Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-03-22
For the Monitor.
THE STAROE BETHLEHEM.
BY LAURA DAVIS.

BY LAURA DAVIS.
Forty-fve years had passed, since there
came a vision from the Lord, to Simeon
of Damascus Stricken in years, and
apparently near death he lay with his
cold hands folded on his breast, and with
a look of solemn sweetness that grew to
seraphic smile. The friends that
watched beside him said, ''his hour is
come; it is the death-smile on his face
he will die ere the MORN" Simeon
heard them, and opening his eyes, said
81 shall not die. Saw We no angel
forms? heard he no voice? Behold,
while l lay here, freezing chill crept
over me, and as / waited the everlasting
calm of death, God sent his angel, who
said unto me, Rise Simeon. thou shalt
not taste death until thou hast seen the
Lords Messiah; arise, and 90 unto Je-
rusalem. and abide there till the Messi-
ah come Now Simeon arose from his
bed, his strength came back, and the
warm tide of life flowed through his
veins. Men marveled when they saw
Simeon arise, and in strength. He put
on festive robe, and said to his servant
LET us 60 to Jerusalem and await Mes
siah's coming" And they went forth
from Damascus, to Jerusalem and abode,
waiting the Messiah's coming. Forty
five years he waited there, and people
said to him HE does not come; why
hope for what is hopeless? You will die
without beholding the Messiah" Though
sickness bound him to his couch, his
faith failed not. His answer was ever
the same Il shall not die +; the Lord has
said, till Messiah come, shall not die. +"
The time at length drew near, and Sim
con said to his servant "I.ook toward
the east and weary not, but watch and
tell me if thou seest any light" The
servant looked, but his answer was 81
see no light toward Hebron" Then
came the Feast of palms, a holy week in
proud Jerusalem, and Simeon said to his
servant, Take up my couch and bear me
to the Temple, and l will await the Mes
slah's coming there" The servant took
him and carried him to the temple, and
there the prophecies Anna, gladly cared
for him. The feast, with all its splen-
dor was near its close the evening sac
rifice was offered up, yet the great null
titude that thronged the courts of the
vast temple still fingered for one more
glimpse of the dazzling beauty of court
gate, and inner temple Green branches
of palms and pomgranate, hung from the
high walls and arch-ways above the
swaying crowds beneath. The smoke of
incense rose through the hours of day
and night, and filled the dome and arch
es of the temple. The curtains hanging
In front of the inner temple were notion
less; no foot dared to cross the sacred
threshold, lest the vengeance of the AL
mighty fall upon him. What means
that sudden silence that falls on the in
mates of the temple The sound of
distant music is heard. and it approach
es until angel voices, chanting melodies
IN the distant skies. are heard "Glory
to God in the highest; peace on earth,
good will toward men,"
Simeon turns upon his couch and
catches the angelic song as it floats in
the stiffness of the temple. He says to
the servant "Climb to the dome of the
temple, and from its top look forth once
more toward Hebron, and tell me if YOU
see light" The servant climbed slow
ly upwards. and from the dome at length
called down: "a faint lightdawns and
now Star appears in the eastern hori
zon, but | cannot yet see which wav il
tends" Simeon rose up on his couch
and called forth aloud: "Look forth
again and tell me what thou eanst see. >
"Ihe star still rises in the air" Sim.
cons face lights up with Joy.
The days of publication passed and tb,
aged Simeon and Mary appeared will
the young child, Jesus. Simeon took hin
up IN his arms and blessed him ant
said, "I.Ord. now lettest thou thv serv
ant depart in peace; for mine eyes hav,
seen thy salvation, which thou hast per
formed before the face of all people"
f Don't imagine that you are better thar
c your fellows. There are no reserve,
seats in Heaven.
t There are 100000, 600 worth 0
9 church property in the United States