The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-01-26
From the Banner of Light.
SPIRIT" JOSIE"
BY CLARA LoNGDoN

Yesternight I lay halfwaking, in happy,
dreamy mood
Quiet were all things about me, and the
pleasant solitude
Suited well my spirits musings; and the
firelight's Pickering glow eGf
Made the shadows in the corners dance like
fairies to and fro.
"Ilove freight" sadl I, softly, g and the
warmth it broadly filings.
And l love it's CHEEKY erackIe--what
pleasant long it sings
Like u lullaby it seemeth, Turing on to rest
and sleep" f 30 ,.-se.a'f rev,
Then the waning fire light Hickered till twas
but dying heap!
Still, single spark glowed brightly--faded
observation-disclosures and fell,
Struggling like the soul immortal, ere itlesves
the earthly shell. hiu H#s #
So my faintipg freight wrestled--but was
conquered and l sighed
As the spark, in last effort, mounted up
ward, glowed and died. VI
"Like all human hopes, murmured, was
my freight doomed to die, 1..o#
Leaving only utter darkness, and for every
smile sgh." fs-.e IS. :sva
And turned me to the window not sin
gle ray OF light
Came to cheer the gloom and darkness creep
ing round me in the night
While / waited for the moonlight, first q
trembling star appeared;
Then another, and another, till my sadden-
ed soul was cheered AZ
And at last the sweet moon wakened from
4 & the dark arms Of the night,
Threw her veil OF silver downward, and stood
forth the Queen of Light!t 81 aEfe
Then saw aGlimmering pathway, gemmed
with diamonds DER and DER ; bgHea
Quivering with supernal beauty was this ra-
diant heavenly floor. tt 4
And methought like jacobs ladder. in the
far off oden times
Seemed this bright, celestial pathway, in it's
purity sublime I ~n.4aa- |sI
beheld the feet of angels, coming, going.
to and fro,
And their purified sweet faces, and their gar
ments white as snow
Full of love, of life and beauty did these
happy spirits seem,
And their voices reached my senses like soft
music In dream. 4 f
And methought that one approache me. as
1 wonderingly gazed, a, ~
And she smiled so gently on me that stood
entranced, amazed.
And she said, Fear not dear sister, for
come not to do harm, M
But to love you, and she laid sweet white
hand upon my arm. easae
You, woman, Josie, sister oh did not :,
could not know"
do you think, laughed spirit Josie, "that
tits only mortals grow!
1t is twenty years, dear sister, since you
thought the baby died
Surely, only as a woman could now come to
your side.
But want to tell you, sister, how we spirits
watch and wait cu
Patiently to gain admttance ; but so seldom
is the gate
Of your souls left open for US, that we often
turn away
Almost sadiy-hoping, praying, that there
yst will be day
And an hour when we can enter the recesses
of the heart,
And may fnd we are remembered-of the
household still part
Although gone, yet not forgotten Oh for
this we ever pray,
For we love you still, and wish to guide you
through life's weary way.
May 1 come again, dear sister ~ spirit
Josie said to me,
"Once you've let me in-'tis easy ~ but
my dim eyes scarce could see
The bright smile OF love she gave me-for my
swiftly falling tears
Told my spirits joyful welcome to the lost
of early years.
" am going home, sweet sister; do not
sorrow,'' Josie said,
4" For my love is ever near you,n and she
bent her shining head,
With kiss soft as rose leaf-and her white
feet gently trod
Der the shimmering, silvery pathway back
to Paradise and God.