Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-05-01

! e. n1ace aeemed tn crush us. Above uS,
cubit over cubit in its mighty measure, the
Pyramid lowered up 20 heaven and was
kissed of the night air. But we were deep
In the bowels of the rock beneath It's Dase.
We were alone with the dead, whose rest
we were about to break; and no sound OF
the murmuring air and no sight OF lie
came to dull the awful edge Of solitude.
gazed on the sarcophagus; its heavy lid
had been lifted and rested at its side.
Around it the dust of ages had gathered
thick, AID there in the dust was the stamp
of human feet. Then trembled, Tor knew
that looked on the footprints OF that fore
father of mine, who, gener atoms gone, last
of living men, had visited this holy place
Long had he been gathered to Osiris, and
yet there in the powdered dust was the
press Of his dead foot.
t'See, whispered, pointing to writing
daubed with pigment upon the wall In the
sacred symbols of ancient times.
"Read it, Harmachis," answered Cleo
patra, in the same low voice; "for I can
not"
Then Tread: 81, Rameses Miamun, did,
in my day and in my hour of need, visit
this sepulcher. But, though great my
need and bold my heart, dared not face
the curse of Menka-rs. Judge. O thou who
shalt come after me, and, it thy soul be
pure and Khem be utterly distressed, take
thou that which have left"
"Where, then, is the treasurer" she
whispered. SIS that sphinx face of golds"
Even there" l answered, pointing to
the sarcophagus. "Draw near and see"
And she took my hand and drew near.
The lid was off, but within the depths of
the sarcophagus lay the painted coffin Of
the Pharaoh. blew the dust from it with
my breath and read that which was
written thereon. And this was written:
pharaoh Menka-ra, the child of
Heaven.
pharaoh Menka-ra, Royal Son of the
Sun. 5st sTs
Pharaoh Menka-ra, who didst lie be-
meath the heart OF Nout
"Nout, thy Mother. wraps thee in the spell
Of Her holy name.
1.-THE name Of thy Mother, Nout, is the
mystery Of Heaven.
"Nout, thy Mother, gathers thee to the
number Of the Gods. -ar-'rr
shout, thy Mother, breathes on thy foes
and utterly destroys them.
20 Pharaoh Menks-ra, who Invest for
"Where, then, is the treasured" she asked
again. "Here, indeed, is the body of the
divine Menka-ra; but the flesh even of Pha-
raohs is not gold, and If the face Of this
sphinx be gold, how may we move itP'
For answer / bade her stand upon the
sphinx and grasp the upper part of the cof-
fin, while grasped its foot. Then, at my
word, we lifted, and the lid of the case,
which was not fixed, came away, and we set
it upon the floor. And there in the case was
the mummy of the Pharaoh, as three thou
sand years before it had been laid. A large
mummy it was, and somewhat ungainly.
Nor was it adorned with a gilded mask, as
is the fashion of our day, for the head was
wrapped in cloths yellow with age, which
A 60 h h Aa~ a.
whereunder were pushed the stems of lotus
blooms. And on the breast, wreathed over
with lotus flowers, lay plate of gold close
ly written over with sacred writing. lifted
up the plate, and, holding it to the light,
read:
IL Menka-ra, the Osirian aforetime Pharaoh
OF the Land Of Kneua, who in my day did live
justly and ever walked in tho path marked for
my feet by the decree Of the Invisible, Who
was the beginning and is the end, speak from
my tomb to these who after me shall for an
hour sit upon my Throne. Behold, L Menka-
ia, tho Osirian, having in the days Of my life
been warned OF a dream that time viii come
when Khem shall fear to fall into the hands O
strangers, and her monarch shall have grea,
need of treasure whefewith to furnish armies
wisdom done this thing. For 1t having pleased
the protecting Gods to give mo wealth beyond
any Pharaoh who has been since the days Of
Horus-thousands OF cattle and reese. thou
sands OF camels and asses, Thousands o
measures Of corn, and hundreds OF measure,
OF gold and gems-this wealth have I uSet
spartngly, and that which remains have
bartered for precious stones, even for emer
aids the most beautiful aud largest that are il
the world. These stones, then, have stores
mp against that day Of the need OF Khem. Blu
because - there have been, 50 there shall be
those who do wickedly on tho earth. and who
In the lustof gain, might seize this wealth thai
IhAve stored and put it 70 then uses Behold
fhHvy In hnPa Inc ~ n Al I'M
shalt stand above me and read this that I havs
caused to be written, thus have stored tn,
treasure: even among my bones. Therefore
o thou Unborn One sleeping in the womb o
Nout, this say 70 thee! II thou indeed has
need Of riches to save Khem from the foes o
Khem, fear not and delay not but tear mo. tn
Osirian, from my tomb, loose my wrapping
and Yip the treasure from my breast, and n
shall be well with thee; tor this only do I CON
maud: That thou dost replace my bone
ali anfan 4 mad