Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-09-05
BY GEO. II. BEAMAN.

was no, stopped By trees or other objects
lie appeared 10 walk directly through
them They were, in fact bu, the souls
or shadows ofmatcrial trees. He became
sensible that he was IN a lane OF shadows.
When he had travelled a DAYS journey
lhro' a country which was continually be-
coE.ing more attractive, he came to the
banks Of broad lake, in the centre OF which
was n large and beautiful island.-H He
found a canoe OF shining white stone, tied
10 the shore. He was now sure he had
come the right path, Lr the aged man had
told him OF this. There were also shining
paddles. lie Immediately entered the ca.
noe, and took the paddles in bis hands,
when 10 his JOY and surprise, on turning
round, he beheld the object OF his search in
another canoe, exactly lis counterpart in
every hing. She had exactly initiated his
motions, and they were side by side. They
at once pushed GU, from the shore and be-
gan to cross the lake. It's waves seemed
to be rising and alta distance looked ready
to swallow them up; but just as they enter
ed the whitened edge Of them they seemed
TO melt away, as If they were but the ina
ges of waves. But no sooner was one
wreath offoam passed, than another, more
threatening still, rose up. Thus they were
in perpetual fear; and what added to it, was
the clearness Of Tie 1oater, through which
they could see heaps Of beings who had
persisted before, and whose bones lay strew.
cd on the bottom of the lake.
The Master Of fife had however decreed
to let them pass, for the actions of neither
ofthem had been bad. But they saw many
others struggling aud sinking in the waves.
Old men and young men, males and females
OIL fall ages and ranks were there; some pas
sed and some sank. 1t was only the little
children whose canoes seemed to meet no
waves.-At length, every difficulty was
gone as in a moment, and they both leapt
out on the happy island. They felt that
the very air was food. 1t strengthened and
nourished them. They wandered togeth-
er over the blissful fields, where every
thing was formed to please the eye and ear.
There were no tempests -teere was no ice:
no chilly winds-no one sufered'for hunger
no one mournod for the dead. They saw
no graves. They heard of no wars
There was no hunting ofnnimals; for the
air itself was their food. Gladly would the
young warrior have remained there for
ever, but he was obliged to go back for his
body.
He did not see the Master of Life, but
he heard his voice in a soft breeze; eco
back, said this voice 10 the land whence
You came. Your time has not yet come.
The duties for which | made you, and
which YOU are to perform, are not yet fin
ished. Return TO your people & accomplish
the duties of a good man. You will be the
ruler of your tribe many DAYS. The rules
you must observe will be told you by my
messenger, who keeps the gate,-When
he surrenders back your body, he will tell
you what to do. Listen to him, and you
shall afterwards reioin the spirit, which you
must now leave behind. She is accepted
and will be cver here, as young and as hap
py as she was when | first called her from
the land of SHOWS" When this voice ceas-
ed, the narrator awoke. 1t was the fancy
work of a dream, and he was still in the
bitter land ofsnows, aud hunger and tears.