Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-02-21

but in taste and disposition. From their
chilihood they had sported together, admired
| the same beauties and gazed at the same Won
ders-together had walked the streets, strolled
along the HANKS of the Tiber, visited the Cam
pus Martius, sat together in the theaters and
other places of public amusement.
Then, from the moment of her conversion,
her whole soul had set itself upon him with a
triple intensity,-with an earnest, settled pur-
pose never to give over in her prayers till he
rejoiced with her in the hopes of another life,
and in a stroll among the vines and flowers in
the pleasure grounds at home, she had unbo-
somed to him her heart,-told him Of her own
happy change, besought him to abandon his
idols, and seek after the eternal life of the
gospel.
They had just stopped to look at bunch of
flowers, that grew at the side of the walk
Some of the last years stalks were dead, and
rotting on the ground. But from their roots,
others were springing forth, fresh and green,
while a few had grown up, and expanded into
most beautiful flower, scented, and tinted
with many bright, luminous coloss.
ssHow lovely - said Vertitia, she laid her
hand gently on one of the largest.
ssVery;'' said Valdinus, as he rather rude
ly snatched up one, and held it out before
him.
ssBut look at these dead stalks,-they II soon
be gone,'' said Yertitia, raising up the re-
mains of one with her foot.
eYes-they're of no more use,'' said Valdi-
nus, carelessly.
:sBut see,'' said Vertitia quickly, sshoF
these green ones are growing out of their
roots, to flower and bloom again; how strange,
O isn't it, brother?
''Strange enough;'' said Yaldinus; ..but it's
the way they do, you know.
Vertitia gazed for few moments at the
large flower, fondling it with her white, deli
cate hand.
'sThese things convince we more and more
Of what the Christians say;'' at length, said
Yertitia, looking up earnestly at yaldinus.
s'Christians.' ~ said he, rcproachfully; Gift
wasn't for father and mother, l wish they were
all dead as them stalks.;'
yertitIa trcmDIed, ana hung her need.
esBut they might live again, brother, if they
were like them. Don't you see it's only the
stalk that's dead-the root stiu lives. Now
that's just what the Christians say-what our
dear father and mother says
Il don't want to hear any thing about a0iot
they say-fools!'' said Valdinus, abruptly.
|'But maynt it be true, dear BROTHER look
ing up with an earnest smile, and speaking
very kindly may not the body die, and the
soal live It isn't any more strange than for
this stalk to die and the root to live,-is it,
brother ?''
esThe soul may live after the body, for any
thing know or care,-fools think so at any
rate,'' said Valdinus, with q short sneer of a
laugh.
Vertitia felt hurt, and endeavored to CON
ceal the tears which filled her eyes.
.ssBut, oh brother, suppose it should live
forever in another world, and be forever happy
there! That's what the Christians think =
isn't it a nice thought, too 20 said Vertitia.
her teary eyes sparkling with a sudden emo
tion of JOY.
s'What good would that do me, if I were
dead? My soul might live and be happy, but
that wouldn't be me,'' said Valdinus, with
quite hearty laugh.
eyes! yes brother,-it ,rould be you,-it
surely would. The soul is what feels and
thinks in us-what joys and sorrows. The
body is nothing but dust and earth without it;
hence, wherever the soul lives or goes. it is
still as, and we're the very same PERSONS
Valdinus said nothing, but gave one of the
old dead stalks a kick with his foot, and dash
ed the flower from his hand.
''Oh BROTHER" said Vertitia, imploringly
s'there is another life-another world wnere
our souls go at death, and where we will be
forever either happy or miserable Poor, dear
sister Fiducia'S gone there-gone to be happy
forever.
':Well, l suppose every ones got to 30
where they're sent. If I'm sent there, guess
I'll go too,-only you and I'll try to get sent
to the same place, that's ali ;-wont We ?''
$50 where our dear sister Fiducia is, there
let US try to go, brother. But we must give
up our idols, and the pleasures of the world,
and live like she did.
ssGuess, if Eve got to go there, I'll take nv
idols along with me, and my pleasures too. If
I'm to be the same person there, I'll need
them, yon know" said Yaldinus, in half
joke.
s<No! no brother it aint there like it is |
here" said Vertitia, vexed at his light, incon- |
siderate remarks.
''Well, don't care how it is; and I don't |
want to hear any more of that Nazarene stuff"
said Ealdinus, angrily, and taking hold of
Vertitia's arm, started off up the walk.
They walked along for some time in silence.
Vertitia's eyes were full of tears, and her
heart full of sorrows. She struggled hard,