Des Arc weekly citizen., 1867-10-05
The Cross of Love.

This is a reproduction of an cxquis- ite piece of poetry which circulated widely few years ago. but the bcauti- ful and true sentiment cannot be repea- ted in too many or varied forms :-
 Oh. was sad and weary; wearied with the conflicts of life, with it's heavy toll, with its bitter strifes. I reasoned with myself and thought they might be trial tests of my faith and love. Then looked around upon my fellow-mor- tals, and thought not one of them had as much to endure as I had. Some friends were taken from me by death, others by arrangement worse than death, and I was obliged to toll for my daily bread. Oh. how I would change places with any Of my friends, their burdens could be easily borne, but mine were too heavy, my cross could not bear.
 As unused, the angel of sleep passed by, and the breeze waited by his wings fell soothingly upon my spirit and l slept.
 soon q soff and sii~ar Ii aht snnpned ta surround me. The sweetest and most beautiful music filled the air. A form of angelic beauty approached me. His brow shone with clear, resplendent light his face was calm and so radiant, so Godlike, that felt like one entran- ced. 1 could neither speak nor move. As he came near, he gently waved his hand and said, hollow me. am the way" Involuntarily larose and follow ed. l seemed to float through the blue ether, and most delicious fragrance fill ed the balmy air. After traversing what seemed to be illirnitable space, he stopped and addressed me thus: "Mor- tai, l have witnessed thy conflicts and struggles. Thou think st the cross giv- cn thee too heavy to bear: lay it aside, and take one of thine own choosing, al the same time pointing to place where lay myriads of crosses of divers size and fashion.
 I felt inexpressibIy happy as l laid aside my cross and looked about to sc- feet one to supply its place. Soon my eyes fell upon small but brilliant look ing one composed of jewels and pre- cious stones, and l said, .'I will take this, it must be easy to bear. But soon began to totter; the weight was too much, and said, 'Oh. must take it of, cannot walk Gently he said, "Try again." Then selected one of gold, elaborate ware, thinking surely l could bear a golden cross. But that too pressed so heavily upon me that l was obliged to lay it down. Then the an- gel smiled mournfully upon me, and said Don't weary, try again." This time l selected one composed of most beautiful flowers, this is for me the bur den must be light. But it soon made its hid-sorrows known to me; thorns pierced my flesh, and lcried in anguish: "This one may not bear! and l said "Oh! why need have any cross? do we'll enough without" Then the angel gently answered, No cross no crown.'
 Sadly I gazed, but the angel said, Fear not; there must be one here to suit yournecd." Slowly passing along, I espied plain unpretending lookeng cross with the word LOVE engraved upon it in letters of gold, l exclaimed. '.Oh know I can bear this one!' As I raised it, smile of ineffable sweet ness illumed the face of the, angel, and I found had chosen my own old cross again. But Oh! how differently it seemed from what it used to; it fitted exactly, and joyfully acknowledge it the best for me to bear.
 Then the angel said, "For He so low ed thee that he gave his only begotten Son that thou, by bearing the cross giv- en thee. might inherit eternal life.'
 With grateful heart and suttused with tears, looked to thank the angel, but he had vanished, and awoke.
 But what lesson had learned. Surely tho cross "my Father" gave me, was the best. With grateful and con- tented heart I thanked the giver, never again doubling that the way he had pre- pared and appointed was the one for me; ever praying that whatever he thought necessary for the discipline of my life, bear with patience, and trust in Him who doeth all things well.' --Christisn Register.
 
 ESy- Twenty-eight births of twins