The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1850-03-08
Faith and Hope.
A PARABLE.-BY WORDSWORTH.

One morning as the sun arose, two spir
its went forth upon the earth. And they
were sisters; but Faith was Of mature age
while hope was yet child.
They were both beautiful. Some loved
to gaze upon the countenance Of faith, fol
her eyes were serene, and her beauty
changed not; but'Hope was the delight o.
every eye.
And the child sported in the freshness
Of the morning, and as she hovered over
the gardens and dew lawns, her wings gilt.
tered in the sunbeams like rainbow.
Come my sister, she cried, 'and chase
with me the butterfly from flower to flower.
But her sister was gazing at the lark
as it arose from IFS low nest and warbled
among the clouds. And when it was noon
the child said again
Come my sister, and pluck with me the
flowers of the garden, for they are beauti.
ful, and their fragrance is sweet
But Faith replied, Nay, my sister, lei
the flowers be there, for thou art young
and delightest thyself in thy beauty.
will mediate in the shade until the heat Of
the day be past. Thou will find me by
the fountain in the forest. When thou
art weary, come and repose on my bosom.
And she smiled and departed.
After time Hope sought her sister
The tears were in her eyes. and her counle.
nance was mournful. Then said Faith
MY sister, wherefore dost thou weep
and why is thy countenance ssd!'
And the child answered, Because a
cloud is in the sky, and the sun is overcast.
See! the rain begins to fall
1t is but shower Faith replied, and
when it is over, the fields will be greener
than before
Now the place where they sat was shell
tered from the rain, as it had been from
the noontide heat. And Faith comforted
the child, and showed her how the waters
flowed with fuller and clearer stream as
the shower fell.
And presently the sun broke out again,
and the woods resounded with song.
Then hope was glad, and went forth to
her sports once more.
After while the sky was again dar-
kened, and the young spirit looked up and
behold! there was no cloud in the whole
circle of the heavens.
Therefore Hope marveled, for it was not
yet night.
And she fled to her sister, and cast her
down at her feet. and rembled exceedingly.
Then Faith raised the child, and led her
forth from the shades Of the trees, and poin-
ting TO the sun, she said
"A shadow is passing over the face there
Of, but 10 ray Of his glory is extinguished.
Hc still walketh in brightness, and thou
shalt again delight thyself in his beams.
See, even yet his face is not wholly hidden
from us
But the child hurst not look up, for the
gloom struck upon her heart.
And when al was bright again she
feared to wander from her sister, and
her sports Were hss gay than before.
When the epntide was come, Faith
went forth from the forest shades, and
sought the lawn, where she might watch
the setting of the sun.
Then said sheto her young sister
Come, and behold how far the glories
of the sunset trascended the beauties of
the morning. See how softly they melt
away and give 10 the shadows of nj CHIT
But hope wasnow weary-her eye was
heavy. and her vice languid. She folded
her radient wing, and dropped on her sis
ter's bosom. andfell asleen.
But Faith watched through the night.
She was never weary, nor did her eyelids
need repose.
Sic laid the child on bed of flowers.
and kissed her cleek. She also drew her
mantle round thehead ofthe young sleeper
that she might seep in peace.
Then Faith Looked upward, and beheld
how the stars cane forth. She traced them
in their radiant course, and listened to their
harmonies, which mortal ear hath not
heard.
And as she listened, their music en-
Lranced her sml.
At length light appeared in the East,
and burst forth from the portals Of the
heavens. Thenthe spirit fastened to arouse
he young sleeper.
Awake! Oh!my sister she cried; "a new
lay hath dawnel, and no cloud shall over
shadow it, Awake for the sun hath risen
which shall set No more!'