The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-07-07

around their leader, as If they were soldiers
receiving from their captain his commands,
now, they all fall upon their knees before
him as though he were king, ana they
were subjects Offering homage ut his feet
and now-hc stretches out his han Is above
them and looks up, as though he were a
priest pronouncing bcniSon upon an as
scmblcd host. But sce-they start to their
feet together, all at once, as though they
were impellcd by some sympathetic power.
a strange ligh, gathers round thcm-lhcy
look upward-thc Heavens are hung with
a drapery more gorgeous and magnificent
than ever to poets fancics seem the
goldcn-tnted hues Of an autumnal sunset.
The clouds are rolled into a throne, which
rhircs, and around it stand hosts of shining
ones, clad in the livery Of Heaven, sin eve
ry band golden harp, on every head
CROWN" while upon that throne clothed in
glory, Of which their minds had only faint
conceptions, sits that one who had led them
hithcr and blessed them there. With in
tense interest, yet with silent awe, they
gaze upon the wondrous sccne-their eyes
arc rivetcd upon that glorious spectacle:
and their souls absorbed by Il new born joy.
WRAPPED in contemplation Of the manifesto
ton of their masters glory, they feel not
that he is leaving them they think not of
the keen sorrow which tomorrow will be
theirs, when the morn comes but their lead
er comes not--ioy now so fills their souls
that they have no time for sorrowing or for
selfish thought and this blaze Of glory.
But meanwhile the throne stands not still
slowly-slowly-but steadily, it moves up
ward and upward,-lhe rejoicing Heavens
gladly unfold to afford pathway for their
triumphant king, and the throne, with its
monarch and its glittering .hrong, passes on,
and on, and on, amid the triumphal shouts
and acclamations loud of Heavens hcrar-
chies, and thcn-as if jealous that the earth
so long should see the glories of the upper
realm-the clouds rcunte, and shut in the
ascending throng from mortal vision.
That KING was JESUS. and that little
band the faithful few who had been with
him in His sorrows; who hal witnessed
His suiierings, and to them He appeared af
ter his resurrection.
Their King has left them, yet they stand
there still gazing up towards Heaven
looking, but looking vainly for the clouds
to disperse again, and allow their souls to
feast upon that glorious scene. Bnt now
they gaze only upon the shifting Clouds
The bright unnatural grandeur the sky,
has given place to the more usual appear
ancc which it wears as the hand Of summer
twilight begins TO draw the curtains of the
night Sorrow intensibly steals over them
they begin to realize that Jesus had left
them. They recall his repeated predictions
Of His final departure from them, and as
they stand there all silent, into the heart Of
EACH there creeps the first sad feeling of
spiritual orphanage. They feel that they
are alone-that he will come to them in
person no more; but still they cannot: will
not go, but stand there gazing still, for
there they saao linn last, and that 10 them is
holy spot.
In the meanwhile, Jesus has not forgot
ten them. AS he rides upon his trIuphal
throne up to his f,ther's mansions, amid the
gratulations of attendant myrlads, and the
anthems sweet of cherubim and seraph.-
tle detaches from the attendant throng two
of the angelic host, and bids them bear TO
His wandering frinds His parting message
of consolation-and 10; while the disciples
still are gazing steadiastly toward Heaven,
the messengers from the Heavenly court
stand by them, and the silence is broken by
the Angels voice saying, {: Ye men of Ga
liee, why stand ye here gazing up into
Heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken
up from you into Heaven, shall SO come in
like manner as ye have seen Him go into
Heaven" This message brought comfort
and Joy to their troubled souls, and they turn
ed their faces homeward, and retraccd their
steps.-Orion &