Part 15 (1/2)

My brother, with thoughtful care, pa.s.sed onward to the upper rooms of the house, and for awhile we were alone together, we whose lives had run, so happily mingled, through the long years of our mortal life. I drew him within the house, and in the vestibule again he took me in his arms and drew me to his heart.

”This is heaven indeed!” he said.

We pa.s.sed into the ”flower-room,” and on its threshold he stood a moment, entranced with its beauty; but when I would have related to him its history, as my brother had given it to me, he said: ”Not to-day, my dear; I have only eyes and ears for you to-day; all else in heaven must wait.”

So we sat and talked together as in the olden days, and the happy hours came and went, and the day melted into the twilight glow, before we realized it was half spent. Our brother Frank had come to us about the noontide, and together we had gone over the lovely house, had stood upon the broad verandas and eaten of the heavenly fruit. Then we all sat together where I had spent the hours waiting in the presence of the blessed Master. I told them much that he then had said to me, and how he turned into triumphant rejoicing the hours which I had antic.i.p.ated would pa.s.s in lonely waiting. The eyes of my dear husband were tear-filled, and he pressed my hand, which he still kept in his, in tender sympathy.

”Oh, darling, it is a blessed, blessed life!” I said.

”I already realize the blessedness,” he replied, ”for has it not given me back my brother and my wife--my precious wife!”

Early the following morning I said to my husband and our brother: ”We must go to father and mother Sprague's to-day. They have the first claim, after ours, Frank.”

”Yes, we will go at once,” they both replied.

So together we all started. In the earliest days of my heavenly life I had sought out with much joy the home of my husband's parents, and was by them accorded, as in the earth-life, a warm place in their hearts, and many happy hours had we spent together since. Now we were taking to them a favorite son, and I realized how his coming would bring gladness to their hearts and home. It was a joyful meeting, especially to our mother, and the day was far spent before we arose to return.

”William,” said our mother, fondly laying her hand upon his arm, ”yours was a happy home on earth--I used to think a perfect home; it will be far happier here,” with a loving glance at me.

”I am sure of that, mother. I have my dear wife and Frank constantly with me; and you and my father and Josephine”--a favorite niece--”to come to here; and after awhile,” with a little hesitation, ”the holier joys and privileges of heaven.”

We turned to go, and upon the threshold met an aunt who in the earth-life--blind and helpless--had been a favorite with us all.

”My dear children,” she exclaimed, ”how good it seems to see you all again!”

”Aunt Cynthia!” my husband said fondly.

”Yes, Aunt Cynthia, but no longer groping helpless in the darkness.

'Whereas I once was blind, now I see,'” she quoted, smiling happily.

And so it was--the Master's touch had rested on the sightless eyes, and, closing to the darkness of earth, they had opened upon the glories of heaven. Marvelous transition! No wonder we left her singing:

Glory to Him who this marvel hath wrought, Filling my spirit with joy and delight!

Lo, in my blindness I safely have walked Out of the darkness into the light!

CHAPTER XVIII.

Down by the sea, the crystal sea, Where all of the redeemed shall be, Where you and I, beloved, shall go, Our crimson robes washed white as snow In Christ's dear blood--what hymns of praise Thro' countless ages we shall raise!

There all our loved ones we shall see-- Think what a meeting that will be Down by the sea!

--[From ”Songs by the Sea.”

Days lengthened into weeks, and weeks into months, and these in turn crept onward into years, and the duties and joys of heaven grew clearer and dearer with each pa.s.sing hour. Our home-life was perfect, though we looked forward with joy to the future coming of our son and daughter to make its ties complete. We had often spoken of going together to the great celestial sea, but the time had never seemed quite ripe for so doing. We realized it was one of the great mysteries of heaven, although we knew not just what to expect, since there no one ever seeks to forestall sight by description. One evening I said to my brother:

”I have a strange desire to go to the sea, if you think it wise that we should do so.”

”I am glad that it is your desire to go, as it is mine to have you. I was about to propose that you and my brother should take together this blessed journey.”

”Will you not accompany us?”