Part 7 (1/2)
”Yes, dear, I will. The waters of this lake catch the light in a most marvelous manner, as you have seen; a wiser head than mine must tell you why. They also transmit musical sounds--only musical sounds--for a great distance. The song was evidently from the distant sh.o.r.e of the lake.”
”And the bell?”
”That is the bell which in the city across the lake calls to certain duties at this hour.”
”There never was a sweeter call to duty,” I said.
”Yes, its notes are beautiful. Hark! now it rings a chime.”
We lay and listened, and as we listened a sweet spell wrapped me round, and I slept as peacefully as a child on its mother's bosom. I awoke with a strange sense of invigoration and strength. It was a feeling wholly dissimilar to that experienced during a bath in the river, yet I could not explain how. Mae said:
”One takes away the last of the earth-life, and prepares us for the life upon which we enter; the other fills us to overflowing with a draught from the Celestial Life itself.”
And I think the child was right.
When we emerged from the water we found the banks of the lake almost deserted, every one having gone, at the call of the bell, to the happy duties of the hour. Groups of children still played around in joyous freedom. Some climbed the trees that overhung the water, with the agility of squirrels, and dropped with happy shouts of laughter into the lake, floating around upon its surface like immense and beautiful water-lilies or lotus flowers.
”No fear of harm or danger; no dread of ill, or anxiety lest a mishap occur; security, security and joy and peace! This is indeed the blessed life,” I said, as we stood watching the sports of the happy children.
”I often think how we were taught to believe that heaven was where we would wear crowns of gold and stand with harps always in our hands!
Our crowns of gold are the halos His blessed presence casts about us; and we do not need harps to accentuate our songs of praise. We do see the crowns, and we do hear the angelic harps, when and as G.o.d wills it, but our best wors.h.i.+p is to do his blessed will,” said Mae as we turned to go.
”You are wise in the lore of heaven, my child,” I answered; ”how happy I am to learn from one so dear! Tell me all about your life here.”
So as we walked she told me the history of her years in heaven her duties, her joys, her friends, her home--with all the old-time freedom.
I found her home was distant from our own--far beyond the spires of the great city across the lake--but she added:
”What is distance in heaven? We come and go at will. We feel no fatigue, no haste, experience no delays; it is blessed, blessed!”
Not far from our home we saw a group of children playing upon the gra.s.s, and in their midst was a beautiful great dog, over which they were rolling and tumbling with the greatest freedom. As we approached he broke away from them and came bounding to meet us, and crouched and fawned at my very feet with every gesture of glad welcome.
”Do you not know him, auntie?” Mae asked brightly.
”It is dear old Sport!” I cried, stooping and placing my arms about his neck, and resting my head on his silken hair. ”Dear old fellow! How happy I am to have you here!”
He responded to my caresses with every expression of delight, and Mae laughed aloud at our mutual joy.
”I have often wondered if I should not some day find him here. He surely deserves a happy life for his faithfulness and devotion in the other life. His intelligence and his fidelity were far above those of many human beings whom we count immortal.”
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”Hark! 'tis the voice of angels]
”Hark! 'tis the voice of angels Born in a song to me, Over the fields of glory, Over the jasper sea!”]
”Did he not sacrifice his life for little Will?”
”Yes; he attempted to cross the track in front of an approaching train, because he saw it would pa.s.s between him and his little master, and feared he was in danger. It cost his life. He always placed himself between any of us and threatened danger, but Will he seemed to consider his especial charge. He was a gallant fellow--he deserves immortality.