Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

the clerk's son will tell him, how on the wildest track of the wild ocean the fire-spirit overtook them; how in the helplessness of despair they heard the signal of their distress reveberating among the mountainous waves; how, as the waters were let in, the vessel grew steady amid the up-rushing flames; and how when the Cambria came in sight, and her boats were heaved into the ruddy glare of the burning ship, hope grew fierce in its doubtfulness; till at last they stood on the deck of the friendly vessel, and, looking back on their short but fearful track, they saw the majestic bark, which had passed over the waters like a conqueror, become a mighty pillar of fire in the vast desert of the ocean.

FAMILY WORSHIP IN A COTTAGE.

BY MISS E. HATFIELD.

LISTEN!-I heard a voice, a solen voice,
But sweet and fervent, too, like that of prayer;
Such as would make angelic breasts rejoice,
And call to hearken from their starry sphere:-
From yonder cot it comes-I'll draw me near-
Its light shines like a star upon the night,
And to my wandering footsteps far more dear;
A better guide, perchance a holier fight,
Leading more near to heaven than those above
my sight.

Ob, 'tis a lovely scene!-The gray-hair'd sire,
With lifted hands, imploring on each child
All that the lip can breathe, the soul desire,

To guide their footsteps through the world's bleak wild.

See how the glittering tears his warm e heck gild! How rushes through the wane of years the glow !

How beams his look, with all the father fill'd!

The ardeucy intense lights eye, lip, brow' Which all his bosom's thoughts, hopes, fears, and wishes show.

Look at that fair-hair'd maid, upon whose cheek
The rose of loveliness is deepening!
Mark how serenely pure, how calmly meek,

Her counteuauee!-some unseen seraph's wing Seems over her; she's in youth's stainless spring, And gives it to her God; ah! happy maid! Thus ever smile, a willing offering

At morn, at eve, upon the altar laid, While sweet obedience binds, safe, safe shall be thy head.

There kneels the mother by her partner's side;

Silent her tongue, but, oh, how full her eyes! Look at those sacred tears, whose gentle tide

The loudest torrent of the lips supplies,
Oh! what can equal her beseeching sigh?
If 'tis not heard in heaven, then never came

Thither the sound of supplication high;

Vainly have nations piled the altar's flame, Th intensest of them all ne'er reached a

mother's claim.

Beside her, rising into manhood's form,

Her son, her secret pride and glory, bows; Bright is his cheek, with labour's colours warm,

The honourable tint his forehead shows; His eyes dark glance is veil'd, as it would close Awhile to all on earth his heart deems fair; His lips soft moving, tell responsive vows Are rising to his hoary father's prayer, Pleading with the high Heavens-" Oh, guide from every suare!"

And yonder there's a group in happiest being, The fairy tenants of the cottage dome, Kneeling before the eye of Him, all-seeing,

Who watches if their thonghts or glances

roam;

The doll, untouch'd, is laid beside the drum; That treasured instrument of loudest sound

[ocr errors]

Stands close beside its master, but as dumb
As if forgotten, on the darksome ground,
While like night's dew-closed flowers they bend
and cluster round.

Look at the little hand upon each brow,

Covering the face, before the unseen God! Listen, ye might have heard the lisped vow

Like cherub echoes seeking his abode; Revile it not, despise it not, ye proud!

Nor say it is the jargon learn'd by rote, Useless and meaningless-those words allow'd Upon the youthful memory to float Shall be the wakening chord of many a heavenly

note.

Oh lovely scene! most lovely! would that thou Bid'st not bedeck the cottage bower alone, But beneath every roof in beauty glow,

From the low hainlet to the lofty throne. Then, England, were the smile of Heaven thine own,

The bright paternal smiles of Deity; Then, my loved country, would thy soil be known

The hallow'd, and the blest, the truly free, And every evening hour a nation's worship see!

From the Forget Me Not.

No. 24.

SYRIA.

PALMYRA.

(From the Modern Traveller.)

Lady Hester Stanhope is reported to have paid five hundred pounds for leave to visit the ruins of Palmyra. Her liberality has procured for her among the Arabs, the title of El Malaka, or Queen; whilst others, we are told, favor her with the appellation of the Virgin Mary!

