The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1872-01-03
The Christ-Chili-A Christmas Dream.

and you older ones, il you wish TO hear my
Christmas story, sit down and be very quiet
for awhile. Mary Leigh is asleep, but il she
were wide awake, she is TOO younsyct TO c;re
! about any kind Of stories except such as her
! nlotlcr tells her.
! Two or three nights ago dreamed that
! had passed away, not died, for knew no.
! thing about death, but in my dream it SEEM
! cd that had passed away from this life and
| had gone to hcavc1. knew il was that gio-
! rious place called heaven, hrcau>c evcry>
! hing was beautiful and fair. and there w;S
no sign or appearance Of fading or decay or
any Object u;'On wI:;rh the eye might rest.
Tic flowers bl"ou"d il: everlasting sweet
ness, beauty and perfume. They charged
/ every mpmcn', i!lt it WAS from beauty 10
beauty. ia hand p!Uckcd Il rose, which for
bc"u:y seemed impD. Sb!u 10 bc cxlaIcd,
anOrlcr far more beautiful took is place.
! The leaves Of tic aces as they rUSiIrd in the
gentle winds, made a low, >tjl! music, thar
sank iu;o the soul with gentle and tender
! but exceedingly subduing power. The songs
! Of the birds were such as arc never heard Oh
earth; ard the murmuring of the streams,
as they flowed through the green, grassy
meadows, seemed like cchos Of the voices
of angels speaking lessons Of eternal peace.
knew it vas that holy place called heaven,
because peace, and the very spirit Of peace,
seemed resting upon everything there. The
Sun SlIone in the East, midway between the
horizon and the zenith, and its b"amS were
full Of peace In the green pastures the
herds fed in peace and afar of, it seemed
that heard tinkling bell, whose gentle
ring brcathcd Of peace. Peace was on al
the hills J; and the valleys basked in the sun
shine Of peace. And peace was in every
heart.
| / knew, too. it was that glorious place
! called Heaven, because the bright beings,
the men anil women, that saw there, had
no thought, no will, but to love one another
and 10 do good. When they saw me enter
the g,:c their eyes turned towards nc and
beaacd upon me with an incffablc love whose
| depths nf tenderness it is impossible to cx
press. No words Of welcome were spoken,
| bu, their eyes, their glorious faces shown
with welcome, as if my entrance there filled
them with new sense ofjoy. If had not
| known 1T once that it was Heaven, if ! had
dcub ed in the least, my doubts would soon
have hccn diSpc!cd, for in short after had
catered, was met by Il little Child. The wis
dom Of infinite ages, with the eternal iIno-
eyes. This little Child met me, and as he
tocn me 'v tic hand 10 give nc welcome,
seemed to feel, rather than src, q mark upon
! his temples and in the palms Of his hands,
rs a temple which seemed TO glow and
shine with au inward light Of its OWN. As
we dlcw near, ten thousand, thousand voices,
and .nyradS of stringed instruments were
heard pr.,isiag God, filling cycry aisle and
! every corrcr Of the vast building with tic
! rchcss music. AS we entered, all the voices
were heard as one voice, saying: "Thc Lord
is in His Holy Temple, let all the Garth keep
| silence before him" And every head was
bowed in silent worship as that lite Child,
| changed into the glorious likeness and image
Of the Lord, sat upon His throne in ;hc East.
Ny spirit seemed 10 die within nc, and, ut
tcrly destitute Of strength, fell PROSTATE at
| His feet. For many moments all thought,
! all feeling. all sense Of being left me, ard l
I I, ,t,,.1 ,oI
| to touch me-, anil voice, penetrating and
| thrilling through all m: being, bade me rise
and stand upon my feet Being lifted up
| by power not Tny own, Il voice Of infinite
tenderness badc me welcome. Struck with
IN agony of rcmorse for my many short
comneS, cried out that was utterly ua-
worthy Of His great love. and Of tho b.cSscl>
ness that He had bestowed upon Rr. With
q look Of inctfrbc love He said: "I know
your shortcomings, your weaknesses, your
unworiinc>S and your worth, Ear better than
i, is possible for YOU ever TO know them
yourself The worth Of any, even the most
erring soul, is very great. Have You not
vet learned that there is more joy in Heaven
over ono sinner that TepeEtS, than over nine
ty anil nine Just persons that need no repent
ancc? know your unworthineSS, but for
Your Sake assumed humanity, and bore in
NY body your sins and your SufferinsS. |
know yorr pride and vanity Of heart, know
your co!lncss and sclfsincss, but with all
your sins, know thNt deep within your in
most heart there is little germ, a little spark
OF love for ne, because you love little chill
dren. The souls Of little children arc inf
nircly dear TO me. You love them, and it is
well. You were brought here thatyou might
learn how specially dear the little ones arc to
me-, and that learning this, you might permit
your love for them to 60 out through them
and embrace in its fold all OF human kiud.
was once little child.
All, children, dear children, His words
seemed 10 slay INC, and yet 10 give me life.
seemed 10 lose myself and to be born again.
4 hard crust which had grown about my
heart, broke and neltcd and disappeared
Aud then heard these words. not spoken
aloud, but Ginning in notes 0: music and
gladncsS, through all the avenues of sense
and soul: "ForaSmuch as yc did it to one
of Tie leasI ol lllcSe, NY Dlc'H'en, yC ulu II
unto me"
Shortly afterwards, the g!orious majesty |
WAS rcilcd, and that lt;Ic Child stood again |
by my side. Taking me ny the hand, He |
led INC gently forth. AS we passed from the |
temple, again the mighty song burst forth.
This time the words were: "BIeSsing, and |
honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him
that stitch upon the throne, and unto the |
Lamb forever and ever
As he led me through the garden, he said:
"You will now return to earth; you have vet |
much work to do. Let your heart he always |
young; bear ever in your breast the heart o:
child, remembering that except ye repent |
aud become as little child, ye can in no
wise enter the kingdom Of Heaven" All !!
unrest, all disquict and anxiety, were ban |
ished by The music of these words. Iseemed |
10 my dream TO sink into deep and quiet |
clean And then mr dream saemed rnSrped |