Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-05-05

the guilty. Lucifer, that fallen angel, has
no dominion here zoe war no more with
SIN and sorrow ; and for. those souls who
havc 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 boundlcss goodnes. of him who crea-
ted ALL
1.-The light was becoming less dazzling,
and my eyes could better penetrate the
strange sort of atmosphere around me. |
followed my beloved guide, and we entered
the enchanting grove. | fancied thai IN
the musical rustling of the re%splendent
leaves | heard a sound like Welcome,
WELCOMED while at a little distance | heard
a strain of delightful music, that seemed
by turns to swell and to die away. Fig
ures now seemed to be floating about,
hlther and thither, amidst the leafy glades
that | began to discover through arches
formed by the radiant wreaths of flowers
that seemed gracefully to wander from one
magnificent tree to another. | remarked
that every thing seemed 10 glitter as |
came nearer; yet there was no glare to
hurt even my unaccustomed eye. Moth
ing that | beheld appertained to gloom or
darkness a kind Of subdued brightness
appeared to be the characteristic of all
around.
"And death P l asked. is death
known here?'
"'These who have been allowed to en-
ter this bright sphere have done with
death. 1t car only destroy the garb of
flesh with which the immortal spirit is cloth
ed in yonder world, whence you have just es-
capped, and in other worlds, over which sin
and darkness also brood. Here, we are
purified and prepared for the holy realms
where the great Creator reveals his glory
to the accepted spirits who are. permitted
to join the angelic hosts in that everlast-
ing abode. But come he added, let me
lead you where you can rest awhile, and
thus be prepared to take your place in
yonder gorgeous temple, mot made with
hands" where we meet to offer our united
hymns of thanksgiving to him in whom
we have our happy being.
"He signed to me to follow him, and
my steps glided after his, without effort or
trouble, until we reached what might be
;, termed a grotto, close to a remarkably
i beautiful cascade, whose transparent wa
tiers, leaping from one ledge of crystal, sol
id as a rock, to another, like the rays from
the setting sun, if these could be imagined
in a liquid state. On either side Of the
e waterfall grew large bell shaped flowers Of
rich c%olors, which as they waved their
l lovely petals over the glancing water, and
occasionally dipped them sportively in it
d shed a charming fragrance around.
! "The materials of which the gretto was
y composed looked like sapphires and bur
nished gold in the interior there foatec
around a sort of pale blue haze, which
like a film, partially obscured the splendoI
l of the recess. Before entering it l behele
what seemed a cupolagin form, but envel-
oped, as it were, in clouds of crimson am
n gold. | pointed to it.
"sThat is the dome of the temple sal,
my guide. 1T is hallowed by the pres.
lie ence of the O~mnipotent when we meet t
n worship him, though that holy presence j
invisible to us. When you hear a soleml
chant commence, and music swelling fror
L all these. waving branches around, ther
sister Of another world, come gladly forth
. He was gone, and, left alone, | san
re down in a reclining attitude upon the en-
I'd ameled ground, and soon a feeling of de
" %licious repose stole over me. The past
TO the scenes and beings of the world | ha
or left-faded from my mind all was serer
ity around, and my senses seemed to pa
ne take of that deep quietness, until forget
Sc fulnoac IF ouopu fbinr Damn ouor fbo,
at | have no idea how long [ continue
in this state, but at last | awoke SOFT
nd from my 'wearied repose-to what I? 7
ui find the beauteous spirit of my brotht
waiting to conduct me to the sublime ten
pie, whose lofty dome was covered with
ne gorgeous canopy of clouds Alas !! alas
my soul had descended again to cart
ne and as my eyes ~languidly opened l sa,
through the Enclosed easement, the clea
'ut blue, far off skies, with some still g%litterir
'es stars hersA and there, and one or tv
OF streaks of rosy hue, announcing that NOR
VII ing was about to dawn upon the materi
n world. | was still living them had n
passed through the dark valley! To tn
OF far distant planet-to those scenes
q | enchantment-Ihad only been transport
ND IN a soothing dream!
Il sighed, and the sweet delusion W
wn too speedily dispelled, for attendants al
friends came around me they told -me
od- was better, | was saved, and that years
life might yet be before me! Alas
tne heard my doom with sorrow and repinir
Why was the freed spirit recalled? W
OF was l'sent back to a world of sin and 81
fering But the voice of the dear spiI
who had SO lately been my blessed cor
no panion, sounded again in my ear with