Captains Irby and Mangles, who visited Palmyra in 1818, crossed the Desert from Noms. Nineteen days were spent in previous negociations with the Arabs, whose exorbitant demands fell, during that period, from 3000 to 600 piastres. At length they set forth with three camels and as many conductors; their whole baggage consisting of a sheep-skin coat, the wool sile inward, and the other side coloured red with ochre, and greased to keep out the rain. This was but a sorry caravan, but it was deemed expedient to assume so umble an appearance, in order to hold out no temptation to either pilferers or plunderers. They set out at one P. M. and travelled 'five hours, their guides singing nearly the whole time a favorite Arab song. On arriving at a Bedouin camp, the travellers scrupled at first to enter any of the tents; but, to their surprise, they were welcomed as Franci by both men and women, and the latter, smiling, retired to their part of the tent, to prepare supper. The second day they proceeded at eight A. M. and marched till four, stopping at another Arab camp, where they were again well received. On the third day, they started at dawn.* The tract now assumed the appearance of a heath, covered with abundance of aromatic shrubs, with many dwarf trees, of which the country had hitherto been destitute, and occasionally the surface was diversified by hill and dale. When breakfast was to be thought of, one of the Arabs quitted the party, and darting forward, was

*it was the last week in January.

soon out of sight: on coming up with him the travellers found he had collected brush-woo 1, and made a blazing fire. Presently some butter was melted and sweetened with honey; in this they dipped their bread; and what with the Arabs' voracious mode of eating, and their time-saving measures, the meal did not detain them ten minutes. The principal guide, armed with a rusty match-lock and no powder, affected to be very vigilant in reconnoitering from all the heights for robbers, although the party were travelling under the protection of their own chiefs, who commanded the whole country. The first persons who visited Palmyra in modern times, were some English merchants from Aleppo, who, in attempting to reach the ruins, in 1678, were attacked and plundered by the Arabs, and obliged to return without accomplishing their design; but they were more success ́ul in a second attempt, made thirteen years afterwards Sheikh Ibrahim (Burckhardt) was also robbed and stripped in his first attempt. It was about four P. M. on the third day, that the travellers reached the valley in which was stationel the camp of the Sheikh under whose protection they were travelling. "As we imagined," says Capt. Mangles "we beheld a very animated and busy scene. The girls were singing and the children busied in running down the young partridges with dogs, as they were as yet able to fly only a short distance at a time. Presently we heard a hue and cry from all quarters, and soon perceived a large boar, with his bristles erect, beset by all the dogs, and every one running eagerly to the pursuit. He was found behind One of the tents; they chased him all through the camp, and two Arabs on horseback, armed with spears, soon joined in the pursuit. The animal, however, kept both men and dogs at bay, and finally got off with only one wound. We now approached the Sheikh's tent, and found Mahannoh with his two sons, Sheikhs Narsah and Hamed, together with about thirty Arab chiefs of various camps, seated

Isaiah vil, 15.

Narsah and us. We observed the elderly men give their half gnawed bones to those around them; and were told, that they have a complimentary adage in favour of the practice.

camels' flesh prepared for the whole
assembly. We were conducted to a
smaller tent apart, and had our por-
tion sent us. We found the meat both
savoury and tender, being part of the
hump, which is considered as the best;
there was little fat, and the grain was
remarkably coarse; however we made
a hearty breakfast.
The feast was
conducted with much order and decc-
rum. When the sheikds had finished,
portions were sent to the different tents
of the camp, which consisted of about
twe hundred, for the women and chil-
dren. We believe several camefs were
cooked, from the immense quantities
of meat which we saw.

