The Columbus journal., 1881-03-30
q old.

yer as the earliest metals known.
The scriptures, the most ancient
writings we possess, abound with
notices of them. You will remem-
ber that gold is mentioned in the
second chapter of Genesis as in use,
and Familiarity known before the
food. The name of the fret is pison,
that is it which encompassed the
whole land of Hsvilah where there
is gold, and the gold of that land is
good. The Hebrew word for gold
is zeb, signinifying to be clear, to
shine; alluding, doubtless, to the
brillisncy of that metal.
The term gold occurs frequently
in the writings of Moses, and that
metal must have been in common
use among the Egyptians when
Moses led the children of Israel out
of Egypt, which is generally believ-
ed to have been l64S years before
the Christian era.
Silver also was not only Familiarity
known to the Egyptians in the time
of Moses, but as we learn in the
Book of Genesis, it was coined into
money before Joseph was set over
the land of Egypt by Pharoah. which
happened S72 years before Christ,
and consequently 224 years before
the departure of the children of
Israel from Egypt.
If you refer to the 47th chapter of
Genesis you will find that Joseph
gathered up all the money that was
found in the land of Egypt and in
the land of Canaan for the corn
which they bought and Joseph
brought the money into Pharoah's
house. The Hebrew word kemep,
translated money, signified silver,
and was so called from its pale color.
You will recollect that after the
departure of the children of Israel
from Egypt the gold earrings of the
females were sufficient to form the
golden calf which was impiously
worshiped.
In the museum at Copenhagen
there are many tools and weapons,
swords, dsggers and knives, the
blades of which are gold whilst an
edge Of iron is for the purpose of
cutting.
Olaf Bagen was a rich merchant
of Odense, in Denmark, and a man
OF noble and generous sentiments.
He lent money TO his King, Freder-
erick the III; time rolled on and
Bsgen had large family, son and
daughters, and he became very poor
and went to lis children for help
and refuge, but they treated him
badly. Bsgen, sick at heart and in
want of the common necessaries of
life, felt deeply grieved at his chill
dren for such conduct, but he tho't
of way to punish them and provide
himself with what he wanted at
their expense; so he went round to
bis friends and merchants with
whom he.had dealings, and returned
with a heavy Golfer, which he de-
posted in safe place, and placed i:
under lock and key. He told them
that the contents of the box he in.
tended to leave to the son or the
daughter who treated him best. 1t
was wonderful to see now how
ready and even Jealous the children
Of Bagen were to relieve their faith
er. There was constant rivalry,
between them, who should receive
him best and attend to his wants.
The comforts of life were showered
upon him, and old Bagen at length
ended his days in peace. All his
dutiful children had been kind to
him, so the contents of the Golfer
were to be equally divided among
them; there would be enough for
all. Bagen was conducted in pomp
and honor to his last resting place,
followed by his surviving children.
Afterwards the will was read and
the Golfer opened and it was found
to be full of stones. This you will
say was a just requital for avarice
and undutiful behavior.
JAMES KAY.