Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-03-03
MUsCATINE, IOWA: FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1854.

\. a-3, = MUSCATl
Every Menent Hath its Message.
[Read at the examination Of the public school in Dis
trct No. l, Muscatine, last Friday. Composed by o
miss IA years Of age.l
II WAS pleasant evening that l wandered
forth to admire the beauties Of nature. The
flowers had folded their many celered leaves,
and, loaded with dew, had yielded TO the
soft influence of the night. Tho laborsr,
fstigusd with the tolls Of the day, had par
taken Of the laborer's fare, and had already
stretched his tired limbs upon his bed to rest.
Even the houss-dsg had ceased bis baying
at the threshold, and was laid to bis rsposs
upon the cool grass beneath his masters
window. All Was still and quiet abroad
Tho cool breeze that waited aleng sweet
perfumes lulled my senses, and I sank be-
meath tall spreading oak, and sosn fell
asleep. e@H Err
In that sleep had beautiful vision. /
dreamed that was near Heaven, that love-
py place were visible, and, ever and anon,
were seen bright-winged messengers enter
ing. " ~
Az ] stood wondering and surprised. .
gentle being came and touched me lightly.
She said, 81 win explain all thou hast not
had this dream for naught, FOR here shall be
taught thee an important lesson" in
quired anxiously what that lesson would be,
and she replied, ssEvERY MoxESr HATH ITS
MEssAGE. Thou seest tho besutiful beings
that now surround thee; they are the swift
messengers, that, every moment, bring an
account of the events that occur on earth to
Heaven"
One pictured dsath-scsns in glowing
words. The bright seraph said that she had
been near the couch Of dying girl, that
the beautiful being had been dying, slosciy
dying, eyer since the lightsf sunset was red
in the evening sky. The smile faded slowly
from her lips, and she became calm and
peaceful. She called her mother 10 her, for
she loved her dearly, and thus spoke -
Smother, my hour has come the wing Of
death 10 o'er me feel his chill damp breath
upon my brow. Mother, dear mother, l
must 30 with him through the dark valley.
Mother, it is not for this that grieve for
tho grave is sweet to me, compared with the
suRer;ngs l have endured but it 10 to think
Of leaving thee poor and unfrisnded; you
will be alone at morning and eve. Here you
will cit in this low, dark room, through the
long, long day, your heart nearly breaking
and working at your task, earning your dali
ly bread, while othors will be enjoying all
of fortunes pleasures. And you will pour
your wsepings long and wild, for ON your
heart will press thousand memories Of
your departed child. And then in sleep,
you will turn to kiss me as you always did
but memory will whisper, she 10 gone, and
you will wake, but to weep. ! remember
before my father died, that we lived within
our own stately mansion. But now, how
changed our condition! Strangers are liv-
ing in our once happy home, and you are
pent up in this close, dark room, unaided
and forgotten. Mother, death is nesr, oh,
very near; feel his heavy hand upon my
breast. Mother, go-farewell." Slowly
her arms unwound their clasp from around
her mothers neck. and her fair head fell
heavily back-she was dead!
Others bring news of glad tid,ngs, Of joy
on earth, Of health and happiness in many
. peaceful household. Others, Of famine,
war and psstilencs; Of the sad meanings
some lonely captive in HE dreary cell, who
thinks of his mother and fair-halrsd little
sister, and of his thrice happy home these,
oil those, he thinks of, and oh, how earn
estly he prayed that he might be spare d to
see them again Then in his sleep. what
bright and. happy visions had ho!-dreams
that were 80 pleasant, that, when he awoks,
he wished they would last forever. And Of
his mother, shall We tell what news these
bright messengers brought to Heaven Of
her? They said, that she, unconscious ..
her darling boys captivity, was looking for
ward to the time when he should retarn.-
Every night she breathsd the same pure
and holy prayer for his safety, little th.nk-
ing that he was doomed to die eaptivs's
death, and that she should no more ses him
on enrth But days and weeks pass on, and
he comes not; hope begins to burn with a
hieksring fame, and yet his voice cheers not
his mothsr's heart. ,,.-. $50
sc Another seraph came with sorrow de-
piotsd upon her fair brow. During few
Assting moments, she had seen much suf-
fsring; she had seen the dying soldier and
hero breathe their last upon the bloody
hsld. Some died with prayer upon their |
lips. and others, ~ their life blood was fast |
ebbing, cursed their snsmies-and died!
Another sersph was about to relate the |
scenes she had witnessed, when the loud |
to Hing Of the midnight bell awakened me.
AZ ] wendsd my way homsward, thought
that ! had indeed learned An important !
Lesson. It 10 just for ~ to decide whether |
the angels Of God shall convey pleasing
news of us to heaven or not. And every
moment We should think Of what ws are |
doing, that the bright winged messengers,
who witness our thoughts aad actions, to |
record them in heaven, may carry pleasing |
news 10 the Heavenly threng.
E. T..
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