Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1856-12-06

A poor man named Misery was
wandering abont the world, loaded
with great heavy cross on his shout
ders, and kept lamcntlng thus: Alas
where shall find partner to help Inc
bear my load, and to comfort and re-
fresh me 7"
His lament was heared BY Almighty
Mercy, who sent an angel TO proclaim
throughout the world that the maid
who would marry this poor widower
might expect rich bridal present in
heaven. But there was not maid
who would listen to the angel, and
many a one on that account became an
unhappy wife or "a neglected old maid.
At lat, however, as the angel flew
over valley and mountain, he espied
among the rocks, poor but beautiful
shepherdess, who was pasturing her
few sheep on a toilsome ascent in the
noonday heat. He now flew down 10
her, and after announcing to her the
promise held out to the maidens oi the
earth, he inquired her name.
"My name is Patience, said she.
"The Lords will be done with me /
shall willingly help poor Misery to
bear his cross; nor do require any
bridal present, SO but get enough of
stubble to feed my sheep
at shall be granted thee" replied
the Angel OF Mercy besides a golden
crown upon thy sweet, pious head"
Aye" said Patience, ''but the gold
smith should fashion the crown like a
crown of thorns."
Now Misery appeared high up on the
steep rocks, bearing his burden, and he
sighed heavily and would fain have cast
himself into the depth below. But his
sweet shepherdess FASTENED towards
him with her little flock, and received
the cross in her chastc arms, saving,
Welcome, Q my bridegroom
And the angel put their hands one
in another and blessed them.
How happy YOU have made me, .
Patience, quoth Misery. But am
50 tired | cannot follow You to your
cottage
Then Patience smiled, and took both
her bridegroom and his heavy cross
upon her shoulders, and carried HIM a
long, long, weary way through the
world, while her sheep followed, and
found sufficient nourlshment by the
way but when she reached the spot
where her cottage once stood, she
found :bat Presumption had burnt it
down among the fire works with which
he had celebrated his marriage with
Worldliness: and the wedding guests
laughed at Patience, and said-"Get
away with you, you silly creature. and
do not disgrace our merry-maklng -
how dare you come before lis i'll such a
ridiculous plight, and with such a
heavy loads Cast away your heavy
burdcn-do"
Patience answered." | feel no bur-
den, We blind ones. 1t is pair of
wings am carrying; and if have no
cottage left, | will scale the mountains
with my dear bridegroom, till we reach
the sum-"
And she bore her burden cheeriully
to the gates of heaven, and Mercy
came to meet her with "A splendid
train, and changed the names aud
clothes OF herself and her bridegroom.
He stood before her, strong and radi
ant, and his name was Excellence and
he looked at her with beaming eyes,
while she smiled on him, having now
become immortal Joy, and her lambs
danced about her with delight.
And the golden crown was given to
them-though it was IA crown OF thorns
the rose encircled the head, while the
thorns only formed the spikes of the
crown. And their nuptials were cele-
brated eternally in the bosom of pious
Poverty.