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V i t J A SALT LAKE MAGAZINE OF SCIENCE LITEKATFME'ANB E L I HARRISON ' Ce E W TUiLIDG-- EDITORS Yol I 2 f - ( TWENTIETH GREAT SALT LAKE CITY U T NOVEMBER has ter stood by gazing intently guest Jewish BY BD’ISRAELI mm M PP C Alroy proceeded for about a hundred paces Through a natural cloister of basalt until lie arrived at a large uncovered court of the sime form ttion which a stranger might easily have been excused for believing to have been formed and smoothed bv art In its centre bubbled up a perpetual spring icy cold the stream had worn a channel through the pavement and might be traced for some time wandering among the rocks until it at length leaped from a precipice into 4i gorge below in a gauzy shower of variegated spray Crossing the court Alroy now entered a vast cavern The cavern was nearly circular in form lighted from a large aperture in the top Yet a burning lamp in a distant and murky corner indicated that its inhabitant did not trust merely to tliis natural source of the great blessing of existence In the centre of the cave was a circular and brazen table sculptured with strange characters and mysterious figures: near it wasa couch on which lie so vend volumes Suspended lroiu the walls were a shield some bows and arrows and other arms ' As the prince of the captivity knelt down and kissed the vacant couch a figure' advanced from the extremity of the cavern into the light He was a man cf middle age considerably above the common height with a remarkably athletic frame and a strongly marked but mallis black beard dejestic countenance scended to his waist over a dark red robe encircled by a black girdle embroidered with yellow characters like those sculptured on the brazen table Black also was his turban and black his largo and luminous eyes The stranger advanced so softly that Alroy did not perceive him until the prince again rose up “ Jabaster!” exclaimed the prince “Sacreu seed of David” answered the cabalist “ thou art expected I read of thee in the stars last night They of trouble” spoke “Trouble or triumph time must prove which it is great master At present I The blood am a fugitive and exhausted hounds track me but methinks I have battled them now I have slain an ' ' It rART III was midnight Alroy slept upon Ja- : tho couch: bis sleep was troubled of Israel” murmered pupil and my prince! I liavo long perceived in his young mind the seed of mighty deeds and o’er his future life have often mused with a proThe blood of David the phetic hope sacred offspring of a solemn race T here is a magic in his ilowing veins my science cannot reach! “ When in my youth I raised our standard by my native Tigris and called our nation to restore their ark why we were numerous wealthy potent we were a people then and they flocked to it boldly Did we Lfek counsel t Did Wo need a leader? Who can aver brain or arm was ever wanting I A ml yet the dream dissolved the glorious vision 0 ! when I struck down Marvan and the caliph’s camp thing its blazing shadow o'er the bloody river— ah! then indeed I lived Twenty years of vigil may gain a pardon that I then forgot we lacked the chief ingredient in the spell — the blood that sleeps beside me - ! I gaze well has It the holy is “ Jabaster Jabaster !” “ I am here my child” “The Lord hath spoken” “ The Lord is our refuge Calm thyself son of David and tell rue all” “ I have been sleeping master is It ' not so!” “Even so my child Exhausted-bhis flight and the exciting narrative of ineffable” “ Take thy trumpet then summon the people bid them swiftly raise again our but The bricks have fallen temple we ?ili rebuild with marble’ Didst hear that chorus sir ? ” “ Uuto thy chosen car alone' it sound-4 that never had my science e’er been exercised but for a sacred ora noble’purpose And I remembered Israel my brave my chosen and my antique race — slaves wretched slaves I was strongly tempted to fling me down this perilous abyss and end my learning and my life together “ But as" 1 gazed upon the star of David a sudden halo rose around its rays auQcver and anon a meteor shot from out the silver veil I read that there was trouble in the holy seed and now comes this boy who has done a deed which—” “ The ark the ark III life too liis exploit my prince laid down upon the couch and slumbered but If’ear that slumber wa3 not repose” “ Depose and 1 nave nought in comFarewell forever to that famon no v tal word I am the Lord's anointed” -- Brink of the touutuin David: it will restore thee” “ Restore the covenant restore the ark restore the holy city” Ths spirit of the Lord has fallen upon him Son of David I adjure thee to tell mo all that hath passed T am a Levite in my hand 1 hold the name ! soul more calm No hour I’ll steal into the court and gaze upon the star that sways the fortunes of his royal house” The moonbeams fell upon the fountain the pavement of the court was a flood of light the rocks rose dark around Jabaster seated by the spring and holding his talisman in his lelc hand shaded his sight with the other as he gazed upon the luminous heavens A shriek his name was called Alrushed into the roy’ wild and panting court uvith extended arms The cabalist started up seized him and held him in his careful grasp foaming and in “I recall the glorious rapture of that sacred strife amid the rocks of Caucasus A fugitive! a proscribed and outlawed wretch whose life is common sport and whom the vilest hind may slay without a bidding I who would have been Messiah break “Burn thy books Jabaster thy brazen tables forget thy lofty sci- ence cabilist and read the stars no longer But last night I stood upon the in one gulf which girds my dwelling: hand I held my sacred talisman that bears the name ineffable in the other the mystic record of our holy race I remember that I had evoked spirits that I lud communed with the great departed and that the glowing heavens were' with me a natural language I recalled consolation to iny gloomy 1S64 providit “He is “ The only hope the cabalist" “ my as 4 “ A mighty truth my motionless and upon his slumbering his side A TALE OF AIT is tiie WARD SALT LAKE CITY rcnus-iiE- j “Nay nay it was not here And yet Miriam Miriam my sister my sweet sister how thou wouidsfc weep to know that which has happened tears tears of not joy girl! Where am 1?didstThis is‘ The our fountain Yet thou say fountain’ Think me not wild I know thee I know all' Thou art Jabaster I But thou didst say ‘The am Alroy fountain"’ and it distracted me and called back my memory to “Godot' Israel lo I kneel before thee ! Here in the solitude of wildest nature my only witness here this holy man I kneel and tow Lord! I will do thy bidding I am young I am very young O God and weak but thou What God L Lord art upon the ark!'’ the words of o The slumberer speaks are sacred” “Salvation only from the house of sleep David” ' V ' cd” t J -- U A tr! ' |