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Article THE REDEEMED. ← Page 4 of 11 →
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The Redeemed.
their priesthood , and the lotus flower ? Reuben , is this wiso ? Should they discover thee , thy life might pay the penalty of this disguise ; nor is it good for one of our peculiar race to sport with things profane . " Reuben evidently appeared uneasy at the observation the change in his dress excited—the deep blush of shame rushed to his brow—the
maiden still continued to gaze on him . " Thou knowest Arphax , Rachael , " replied the youth , " the priest of the Pyramid ?" " Well , " answered the maiden , " Israel long shall mourn the vices of that dangerous man ! 'How many of her sons hath he deluded from their father ' s God ! How many of her daughters led to shame !
Arphax—thy absence ! that hateful dress ! Reuben , thou hast not , daredst not , become an apostate ?" "" To save thee , Rachael , " exclaimed the abashed Israelite , " to screen thee from toil and degradation have I become a minister of Egypt ' s worship . Thou canst not dream the wonders of their wisdom , the vastness of their power . No longer shall a hut shelter thy fragile form , or
this coarse garb envelop thee . Admitted of their order , their power , their wealth is mine , and thou shalt share it . " " Rachael share it , " replied the indignant girl , " and with thee ! My nation ' s grave I would prefer to the proud throne of Pharaoh . There
is not an Hebrew , crushed and toil-worn whose ragged garments are not more precious in my sight than ail thy heathen vanities . Reuben , " she continued , bursting into a passion of tears , " why hast thou fallen ? Down on thy knees—tear from thy form those badges of pollution—strew ashes on thy head—confess thy sin before thy father ' s God ! I will watch with thee , pray with thee , die with thee , but never live the
bride of an apostate !" " Rachael , recall those words I I love thee as man hath seldom loved ; I live but in thy sight—wilt thou , from a weak prejudice , consign me to despair ? Rather share my happiness . Thou art a visionary , and misled by the fables of our promised deliverance . " " Fable ! " exclaimed the virtuous maid , " no , Reuben ; a champion
hath arisen—the trumpet yet shall sound , and the banner of our nation be unfurled ; but thou wilt not be found ranged beneath it . The warcry will startle an Egyptian slave , not rouse a Jewish warrior : thou art hardened as the rock ; tears cannot melt thee , but the indignant thunders may crush thee in thy pride . Farewell ! the slave bends in the presence of her taskmaster . "
"With a proud step the Israelitish maiden turned from the spot and sought the habitation of her people . " I have lost her ! " exclaimed Reuben , wildly , " lost her by the very means I took to gain her . Fool , fool ! how hath thy pride , thy in-VOL . I . 3 i-i
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Redeemed.
their priesthood , and the lotus flower ? Reuben , is this wiso ? Should they discover thee , thy life might pay the penalty of this disguise ; nor is it good for one of our peculiar race to sport with things profane . " Reuben evidently appeared uneasy at the observation the change in his dress excited—the deep blush of shame rushed to his brow—the
maiden still continued to gaze on him . " Thou knowest Arphax , Rachael , " replied the youth , " the priest of the Pyramid ?" " Well , " answered the maiden , " Israel long shall mourn the vices of that dangerous man ! 'How many of her sons hath he deluded from their father ' s God ! How many of her daughters led to shame !
Arphax—thy absence ! that hateful dress ! Reuben , thou hast not , daredst not , become an apostate ?" "" To save thee , Rachael , " exclaimed the abashed Israelite , " to screen thee from toil and degradation have I become a minister of Egypt ' s worship . Thou canst not dream the wonders of their wisdom , the vastness of their power . No longer shall a hut shelter thy fragile form , or
this coarse garb envelop thee . Admitted of their order , their power , their wealth is mine , and thou shalt share it . " " Rachael share it , " replied the indignant girl , " and with thee ! My nation ' s grave I would prefer to the proud throne of Pharaoh . There
is not an Hebrew , crushed and toil-worn whose ragged garments are not more precious in my sight than ail thy heathen vanities . Reuben , " she continued , bursting into a passion of tears , " why hast thou fallen ? Down on thy knees—tear from thy form those badges of pollution—strew ashes on thy head—confess thy sin before thy father ' s God ! I will watch with thee , pray with thee , die with thee , but never live the
bride of an apostate !" " Rachael , recall those words I I love thee as man hath seldom loved ; I live but in thy sight—wilt thou , from a weak prejudice , consign me to despair ? Rather share my happiness . Thou art a visionary , and misled by the fables of our promised deliverance . " " Fable ! " exclaimed the virtuous maid , " no , Reuben ; a champion
hath arisen—the trumpet yet shall sound , and the banner of our nation be unfurled ; but thou wilt not be found ranged beneath it . The warcry will startle an Egyptian slave , not rouse a Jewish warrior : thou art hardened as the rock ; tears cannot melt thee , but the indignant thunders may crush thee in thy pride . Farewell ! the slave bends in the presence of her taskmaster . "
"With a proud step the Israelitish maiden turned from the spot and sought the habitation of her people . " I have lost her ! " exclaimed Reuben , wildly , " lost her by the very means I took to gain her . Fool , fool ! how hath thy pride , thy in-VOL . I . 3 i-i