The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-05-02


place seemed to crush US. Above ns,
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 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 /
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, for knew
that I 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
yet there in the powdered dust was the
press of his dead foot. f.
''Sse," l whispered, pointing to writing
daubed with pigment upon the wall IN the
sacred symbols of ancient times.
ssRead it, Harmachis," answered Cleo
patra, in the same low voice; "for I can
not''
Then read: ST, 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, 0 thou who
shalt come after me, and, if thy soul be
pure and Khem be utterly distressed, take
thou that which have left
s'Where, then, is the treasurer she
whispered. SIS that sphinx face of goldi"
"Even there" i answered, pointing to
the sarcophagus. "Drsw 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.
Pharaoh Menka-ra, who didst lie BE-
meath the heart of Nout -7r.
sNout, thy Mother, wraps thee in the spell
of Her holy name.
''The name of thy Mother, Nout, is the
mystery Of Heaven. 1. ~
s.Nout, thy Mother, gathers thee to the
number of the Gods
shout, thy Mother, breathes on thy foes
and utterly destroys them.
20 Pharaoh Menka-ra, who Invest for
eyerl" ..... .-
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 itr'
For answer I babe 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 gilded mask, as
is the fashion of our day, for the head was
wrapped IN cloths yellow with age, which
were made fas with pink faxen bandages,
whereunder were rushed 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 Menks-rs, tie osir.an, aforetime Pharaoh
OF the Land OF knem, who in my day did live
justly and ever walked in the 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, ], Menka-
ra- the Osi-ian, having in the days Of my life
been warned of a dream that q time will come
when Khem shall fear to fail into the hands OF
strangers, and her monarch shall have great
need Of treasure wherewith 70 furnish armies
70 drive the barbarian back. have out OF my
wisdom done this thing. For it having pleased
the protecting Gods to give me wealth beyond
any Pharaoh who has been since the days OF
Horus-thousands Of cattle and geese, thou.
sands OF camels and asses, thousands OF
measures Of corn, and hundreds OF measures
OF gold and gems-this wealth have used |
sparingly, and that which remains have |
bartered for precious stones, even for emer.
ads the most beautiful and largest that are in |
the world These stones, then, have stored |
Up against that day OF the need Of Khem. But |
because as there have been, so there shall be, |
those who do wickedly on the earth. ami who, |
n the lustof gain. might seize this wealth that
Ihsve stored and put IL to then uses Behold, |
thou Unborn One, who in the fuilnees Of time |
shalt stand above me and read this that have |
caused TO be written, thus have stored the |
treasure; even among my bones. Therefore.
o thou Unborn One sleeping in the womb OF |
Nout this say to theei II thou indeed hast |
need of riches t. save Khen from the foes OF |
Khem, fear not and delay not but tesr me, the |
Osirian, from my tomb, leoss mI urappings
and rip the treasure from ~ bEs6Ge, and all
shall be well with thee; for eA4o ely DO COM |
mand: Tbst thou dost Eop1aoe ny bones |