The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-01-05

upon us. Ia the night some kind
hand has rolled away the stones
which the Ephesisns cast into the
mouth Of the cavern, and mavha?
We shall yet live.
The sleepers asake and the seven
voices begin singing their morning
hymn.
a shepherd watching sheep near
the place saw . rent In the hillside,
where yesterday az sunset the Wild
plants grew. aud It is from this point
the soft voices come.
He fees into tie city, telling them
there that a miracle Is happening ;
that the hills are singing 10 heaven
The seven Christians having sung
their morning praises and kissed,
after the manaer Of the early Chris
tians. one said Thou, Paul, art
the bravest, for yesterday 4 o didst
overthrow the light tef0re the altar
Of Diana 90 thus cautiously into
the town aad bay bread. Mayhap
the Epbesians have had pity on u,
and viii let u live"
So this one, Paul. set out tor the
city below them FOR they had come
forth aud sat 10 the morning sunlight
he meaning to bring back bread ia
the loose sleeve Of bis dress.
He thought the land and city look
ed changed but he persuaded him
self that be was mistaken; until be
knew things must be strange, Tor.
suddenly meeting a man at a turo 10
the nil path, be saw that the siTa1-
ger was dressed as never be bad seen
man ROBBED.
The next moment bis amusement
was very great; for the nan started,
raised bis hand afrightedly, turned
and fed toward the city, never once
looking back
Still this Paul went Oh, much
amazed, but with no fear. let, when
be zane TO that point where. OF the
yesterday, there stood 4 wayside vo-
tive altar to Diana. be was sore pcz-
zled, for the figure Of Diana was
gone, the altar itself was Clipped
and weather-worn, and where bad
stood the statue, be marked q fair
cross Of white marble.
But from him the symbol demand
ed prayer, and bis face vas still TO-
ward the cross and from the city,
when the sound Of many whispering
voices called for bis attention.
He turned and found . multitude
uDon their knees. The whispering
be had heard was their praying
voices.
They bad heard the shepherds
! story, had met the a%frighted man,
who told how be had seen one who
bad a faint white light about bis
head, and they had gathered their
waving green branches, and had
moved up the bill. the bTavest in ad-
vance, the more timorous 10 the rear
Good people" be said, do no
farther harm. either to me or my
brothers. We wish YOU we'll"
"Who art thou, master ~ asked Z
quakiug voice.
For awhile the Assyrisn could not
understand.
Il am a Christian called Paul, and
nv six brethren are waiting for me
a little higher up on the hillside
They are Zebedee. Joshua, Matthew.
John, Peter, and Zacbarias."
The listening people could not com
orehend what the stranger said bu'
when be mentioned the names o
the seven Ephesian Christian mar
tvrs. Of whom their bishop had told
them how they had been cas- into Z
hole in the hillside, the people begaI
|, 70 quake, aud, in a loud voice, whis
per the word. miracle miracle ~
Cast Us not back into the pit ~ b,
pleaded /; "for we love you, and som'
= Of YOU love US, Tor have We not ROLLED
away the stone from the mouth o
'he cavern 2"
Slowly, yet with certainty, the lis
5 teners comprehended. and the fore
! most ran forward, meaning to fall q
!, his feet.
: But be, thinking they meant to XII
him, and yearning 10 die with BIZ
5 brethren, turned, and fed rapidly u
l the mountains.
Reaching the others, be told then
the people were coming to slay them
e and that they lad but a few moment
to live.
And then it was that the approach
= ing awe-stricken people heard th,
seven sweet voices, as the shepher'
D had heard them, and they came slow
1 " forward, covering their faces witt
d their hands, not daring to look upol
the seven radient men.
l. They, taking the appraised arms t.
s mean that they were to b. stoned 4
death, prepared TO die, though We
one Of them said: What haru
:, have we done YOU ?" You are no
: Of the Ephesisns who yesterday cas-
Us into the pit. You have gentle
faces, and your dress is different
e Let us go our way, if you will
not, we are ready TO die. See YOU
the rent in the bill is once again opeu
y Shall we 60 back to our tomb 2n
a And now oEe whom they knew b
5 bis dress TO be a Christian bishop
% though much they marveled that b
should De there among the Dians
loving Ephesians-came toward thei
and said softly: Why, brethren
's we welcome YOU with our Low,
It Whence came you! Z"
From the cavern whose openin
II you see, into which but Yesterday tb
d Ephesians cast Us, because that W
are Christians"
l. And now, TO their amazement, To
bishop. an aged rsan, with long, flow
ing, white hair, knelt before then
and prayed their blessing.
IS Nay" said be who was Gale
:, Paul, sit is for US to kneel TO you
for we are plain, Christian brethren
citizens Of Ephesus, following poe
e trades. Plead with the Ephesia1
for US that we may have our live:
y and that we may live after our ow
way
I'VE are Ephesians," said til
Bishop, softly.
q yet Won seem Christians 2u