Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-10-21
A Rcyerie.
BY ANsRLMo.


was decorated with feecy clouds which oc-
casionally ,ohscured tho pale orb Of night
and cast a shadow over the tranquil earth
| was seated at my window, watching the
heavens as an alternate glow Of silver light
and q dark shadow spread over the earth,
:!;king the scene dream like and beautiful.
bile thus seated fell into q fit of musing
s'methins like the following :-sLifeis hut
ii dream after all, said I,speaking to myself,
as | elevated my fess to another chair; s.dim
and scarce de6nable to some 'tis a pure
sweet vision of fairy land, succession of
bright scenes until death watts them To an
eternal world. To others It's long, long
night of sorrow in which dark images aud
portentious dreams haunt the pillow and
rack the soul until the morning dawns, and
the kind grave puts them where grief aud
anguish never come. To others, again, and
and by far the largest class, apprehend, it
is an alienation Of light and darkness
storms and sunshine -otten the heart is light
and gay-friends are true and kind-bus-
ness is fourisbing the wife of our soul
smiles fondly upon us-the cheerful voices
of our children ring sweetly in our ears and
all is peace and joy--a!i is bright as yon
moon, soaring SO majes.ically in the bluc
heavens. But, suddenly, change comes;
the moon is obscured by a cloud; a friend
proves false; we loose our fortune; that
dear wife sickens and dies the damp grave
eushrouds her loved form; with q trusting
heart we resign her to the cold earth, and
return to desoate home. All seems chill
and lonely no wife is there to meet US
with gentle word--our Chi ldren look So FER
and sad, and fear to approach us while
the heavy clouG is on our brow; we look
around with sigh and feel that we are
miserable indeed. But see! the cloud hath
vanished and the moon shines calmly as
before. And may not sorrow thus pass
from the human hearth Surely it will not
lnger there forever, ,beslooming the remnant
of our days; the cloud will pass away, and
the soft rays of returning JOY and peace will
gladden. and illumine our way down to the
lone valley of death, and we will rise from
the Christening, better and wiser beings
Why could not this world ever be
bright?" said l, speaking audibly "why
should grief end anguish ever visit US
But them" thought |, lowering my curtain
to keep out the insects, '' 'tis doubtless
better as God hath ordained, for we enjoy
and suffer by contrast, and are beings of
progress, destined for another and better
sphere, when we shall have been purified
and purged by the cares and ills of earth.
Then all viii be plain and obvious to our
understandings. We shall live in the pure
sunlight of heaven, where clouds and
storms never come, and the rainbow of
promise ever CLEANS on our sight; we shall
mingle with the dear ones gone before, and
join our voices in the sweet melodies of
heaven. God grant it," said I, so loudly
that started at the sound of my voice
and, sxtinguishing my lamp, was soon
asleep.
HARD THIEas TO Do.-To convince a
mother that her baby ts ugly.
To persuade young lady to extend
the s'mit.en" to her beau who is worth
q cool ten thousand.
For dead goldfish to climb a creased
sapling. tail foremost, with loaf of
bread in its mouth.
To find a man who is not influenced
by money.
To 6ud merchant who don't care
about making mere than cost and car
rage.
These are hard things 10 perform bur
il is much harder for an editor TO sustain
his paper. when every man he so.icits to
subscribe. says-"Porhaps | will after
while; | must wait and see how things
get along"
A CASE OF CoNsciEscE,--We sill have
lively recollection OF the way in which
South Sea Islander settled case of
conscience. The missionary had re-
buked him for the sin Of polygamy, and
he was much grieved. After a day or
two. he returned, his face radiant with
joy. me all right now. One wife.
me very good christian" uWhat did