around an immense fire. Sheikh Narsah was leaning on a camel's saddle, their customary cushion. He did not rise to receive us, although we observed he and the whole circle rose whenever a strange sheikh arrived. We attributed On the following day, we wished to this cool reception to the low estimation proceed, according to a promise which he held us in, in consequence of the Narsah had given the preceding evening unusually small sum we had paid for by his head,' to let us depart before visiting Palmyra, and from the plainness sunrise. But the chief did not make of our dress and appearance Narsah his appearance before ten o'clock, had the Koran open in hand when we when, instead of letting us go, he dearrived, to give us, as we supposed, sired us to follow him. Proceeding an idea of his learning. He was well to a small vale contiguous to his tent, dressed, with a red pelisse and an we found the Arabs assembling from enormous white turban. He asked all quarters, and following us in great us, why the English wished so much numbers. We were quite at a loss to to see Palmyra, and whether we were know the meaning of all this; presentnot going to search for gold? We ly, however, we came to a tent, and told him, he should have half of any found an immense feast of rice and that we might find there. He questioned us about Bonaparte, and the occupation of France by the allied troops. I suspect that his knowledge of these matters proceeded from his correspondence with Lady II. Stanhope. As the evening advanced, the Arab guests increased to the number of fifty. Some of the partridges which the children had caught, were now brought in: they roasted them on the fire, and part was given to us, sheikh Hamedy throwing a leg and a ing to to each of us. They afterwards gave us some honey and butter mixed together, with bread to dip in it. Narsah desired one of his men to mix the two ingredients for us, as we were awkward about it; the Arab having stirred up the mixture well with his fingers, shewed his dexterity in consuming as well as mixing, and recompensed himself for his trouble by eating half of it. Both at sunset and at eight o'clock, the whole assembly were summoned to to prayers. Each man rubbed his face over with sand, to serve as a substitute for water for their religious oblations We could not but admire the decorous solen nity with which they all joined in the divine worship, standing in a row, and bowing down, and kissing the ground together. An immense platter of roast mutton with pilau of rice, was then brought in for supper. The assembly fed apart, while a separate portion was brought for

About eleven o'clock we set out; our camels were changed for dromedaries of a heavy sort, which set off with us at full trot up hill and down dale, each of us having his Arab conductor mousted behind him. One of Narsah's men, who was called a guard, accompanied us, mounted on a white dromedary, decorated with tassels, and armed with another old matchlock gun. We found the pace of the animals on level ground and up hill, easy enough; but in descending we were dreadfully jolted. We continued till four in the afternoon and slept in an Arab tent as usual.

At dawn, (on the fifth day) we proceeded. Our new guide had endeavoured to make us start at midnight, but we would not submit to this, as

the nights were very cold and frosty. We trotted this day at the same rate as the preceding, and were jolted and bruised almost beyond endurance. At two P. M. we arrived at the object of

our wishes."

Messrs Wood and Dawkins, who travelled in 1751, crossed the Desert to Palmyra, from Hassia, a village four days' journey N. of Damascus, and the residence of an Aga whose jurisdiction extends as far as Palmyra. "We set out," they say, "from Hassia with an escort of the aga's best horsemen, armed with guns and long pikes, and travelled in four hours to Sudud, through a barren plain, scarcely affording a little browsing to antelopes, of which we saw a great number. Our course was a point to the S. of E. Sudud is a poor village, inhabited by Maronite Christians. We bought a few manuscripts of their priests, and proceeded after dinner in a direction half a point more to the S. to a Turkish village called Howareen. We set out on the next day from Howareen, and in three hours arrived at Carietein, keeping the same direction. It was thought proper we should stay here this day, as well to collect the rest of our escort, as to prepare our people and cattle for the fatigue of the remaining journey, which though we could not perform it in less than twenty four hours, could not be divided into stages, as there was no water in that part of

the Desert. Our caravan was now

increased to about 200 persons, and about the same number of beasts for carriage, consisting of an odd mixture of horses, camels, mules, and asses, Our course lay through a flat sandy plain, about ten miles broad, and bounded by barren hills. We had scarcely passed some venerable monuments, when the hills opening, discovered to us, all at once, the greatest quantity of ruins we had ever seen. It is impossible to imagine any thing more striking than this view.

(TO BE CONTINUED.)

THE CURATE.

(From the Pledge of Friendship.'

