Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-23
LINE OF BUoYs BEARING THE CABLE.
HE SE(RE 4 S
TINE great desert lay burning hot
in the sunlight The small springs

TIME great desert lay burning hot
in the sunlight The small springs
were almost dry and looked more
! like swamps but crowds of people We're
hurrying along the heavy trail until
they caught sight far away of the Holy
city. glisteuing in the sunlight with it's
| domes and minarets. The streets of the
| city were crowded with pilgrims who
had come from near and far. for the
next day was the Day of the Holy Sa-
crament.
The city slept little that night. bur
| ing the long hours the priests walked
in procession and long Before dawn the
| rocky path leading to the main gate
of the temple was black with people.
| At sunrise the massive copper doors
swung open and the immense crowd
moved slowly through the vast hall,
! the roof OF which was supported by
hundreds of marble columns, aud into
! the great Coui tNHrd within.
! When the sun was entirely above the
horizon, priest, dressed IN mack, -.
| peared ON the gallery surrounding the
| highest tower and extended his hands
| toward the East He spoke aloud. but
only as soft murmur did his voice
| reach the praying thousands below.
| From the interior of the temple came a
| melodious murmur of voices. The cere-
mouy had begun. The stitliug hot G',y
| passed. but nobody moved Evening
! came hut nobody noticed the eight Of
| the hours
In a gallery above a priest appeared
| dressed in white robe, Elistenlng in
| the moonlight He spoke To- those be
| low and a whisper Went through the
| crowds. The Lama is entering the
! Most Holy"
| From the temple was heard the sing
I ing OF thousands of voices. increasing
! in strength and volume until il was IKE
/ the roar OF the sea. suddenly il stopped
! and every one present threw himself
/ face down ON the ground.
At this moment black cloud APP
| proaChed the full moon, SLOWLY gliding
| across il until the shining disk was full
! ly covered, and darkness fell
| Then from the temple came the so,rld
! Of a wonderfully clear voice utteriug
/ strange melodious words in an unknown
! language The voice stopped and the
! air was filed as If with the beats OF
! mighty wings,
| \ soft song was heard from the high
! est tower, and another voice fell in
! from the interior OF the temple. more
| and more voices Joined, until the soUG
| sweileG TO a hymn of triumph and Nc
| tory and the fun moon shone Is bright
| as ever
| One Of the pilgrims went through the
| hHll Of the temple, priest dressed in
/ black appeared from heNiud one OF the
1 marble columns and, pointing TO a boy
walking At the older mans side, said;
The gods need him; follow me"
Silently they walked through endless
| corridors and magnificent halls Sten-
! ing with silver. then they entered the
! interior Of the mountain and az last
| reached a row 81 rooms. hewn into the
| rocks. In the largest Of these on a
| raised platform nine priests were sit
/ ing dressed IN scarlet. and the leader
/ amuuS them stood M and said to the
/ boy
''ls II your wish to serve the gods -.
| Though the boy was frightened be
| said, Yes, and tho priests also sue
yeeded at last In getting the consent Of
I Ne trembling father. \ short farewell
| and the heavy doors changed behind the
sad parent,
| Years passed and the youth Vas far
ahead Of all his comrades in knowledge