Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-02-17
The Oldest Language Upon Earth.

INC Olutht Language pom BaTtH.
The story goes that three old men
Mohammedan, a Jew and a Brah.
min-scated on the ground beside
well, disputed together as TO which
was the first language spoken upon
earth. The discussion waxed so hot,
the voices were raised 20 loudly, that
the sound drew to the spot young
Englishman. The youth had been
out shooting; with his gun in hi.
hand, and his game at his feet, be now
stood, leaning against o tree, listening
to the discussion between the three
men.
The Mohammedan, with vehement
gestures, and many an oath, declared
that no language could equal the
Arabic.
"ls it not the language" he cried.
"in which Mohammed blessed be his
name > received the holy Koran? !.
it not that in which the Most High
gave laws to the faithfuly Will We,
Oh We unbelieycrs, cast dust on the
grave of the Prophet by doubling that
Arabic is the oldest language Oh
earthf'
The Jew shook his gray head, and
his brow was knit into many wrinkles
"a he made answer The language
which Abraham our father. which
Isaac hnd Jacob peace be on them >
spake, must be honorch above all other
tongues. Surely it was heard in Par
adise, before Eve plucked the forbid.
den fruit The oldest and most sacred
language assurcdly is the Hebrew"
Then spoke the Brahmin, in tones
of scorn: "All languages compared
To Sauscrit are a. the bulrush com.
pared with the spreading banyan.
Nay even as the banyan sends forth
shoots, when they touch the earth.
spring forth young trees, so other
tongues spring from the life giving
Sanscrit. He must be void of Wis
dom, and ignorant as woman, who
doubts that the most ancient language
Is Sanscrit."
The disputants grew SO angry, that
1t seemed a. If TO words might succeed
blows, when the young Ebglishman
stepped forward.
"Oh venerable mem" he said with
courtesy, "you have numbered many
years and | but few; vet let me ar.
biirate between you. | know what is
the most ancient and honorable Ian.
guage spoken on earth"
You know" exclaimed the Mo
hammedan in surprise. "You have
but down upon your lips, aud will you
teach graybeards like usr"
The Hindu muttered to himself
The Sahib log think that they know
everything They can make roads |
and bridges. and send messages through |
wires but what can they tell of an
cient languages to Brahmin :"
THE language Of which / would |
inform you is not only the first spoken |
on earth, but it is the one now spoken
in heaven" said the Englishman.
The three men stroked their boards. |
and uttered eAclamations of astouish-
ment at the presumption shown by the |
youth.
"And yet more" continued the |
youth, his eyes, blue as the sky, spark.
ling with animation as he went on
without learning to speak this Ian.
guage, no man. whatsoever nation he
be. will ever be suffered to enter
heaven"
"Does your honor know this Ian
guagel' asked the Mohammedan
quickly.
"Yes, God be praised r. the Eng.
lishman replied.
"And where did you first learn ity"
asked the incredulous jew.
In softeued tone the young man
replied, Il learned il first from the
lips of my mother"
The three men glanced at each other
in surprise and then the Brahmin in
quired, And what is the language, o
SahibY"
The language Of TRUTH" said the
Enelishman.
When the word was spoken, the
clouds cleared away from The faces of
the three they slroked their boards
and cried, "Well said. Truth is the
language of God truth is the Ian.
guage spoken in heaven"
"But il must be learned upon earth"
aid the Englishman earnestly. "Be
fore ! came TO this land, gave up
pleasures by day and rest hy NIGHT. in