The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-09-26

" thou ready. Hasm.ehi. s.''' :.
" ''Once again." / answered, II
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 Harmachis!" 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 / listened,
awestruck, behold l saw the outline of
the symbol drawn as with fire upon the
blackncss 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
mites unending birth. and the face of her
holy sister, Ncphthys, that is craven on the
other. and signifies the ending of ali 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 rafting ceased.
Then of sudden the end of the chamber
became luminous, and in that white light /
bcheld picture after picture. l 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 and
81 n yS.ofn rod. hA ,xo,,,
lowered up toward the silent sky; but in
mountain, desert and river there was no
sign OF human life. And then knew that
saw the world as it had been before man
was, and terror Of its loneliness entered
my soul.
The picture passed and another rose up in
its place. Once again saw the banks Of
6ihor, and on them crowded wild.faced
creatures, partaklng 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, 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 Of Sihor: but ON them fair cities
bloomcd 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,
aud no weapons of war. All was wisdom
prosperity and peace. And, while WON
dercd, glorious figure, clad in raiment
that shonc as flame, 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 market
place facing the water. and as the sun set
called all the multitudes to prayer. With
one voice they prayed, bending in adora-
tion. And ! 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, aud set their hearts on sin. The
evening came: the glorious figure mounted
the throne and called to prayer, but none
bowed themselves in alteration.
I'VE are aweary of thee" they cried.
.sMakc Evil King! Stay him! slay him
and loose the bonds of Evil! Make Evil
hluR.s
Nightly uprose the glorious shape, gaz.
ing with mild eyes upon those wicked ones.
I'VE know not what ye ask" he cried
shut as ye will, SO be it, For if l die. by
me shall We once again, after much travail,
find Q path TO the Kingdom of Good''
Even as he spoke form, foul and hidcous
to behold, leapt upon him. cursing, slew
him, tore him limb from limb, and amidst
tho clamor of the people sat himself 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. A moment she bent herself upon
them, then lifted up her hands and wcpt
And as she wept, behold from her sides
there sprang a warrior armed and with 9
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. I saw them
pass and pass and pass in millons-loving,
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
liencc And ever as they passed from age
70 age, high above in the heavens the
Avengsr fought on with the Evil Thing,
while the scale Of victory swung now here,