Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-04-15

the darkness you seesI saw great many things
floating about like myself mighty curious shapes
One of them, with wings like bat came close up
to me: and. after all, whatwas it buta Homer and
/ thought maybe It would help me up; but when
made grab at it, it turned into smoke. Then came
great white-faced owl with red bothered eyes, ard
| out of one of them gared Voster and out Of the
other Cough; and globes and inkhorns changed
Mary, in the sight Of my two eyes, into viyacous
,adpoes. swimming here and there, and making
game of me as they passed. Oh, thought the time
was thousand years, and everything about me
talked badLatin and Greek that would bother SAINT,
and without power to answer or get away. I'm
thinking it was the scholmaster's purgatory was
"Maybc So" replied Mary, "paricularly as they
wouldn't let you correct the bad Latin dear"
"But it changed, Mary, and found myself afther
thousand or two of years, in the midst OF a mist
there mistiness all around me and in my head,
but it a clear, soft, downy-lk vapor, and had
my full liberty in it, so kept going up-for ever
many years and by degrees it clea red away. draw.
ing itself INTO a 6ohreen at either side, leading to.
wards great high hill of light, and made straight
for the hill and having got over it, looked up, and
of all the brighncsscs | saw, was the bright
ness above me the brightest; and the more looked
at it. the brighter it grew; and yet there was no
dazzle in my eyes; ard something whispered me
that that vas heaven, and with that fell down on
my knees, and asked how was to get up there; for
mind We, Mary, there was gulf between me and
Tue Ul, Ut, W Spcak ulOIc " your
a gap; the hill of light above me was in no ways
joined to the hill on which stood. So cried, how
to get there Well, before you could say twice
ten, there stood before poor scholars those
seven, dear that taught and that have taken the
vcstments since. knew them all, and knew them
well. Many hard day s work | had gone through
with them, just for that holy blessed pay, the love
Of God-there they stood, and Abel at their head"
"Oh, yah mulla think of that now, my poor
Ably; didn't know the good pure drop was in himl
interrupted Mary.
1.-The only way for you get to that place, master
dear" they said, is for you to make alder Of US"
"Is it ladder of the -"
"Whish, will ye," interrupted the MASTER We
the stairs said they, they will lead you to that
happy mansion. All your learning, of which you
so proud-all your examinations all your dis
QUESTIONS and Neutrality-suspicious. algebra and mathe.
matcS-your Greck-ay, or even your Hebrew, II
you had that same, all are not worth t,"neen. All
the mighty fine doings, the greatness OF man, or OF
mans learning not the value of single blessing
here but we. masthcr jewel WE ARE YOUR CHART
TIES ;-seven of us poor boys, through your means
learned their du,y-seven of us and upon us you
walk up to the shining light, and be happy for.
ever.'
II was not bit bothered at the idea Of making
step ladder Of the seven holy craturs, who, though
they had been poor scholars far before myself
where we were now; but they bent, | slept first
on Abel, then OF Paddy Blake then on Billy Murphy;
but anyhow, when I got to the end Of the seven,
found there were five Or six more wanting; | tried
to make spring. and only for Id have gone don't
know where. %, the Lord be mercifnl! is this the
way with me afther all p said. 'Boys-dar!ings,
can We get me no than half way after all ?
"'Sure there must be more of us to help YOU
makes answer Paddy Blake. Sure We lived many
years in the world after left you, says Abel and,
unless you hardened your heurt, i isn't possible but
you must have had dale Of us to help you.
Sure you content, having tasted the ever
increasing sweetness of seven good deeds, to stop
short and leave your task unfinished. Oh, then. if
you did, master, said the poor fellow, it's myself
that's sorry for YOU Well, Mary agra! thought
my heart would burst open when remembered what
came over me last highland much more-arithmc-
teal calculations-when | had full ard p'inty, of
what the little you gave and taught came and
every niegard thought was like striking up dagger
in my heart. AMI looking at glory could never
reach, because Of my cramped heart; and just then
woke-Tm sure must have had the prayers of some
holy creature about me, to cause such warning
Mary made no reply, but sunk on her knees by
the bedside, weeping-tears Of JOY they were-she
felt that her prayers had been heard and answered
"And now, Mary, let US up and be stirring, for
life is but short for the doing OF ourduties. Wen
have the poor scholars to brcakfast-and. darling
you'll look out for more of them And, oh but my
hearts as light the down Of thistle, and all
through my blessed DREAM"