New Orleans Republican., 1871-07-16

search. The sight strangely affected tn
old man, and turning to his unknown guide
said: "I pray thee take me away, sucl
courageous fear-teI me why are thes'
creatures here, and what do they seek il
this darkness and the angel, pointing
about her, said: ''Dost not thy conscience
tell thee what they seeks For what has
thou been seeking during the three scor
years which thou hast past on earth Cans
thou not imagine deeper darkness thai
what surrounds thee now ?" The old mai
shook his head then the angel bade hin
look deep into the recesses of his heart ant
see if one single spark Of light fickeret
there9
They passed on through the forest and al
its termination found themselves at bar
rem mountains base. Here was picture o
desolation; no tree. no shrub, no flower
gave evidence of an Almighty's presence
The aged man looked up and saw the tow
ering rocks DER head, and exclaimed, what
wilt thou attempt this! Dost thou not fee
how strong is this mountain blast! dos
thou fear that it will hurl us from some
height, lcrushed and bleeding masses into
yon yawning abyssl All! said the angel
dost thou fear! what has all thy philosophy
taught thee, if thou canst let this feeling
happen as thou hast said, what of it, Many
have met with fate alike. Thou thinkest
that death is but the end of man, why
shouldst thou fear it! Come be consistent
to thy principles. They commenced the
ascent on rugged rocks, Ger chasms which
| gazed into these awful depths-while crea.
lures, weird and CHA stly seemed ever step.
| ping forth from unseen caves, to hinder
them on their way. On! on! they trod and
| still the heights lowered far above them.
Would they ever reach them! Would these
| creatures never leave off torturing them!
Turning once they were met by a frightful
apparition. The old man covered his face
to keep out the vision. The angel said to
him, ''Why dost thou close thine eyes-why
not gaze upon one whom thou shouldst
know well! Come hither pride, see he owns
thee not, and yet for sixty years he has
harbored thee in his bosom, yea, and has
been proud of thee, and has gloried in thy
presence. Companion stand by my side
and look upon hin!"
The old man arose and came to the angels
side, and with an effort mastering the emo
tions of terror which SO nearly had over
come him, he cried aloud, ''Avaunt thou
God of Evil Back to thy cave. l need not
thy presence now to mock me for my folly
1t Is now past. Oh, angel, if this man
might gaze into himself and see by what
demons he is guided and controlled, how
much misery might be saved him" A
voice was then heard crying, But thou
canst not drive me away, for too long have
| been of thy being part. Old man, when
thy locks were of raven blackness. when
thy step was firm with youth and vigor,
you took me in. Canst thou drive away one
who has been thy compani on for years and
years y YEA, yea and the atheist groaned
in the bitterness of his spirit. :" l feel that
too long hast thou been with me; but thy
reign is over now. Back, demon. to where
you came from. Thy shackles l throw off
Too long. indeed. have / worn them. All,
angel see what is this train of evils
now bearing down upon me. Oh, / feel
their pressure, you need not name them to
me. Look there is Averice Intemper-
ance! There's Remorse All, have long
felt your sting-would, indeed, had l
availed myself of it ere this to mend my
ways. See! they pass on. Let us away
from here. They recommended the ascent,
but the face of nature seemed to have un-
dergone a change. The rocks that were
before dark and barren, now teemed with
up along their path-howers of love and
hope and tenderness, shedding around
them delicious fragrance refreshing to the
weary sense. The skies lost their murky
blackness, and soon little twinkling star
shedding a soft, silvery light
upon them. Pointing to it, the angel said :
Yon star on high which shines SO bright,
And floods our path with mellow light,
Take for your guide wher'er you stay
For the star of faith will light your way!
But onward, thy journey is not over yet.
See, we are nearing the heights. With un-
tagging steps they journeyed on, and soon
the goal was reached. Standing upon the
lofty Ipinnacle they gazed around them.
'Unbelieving man." exclaimed the angel, |
1.-The way is ended; look thou around thee. |
See, from this side thou canst behold pic |
ture of this world as it ought to be, where a |
spirit of calm, undisturbed happiness per- |
vades all; here the creatures of God walk |
in light and humbly adore the God that |
made them. Turn thee now to the road |
over which we have passed. See the misery |
Of doubt, of uncertainty, of insecurity |
which rests upon those who give themselves |
up to dreams of vain glory; who create |
gods out of their own minds and who adore |
but them. 1 am Reason, by the light of
ambent flame l have brought thee here.
Choose now for thyself which way wilt |
thou go. Wilt thou back to thy darkness |
Speak" A violent clap of thunder seemed |
to make the earth tremble.
DR.. Andrient opened his eyes and won
iered if he had slept, and why it had been
given him to dream dream bearing such
semblance to reality! "Why was it, oh
Godl Do walk in darkness? Great God,
thou knowest l do hear oh. hear, my
prayer" and the unbeliever knelt and
prayed, and the aged woman coming in an
hour after found him dead upon his knees
Surely God was good! Who knows what
change he wrought during that one short
hour of prayer in the old atheists heart.
Another installment of money is to be
M III ON oono,rt Of tho ppro+ifod So,,o,o |