The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1857-1858, 1857-12-02

And Khoten musk, and aloes and myrrh,
Sits Rose in Bloom on silken diyan,
Slipping the wines of Alspahan;
And her Arab lover sits with her
That's rkea the Sultan Shah-Zamdn
Goes TO the city Ispakan.
Now when ] see an extra light
Flaming, Pickering on the night
From my neighbors window opposite,
know q well . | know to pray,
know as well a. q tongue can SAY,
That the iaaocemt Sultan Shah Zaman
Has gone to the city Lspahani
For leading this sort of Orient life,
| rather think. is my neighbor' wifei
The Sunday Mornings Dream.
My FIRST day Of returning health, ate,
many weeks of severe illness, was brigh
Sunday in june ] was well enough to 81
at an open window in my easy chair, and a.
our house stood in q pleasant garden in the
suburbs Of London, the first roses of the year
scented the soft breeze that famed my pale
cheek, and revived my languid frame.
The bells Of our parish church were jus,
| beginning their chimes, and the familiar
| sound awakened in me an intense longing to
be with my family once more q worshipper
in the house of God. took up my Bible
| and Prayer Book, which had been placed
ready on the table beside me, intending to
begin to read when the hour of the clock
service should be announced by the ceasing
Of the bells and in the meantime, closed
my eyes, and soothed my impatient wishes
by picturing to myself the shady avenues OF
blossoming lines that led to our church and
the throngs that would now be entering it
for the public worship of the day.
All at once | seemed to be walking in tho
beautiful churchyard, yet prevented from
gratifying my eager wish to enter the church,
by some irresistible though unseen hand
One by one the congregation, in their gay
sunday dresses, passed me by, and went in
where | yainly strove to follow. The parish
children in two long and orderly trains de-.
fled up the staircases into the galleries, and
except few stragglers hurrying in as feel
ing themselves late, was left alone =
Suddenly was conscious of some awful
presence, and felt myself addressed BY a
voice of most sweet solemnitv in words to
this effect: N
Mortal, who by divine mercy has just been
permitted to return from the gates of the
grave, pause before thou enterest Gods holy
house again: reflect how often thou hast
profaned his solemn public worship by irrev-
erence, or by inattention, which is in his
sight, irreverence; consider we'll the great
privilege, the unspeakable benefit and bles-
sing of united prayer, lest by again abusing
it thou tire the patience Of thy long suffering
God, and tempt him forever to deprive thee
of that which hitherto thou hast SO little val
ued'
Seeing me cast down my eyes, and blush
with conscious guilt. the gracious being con-
tinued in miidcr tone:
am one Of those angels commissioned to
gather the prayers of the saints, and form
them into wreaths of glorious incense that
they may rise to the throne Of God Enter
thou with me, and thou shalt, for thy warn
ing, be able to discern those among the deyo-
tons about to be offered which are accepta-
BILE to him, and to see how few in number,
how weak and unworthy they are.
AS he ceased speaking found myself by
the side Of the angel STILL but within the
church, and SO placed that could distinctly
sec every part of the building
Observe, said the angel, that those pray
ers which come from the heart, and which
alone ascend on high, win seem to be uttered
aloud. They viii be more or less audible in
to their earncstness; when the
thoughts wander the sounds will grow faint,
and even cease altogether rgl
This explained to me why the organist,
though apparently playing with all his might
produced no sound, and why presently after
when the service began, though the lips of
many moved, and all appeared attentive,
only few faint murmurings were heard
How strange and awful it is to note the |
sort of death-iike silence that prevailed in |
whole pews, in which as was thus evident, |,
no heart was raised in gratitude to heaven.
Even in the TIE Deum and Jubilate the vol
:es sometimes sank into total silence. After /
he Creed there was low murmuring in the
'ersicles, and then distinct and clear above
I'll other ounds, a sweet childish voice softly
md reverently repeated the Lords prayer
turned in the direction Of the sound and
distinguished among the children, very lit
lie boy His hands were clasped together as
lie knelt, his eyes were closed, his gentle face
in reverence, and as the angel
wrote on his tablets, the words that fell from
hose infant lips, his smile, like sunbeam,
Illuminated the church for moment, and |
emembered the words of holy David, where
lie says,-.Out of the mouths of babes and
uckings Thou hast perfected praise.
Presently was again remindei of a Scrip
ure passage-the prayer of the publican. A
looking man, who swept the cross
ne near the church, lounged into the centre
isle daring the reading of the lessons his
occupation for the hour being suspended
The second lesson was the 9th chapter of
It. Matthew, some verses attracted his atten-
ion; he listened with more and more seri.
usness until he at length put his hand over
is face. and exclaimed aloud, what will
49,, l, Il e a |
ave mercy on me a sinner That prayer
vas inserted on the angels tablets. Oh,
nay it not stand alpne but be an awakening
f better things. May God indeed have
mercy on such poor, neglected ones as he,
nd raise up some to teach them, and care
Or their immortal souls,
After this, growing accustomed to the bro
EN- mnrmurs and interrupted sounds | fol-
arge portions Of the ,Litaay; though often
Then was listening with hopeful attention
sudden and total pause showed but too
uppliant had wandered far away, and that
Q who had appeared so earnest in his devo- /
ons had become languid and silent like tho I
est Of the congregation. -
Thou art shocked ut what thou hast OBJ {
srved,' said the angel, i win show thee i
reater denominations than these God ia !
'rong and patient; he is provoked every
ay Listen now and thou shalt hear the !
loughts OF all these people, SO shalt thou I
ave some faint idea Of the forbearance God i
exercises towards those who draw Z
ear to Him with their lips while their hearts !
re far from him.
As the angel spoke my ears were deafened !
ii y sch II h. Annr IL Ii