The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-10-03

OF THE OFFERINGS MADE To THE PHARAOH.
VANANi find myself stretched
l z.E at length upon the
liz II stone flooring of the
lAaKAlGS Holy Place OF Isis
KNHMAS that Is at Abouthis. BY
HhAHEN me stood the old Priest Of
SRG - the Mysteries. and in his
| R&8I hand was lamp He bent
NaR 4 upon my face.
1T is day-the day Of thy
IN a a q new birth-and thou hast lived
ElIE to see It, o Harmachis!" -
fu7rIN said at length. Il give thanks.
A Arise. Royal Harmachis - nay,
Tell me laught of that which has fall
en- thee Arise. beloved of the Holy
Mother. Come forth, thou who hast passed
the fire and learned what lies behind the
darkness Come forth, . newly born!"
l rose, and walking family. went with
him, and passing out OF the darkness OF the
Shrnes, came once more into the pure light
of the morning, filled with thought and
wonder. And then l went to my own
chamber and slept; nor did any dreams
come TO trouble me. But no man. not even
Inv IdIHGT. dSkCu ddHul vi NHdt 90"
upon THAI dread night, or after what fashion
had communed with the Goddess.
After all these things which have been
written. for space applied myself TO the
worship Of the Mother Isis, and to the fur
ther study OF the outward forms OF the mys-
teries whereto l now hold the key. More
over, was instructed in matters polite.
for many great men of our following came
secretly TO see me from all quarters OF
Egypt, and told me much of the hatred of
the people toward Cleopatra, the Queen, and
OF other things At last the hour drew
nigh; it was three months and ten days
from the night when, for awhile, left the
flesh, and yet, living with our life, was
gathered to the breast Of Isis, on which it
Was agreed that with due and customary
formality, although in utter secrecy, I
should be called to the throne of the Upper
and Lower Land. So it came to pass that,
as the solemn time drew nigh, great men Of
the party of Egypt gathered to the number
of thirty seven from every nome, and each
great city OF their nome, coming together at
Aboufhis. In every guise they came-some
rs priests, some as pilgrims to the Shrine,
and some a. beggars. Among them was
my uncle, Sepa, who, though he clad him
self a. q travelling doctor, had much ado to
keep his loud voice from betraying him
Indeed, l myself knew him thereby, meet
ing him as walked IN thought upon tho
banks Of the canal, notwithstanding that 1t
was dusk and that the great cape, which,
after the fashion Of such DOCTORS he had
thrown about his head, half hid his tace.
"A pest on thee - he cried, when greeted
him by his name. "can not man cease to
be himself even for an hour! Ddst thou
but know the pains that it has cost me to
learn to play this part-and now thou read
est who / am even in the dark"
And then, still talking in his loud voice,
he told me how he had Travelled hther on
foot, the better to escape the spies who ply
to and fro upon the river. But he said he
should return by the water, or take an
other guise; for since he had come as O
doctor he had been forced to play doctors
part. knowing but little of the arts Of med
icinc. and, as he greatly feared, many
there were between On and Abonthis who
had suffered therefrom. In Ancient Egypt
an unskillful or negligent physician was liza
bic to very heavy penaltics.--Ed. And he
laughed loudly and embraced me, forget
ting his part For he was too whole at
heart to be an actor and other than him
self. and would have entered Abouthis with
me holding my hand, had not child him for
his fAllv.
Al length all were gathered.
IT was night when the gates OF the Tenn.
pie were shut. None were left within them,
save only the thirty-seven, my father, the
High Priest Amcncmhat: tina. aged Priest
who had led me TO the Shrine Of Isis the
old wife, Atoua, who. according to ancient
custom, was to prepare me for the anoin.-
ing: and some five other priests, sworn to
secrecy by that oath which none may break
They gathered in the second hall of the
great Temple. but remained alone. clad in
my white robe in the passage where are
the names Of six and-seyenfy ancient Kings.
who were before the day Of the divine Seth.
There rested in darkness, till at length
my father, AmeRcmhat, came, bearing q
lamp, and. bowling low before me, led me by
the hand forth into the great hall. Here
and there between its mighty pillars lights
were set that dimly showed The sculpIured
images upon the walls, and dimiy fell upon
the long line Of the seven-and thirty Lords.
Priests and Princes. who, seated upon cary
en- chars, awaited my coming in silence.
Before them, facing away from the seven
Sauctuaries, was set a throne around which
stood the Priests holding the sacred i'm
ages and banners As came into the dim
and holy place the Dignitares rose and
bowed before me, speaking no word, Whlie
my father led me to the steps Of the throne,
and in u low voice babe me stand before it.
And then he spakc:
Lords. Priests and Princes Of the ancient
orders Of the land Of khcm-nobles from
he Upper and the Lower Country, here
yathered in answer to my summons, hear
Tie. / present unto you, with such scant
forma.ity as the occasion can afford, the
E,,t,, k,,,, 1t
iccnt Of blood the descendant aud heir of
The ancient Pharaohs of our most unhappy
and x'riest IS he Of the inmost circle Of
he Mys series Of the Divine Isis, Master Of
VIC Mysteries, Hereditary Priest OF the Fyr-