Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-05-20
THE SOUL IN PUR GAToRY; OR, LOVE
STRONGER THAN DEATH.

the pavilions of the Most High. But the harm of
Serdlinl was sweeter than that Of his fellows
and the voice Of the Invisible One (for the An
gels themselves know not the glores of Jeho.
vaE-only far in the depths of Heaven they see
one unseeping eye watching forever over crea,
tom was heard, saying
g Ask gift for the love. that burns upon tb,
song and it shall be given thee"
And Seralinl answered:
There are in that place which men call Pr
gatory, and which is the escape from Hell bnt
the painful Porch of Heaven, many souls thai
adore thee, and yet are punished justly for their
sins, grant me the boon to visit them at tinos
and solace their suffering by the hymns of the
harp that is consecrated to thee.w
And the voice answered:
Thy prayer is heard, oh gentlest Of the An.
gels; and it seems good to him who chastisos
but from love. Go! Thou hast thy will y
Then the angel sang the praises of God and
when the song was done, he rose from his azure
throne at the right-hand Of Gabriel, and spread
ing his rainbow wings he flew to that meancho
~ orb which, nearest to earth, echoes with
shrleks of souls, that by torture becom nure
Here the unhappy ones see from afar the BRIGHT
courts they ale hereafter to obtain. and the
shapes Of glorious beings, who fresh from the
Fountains OF Immortality, walk amid the gar
dens of Paradise, and feel that their happiness
a
mid their torments, and makes the true differ
ence between Purgatory and He'll.
Then the Angel folded his wings, and, enter
ing the crystal gates, sat down upon blasted
rock, and struck his divine Tyre, and a peace
fell over the wretched; the demon ceased 70
torture, and the victims to wall. As seen to
the mourners of earth was the song Of the An.
gel to the souls of the purifying STAR one only
voice amid the general stiffness seemed not lui
IL H. IL. ,..N,.a
and it continued to cry out with sharp cry
ooh, AdeRheinl-Adenheim, mourn not fortbe
lost"
The angel struck chord after chord till his
most skillu melodies were exhausted but still the
solitary voice. unheedng-unconSciouS even OF
the sweetest harp Of the angel choir, cried out
ooh, MISUNDERSTANDING mourn not forthe
lost"
Then SeraIiafs interest was aroused, and ap.
preaching the spot whence the voice came, he
saw the spirit Of young and beautiful girl
chained to rock, and the demons lying idIyby.
And Seralim said to the demons-"D Doth the
song lull thus to rest?"
And they answered." Her care for another
is bitterer than all our torment therefore we are
idle"
Then the Angel approached the spirit, and
said, in voice which stilled her cry--for in
what state do we outlive Sympathy" Where
FORE oh daughter Of the earth! wherefore wal
est thou with the same plaintiye wall? and why
doth the harp that soothes the most guilty of thy
companions fail in lis melody with thee"
ooh! radiant stranger" answered the poor
spirit "thou speakest to one who on earth low
ed Gods crea ture more than God; therefore is
she Justly sentenced But know that my poor
Adenhein mournS ceaselesSy for me, and the
thought of his sorrow is more intOlerable to ne
than all that demons can int1ict."
"And how knowest thou that he laments thee"
asked the angel.
"Because know with what agony | should
have mourned for him." replied the spirit sim
ply.
The Divine nature of the angel was touched
for love is the nature of the sons Of Heaven
| +" And how" said he, "can minister TO thy Sc
row?"
A transport seemed to agitate the spirit, ana
she lifted up her mist-like and impapable arms
and cried
"Give me--oh, give me to return to earth, but
for one little hour, thatI may visit my Adenhein,
and that concealng from him my present sui
ferings, ] may comfort him in his own"
"Alasp said the angel, turning away his
eyes, (fOr angels may not weep in the sight ol
others -''I could indeed grant thee this BOOM
but thou knowest not the penalty. For the
souls in Purgatory may return to earth-DuL
heavy is the sentence that awaits their return.
In word, for one hour on earth, thou must add
a thousand years to the tortures ofthy confne-
ment here"
"Is that all?n cried the spirit; " Willingly
then, will brave the doom. All surely they
love not in heaven, or thou WouldSt know,
Celestial Vsitant, that one hour of consolation
to the one we love. is worth thousand thouS-
and ages of torture to ourselves! Let me com
fort and convince my Adenheim, no matter
what becomes of me-"
Then the angel looked on high, and he saw
in far distant regions, which in that orb nonr
else could discern, the rays parted from the all
guardian Eye; and heard the Voice bidding
him act as his pity whispered. He looked on
the spirit, and her shadowy arms stretched
pleadingly towards him; he uttered the wore
that losses the bars of the gate of Purgatory
and 10, the spirit had re-entered the human
world!
1t twas night in the halls Of the Lord OF ade",
helm, and he sat at the head Of his gltterhs
board; loud and long was the laugh, and merry
the jest that echoed round; and the laugh ana
the Lord of Adenheim were louder and meriiteIl
than all. And by his right side sat beaualu!
lady; and ever and anon he turned from oIIcIs
to whisper soft VOWS in her ear.
"And OH" said the bright dame OF FaIKGn
berg, thy words what adye can believe: diGs,
thou not utter the same oaths, and promise u.
IN LJ, fha flir