Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-11-08

IlGlI CUuuuCllcne, IL cildil optih w
'ou Of the future. If death be at
/ distance it will sink some feet in
very second that you gaze upon it.
If your parting hour approaches
rapidly, it will rise rapidly: and, if
.he very last sands in life's hour
glass be running. will mount till it |
be checked only by the margin. IfI
death shall approach you in the
guise of violence, the water will
instantly bubble up. If caused by
it will change color once,
twi,e, thrice-fast as the hnes of
the rainbow melt into each other
and vanish, even while you gaze on
them. If death oyertake YOU by
decay, and in the common course
of nature other than a gentle rip
pie oyerits surface, no change win
the still water know or tell. You
understand mc?" -
81 do" =
"Fully? Approach, then. Gaze
steadfastly on that dark surface,
andit shall mirror to thee fully
and faithfully the future
The calmer, and graTer, and sad
der of the two advanced slowly te
the margin with a look Of mingled
curiosity and incredulity, which sat
strangely on his heavy, massive fea-
tures. In an instant the water rose
at least two feet, changed color
rapidly, and evidently more than
once, and then became dark and
motionless as before.
"Ahl not far distant, and by ac-
eident?"
The Sibyl made no.areply, but
merely motioned him by a gesture
to gaze on. He did so; and as he
looked he beheld a mimic represcn
tation Of a scene Of greateoBfusioH.
Countless multitudes were assenl-
bled-thero was running to and fro
-horsemen were riding in all diEse-
tions-the spectators We're con-
yersing eagerly with each other,
and deep dismay sat on many a
countenance. This faded from the
surface, and there was presented to
him small room in what appeared
to be a roadside inn. Three or
mole individuals It contained, to
whose persons be was a perfect
stranger. But there was one pres.
ent whose features he instantly re-
cognized-one ever dear to him
his wife. her e9untenance wa;
calm, but there was upon it indes-
cribable distress. Propped up with
pillows in the foreground was a
figure which his features told him
was himself. The eve was wander
ing aud restless. Every feature
bore the impress Of intense agony
and the face was overspread with
that cold, gray tint which SO surely
foretells impending dissolution. H'
looked at it steadily for a few sec
onds. A sort of mist came over hii
yi:ion. lie withdrew his gaze foI
an instant from the fountain, and
when he again resumed his obser
walton, the painful scene haC
wholly disappeared. His iuquirinl
look Of astonishment and emotion
| the Sibyl returned with Indifference
The agitation manifested in hi
countenanco was strangely con
trusted by the fixed, rigid expires
sion of hers. His appeared a pain
full struggle with conflicting feel
ings; her comtenance wore it
usual air of cold and impressive
indifference.
"That | should see her that sh
should be so clearly, accurately ant
faithfully portrayed, is most be
widering"
"WhaLl it's past a ioke?H sal,
The younger of the two, adyancin
gayly toward the fountain. 9Th
answered. the oracle is not palatablC
oh? Take your fayorite poets ac
, vice henceforthi
--Quid it futurum cras
Fuge qu@rere.
But now Of me, and to me, VIII;
says the future?"
!, The water rose a few inches an
q then became st9tiqpary. On i
r surface next appeared Il small chan
4 Der, insignificant in its dimension
n scanty in its accommodation
1 meagre, in its furniture, and alt'
: gether humble in its comforts an
appointments. Gardens seemed
, stretch around it and on the mar
/. tel-piece bs remarked q sma
bronze clock Of singHlar shape.
/. Charles, as / liyop he e&elan
n ed, as his eye rested on the llnei
ments of ayouth, who was holdiE
q the hand Of a sick person, in u
full vigOr of life, but racked WI
bodily agony. "The other tigu