The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1864-05-14
for the agiHle folks,
THE THREE TAPERS.
AN ALLEGORy.
by Lucy LaRcoM

grassy slope at the entrance of a
cave, full oil dark arches that seem
ed TO grow broader and higher as
they receded into the subterranean
dimness before her. Other children
were playing with her among the
many pretty flowers that grew
around, and watchiul eyes and care
ful hands kept the weeds and thorns
from troubling them; and the white,
warm sunbeams of morning gided
over the slope, dancing like the soft
fingers Of the children, among The
flowers.
Little Amy was so happy in her
baby sports that she had never tho't
Of looking within the cavern, until
one day she heard swee, voice
close beside her, whispering.
go into the cave, Amy, and see
whittier ii will lead iheer'
"Who speaks to me!' said the
little one, as she turned around, ex-
peciing 10 see very lovely face
joined 10 so sweet voice. She
saw no one; but the same voice an
swered.
81 am thy life-angel, and will &C
with thee"
And she fell herself lifted up, as
II with wings, and borne onward.
The descent into the cave was
still green and flowery, and light
from the Sunny entrance poured far
within. So Amy fitted tightly along,
I'LL The vista suddenly opened wider
from a lofty, vine-wrealhed arch,
and she paused TO look onward with
doubt and wonder. She saw her
path wind through the arch,a then
lose itself in thin mist which clung
to the sides of the cave, out of which
strange, new objects doomed up ev.
erywhere. How should she find
her way through the mist?
As she looked and wondered, a
smiling maiden approached her. lift
ing taper which threw the colors
OF the rainbow upon every object
within view. Vines with golden
blossoms and purple fruit chung to
The rocky walls, and crystals hung
from the roof, glittering with differ
ent hues at every movement Of the
taper; and the mist rolled itself away
IN rich, bright cloud, that rested
IN the distance, seeming to promise
something brighter beyond.
Amy looked up into the maiden,
face.
''How beautiful" she murmuree
TO herself. sit must be my Iife-an
gel!'' =
But the maiden was silent. Shit
only lifted her torch with smile
and pointed forward.
A bright ray Of rainbow light fel
upon some blossoms not far of.
81 will have them," said ANA
''lor | never saw any SO splendid be
fore"
And she ran on to gather them
But they seemed 10 lose their. beau
~ when in her hands, and som
hidden briars that grew up wit
them scratched her so badly tina
she cried out with the pain.
'.Don't cry so. ! know wher
there are pretiier flowers" sal,
some one to her, in a gentle tone
And Amy saw a little girl whom
her cries had brought to her side
trying 10 disentangle her dress from
the briars, and holding out a han,
TO lead her away.
"My name is Lii: and lam goin,
through the cave too, if i can flint
the way. So LET US go together.
Amy was very glad to have +;
playmate and companion; SO the,
went on happily together, and tn
maiden giided before them, gildin.
everything before them with iherain
tow-light of her taper.
Presently they came 10 a stream
which had long been seen sparkIin,
in the distance. As they bent ov
err it, they saw that it was full o
dazzling gold-fsl,es, darling abou
like living jewels in the water. 81
the children stopped to watch them
and Amy, who always wanted IL
grasp at every bright thing she saw
stopped down and plunged her tant
into the water TO catch them. BIZ
they darted away quickly enough
and Amy,in her eagerhess to obtair
them. fell into the stream.
Lii, who had stepped across, fol
il was only . narrow rivulet, drew
her on,, wet and sobbing, and hel
white lobe dripping with mud.
"Who would have thought ii!'
she nurmured; Gin the torch-light i,
seemed TO run bright as gold, and
pure as crystal; and now see how
dirty / am! Lii, l am ashamed &c
walk with you now. ] have had
enough OF this cave. 1 want TO &C
back to the children ] used to play
with in the sunshine"