Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-05-23
II cT6gtOW aus.
A GENTLE STORY.

Once a little band of angels descended to this
earth, and wandered over its beautiful places in
search of something SO purely beautiful, that it
should be an acceptable offering before the throne
ofthe Eternal And many things fair and exquis-
lie arose'n their path; sweet, delicate flowers and
little gstening dew-drops; diamonds in the earth;
pearls in the sea; stars in the sky; bright things
cleaning and flashing everywhere; joyous faces
and graceful forms moving to and fro, more fire.
quent than all, and almost more beautiful But
the angels passed on; for nothing which can fade
or be destroyed is worthy Of Heaven. On, on they
wandered-on, through the great forests, amid the
deep valleys, over the bright seas, searching eve
rywhere for that lovely thing that was to add fresh
beauty, even unto Heaven.
At length they stood in consultation on the sea-
shore, and beheld fisherman's child SO strangely,
SO enchantingly beautiful that those glorious angels
were amazed, and bent over him in silent admira-
ton. At length, their leader spake-
Shall we bring mortal and periShng gift to
the throne of our Immortal Father?'
Our High Father is all-powerful. He could
give him immortality replied another.
Innocence and love are heavenly beauties; but
they can live only in Heaven. Shall we not
snatch him from this bad worlds temptationsi'
said third.
Thus spake the tender, plying angels, But their
leader said
There is beauty far transcendng innocence
"a beauty which childhood and innocence may
never possess. Shall we wait, my brethren, fol
this, or offer to our God an imperfect gft?'
And so the angels waited until the child becum,
a man-lor to immortal spirits. whose inheritance
is eternal, the life Of man is but all hour.
Then pain and sorrow came upon the man, ant
drove the rose from his cheek, and the light from
his heart; and anguish bowed his frame and care
planted burrows on his brow. Then, when all hi
soul was dark, the angels drew near and whisper
ed of unspeakabe bliss, so that his heart grew
strong and earnest, and faith was the first gem il
his crown of beauty. Now temptations gathered
thickly about him-now his guardians hovsre
near his path, watching his struggles, answering
his thoughts, raising him when nearly trodds
down, yet keeping him encompassed with trbua
liOnS, uHlll ne cast away HIS OWL STeuStn-dnu III
beauty of humility was perfected.
Still they poured temptation upon his pathwa
for without temptation there can be no victory
Still, rs he rose triump hant from every struggle
his countenance grew more angelic his beaut
more godlike, till, at last, when they had breathe
into his spirit Of that joy with which they wer
filled, aud his soul melted with love and great al
Grafton, they locked with awe upon their worl
aud pronounced it fit for Heaven!
} And when those who had loved him looked "
on his withered lifeless form, they were sad, an
, incurred his departed beauty. And it was SO; ft
! the soul, so strengthened and purfed-Ihat sou
h intensely beautiful, whose light its earthly cove
t Ing could no longer obscure, was borne rejoicir
by the angels to the throne, resting not in the j.
Il of spirits innocent and untred, but mounting hig
IS higher, to dwell forever in the presence Of Il
l. fountain of all joy, and all truth, and all kno"
s. edge, and all glory.