Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-03-17
The Souls EFrant.


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A spirit reposes in a form of clay. AS the
great fount, so is the drop pure and sparkling
in the sunlight of Deity. Feeble are the ties
which bind it to mortality; short the way
and the beam joins again the central light.
Blu, as SHOWS which CLEAN in winters
starlight commingle, and are soiled with
clay; so the spirit cannot remain in such
proximity with dust without blending and
partakine of its nature. As translucent wa
ter becomes turbid, when storms agitate, and
t%oss'it, SO the soul loses its purity when
life's pathway presents obstacles-and ma
t%eriality asserts its wants. As new ideas
cover up (as it were) and cause us almost TO
forget others, so oblivion draws its veil, and
shuts from us all memories Of Heaven. But
as these ideas are by circumstances brought
to light, SO spirituality lifts the veil and gives
faint visions of %primeval bliss and thus we
know our origin. Then come long and nigh
ty struggles twixt lofty nature, and low
wants; and off mortality predominates. Then
we rise from degradation and toll up The
sleeps of knowledge. Science pointing up
to the glisiening stars and down into Earth's
caverns, bids us "come."
We bend over our glimmering lamps till
the stars fade, and when we sleep the rest
less soul visits other and brighter gems
cleaning in erudilion's bowers, than the
waking sense ever rocked Of. We rise to
feel a longing after spiritual life-a wish to
sound the deep MYSTERIES of our own minds
"a knowledge that we are capable Of some-
thing higher and nobler than aught earth can
give-a looking forward to Eternity; thus we
know our immortality. The conflict goes on
the Gagged birds, long, and burn, and pine
to be free until the prison house is worn away
and they soar onward and upward. If then
our spirits are emanations from Deity, and
will live on forever! why were they sent from
the All Pervading, to grope awhile on a dus.
~ way looking forward to their release!
Let US compare God to the sun; the souls
Of men to rays emanating therefrom-all
bright yet detracting nothing from the glory
of the Great Light. There are some ray
which never reach the Earth, but CLEAN a
! while among the clouds of sky, and form
| rainbows with the tears of Heaven. The
Earth rolls around, and they 60 back. These
= are the meteor souls which flash past our vi
! sion, glitter and expire. They nerer com
, mingle with clay, are never soiled; but arr
~refracted and reflected by our sorrows, de
composed by our tears; and we find imaget
Q upon our hearts in tints of angel wings al
starry things of heaven. "Peace-the eve
ming star Of the soul' rises as these fade, an,
S we are wiser and better beings. These fin
! ish their brands quickly. When a ston,
falls to the ground by the laws of attraction
; the Earth is moved. When a pebble is cas-
into the ocean the little ripple swells onwar,
u Till it reaches the opposite side of the globe
4 So these, tho they are with us only Will
passing away, exert an influence, whicI
stirs the deep foundation of our being, an
d losses up waves which lave The shores c
Eternity. But the influence is pure, tn
waves unsullied, and we remember them a
y we do a meteor passing quickly and leavin
a train of glory. Other beams fall upon flow
>, ers; by means Of them we see more distinc
e ly all beauties, even the delicate veins al
visible. Liken these unto those who are a
/ gentleness, and love; we look through then
and SEE God in all things. They teach US
d enjoy-to be happy. There are no shadow
a where they pass. They make music, and tn
N strains grow sweeter till we have them but
u remembrance; and when they are gone a fail
golden halo e~ncircles our hearts and the nigI
Of sorrow is holy. Others rest upon still wi
n tiers, against whose crystal bosom bright
IN rays fling shadows-which reach down I'M
~ ~ its glossy depths, till they connect it wit
Il the sky. There are hearts which are of tc
Sc fine a texture for Earth, and are broken
ne GOODNESS, and unfeeling in others, But sha,
y ows upon their souls bring them nearer He
We ven and when life's light has faded, the,
lovely ones mirror The stars. From the