Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-03-12
From the '.scalpel."
LIFE LIGHTS AND SHADOWS.

LIFE LIGHTS AND SHADOWS.
The bright frost-sparks were on the trees in
the forest, and when the moon, with her mild
torch, lighted them mp, they glittered like so
many fairy diamonds; they glowed with light
aud lustre, changing from sparks of light to
blue and green gems; aRd all the air ficllered
with these suecks of frost paipted into dia-
nothing SO beautiful in all nature as one of
taess evenings; the air is so still that if the
sJul listens, it cannot shut out the angels
whispers that come to mixed up with music
that cannot be printed. Angels never speak
when The sun shines, when the white robe
CT winter has folded all nature into its pure
mantle no. they only come when the moon
shines in late autumn, when the nights are
clear and the air keen, and the frost sparkles
with cold. Theu all earnest souls can hear
them. They do not address the ear; they
speak TO the spirit, and fiji it with love and har-
lnony, with mercy aud blessings.
Spring, with its flowers and birds, had come,
and scattered its smiling glances on all the
works of God. Summer had succeeded, and
ripened the fruit, and dressed up the year with
full-apped bounty; and then had come one
of the frost nights, miagled with moon-il.e-
the nights on which the mcrcy-angels are
abroad errands of goodness
/ had sat o long time in my Winds, -atcli-
ing the ,yI,Ifs aaA---a--,sis that 1oated over
'"e oeep-biue sky. They were brilliant win,
rejected light, and gaudy as the royal 3i,-
Snqi vent 25't tl ana i2qs Eastern queen
brary, and then went again, with ufhojQg, il /
head. into the boundless sea Of mystic cold and /
light, and listened to the seraph voices, II lis
ten with my spirit,) and then returned again to
my warm room, TO enjoy the delightful con- !
trast between bathing my body in dead heat |
and pluHging my living spirit into the fathom- /
~ss sea Of gittering light.
Why could not sleep, know not; but |
could not. was too happy; felt a serenity |
that spoke Of mercy, Of some good to be done;
some suffering spirit, that needed the hush Of
a last blessing, was speaking to me, and SEEM
ed to say ''Can you not watch one short hour.
when have not slept for two long nights, and
shall never sleep again till I awake into ever
lasting life Know you not that love darts
her message into the human Heart through
space, over seas, mountains and rlains; and
when sorrow pleads for mercy, the spirit hears
it-it hears it just mcrciful God hears our
prayers and listens to our wants?''
ay soul was so full OF thought and BLESSINGS
that was in sea Of thankfulness and iov.
when was reused by the patter of t,yo little
feet on th- door-stone l knew Il was a child's
step, It was so soft, and yet so confident
child's step has fear in 1.-THE Innocent
have no fear. The little rap fell on the door;
1t was soft rap, for her little hand was cover
cd with mitten TO keep the frost diamonds
from biting it, The frost has no feeling for :
little hands; it only loves to shine and spar
kie, and sparkle and shine, before the warm
sun shall come and spoil its beauty and power
TO harm. l opened the door, and in stepped $
little Julia, muffled in shawl and rnittens c
and hood and her little shoes wer, stiff with G
cold, and they creased on the Goor aud her c
facewss all covered with love, and looked very I
bright, and the still fear stood in her eye, and
she could not speak.
ooh, Julia!" said I, care you not Geld, t
child' and why is my darling cut alone 20 y
cit Is so light, sir, that 1 could come easily 6
without being LOST
al know it is light, but it is very cold; you
came alone, did you noti'' t
80 yes, sir, Mr.. Doctor, came alone. but ! a
was not afraid, nor cold any;'' and her bright g
und on her cheek the frost had painted a full.
red flush, and the skin was whits as the snow 81
fake. She looked very beautiful, and her a
heart was full, too full to tell me more. 81
"And you were not afraid, you said, aud you
are only nine years old, l think, and have u
come three miles, in the night, too, all alone g
did you come to me, Miss Juliai'' =
eyes, Mr.. Doctor; my mother is very sick, ''
and came TO get you to cure her, and she said o.
God protected all good children, and then she "
seemed to be with me all the way, and was .
not afraid and here the dear child burst into u
Tears. y
was very busy warming the child, for was ie
ehehanted and bewildered by the fidelity and -
eenndencs Of tho charming little girl, for 1 OF
faa ofte' seen her light form tripping along 70