f the
ark. It ought to be a splendid box covered with gold, and some of them
are really elegant; but the Chapter must have such as it can afford;
if it is too poor to procure splendid furniture, cheap articles are
made to answer; for an ark, if the funds are low, a plain cherry or
pine box will answer, and sometimes a cigar box is made the humble
representation of the splendid ark, made by divine command, of shittim
wood, and overlaid with pure gold. The High Priest takes then from the
ark a vessel containing something to represent manna. This vessel is
of various forms and materials, from an elegant silver urn to a broken
earthen mug; and the substance contained is as various as the vessels
in which it is deposited; such as a bit of sugar, a piece of cracker,
or a few kernels of wheat. Whichever is used, the High Priest takes it
out and gravely asks the King and Scribe their opinion of it; they say
they think it is manna. The High Priest then looks at it intently and
says, "It looks like manna;" smells it and says, "It smells like
manna;" and then tastes it and says, "It is manna." The High Priest
then takes from the ark a bit of an apple tree sprout, a few inches
long, with some withered buds upon it, or a stick of a similar length,
with some artificial buds upon it, which, after consulting with the
King and Scribe, he pronounces Aaron's rod. He then takes out the key
to the ineffable characters and explains it. This key is kept in the
ark on four distinct pieces of paper. The key is marked on a square
piece of paper, and the paper is then divided into four equal parts,
thus:

[Illustration: (the key, as described in the text)]

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The outside lines represent the dimensions of the paper; the inside
ones are the key, and the dotted ones, the section that is made of the
whole for the purpose of keeping it secret, should any GRACELESS COWAN
ever get possession of the sacred ark, and attempt to rummage its
contents. The other part of the key x is made on the back of the same
piece of paper, so that on putting them together, it shows equally
plain. It is said that these characters were used by Aaron Burr, in
carrying on his treasonable practices, and by that means made public;
since which time they have been w