Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1890-01-09

tyT3ml0 t0WeFGQ up % heaven SuV Noo |
kissed Of the night air. But we were deep |
in the bowels Of the rock beneath its base.
We were alone with the dead, whose rest |
we were about to break; and no SOUND OF |
the murmuring air and no sight OF life |
came to dull the awful edge Of solitude. l
gazed on the sarcophagus; its heavy lid |
had been lifted and rested at its side.
Around it the dust Of ages had gathered |
thick, and there in the dust was the stamp |
of human feet. Then trembled, for knew |
that / looked on the footprints OF that fore
father of mine, who, generations gone, last |
Of living men, had visited this holy place.
Long had he been gathered to osiris, and
vet there in the powdered dust was the
press of his dead foot.
"See," whispered, poin ting to writing
daubed with pigment upon the wall IN the
sacred symbols Of ancient times.
oRead it, Harmachis," answered Cleo
natra. in the same low voice; "for l can
not"
Then read: II, Rameses Miamun, did,
in nv 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-ra. Judge, thou who
shalt come after me, and, If 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 gold."
s.Even there" I answered, pointing to
the sarcophagus. "Draw near and see"
And she took my hand and drew near.
The lid was of, but within the depths OF
the sarcophagus lay the painted CONN OF
the Pharaoh. blew the dust from it with
nv 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
SUI.
Pharaoh Menka-ra, who didst lie be-
meath the heart of Nout
s.Neut, thy Mother, wraps thee in the spell
Of Her holy name.
1.-THE name of thy Mother, Nout. is the
mystery of Heaven.
s'Nout, thy Mother, gathers thee to the
"Nout, thy Mother, breathos on thy foes
and utterly destroys them.
20 Pharaoh Menka-ra, who Invest for
ever!'
'Where, then, is the TREASURED" she asked
again. "Here, indeed, is the body OF tho
divine Menka-ra; but the flesh even OF Pha-
raohs is not gold. and if the face OF thfs
| sphinx be gold, how may we move lt!'
For answer / babe her stand upon the
sphinx and grasp the upper part OF the COZ
fin, while grasped it's foot. Then, at my
word, we lifted, and tho 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 wears before it had been laid. A large
mummy it was, and somewhat ungainly.
| Nor was it adorned with gilded mask, as
| is the fashion Of our day, for the head was
wrapped in cloths yellow with age, which
were made fast with pink flaxen bandages,
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 1t to the light,
! read:
IL Menka-ra, the Os!r an, aforetime Pharaoh
OF the Land Of Kaem, who in my day did 1--we
Justly and ever walked In ths path marked 1ol
my feet by the decree OF the Invisible VINO
was the beginning and is the end, speak from
nv tomb to tho Sc who after me shall for ar
hour st upon my Throne. Behold, ], Menko
"a, the Osi-iaa having in the days OF my lie
been warned OF i dream that time VIII come
when Khem shall fear to fall into the hands
strangers, and her monarch shall nave grea
need of treasure wAerewith to furnish srm e!
to drive the barbarian back, have out OF my
wisdom done this thing FIr it hav ng pleased
the protecting Gods to We me wealth beyond
! auy Pharaoh who has been since the days o.
Horus-thousauds of cattle and geese, thou
sands OF carnels and asses. thousands o
measures Of corn, and hundreds OF measures
of gold and gems-this wealth have l use'
sparingly. and that which remains nave
al Is the most beautiful AID largest that are II
the world These stones then, have stores
up aga nst tn at day of the need OF khem. Bu
, because as there have been SO there SHAH oe
those who do wickedly Oh the earth, anc VINO
in the lust OF gain, might seize this wealth tina
. Ihave stored and put it to their uses. Behold
thou nborn One, who IN the fullness OF tim
, shalt stand cbove me and read this that l hav
, caused to be written, thus have sto ed til
treasure: even among my bones. Therefore
O thou Unborn One sleeping in the womb @
Nout, this say to thee! II thou indeed has
I need of riches to save Knem from the Toes
t Khem, fear not and delay not but tear me, tn
D Osr an, from my tomb, loose my wrapping
a and ri, the treasure from my breast, and a
shall be well with thee; for this only do con
r mand: That thou dost replace my bone
within nv hollow coffin. But II the need Q
passing and not great, or II there be gun
!, within thy heart, then the curse OF Menka
I be on theeI On thee be the curse that sha
r SIN IL him who breaks in upon tho dead!s
q r. It must DO remembered that the a.
t cient Egyptians held the dead in create
Q awe and sancti.y than the living. Ate
!, death the body was still visited by the sou
: and they looked forward to its person;
I resurrection. Hence their care as to II
Q embalmment and the stupendous worH
!. which they raised as tcmbs.
J, .On thee be the curse that follows the traitol
I On thee be the curse that smites him who GU
RACES the majesty OF tho Gods! Unhapr
shalt thou live, in blood and misery shalt the
= die and in misery shalt thou be tormente
y !, forever and forever! For, Wicked One, thef
in Amenti shall We come face to face!
u And to the end OF the keeping OF this secf'
, have L Menka-ra, set ~ Temple OK ~
/. Worship. the which I have built upon II
Y caste IN side OF this my House OF Death- To tn
a hereditary High Priest OF this my Temp
;, .hall II be made known from tine to tim
- And il any High Priest that shall b., do reve
~ this secret to another than the Pharaoh.
Her who wears the Pharaoh's crown and
il seated upon the throne OF khern, accursed
g he also. Thus have !, Menka-ra, the Osirial
e written Now to thee. who, sleeping IN u
g womb OF Nout, yet shall upon time star
le over me and read, I say, judge thou! and
8 thou iudgest evllly on thee shall fau this u
~ curse OF Menka-ra, from which tnere Is no
- cape Greeting and farewell"
= ssThou hast heard, y Cleopatra" l sa
Nr,yv ha-v - ~