Thomas County cat., 1889-12-12

% thou o1ss 1ssss' ysaa aa.n.ssi.'" ss '"''' ar
w ''Once again." answered, 81
am ready" He spoke no more; but. having
lifted up his hands in prayer, led me to the
center Of the Holy, and with swift motion
put out the lamp.
"Look before thee, O Harmachism he
cried; and his voice sounded hollow in the
solemn place.
gazed and saw nothing. But from the
niche that is high in the wall, wherein is
hid the sacred symbol Of the God
dess, on which few may look, there
came sound as Of the rafting
rods of the sistrum. And as I listened,
awestruck, behold! l saw the outline Of
the symbol drawn as with fire upon the
blackness of the air. Above my head it
hung, and ratified while it hung. And as it
turned, clearly saw the face of the Mother
Isis that is craven on the one side, and sig
nifies unending birth, and the face Of her
holy sister, Nephthys, that is craven on the
other, and signifies the ending of all birth
in death.
Slowly it turned and swung as though
some mystic dancer trod the air above me
and shook it in her hand. But at length the
light went out, and the rattling ceased.
Then of sudden the end of the chamber
became luminous, and in that white light
beheld picture after picture. I saw the
ancient Nile rolling through deserts to the
sea. There were no men upon its banks,
nor any signs of man, nor any Temples to
the Gods Only wild birds moved on Sihor's
lonely face. and monstrous brutes plunged
and walowed in his waters. The sun sunk
in majesty behind the Libyan Desert aud
stained the waters red; the mountains
lowered up toward the silent sky; but in
mountain, desert and river there was no
sign of human life. And then knew that
saw tive world as it had been before man
was, and a terror OF its loneliness entered
my soul.
The picture passed and another rose up in
its place. Once again saw the banks of
Sihor, and on them crowded wild faced
creatures, partaking Of the nature of the
ape more than OF the nature of mankind
They fought and slew each other. The wild
bird sprang up in alright as the fire leapt
from reed huts given by foemen's hands to
fame and pillage They stole and rent and
murdered, dashing out the brains of chill
dren with axes of stone. And, though no
voice told me, l knew that saw man as he
was tens of thousands of years ago when
first he marched across the earth.
Yet another picture. Once again saw
the banks cf Sihor; but on them fair cities
bloomed like flowers. In and out their
gates went men and women, and laden
asses passing to and fro from wide, well
titled lands. But saw no guards or armies,
and no weapons of war. All was wisdom
prosperity and peace. And, while Won
dered, a glorious figure, clad in raiment
that shone as fame, came from the gates of
shrine, and the sound of music went be-
fore and followed after him He mounted
An ivory throne which was set In a market
place facing the water, and as the sun set
called all the multitudes to prayer. With
one voice they prayed, bending in adora-
ton. And l understood that herein was
shown the reign Of the Gods on earth, which
was long before the days Of Menes.
A change came over the dream. Still,
the same fair city, but other men
men with greed and evil on their
faces who hated the bonds Of righteous
doing, and set their hearts on sin. The
evening came; the glorious figure mounted
the throne and called to prayer, but none
bowed themselves in alteration.
''We are aweary Of theer they cried
make Evil King! Slay him! slay himi
and loose the bonds of Evil! Make Evil
Kingl"
Nightly uprose the glorious shape, gaz-
ing with mild eyes upon those wicked ones.
"Ye know not what We ask" he cried;
shut as We will, so be Il! For if die, by
me shall ye once again, after much travail,
find path to the Kingdom Of Goodr'
Even as he spoke form, foul and hideous
to behold, leapt upon him. cursing, slew
inn fnro l,y,,t~
the clamor Of the peoplessat aimself upon
the throne and ruled. But q shape whose
face was vailed passed down from Heaven
on shadowy wings, and with lamentations
gathered up the rent fragments Of the Be
ing. moment she bent herself upon
them, then lifted up her hands and wept.
And as she wept, behold! from her sides
there sprang warrior armed and with q
face like the face OF Ra (the SUM at noon.
With shout he, the Avenger, hurled him.
self upon the monster who had usurped the
throne, and they closed in battle and strug-
CLING ever in straight embrace, passed up
ward to the skies.
Then came picture after picture. saw
powers and peoples clad in various robes
and speaking many tongues / saw them
pass and pass and pass in millions-lovinc,
hating, struggling, dying Some few were
happy and some had woe stamped upon
their faces; but most bore not the seal Of
happiness nor Of woe, but rather of pa
thence. And ever as they passed from age
to age, high above in the heavens the
Avenger fought on with the Evil Thing,
while the scale Of victory swung now here,
now there; but neither conquered, nor was
1t given TO me to know how the battle
ended.
And understood tina. what r had beheld
was the holy vision Of the struggle between
the Good and the Evil powers. I saw that
man was created vile, but those who are
sbove took pity on him and camo down to
him to make him good and happy, for the
two things arc one thing. But man re-
turned again to his wicked way, and then
did the bright spirit Of Coed, who Il OF M
called Osiris, but who hath many names,