The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1883-01-31

surrounded q still winter face, and as he
came near his wife he held out his
hand toward her with an uncertain gesture
as II the room had been dark. This world
appeared 10 him but dimly. "Selima,
said he, "the Giver hath taken. We,
too, must 40 In our turn. Weep, my
love, but weep with my moderation, for
those little ones have gone to sing in the
golden cages Ct paradise. There is @
heavier sorrow In my heart. Since my
Arst-born, Hall, departed for Bassora,
/ have only written once 70 learn intell',.
gence Of him. he was then well, and
had been tecei7ed with favor by his
uncle. We have never done our duty
by that boy" His wife replied, DO
not reproach me; for / reproach myself
more bitterly than thou canst do.
Write, then, TO thy brother to Obtain
tidings OF the beloved one. l will make
OF this chamber O weeping chamber. II
has resounded with merrirnent enough.
All my children learned 10 laugh and TO
talk here. will hang u with black,
and erect tomb In the midst, and every
day 1 will come and spend I Gt hours,
and weep for those who arc gone and
for him who is absent" Fsdlallah APP
proved her design, and they made q
weeping chamber, ard hmented to-
gether every day therein But their
letters TO Bassora remained unanswered,
and they began 10 believe that fate had
chosen solitary tomb for Hall,
One day o woman, dressed IN the garD
OF the poor, came 10 the house OF Fad
lallah with boy about twelve years old.
When the merchant saw them he was
struck with amazement, for he boheld in
the boy the Likeness Of his son Hall !;
aud he called aloud to Selma, who,
when she came, shfieked with amaze.
ment. The woman told her story, and
IL appeared that it was Miriam. Having
spent some months in prison she had es-
capped and taken refuge in forest in the
house Of her nurse. Here she had given
birth TO son, whom she called by his
fathers name. When her strength re-
turned she set out as beggar to travel
over the world in search Of her lost hus-
band. Marvellous were the adventures
she underwent, God protecting her
throughout, until she came TO the land
Of Persia, where she found Hall work
ing as o slave in the garden Of the Gov
ornor Of Ears. After few stolen inter-
views, she had again resumed her wan
derings TO seek for Fadlallah. that he
might redeem his son with wealth but
had passed several years upon the road.
Fortune, however, now smiled upon
this unhappy family, and, in spite Of his
age, FadlallAh set out for Ears. Heaven
made the desert easy aud the road shorI
for him. On a fine calm evening h,
entered the gardens OF the Governor
and found HIS son gayly singing Us III
trimmed IN orange tree. After vail
attempt TO preserve an incognito. thu
good old man lifted up his hands, ant
shouting, "HalD, my first-born |" fel
upon the breast Of tho astonished slave
Sweet was the interview in the orang
grove, sweet the murmured conyersatio
between the strong young man and til
trembling patriarch, until the perfume
dew Of evening fell upon their head
HALLS liberty wns easily obtained, an
father and son returned in safety
Beyrout Then the weeping chambe
was closed, and the door walled up; an
Fadlallah and Selma lived happily unit
ago gently did its work at their appoint
cd times; and HALL and Miriam inhe,
ted the house and the wealth that ha
been gathered for them.
The supernatural part OF the story RI
mains to be told. The weeping chan
Der was never again opened; but ever
time that death was about to occur
the family, shower, and heavy tom
drops was heard to fall upon its marb
floor and low wailings came through Ill
walled doorway. Years, centuries, passe
away, and tho mystery repeated itse
with unvarying uniformity. The famil
fell into poverty. and only occupied
portion Of the house, but invariably b,
fore one Of its members sickened uni
denth n shower OF heavy drops, NJ frOl
n thunder cloud, battered on the paw,
ment Of tho weeping chamber, and WI
heard distinctly at night through I'll
whole house. At length tho famil
quilted tho country in search of bette
fortune elsewhere, and tho honse II
manned for long time nninhabited.
The lady who narrated the story wei
TO live in the house and passed SON
years without being disturbed (; but on
night she was lying awake, and distinc
ly heard the warning shower drippin
heavily in tho weeping chamber. Ne,
day the news came OF her mother
death, and she fastened to remove
another dwelling. The house has sine
been utterly abandoned to rats, mic,
beetles and Oh occasional ghost see
sometimes streaming along the rair
pierced terraces. No one has ever n
tempted to violate the solitude of th
sanctuary where Selma wept for tn
seven little ones taken to the grave, an,
for the absent one whom she had treate,
with unmotherly neglect.