The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-10-17
From the ". r. Examiner
PEN ILLUSTRATIONS,
From the Lords Prayer.
MouR rArnrR WHO ART IN HEAVEN"

"oUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN"
The heavy clods had fallen upon the long
colHn-unnaturally long it had looked to
inc in the dim, black parlor-and the planks
of the grave were pressed down by the feet
of the undertaken. Slowly and tcarfully |
walked through the grass-srown paths, all
wet from heavy shower. My mother held
my hand. Sometimes stole an awe struck
glance into her marble-like face. | never
saw features so white and rigid as hers
That long, thick veil could not shroud their
whitcnoss. Alas! | had no father now.
There was choking in my throat very ter
rible to feel. | tried to think fully ofall the
occurrences of the last few days. How
crowded with misery they were The first
pallid smile when my father said hc was not
wcll-the close Of the day that saw him
motionlcss and faint upon tho bed in my
mothers chamber-!he hour when they
told me he was worse, and my heart seemed
to stop beating at the thought that perhaps
only perhaps-he might die. Icould not
think that my father, with his piercing eye
and raven black hair--my father with his
straight, magnificent person and aorid health
could in reality die. Then came that sad
time-far be 1t from your experience, reader
when, hardly knowing why stood there,
I found myself with heaving breast beside
motionlcss form. And 1 heard him tell
them in strange voice to place his hand
upon my head-and that hand. as 1t fell
moro heavily than iron on my brow, chilled
me to the hearts core. Isaw him die. My
limbs dragged wcarily In and out of the
death chamber where they had shroudcd
him. followed the coffin; everything
about tho funeral trappings had singular
fascination for mo. And now / was coming
from his gravo-I had no father now. Ire
member how passionatcly threw myself
headlong into his..bcd, crying in my anguish
40 father, father, FATHER, come back
Then when grew calmcr, l took up hi
Bible, opened where he had last read
Grcedily my eyes fastened upon the first SEN
tence-" ORR FATuER WHO ART IN HEAVEN >
How it struck me how IT thrilled me! Tht
book fell from my hands; my trembling
knees gave way beneath me. o! then
seemed for the first time in my life, to know
what was tho meaning of sour Father
my Father-my powerful, heavenly Father
All the sweetness and ;,racc and majesty o
my dead father, seemed tenfold magniled II
my simple comprehension, and pouring upoT
me. Iran to my mother, and sobbcd ou
nv 10Y that I had found Father; W
wcpt together, and ever since He has mos
truly been the widows God, and sour Fathe
who art in heaven"
"nALIowED BE TuY sANE.
Tho pastor had just entered his neat iittl'
study, where inviting coolness, and an oil
of refinement, woocd him to reposc. III
was fatigued with his morning labors, ant
extended himself upon homemade lounge
to rest and gather, in meditation and prayer
new strength for the coming duties OF tn
day. Like the luminous fingers Of the an
gels, the rippling sunlight wrote upon sh
white wall, n beautiful story OF Gods good
moss. Through tho closed blinds, here an
there, q leaf or flower OF boncysuckl
thrust itself, and the fragrance Of the ro'
bushes filed the whole chamber with deliciou
perfume. The pastor was very happy. liz
had been wandering in green pastures an'
beside still water, with his little flock, mn
tho coolness and freshness Of the verdnrc AM
the gentle waters seemed yet reflected upo'
his brow. Hc was thinking Of God, an'
silently worshipplng, when ut one bound ~
sprang to his feet, md his check grew pale
lie heard n little voice that he well knew
and had always loved-iaks God'Aoiy "@"
IN rain.