Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1866-06-14

whose top, above the clouds, was bathed
in perpetual sunshine, and glorious with
the beauties Of an unfading spring. She
saw, on the side of the mountain, a
straight and narrow path, which led di-
rectly to the top, bnt entering it, or cross
ing it in thousand directions, were other
paths, wider and less precipitous, and see
mingly more pleasant; but as she traced
their courses on the mountain side, she
observed that not one of them led to the
top some terminated in dark and gloomy
valleys where the rays of the sun never
seemed 10 fall others on the verge of prec-
| ipices, which overhang yawning chasms,
| whose fearful depths the eye could not
measure.
She lifted her eyes toward the top of
the mountain, and saw, amid the groves
| of ever green, trees loaded with delicate
and fragrant flowers, beings of angelic
beauty, and heard strains Of soft, enchant-
/ ing music. She stood gazing with wonder
and admiration on the strange spectacle
before her, when she felt soft hand touch
| her own, and looking down, she saw her
| four children standing beside her. Again
! she raised her eyes to the summit of the
mountain, and she saw amidst the shining
| throng, one whom she knew to be the
mother of the little ones at her side,-She
| fixed on them look of melting tenderness
mingled with anxiety and sorrow, and
then she heard her call her name, and bid
her lead them up to her.
Immediately she resolved to commence
the ascent. Calling TO the children, she
pointed out to them the narrow way in
which they were to walk, but they could
not see it. She directed their eyes to the
top of the mountain, and told them of all
| its glories, bnt they saw nothing Then
she entered the path and bade them fol-
low her. She had proceeded on her way
bat short distance, when upon looking
back, she saw that instead of obeying her,
they were wandering over the side of the
mountain, chasing the butterflies over slip
perry sleeps, and gathering flowers on the
Drinks of frightful precipices.
\ feeling of discouragement came over
| her, and she was about to sit down in
despair, when she raised a glance to the
top of the mountain, and beheld the moth
er leaning forward with outstretched arms,
and all the host of shining ones regarded
her with the deepest anxiety. She felt a
new impulse; and bringing back the little
wanderers from their dangerous paths
with gentle care, she placed their feet
again in the narrow way. Wearily and
| cautiously she proceeded upwards, some
times leading them by the hand, some
| times carrying them in her arms up the
| steepest ascents If for moment she re-
! laxed her vigilance, they were sure TO
| turn aside into the forbidden PATHS
! Sometimes a moments indifference cost
| her hours of sorrow; for the wanderer was
| not always easily reclaimed. Those paths
were wide and howery, and easy TO the
traveller, because they led downward; and
! those who had become accustomed to
! them, found the narrow way disagreeable,
and felt no strength for the toisome up
ward progress. Sometimes when she was
weary, and ready to faint, she looked up
ward, and caught a glimpse Of the sweet
and glorious faces turned so lovingly to-
ward her; and when she had overcome
some obstacle or escaped some danger,
she heard strains of triumphant music
! floating down the mountain side. Thus
she was encouraged and strengthened.
As she proceeded onward, she discov-
cred, with joy, that the children grew
stronger and stronger, that they began to
discern the right path and catch glimpses
OF the top of the mountain. Then they
walked firmly by her side, or proceeded
her in the path. The path also seemed
to grow less and less steep and difficult,
and the temptations to turn aside from it
less frequent and dangerous. At last she
s;osd on the mountain top, and heard the
songs of joyous welcome; and as she
stretched out her hand to receive glitter
lngtrown she awoke. The children had
returned from school, she heard their
shouts in the yard, and rising up with a
smile, she went forth to meet them.
1t was but dream, yet she felt its in
fiuence for years. When trials came,
she remembered the mothers outstretched
arms, and the loving and anxious look Of
the angel faces which she saw in her Wis
ion, and she was patients and that patience
in due time brought its own reward. The
: children began to catch her spirit and to
initiate her example, as step by step she
led them upward. When she looks on
them now, the blessings and ornaments of
the society in which they move, size feels
that the best years of her life were nobly
and profitably spent And when they
shall meet on the top of the mountain, how
will she rejoice that strength and wisdom
was given her to train them for the skies