The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-09-29


their grasp. At that moment, she observed a
light breaking above the head of the dreadful
figure and q beautiful face, with the smile of a
cherub, slowly ascending, tin halt a figure,
clothed In a robe of radiance, was visible above
the gloomy form of Death. Gracefully it ex-
tended hand that seemed almost transparent,
and gently beckoned to the invalid.
She felt fainter and fainter, but had yet power
TO collect her thoughts, and raising her wasted
hands, she prayed for mercy and forgiveness at
the Throne of Grace. Some lines Of a hymn
which she had learned when child came to
her memory, and she sighed with the deepest
earnestness, though in voice which would
have been inaudible TO mortal ears:
81 come come al thy command
give my spirit II Thy hand
Not ia mine innocence uust,
bow before Thee an the dust
But through my SaviouEs blood alone
look for mercy at Thy IhTone.n
Her heart ceased to beat her dim eyes closed;
she heard she saw, she felt nothing more How
, long she NAV have remained in this state, she
knew not, but we viii let her tell the rest her
self:
"After time, seemed to feel a gentle
breeze playing around me, but / saw nothing
all was dark as the grave. Presently l expert
enced a strange sensation, as if | we're walking,
yet treading upon nothing. l appeared to be
gently ascending somewhere; all was stiffness
around. At length, perceived faint silvery
light, as if shining through a gauze vail; it
became clearer aud clearer, until, as it were,
blinded by It's brilliancy l felt compelled to
close my eyes. / then seemed by some unac-
countable compulsion, to stand still; a soft
wind seemed to fan my cheeks, and, opening
my eyes again, | was amazed at the view that
met them. | stood on a sort of platform of
verdure, studded with innumerabe flowers, Of
shapes and colors which l had never seen
before. In front Of me were groups of unknown
trees, whose gently-waving branches sparkled
like diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, and
whence low, sweet music issued; above me
was kind Of rosy canopy of Clouds All was
full of calm, delicious repose.
Where am ~ burst involuntarily from
my lips, and my voice seemed strange to my
self In less than moment fancied that |
heard an echo from the wonderful grove, on the
outskirts of which l was standing, without
seeming to crush the most minute foweret be-
meath nIy feet looked keenly into the depths
of the grove, and, after a short space, a figure
seemed to reveal itself to me. At FIRST ii was
dim and uncertain, but gradually 1t became
more defined, and saw that it was approach
ing me- The form seemed wrapped in a vail
ihebpes I'D -ste1 : tfieTh Before.
Could It be-yes, 1t vast was one over whose
grave | had wept-th loved the lost, the
mourned-the brother whose death had been
my greatest earthly griefl
IL stretched out my arms in silence for
second, and then, as be met my gaze with looks
of angelic sweetness and love, murmured:
:" But you diedl
80 Yes, died yonder; but live again here
be replied.
And I--how came Ihere?'
Won, ii
your spirit had cast off It's earthborn garb.'
But the jndgment-seat-the awful iudg-
mentseat Of God Oh, when shall be called
10 appear there
In His good time, replied the spirit. But
fear not, sister of another world the last words
that you breathed on earth, and they were felt
IN your heart, were to pray for mercy through
Him who is mighty to save. None ever t1ltlg
prayed to him for grace in vain. Abide in
peace until the Almighty wills to call you to
his sublime presence, whether that shall be
what those of earth call soon, or not until that
great day when the trumpets of heaven shall
resound throughout inhnity, and worlds upon
worlds shall catch the awful sound
And is this beautiful place allotted only
10 you and me?' / asked, with some hesita-
tion.
No. he answered this is one of the manu-
mansions mentioned by the blessed Redeemer.
and 1t Is filed with beings; but they move
noiselessly about, and your eyes are not vet &C
customed TO the splendor of this light, so as 10
perceive them; you viii soon, however, become
as one Of themselves.
81 observed that shades, like those of twi
light, we're softly stealing on; and l asked, in
surprise, if there were days and nights there.
Not days and nights as they are known
on earth, was the reply, but We have varia-
lions Of light; and look, the heavenly bodies,
as they are named in the world you have left.
are beginning to be visible in the remote dis
lance of space. These magnificent globes are
filed with beings, some of the highest order of
intelligence, inconceiva5le to the bounded mind
of man
:" it is strange said, that feel no thirst,
or pain, or weakness, and yet have been suf-
fertng terribly from all of these
In the sphere which you are now To in
habit, until it shall please the Creator to call
you from it, these earthly infrmities are IN
known. Though not angels like the blessed
inhabitants of the heaven of heavens we are
permitted to enjoy more spiritual organiza-
lion than the denizens of earth. We have en-
tered into the promised rest
"'But the guilty, and the lost of the earth.
where are they?' l asked.
Hush ne replied, while a look of grave
rebuke passed over his noble countenapce. sIn
this serene abode we are forbidden even n
think of guilt, or to name the guilty Lucifer.
that fallen angel, has no dominion HERE: are
war no more with sin and sorrow and for those
souls who have yielded to the temptations Of
the Evil One, we have but to leave them to the
Omnipotent. Our part is to have faith in the
boundless goodness of Him who created all
"The light was becoming less dazzling, and
nv eyes could better penetrate the strange sor
of atmosphere around me. / followed nv be
loved guide, and we entered the enchanting
grove. fsncied that in the musical rustlin!s
Of the Respondent leaves / heard a sound hk,
EWelceue, welcomed while at little distanc,
/ heard a strain of delightful music, that seemed
by turns 10 swell and to die away. Figures nov
seemed to be coating about, hither and thitheI
amidst the leafy glades that began to discove
through arches formed by the radiant wreath
OF flowers that seemed gracefully to wande
from one magnificent tree to another. re
marked that everything seemed to glitter as
came nearer; yet there was no glare TO hur
even nv unaccnstomed eye. Nothing that
beheld appertained to gloom or darkness
Kind Of subdsed brightness appeared to be tn
characteristic of all around.
Is And death?' asked. Is death know
here p
"'Those who have been allowed to enter thi
bright sphere have done with death, IL ca