New Englander and Yale Review - 51 Author:Making of America Project Volume: 51 General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1889 Original Publisher: W. L. Kingsley Subjects: Religion Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to ... more »Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: Article V. -- BETHESDA. Yea it is true, most strange sights have I seen. These three days journey from Jerusalem With all the throng returning from the feast I've pondered o'er and o'er the wondrous tale Which I would fain repeat to thee my friend, To thee alone, and first; for thou and I Think not as do the vulgar crowd, nor as Some persons of our sect the Sadducees Who but maintain the opposite to that The Pharisees are pleased to call the law. But thou and I have ever sought the truth, Lifting her veils, one after one, perchance At last to see some glimpse of her real face. Thou knowest the sheep gate of Jerusalem ? Dost mind thee too, there is a pool near by ? A tank it is, with water dark and red, Not pleasing to the eye. Around is built A colonade, with roof and porches five, A place that's sheltered from the sun, and cool At midday. Here there lay sick folk, a throng Of blind, and lame, with divers sore diseased. The place was full, so full that walking through -- It was the Sabbath day -- I gathered close My mantle's fringe, lest I should touch some one And be defiled. Why lay they there, sayest thou ? An angel, say they, comes at certain times To move the water ; whosoever then First steps in afterward is healed. An angel Say they ! Thou and I hold that none exist. Rather say the spring which feeds the tank Sends bubbles from its secret source. How they Can cure I know not. 'Tis one delusion more The ignorant believe. I waited though To see this so-called wonder, marveling much A...« less