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Entered according to Act of Congress, in J une, 1869. by J. W. Bukkk & Cos., in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the So. District of Georgia.
Vol. III—No. 31.
JERUSALEM.
JERUSALEM is the principal
city °f the Promised'' Land,
■r- A iff? which was also called “The
Land of Canaan,” “Palestine,” “The
Holy Land,” and “The Land of Jor
dan.” The city is in Judea, the south
ern part of the land, and is situated
about forty miles east of Joppa, the sea
port in the Mediterranean sea at which
travelers usually land when visiting the
Holy Land by ship.
Jerusalem is celebrated as the city in
which the temple of God, (known as
Solomon’s temple,) was built, and where
the kings of Judah dwelt, and is the city
outside of which the Lord Jesus Christ
was crucified. It is almost the oldest
city in the world, Hebron and Damas
cus being the only two that are older.
Its importance may be dated from the
time ot its capture from the Jebusites
by King David.
This was, from a vei-y early date in
the world's history, pointed out as a
place of sacrifice. Abraham offered up
his son Isaac on Mount Moriah ; David
built an altar there, and subsequently
King Solomon built his magnificent
temple there, on the same spot, and
adorned it in the most costly manner.
All the tribes of Israel were command
ed to go up to Jerusalem three times a
year, viz: at the Feast of Tabernacles,
at the Feast of Pentecost, and at the
Feast of the Passover, to worship God
in His holy temple.
The city and temple were in great
splendor in the days of King Herod,
there being not less than four hundred
and eighty synagogues and places of
worship there at that time. The attend
ance at the Passover filled Jerusalem,
and sometimes 250,000 victims were re
quired for sacrifice. But Jerusalem is
now in an almost desolate state, many
parts being in heaps, having but few in
habitants in comparison with the multi
tudes it formerly contained. If is in
habited by Mahomedans, Jews and
Christians, most of whom are in a de
graded and superstitious condition.
MACON, GEORGIA, JANUARY 29, 1870.
Written for Burke’s Weekly.
LILLIAN LISLE;
Or, Life at the Old Farm House 1
BY MilS. S. E. PECK.
This simple story of Domestic Life 1 dedicate
to those little girls, who, reared in afflu
ence, are rune compelled, to assist
tlieir mothers in household work .
CHAPTER XXXII.
THE CHRISTMAS TREE —LILI.IAN’s DREAM.
JERUSALEM.
EItRY Christmas, Uncle Rus
sell Merry Christmas, Uncle
Russel!” shouted the merry
childish voices assembled in the parlor
at Mr. Graham’s Christmas morning.
According to the annual custom, all the
children of the neighborhood had spent
Christmas eve night at his house. Mr.
and Mrs. Irwin, and all the children,
with Mrs. Hunter—Mrs. Irwin’s mother
—had been staying with Mr. Graham
the past week.
The children had had an unusually
merry time the night before. Old Mrs.
Hunter had taught them several new
and interesting games. Contrary to
Lillian’s expectation, she was present,
her guardian, Mr. Western, having fail
ed to come after her at the appointed
time. A hurried note, written to Mr.
Graham, had explained his reason. His
wife and children had gone on a visit to
his mother, who resided in Mobile.
While there his wife had been taken
dangerously sick, and he had receivsd a
telegram informing him of the fact. His
hurried note had been written on the
eve of his departure. In the meantime,
Mr. Graham advised the children to
await the termination of Mrs. Western’s
illness before leaving for school, as he
j greatly preferred their boarding in his
family.
“A happy Christmas to you all!”
laughed Mr. Graham, as the children
surrounded him. “ But come,” he con
tinued, “ Mrs. Hunter sent me in here
to usher you all into the sitting-room,
where you will find a Christmas Tree
awaiting you.”
A glad shout burst forth as the child
ren prepared to follow him. As they
entered the room, Lillian paused in
thought. The room was so elegantly
furnished, and was in such strong con
trast to her aunt’s humble parlor. She
noticed the glowing fire, made of coal,
which burned in the grate ; the richly
carved mantle, adorned with beautiful
vases, filled with rare r - exotics from the
Whole No. 135.
hot-house. In beautiful contrast to
these were the sprays of mistle-toe, with
their clusters of pearl-like seeds, sur
rounding the little French clock. But
what attracted her attention most were
the portraits of Bianca and Leila Gra
ham, which hung near the mantle. She
stood spell-bound before them. Their
strange sad history had made a deep
impression upon her mind. While the
countenance of Bianca exhibited cold
ness and hauteur, there was a dazzling,
bewildering beauty about it; while in
Leila there was more softness and deli
cacy, at the same time more sprightli
ness and vivacity. Their being placed
there showed that the bitterness of the
past was forgotten.
Lillian scarcely noticed the refresh
ments, consisting of fruits from the hot
house, cakes and nuts, placed in silver
baskets and waiters upon a side table
beneath the window. In the mean
time, the Christmas Tree had attracted
the attention of the rest of the children.
Most of them had received their pres
ents, and were now in the hall romping
with Mr. Graham.
As Lillian turned from the contem
plation of the portraits, and walked to
wards the Christmas Tree, she inter
changed a few pleasant words with Mrs.
Hunter, who sat in a large arm-chair
with Mrs. Irwin’s baby on her knee.
It’s sweet, innocent prattle was occa
sionally hushed, while its grandma al
most smothered it -with kisses. All the
children, on receiving their presents
from the Tree, had flocked around the
old lady’s chair, and had shown them
to her, and had asked her, time and
again, if she didn’t think their presents
were the most beautiful. She had giv
en her answers so adroitly that ever one
had turned away more pleased than ever
with their gifts. Even the baby held
aloft his little red rattle for grandma to
look at. Toys lay scattered here and
there upon the floor around her chair.
One little boy was drawing his eannon,
which was mounted on wheels, over the
carpet, while the baby’s little brother,
Willie, was offering his book to grand
ma for her to show the pictures to the
baby. Minnie, who for once had been