HENRY LESLIE was an orphan; he
lost both his parents when he was at
the age of fouiteen; and three years
after, his father's brother, sole survi-
ving remnant of the family: but the
young man was at Oxford, and though
deeply affected by these several depri-
vations, he would not forsake his
studies, but continued at the Univer-
sity; and when of sufficient age, was
appointed Curate of Bendale. This
village had been my home for some
time. I was the friend of the former
incumbent, who had gone to reside in
Scotland, and did not gladly anticipate
any change in our small community;
yet this would not have prevented my
acquaintance--perhaps friendship-
with the new Curate, had I not heard,
what I as readily believed of his cha-
racter. He was reported to be ignorant
and neglectful of the duties of his pro-
fession, which he had embraced solely
for the sake of gain; and many instan-
ces of his grievous misconduct were
represented in such a light, that while
I pitied the misfortunes he had endu
red, I determined never to enter his
society. One month passed, and Mr.
Leslie became an inmate of the house
Need I be ashamed to
of my friend.
own it? I never passed the door with-
out a feeling of anger and contempt.
He called on me; I was engaged. I
saw him pass my house on a visit to
the poor, and instantly left my card
at his house. Fortunately we did not
meet or I might have shewn my dis-
like, which his prepossessing exterior
was unconsciously lessening; yet still
I avoided and shunned him.-One
sabbath morning I was unusually at-
tentive to the discourse; and though I
had often heard his sermons before, I
There had been a strange mortality in
had never yet felt so deeply interested.
the place; and Mr. Leslie, (I could
but own,) had been most attentive to
the sick and dying. His exertions had
been successful in many cases; he had
brought the hardened to repentance
by the blessing of God, and smoothed
the way of death to the affrighted
spirit. His discourse now turned,

[ocr errors]

most appropriately, to the vanity of causelessly; and I did not return till earthly things, and while he alluded the fever had ceased to rage among to his own desolate condition, I could the thinned inhabitants. On the evenscarcely refuse him a tear. "Yes, my ing of my arrival, I wandered into the. brethren," he exclaimed with much mansions of the dead, intending to emotion, we are wanderers on the visit Mr Leslie, who, I concluded, face of the earth; a few years is all still inhabited the parsonage. My the space allotted to us; spent, it may progress was frequently arrested by be, in vanity and care for ourselves, the names of those whom I had once or in mourning and weeping for our met in youthful innocence, or manly friends. Some among us may pass friendship, now mingled with the dust. our days in peace, but where is the Death had done his work, indeed joy for the widow and orphan? Where quickly; he had grasped some of every is their resting-place from a trouble- age and station; the inhabitants of the some world? In heaven alone; here cottage and castle were alike unrethey have no rest, and strangers deny lentlessly mown down. At length I them even the tear of pity and affec- reached the gate of the parsonage, and tion."--Here his voice faultered, he my hand was on the latch of the gate, hastily concluded his discourse, and I when I perceived the old servant of returned home almost divested of my Mr Leslie standing thoughtfully a few prejudices. A few weeks after, a paces from me. I called hin. by name, terrible fever broke out in the parish but he heard me not. I repeated it; of Bendale. The bell of the church he then turned slowly to me, and seldom ceased tolling; and day after pointed downwards. I left the gate day, some of the flock of Henry Leslie and when I perceived a flat tombstone were carried to their last, long home. just laid there, and approaching, read Amidst this devastation, the medical this simple epitaph-"To the memory men, in a consultation, advised the of our good curate, Henry Leslie "removal of all the inhabitants whose "Alas, my brother!" I could have cried relatives had not been smitten by the with the old prophet, but I restrained destroyer's hand. Many left immedi- my grief, and listened to the eulogy ately their only homes; but their on the departed. His record was soon pastor would not desert his charge. told he had been seized with the feaHe was naturally of a frail constitution, ver a few days after my departure, and the physicians suggested that one and the orphan had now regained his more robust should temporarily under- lost parents. The whole village had take his duties; yet he was inflexible, wept for him, but the grief of all was though the hand of death was raised much lessened by the recollection, against him on every side. I met that had he been spared, it would him one day as he was performing his have probably been to his own regret; usual duties, and enquired (for we whereas, after a short passage through were at length on speaking terms,) this dreary world, he had reached why he did not quit so fatal a spot? the haven where we all would be." His answer was short, and mildly spoken: "To what purpose should I resign my sacred office here to another?

-There are, I would hope, few who can say they have not one relative, one friend to grieve for their loss. Mine are all laid in the grave, and being left thus desolate, I will gladly be the only sacrifice." I shook his hand, and we were completely reconciled; indeed he had never been other wise, We met no more, for I soon after left Bendale. My kindred ties did not allow of my devoting my life

R. E. A. Y.

[blocks in formation]
« AnteriorContinua »