Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-11-16

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And they had been brought no nearer by the
meeting. The clay was hindrance to them, and
now Ida longed to cast it off. The chain which
linked them together could only gather strength
in heaven. And yet it was sorrowful thing to
part, with all the sweet remembrances encircling
those few blessed days lying in their fresh, pure
beauty upon the heart. The tears rushed to the
eyes of Ida, but they were shut back again reso-
lutely; her voice became even more tremulous
than on the day previous and her pale lip qniver-
ed with strong emotion. Poor Ida! The cloud
had not wholly vanished. .-.
| eff he could but know that the parting is for
time," whispered the heart of Ida; and she shaded
her eyes with her hand, for the tears would be
kept back no longer For the first time she was
guilty of murmur, and that against the beloved.
"Has heart could not be aching SO, and mine
not recognize the pain.''
She felt the touch of hand, the pressure of
lips on her bowed forehead, low, sweet word of
farewell, that might never be forgotten, step in
the hall that fell on her like the toll of muf-
ed bell, the closing of a door, and she was alone
with heaven. Poor Ida! How she sobbed and
wore out the tagging hours with weeping!
Enviable Ida! She was awake. The angel
in her bosom futtered no longer behind the pris-
oning bars; and on the broad earth not human
heart so blest as hers. Intense, earnest thought
still made its home in her eye, but beside it was
the light of conscious inner power, and purity,
and love, comminglng-a self-acknoWledged af-
fnty to the invisible ONES which hovered over
her. The harp in her bosom had been attuned to
those above, and not earthly finger had power
to produce dscord. Now was Ida Ravelin pre-
pared for Heaven, for strangely enough, both re-
quire the preparations. The robe that can
be soled by contact with things below is not the
one to glitter among the stars. .. -.
Ida Ruvelin was not beautiful, but she had no
further need ofbeauty. The angel which had al
ways been shut within her bosom came out and
lowered around her, and men sought as thongh
there had been some strange witchery there, the
shadow of its wings. The touch of her finger
thrilled; the glance of her eye melted; the sound
of her voice enchanted. 1t was the magnetisms Of
genius. Now was the path Of Ida Ravelin strew-
ed with flowers, and their perfume was grateful
to her. The alter of her glorious nature was
thronged with worshippers, and, with child-like
trustfulness, Ida gave her love for what seemed
love. What is there in the world which God has
made to look upon with Indifference! What in
the natures G God had moulned, marred and soiled
though they be by the clay they are prisoned in,
to regard with coldness! Oh, brothers. heart.
however pitable its setting, is holy thing, and
wo be to the foot that dares to rest upon it. A
brothers hand! it may be stained, but there is
pulse in it which is echo to the STRINGS of the
soul, and the soul is the breath of God. Who
dare refuse the love-clasp OF brothers. hand!
Ida gave love for love, and many reveled in its
pure sunlight, but her soul had an inner chamber,
a yelled temple to which the world was not adj
mitted. 1t was the trysting place of two spirits
which waited to keep yet holier trust in heaven.
The world had stepped in between the two
friends, and they could only meet in heart.
There were grey hairs on the brow of Ida Raw
elm, but the flowers were yet fresh within, and
still fond ones gathered near to taste their sweet
perfume. .--..
Away in a strange land, an old man was dying
Tears wetted his pillow, and warm lips strove
with kisses to melt the gathering ice of DEATH
Soft fingers lay upon his temples, anxious
hand pressed against his heart, trembling as i S
pulsations grew fainter, and mingled voices, made
sharp by anguished feeling, went up to heaven
most pleadngly; but the spirit had looked over
the bounds of time, and it could not be won back
again. The old man smiled, and raised an eye to
Heaven, and died. e"
Ida Ravelin sat in the midst of wrapt circle,
scattering her buds of thouoht and feeIino with n
lavish hand. Suddenly that yelled inner temple
was strangely illuminated. A glorious radiance
beamed out upon her-meltingly it circled around,
bathing all within with bliss, and she felt the en-
folding clasp of wings invisible. Oh! that her
soul should remain the longest prisoner A soft
whisper stole down her heart, and its answrr was
struggle. She must be free! A deep burning
briliancy sprang to her eye; the crimson gathered
hurriedly on her cheek; the fevered pulse bound
ed and staggered; the thousand silver cords which
had kept the heavenly prisoner so long in its
earth-worn cell, stretched themselves to their ut.
most tension, and closed over it with mad, de.
termned energy, then snapped asunder anc
shrivelled in their uselessness; and the ange
planted foot upon the scattered fabric and, rails
ing its white wings heavenward, rose from the
earth, never, never to return again.
They made sweet pillow among flowers, anc
streams and beautiful-singing birds, and laid q
head upon it and wept long over this moudering
| image of clay. But the stone they reared in thai
not there-she had joined the loved in Paradise
GFAll that nature has prescribed must be