The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-11-26
JOHN THE BAPTIST.

JOHN THE BAPTIST.
The Prophet was carried outside. Ex-
animation disclosed nothing more seri-
Gus than a severe bruise on one shoul-
der, another on one side and greater
one on the breast of the unconscious
man.
The assailants poured water from
their canteens upon the head, face,
neck and contusio-s of the unoffend-
ing victim of their violence and in
ten minutes he revived. Opening his
eyes he said:
Have you come from the East to
see the virgin who shall bring forth
the SOM"
i "Yes; is the virgin within?"
''The time is ripe; yet is she not re-
vealed unto me-"
He arrnared to be entirely uncon-
scious Of his injuries and after his re-
sponse arose and looked in silence up
on his unbidden visitors who looked
upon him with silent curiosity.
He was of powerful frame; quite six
feet and five inches in stature; enorm-
GUS depth of chest and his weight was
not below two hundred and eighty
pounds. His apparel was nondescript.
A cloak-like garment hung from his
shoulders, reaching almost to his
knees, and was confined at the waist
by leather girdle. One limb was
clothed in riding boot; upon the
other was a cavalrymans boot, above
which was buckskin Logging. A pew
Bible was tied to the girdle by a small
chain such as is used for restraining
pets. There were no sleeves to the
cloak, and his huge, brawny, brown,
hirsute arms were bare to the shoul-
ders. His hair and beard, as white as
washen wool, were long and flowing,
and carefully combed. His eyes were
as black as slices, bright, keen, pene-
trating. His protruding brows were
overgrown with forests of shaggy bris-
ties as white as his hair and beard, i'm
parting an appearance of savage fierce
ness that was the reverse of his ma
ture.
He approached each soldier in turn,
looking at him intently and minutely
inspecting his features. When he
reached the commandant, who was the
last, the prophet said:
NAY, we seek not the virgin; you
are not the wise m en- from the East"
"Well you are quite correct; we are
not wise; we are not from the east;
we are not exactly on scout in search
of virgin; we seek a creature of a
very different sort and we are not
wise enough always to find the lurking
place of many of him.
you, sir are no. the Centurian?"
mo; only a seco d lieutenant. The
rank of Centurian has been abolished
in our armies; we now call him Cap
tain. Who are yo"?"
81 am the voice of one crying in the
wilderness, saying, Prepare ye the
way of the Lord, make His path
straight"
you have the physical appearance Of
a stalwart and robust voice! What is
the rest of your name?"
II am that prophet spoken of by the
holy authors as John the Baptist l
am the voice of one crying in the will
derness; l am he that came to Jordan
and cried: Behold the Lamb of God
that taketh away the sin of the
world"
when were you resurrected? The
reporters don't seem to have got onto
Iyou?"
II was not huri d; I did not die.
That is a mistake which seems impos-
sible to correct, t. ough l have tried
daily for many CENTURIES. Will you
correct it hereafter?"
"It was regularly and officially re-
ported to the war department that you
were decapitated by order of Herod,
the commander-ir-c chief or secretary
of war, or somethi g of that rank?"
ut is so written, but if it be not a
mistake of the scrihes or of the trans
I1ators, then it was a mistake of the
apostles and evangels. He who was
Ibeheaded was mine uncle, my fathers
brother"
Every careless of the apostles, sc:ibes
and evangelsts l am glad to learn
that you were not the victim, however.
l have heard many mourn your sad
end. Do you remember If your uncle
found the method of departure very un-
PLEASANT"
II am the voice of one crying in the
wilderness, saying. Prepare ye the
way of the Lord, make his path
straight l stood before the Master
when he prophesied the end of the
world and he looked upon me and said:
There be some standing here who
shall not taste of death till all these
things be fulfilled and the meaning
Thereon is that as l was sent into the
world to prepare it for His first coming,
so l must remain in the world to pre-
pare the way for His second coming
III am the voice of one crying in the
Wilderness, saying, Prepare ye the way
of the Lord, make his path straight
You look about the right age! Have
you ever met that sacriligious old cob
bier, whom people now call the Wan
dering Jew?'
He is not. l am. ! it is who am
the Wandering Jew. 4 am the voice of
one crying in the wilderness, say
ing, Prepare ye the way of the Lord,
make his path straight.
Do you expect him very soon?"
The time is ripe! l await the COM
ing of the virgin who shall bring forth
the Son, the Lamb of God who having
taken away the sin of the world as