Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-02-28
ly stopping, and casting her eyes momentum
toward the clear starry skies.

SA'1~AiN0 -
ter are tardy, for several reasons; but who ca
| tell with what power of motion spirit ma
| be endowed, and how the soul, released from
the body, may overcome, just with a singl
leap or bound, any distance, however great.
':Then poor, dear sister was there just a
once,-eyen while her body was yet in th'
flames, her soul was in glory.-wasn't it faith
er.''
s:Yes;" said Yalens, thoughtfully, ':I've lit
tie doubt oft. The martyr Stephen, fwhon
the beloved Paul told us, while his murderer:
were in the act Of stoning him to death, look
ed up, and saw heaven opened, and Jesus sit
ting at the right hand of Cod
s.How strange that was, father. 1t seems he
could see there, and hence the distance can't
be very great, after all. Perhaps, father,
heaven comes down, and catches up, as itwere,
the soul.''
POSSIBLY; but more than likely it was a
vision.
80! father. don't like every thing to be
visions; / like to think these things,-to be-
letre them, they delight me so."
ssWell, well, my daughter, the time may not
be distant when the heavens shall open for US;
at least, let us have ourselves in readiness. .
s.It'll be glorious sight! o! wont ito
see Jesus, too, seated at Gods right hand, .
said Fertitia, in an eXtacy, and drawing her
father more closely to her side.
eyes; and no longer the poor, despised man
of sorrows, but the crowned conquering Prince,
with adoring throngs at his feet, said Valens,
with emotions of JOY spread over his features.
They walked on in the shady darkness,
while the bright, star-lit skies, spread out over
them in unsurpassed loveliness, revealed faint
ly many a modest, blushing flower as they pas
sed along. The walk they were now on, led
toward the north corner ofthe grounds, where
the wall had partly crumbled down, and where
several clusters of vines grew in the richest
luXurianee. These, at distance, looked like
great, black piles or masses, with queer, fan
tastic outlines; and, an Imagination, less ac-
tive than Vertitia's, might have very easily
converted them into any sort of hideous mon
sters. And as they approached them, once or
twice she had suddenly clasped her fathers
arm more tightly, and shrunk in close to his
side. But they walked Oh slowly, still con
vcrsing freely as before.
esWhat a change.-so sudden, too; in a
the twinklng of an eye I was
just thinking about it father.''
'sWhat, my daughter?''
'EWhy, the sudden change;-one moment,
on earth-the next, in heaven!''
'sYes; it is very great; very gIorious, too"
s'Yes-that's it; that's what was trying to
think about-trying TO realize, father.''
otis blessed thought, my daughter; one
moment on earth, and perhaps in the greatest
bodily anguish and suf'ering,-the next, in
heaven, in unspeakable happiness! low anna
zing! what a changei'' said Valens, as if half
choaled with the unutterable thought.
so, father! father! don't see how I could
endure it; think | should frighten at it: still
I'd like to see it.'
Scarcely had these words fallen from the
lips of Yertitia, when two monster-looIing
men, sprung from behind thick, black clus-
ter of vines, at their side, and seized them.
Poor Yertitia! she uttered Shrek, and
threw herself full into her fathers arms, but
from which, at the same instant, she was rude
y torn.
Yalens gave a sudden, convulsive shudder,
md, throwing up his hands, said in faint
whisper;
'.olmy poor, dear wife fe!-my dearest Va
encia!''
But the hands Of strong, cruel, unfeeling
men were upon them, and they were hurried
over the low, crumbling wall, outside Of which
two others were standing, and who instantly
Joined their companions.
They were dragged along the dark, tortu-
ous streets at a rapid rate. Valens himself
was roughly, and even insQlently treated
' ,Sr,itla, however, seemed to receive some
little sympathy. Two of the men, one on each
side, with their arms around her slender waist.
or rather carried her along Her
eet scarcely touched the earth at all, from
he moment they started. Her eyes were wild
y set in her head, while the long wavy folds
If her hair hung in confusion down over her
Iale face and shoulders.
In half an hour, they We're thrown together
nto low, damp cell or prision about six feet
square. with sort of lighted lamp in it. The
loor being secured, the men Immediately
eft.
Ealens, after the first shock was over, had
DON became composed; and, as they passed
long the street, had been able to realize full
Y their situation. He knew that speedy
leath awaited them-that there was no posi-
'ility of escape. Vertitia, however, all the
ime, had been in state of unconsciousness,
md knew not what had taken place; and, in
his state, She was laid, or rather thrown int"
corner Of the cell by :
ors. 1sr rude. h-,,..,