Part 10 (1/2)
”The gates of heaven were left ajar; With clasping hands and drea out of paradise, She saw this planet, like a star; We felt we had a link between This real world and that unseen”
These beautiful lines of one of the sweetest of earth's singers, came to us like a new revelation at the advent of our first-born, as also those other ietting, The soul that rises with us, our life's star, Hath had elsewhere its setting, And coetfulness And not in utter nakedness, But trailing clouds of glory do we come From heaven, which is our ho for her chosen profession the very ht, and she certainly continued the develops with randparents, uncles, and aunts all vied with each other in petting and spoiling the one pet lamb of the several families, and she basked in the sunshi+ne of unliht years sped by, all roseate with love, prosperity and contentment in this happy valley Then two little cherubs, just alike as ”two peas in a pod” ca sun, their blue eyes bea with smiles which have continued ever since
We naed to label them to tell ”which hich,” and said label is essential for distinguishht suladdened our hearts
But al all our lives The mother had scarcely welcomed the twin buds of promise, when she faded away like a flower and was
”Gone beyond the darksoht forever, Only gone to endless day;
Gone to el faces, Where our lovely treasures are; Gone awhile froates ajar”
There seeht left on earth; the sun was blotted out forever,
Oh glory of our youth that so suddenly decays!
Oh criaze!
Oh breath of summer blossoms that on the restless air Scatters a moment's sweetness, and flies we know not where!
”A boat at ht sent alone To drift upon the one; A wounded bird that hath but one I to soar upon, Are like s of the twin girl babies called ain, and I took up the cares of existence, though they seeest church in the village was filled to overfloith sincere ood cheer into many darkened households in our town All sectarian barriers were for the time burned away by the flayy in an orthodox Congregational church
When the organ pealed the requiem and the choir chanted the ever dear words of the hyer grown,”
and closing with the triumphant expression of a deathless faith; it required but a little ih the open door of heaven, and to hear the responses of the angel choir froh, and ended our ho not of ”dust to dust, ashes to ashes,” but of the diseel forever love hears the rustle of a wing”
Infinitely sad was the passing of our beloved, to those left in the earth-life; but soothingly co chanted by the choir invisible whenever a soul escapes theout of the shadow, Into a purer light; Stepping behind the curtain, Getting a clearer sight
”Laying aside a burden, This weary mortal coil; Done with the world's vexations-- Done with its tears and toil
”Tired of all earth's playthings, Heartsick and ready to sleep-- Ready to bid our friends farewell, Wondering why they weep
”Passing out of the shadow Into eternal day-- Why do we call it dying, This sweet going away?”
CHAPTER XIV
TRIBULATIONS OF A WIDOWER