The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-03-22
SEALED UNTO HIM.
4 Story Of The Carly Days Of Mormopign'
by JOAQUIN MILLER,
Author of "Songs Of the slcrras," "Thc
Danites," ""Meinorie and Rime;" etc,
CHAPTER II.
BY THE DEAD SCI.


l was called The dead sea IN the old
days by those aho PASSED that way. The
River Jordan still holds its biblical
name, as do many Of the passesspfiugs,
valleys, and mountain. peaks srtrodna-
ing Salt Lake.
Ny fsther was inoFe puzzled MS to who
this strange man might be. after taking
his hand and hearing hihi talk in his
quiet, unseliob, and learned fashion.
than ever before WAS he indeed c
Dante or only some poor Mormon. n
sort OF insane man, doing pehaace as tie
proresscd9
1t is a great mistake 10 Say that only
dishonest, ignorant, and impure men are
fanatics in religion. frCdreutlg recall,
when thinking Of these things, the gaiiut,
lean figure of the old learned Calipa who
sat on his red camel outside the gates or
jerusalem, demanding the keys Of the
doomed city. see him dine rs BE Sits
there, on two dried figs and 4 drink OF
water from the lefthern bottle at his belt
see him die Mt last, after all the wealth
OF the East has passed untouched through
his hands, with face lifted radiant in
hope TO the gates of heaven. That hir
followers we're ignorant, bad at heart, Is
trne. They could not even plead re-
deeming Industry.
Pardon this digression. One is tempt
ell into noting parallels of religions fan.
atheism. folly and madness by the singn-
lar similarity of the physical character
iS;ics of the two lauds-Syria and thi,
Mormon region now known rs Utah.
1t was a tired, dusty, di5hear ened lit.
lie party that touched the salt-white
shore Of the dead sea in the heart OF the
great desert and wilderness OF this con-
iinent mere than thirty years ago.
Tho silent and melancholy man in the
long blacl, barrow was quite we'll enough.
after the nights rest which followed my
fathers visit, TO creep on sfter his coffin
the next morning, and he kept up, hov.
eripg on our border, keeping only little
way in the rear, oampinS only little
way cf, living his singular life all by
himself, as before. till we reached the
shores OF the inland sea.
1t is TO be confessed that thero was not
one Of our little train that did not hope
expect, almost pray, Tint here this man
would leave us-thi6 nightmare, shadow,
aud cloud; this bird of evil omen, rise
at last and fly away. Not so.
The coffin took up position not five
hundred yards away on the bank of the
brawlinR little stream which swept into
the great black lake. with its cleaning
border Of crystal-whito salt. The grass
was long and strong here. Some will.
lowt cast n cooling shade here the tail
and hideoSs giant with the hollow eyes
sat and read ali day alone. But where
was he at nigbt9 We children did not
fish in that stream once during the whole
week of rest here, while purchasing fresh
supplies from Salt Lake City, only
few miles away to the south. We
stepped high and hurried 10 the tall
grass If by chance any of the cattle went
too close To that monstrous shape, and
We had 10 80 there to drive them back
and nearer camp.
My father bad been very anxious all
The journey TO hear from the Lanes. He
often asked men who had slow teams
like our own If they had seen this party
pass. They had been secn often. At
the settlement Of Salt Lake be asked for
them in vain.
one day he voutured TO approach The
watohiul and silent giant who rested by
biz coffin as he read ia the shade Of the
willows, and asked if he had had any in.
formation about the Lares.
The man only lifted the lids Of bis
hollow eyes. looked moment az my
father, let THEN fall, and sgsin vent on