The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1890-05-09


.ors had originally emerged from
Ihe sea, where tkey were born, ana
were OF a light complexion Ihey
we're a gentle, gay, inoffensiye race,
living chiefly on fish ana oysters
lbey passed their time III festivals
and rejoicing. They had a temple
in which they adored mermaid.
Every night when The moan was
visible, they gathered around the
beautifully carved figure OF the
mermaid, and with instruments OF
strange shape, worshipped that
idol with such soul stirring music
as had never before blessed human
ears. a.
One day, a short time after the
destruction of Mauvila, or Mobile
in 1889. by De Soto and his com
nanions, there appeared among
Them a white man with long gray
beard, flowing garments ana
large Grass in his right hand. lie
drew from his bosom IL BOOK,
winch he kissed reverentially anu
began to explain 10 them wat was
contained in that sacred little caSK-
ct. Tradition does not say how ne
came suddenly TO acquire the IAN
ouage of those people when he at
tempted to communicate 10 lhei,l
ihe solemn truths of the gospel.
II must have been by the opera
lion of that faith which, we are
authoritatively told, will remove
mountains. Be it as it may, me
holy man, in the course OF a lew
months, was proceeding with such
success in his pious undertaking.,
and the work Of conversion was
going on brayely, when his pif,,
nose was defeated by an awlul
prodigy. -,
One night, when the moon III hel
zenith poured on heaven ana eafth
With more profusion than usual .
Mood of light angelic, at The sol
emn hour Of twelve, when al ma
Iture was in repose and silence
there came, on "A sudden, rush
| ittp OF the surface of the river, as !
| thp sill air had been tapped ln'c
a whirlwinl by myrladS Of IN
visible wings sweeping onward
The water seemed to be seized VIII
convulsive fury; uiterln@ deel
oroau il rolled several times iron
one bank to the other Win raplt
osciIlations,and then gathers itSeI
M into a towering column o
f1aming waves, on the Top 0
which stood IA mermaid, look'hS
with magnetic eyes that coul'
draw almost every thing to he.
and SINGING with voice that iascl
mated into madness. The lndlan'
and The priest, their new gues'
rushed to lhe bank of the river Il
contemplate this supernaluta
speclacle. When she saw theh
the mermaid turned her tones lnl'
a still more ching melody
and kept chanting sort OF myS
tic song, with this often repeale'
! ditiy:
Come to me, come to me the cblldre
of the sea.
Neither bell, book nor cross, snal' WI
yc from your queen"
, The Indians listened with grow
. ing ecstasy. and one OF lhel
a plunged in to the river to rise Il
more. The rest, men, women an
, children followed in quick succe'
sion, moved as it were, with IN
!, same irresistible impulse "ne
;. the last of the race dlsapPeareu'
wild laugh Of exultailon wa
: heard; down returned the rive
10 lis bed with the roar OF a cati
- ract, and The whole scene SCENE
10 have been dream. Ever sine
, that time is heard Occasslohali
: the distant music that has eNclte
! 81 much attention and lnvesng'
y lion. The other Indian tribes
: the neighborhood have alwaN
!, thought that il was their mnNic'
|, brethren, who still kept up me
: revels at the bottom OF Inc rive ~
:. in The place OF the mermaid. IL
: = diticn further relates that u
:, pnoi priest died in an agony,
y rriec and that he attributes Il,
l swInl event. and victory oil q
\. movers of darkness to his havii
N y been i'm a perfect state OF gra
~ when he attempted the converse
Lo of those inlidels. II Is believe
~ ~ also. that he said, on his death-o'
b'o that those deIuded pagan sol
-, ~ would be redeemed from IN
~ ~ bondace and sent to the kingd'
=; =, of heaven, if on a Christmas nis
-, 81 At I2o'clock, when the moon sh
'' bappen 10 be at her meridi
- lirie,l should dare to come ale
a,o To that musical spot, IN boat !
ro % nelled by himself, aud should u
~ ~ 4 cruciiix in to the water. !
ba alas. If this has ever been 90
liz neither the holy man nor the D
90 are 10 be seen agaiu by mol
- ewes. So tar, The attempt has
,%e been made; skepuc minds y
inc sneered, but no one has been !
;n,t ,"s enough 10 try the experiment;
1T 1T, The reader has now bolh
- - loading traditions before him,
"a can choose between them.
-