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

gloomy form OF QcaJD. Urace1nlly IL eX-
tended a hand that seemed almost trans
parent, and gently beckoned to the invalid.
She felt fainter and fainter, bit had yet
power to collect her thoughts, and raising
her wasted, hands, she prayed for mercy
and forgiveness at the Throne of trace
Some lines of a hymn which she had
learned when a child came to her memory,
and she sighed with the deepest earnest
ness, though in a voice which would have
been inaudible to mortal ears
Icome, 1 come, at thy command
Igive my spirit to thy hand;
Not in mine innocence l trust,
/ bow before thee in the dust, /
But through my Saviours blood alone,
Hook for mercy at thy thronei
Her heart ceased to beat, her dim eyes
closed she heard, she saw, she felt moth
log more! How long she may have re-
manned in this state she knew not, but we
will let her tell the rest herself.
after a time | seemed to feel a gentle
breeze playing around me, but | saw no.
thing-all was dark as the grave. Pres.
emily | experienced a strange sensation, as
if | were walking, yet treadlng upon moth
ing. appeared to be gently ascending
somewhere; all was stiffness around. At
length | perceived a faint silvery light as
if shining through a gauze vail; it became
clearer and clearer, until, as it were, bin
ded by its brilliancv, | felt compelled to
close my eyes. l then seemed, by some
unaccountable compulsion, to stand still /;
a soft wind seemed TO fan my cheeks, and,
MnonipO my oxnc AGAIN poo ocno,ol -
the view that met them. | stood on a
sort of platform of verdure, studded with
innumerable flowers, of shapes and colors
which | had never seen before. To froat
of me were groups of unknown trees, whose
gently waving branches sparkled like dia-
monds, rubies, and emeralds, and whence
low, sweet music issued; above me was a
kind Of rosy canopy Of clouds. All was
full of calm, delicious repose.
"Where am | f? burst luvoluntarily from
my lips, and my voice seemed strange to
myself. In less than a moment | fancied
that | heard an echo from the wonderful
grove, on the outskirts of which | was
standing, without seeming to crush The
most minute fowret beneath my feet.
looked keenly into the depths ofthe grove
and, after a short space, a figure seemed
to reveal itself TO me. At first it was dim
and uncertain, but gradually it became
more defined, and | saw that it was ap
preaching me. The form seemed wrapped
in a vail, the hues of which were like tn,
fading tints Of the rainbow, but the fea-
lures were not concealed, and | felt that
had seen them before. Could it be-yes
it vast was one over whose grave | hat
wept-the loved, the lost, the mourned
the brother whose death had been 10,
greatest earthly grief!
81 stretched out my arms in silence 70
a second, and then, as he met my gaz
with looks of angelic sweetness and love,
murmured .
"Bus you died!
"Yes died yo-der; but I live agai.
here he replied.
"And I-how came | here 2
You were translated to this abod
- when your spirit had cast off its earth Dor
garb.'
|. "But the judgment>seat-the awfl
judgment-seat Of God! Oh, when shall
be called to appear thereP
In his good time replied the spirit
!. But fear not sister, Of another world th
!. last words that you.breathed on earth, an
!, they were felt in your heart, were to pra
for mercy through him who is mighty
, save. None ever truly prayed to him f,
/ grace in vain. Abide in peace until tt
/ Almighty wills to call you to his sublin
!. presence, whether that shall be what tho.
!, OF earth cali soon, or not until that gre
t day, when the trumpets of heave
/. shall resound throughout %infnity, ar
/. worlds upon worlds shall catch the awf
g sound
i "tAnd is this beautiful place allotttt
. only to YOU and me l asked with son
!, hesitation.
"'No,' he answered this is one of t
e many mansions mentioned by the bless
h Redeemer, and it is filled with beings; b
Y they move noiselessly about, and,your ey
" are not yet accustomed to the splendor
N this light SO as to perceive them you W
soon, however, become as enc of ther
selves
a 81 observed that shades, like those
le twilight, were softly stealing on; anc
u asked, in surprise, if there were days a
le nights there.
D. "'Not days and nights as they are kno'
o. on earth,' was the rely, but we have var
ne lions of light and look, the heavenly Il"
cd les, as they are named in the world y
a have left, are beginning to be visible in
en- remote distance of space. These magn
re cent globes are filed with beings, some
ed the highest order of intelligence %inconce
ID. able to the bounded mind of man.
Id. 1t is strange | said, that | feel
RI thirst. or pain. or weakness. and vet | b