The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-08-19

priests. Pale and sorrowful he was, and
clad only in the plainest OF garments.
For what signifies gaudy apparel and out
ward splendor when the loved one is iD
daDger2
Just as the paused 10 .sc hc-vers
at the midday hour, the chief priest and
the maiden commenced to ascend the
stairway that led TO the altar at the sum-
NIT of the tower. Around the altar stood
FIVE other priests, whose duty it was to
hold the victim fast while the chief priest
performed his horrible work.
In q long, passionate chant-like prayer
the old priest invoked the blessing of the
terrible war god, besecching that his
wrath might be turned away, in consid-
Grafton OF the sacrifice about to be made.
For full half an hour the invocation con-
tinued, aud ere II closed a low murmur
burst from the lips Of the assembled null
titudes below.
There was good reason, too, for tho
surprise and CONSERVATION Of the people,
for halfway up the side OF the tower,
where mono but the priesthood and the
victims had ever yet dared to tread,
could be seen the young Prince Nesa.
huaIcoyotl, swiftly and stealthily mount
ing to the summit. In his right hand
he graspcd light golden dart; by his
eide hung q curiously wrought sword,
inlaid with gold and precious stones, and
on his face was look Of determination
which BODIED i'll to any one who might
oppose him.
The prayer was ended. The chief
priest TIuitzil advanced to consummate
the sacrifice, whom suddenly he throw up
his hands and fell, pierced to tho hoart
with golden dart.
Then the people witnessed sight
such rs they had never seen befo re. Ere
the astonishcd priests could com prchcnd
what had occurred, the Prince had
leaped up beside the altar and slew all
five with tho sword. Then he spr nng to
the edge OF tho tower, after rcassuring
the trembling maiden, and his tones rang
out clear and strong as he thus addressed
the people:
"Men of Tezcuco, this day yo have
witnessed n deed that shall be for the
glory Of the true gods and the good Of
our nation. This day has the false priest
been slain by the arrow of the gods
which only pcrces tho heart Of him who
speaks with II crooked tongue and
deceiving spirit. This day have the five
priests Of the altar been slain by tho
sword of Quctzalcoatl"
lie raised the cleaning blade aloft,
still dripping with the blood of its vic
tins; tho sight of the sacred trophy was
the signal for a mighty shout from the
listening ropulace. Then he continued:
"lIoar the commands of Quetzalcoatl,
the true god, who rcigncd in the golden
age Of Auahuac Thus saith the god:
No moro shall offerings of maidcns bo
made to the gods of Tczcuco. No more
shall the terrible war god bc feared and
worshipcd, for the day of his power is
passed, and peace shall again spread her
pinlons over the royal city. This day
shall the maiden lula become tho wife
of the Prince NezahualcOyoti, and the
temple Of iIuitzilopochtli shall bc laid
waste. The messenger Of the true god,
even the messenger of Quctzalcoatl, has
spoken"
Then turning to Tula he raised her to
her feet, and with their arms twined
around each other they descended the
narrow stairway, to be receive with re-
joicing by the people.
How the old king was shortly after
ward slain in a battle with the Tcpanecs,
and how the Prince Nczahualcoyoti on
ascending the throne completely ban
ishcd the worship of lIuitzilopochtli,
and how upward of forty years nc con-
Quoted the most peaceful and prosper.
GUS reign ever known during the history
of the rchcucana rs II nation, are matters
of history. During his reign human sac
riticc was greatly lcs>cncd, although not
until after the conqucstof Mcxic" by the
Spaniards, about 800 years aftcrwarI,
was it entirely abolished. -Wavcrlcy
Magazine.