture, looks over vast ex-
tent of country on every side; from the
hills of Samarin, Cana, and Gilboa, the
miracle might have been beheld and the
eager gaze of the Israelites in the plan,
the prophets of the groves, the useless
affairs, and the avepgng messengers of
God, were as distinct as if the scene had
been acted at their feet. This, too, is the
only face of the hill beneath which the
Kish on flows. What noble subject would
this be for painter the sun going down
on the mountain declivitiea, while tie eye
of despair as well as faith was fixed in
maddeniug suspense or triumph on the
fading sky +; and the hushed myriads gazed
on each dazzling beam and caught every
sound as if the coming of the God
was there the infidel king, alse, With his
chariots and armed men, waiting moveless,
from morn till eve. 1t was an impressive
spot, from which we turned with regret,
as the fading light warned us to DEPART
CaTneS Iraeels.