The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-04-03

- Yes; ''the opening Of the prison to |
them that are bound" The voice |
dwelt On that verse again and ag,in =: |
"the opening Of the prison to them |
tn It are bound = the loosing Of tie
dark chains bound around the captives
Of Passion. The divine words came
floating down the aisle Eric felt them
thrilling in his soul.
The melody changed a full chorus
of voices burst forth in answer back to
that divine announcement "How
beautiful upon the mountains are the
feet of him that bringeth good tidings
good tidiogs Of peace; that sayeth unto
Zion, Thy God reigneth ! Break forth
Into jo7' sing together, oh ys waste
places Of Jerusalem ! Know ye that TO-
day hath Hs spoken. Behold it is
He!
A Divine vision passed before Eric's
eyes he saw the Glorious Child st..d.
ing in the vacant place the Dsliverer
from the power Of the Evil One. As
the music ceased, he spoke to the
priest
my father, I am an artist I will
finish the picture. Where are tho col.
ors' and the pencils of the poor artist
who lies ill.,
"They can be fetched, my son.
said the good old priest, trembling With
JOY .
II must begin instantly. I cannot
sleep till it is done. Can have light
this eveuing-one that will burn all
hight?" ;
:: The colors were fetched, and he
selected those he wanted, by the fast
declining rays Of the sua. Preparations
for good strong light were made and
the good father promised to come and
superintend it himself. Before the
twilight had ceased, tho figure was
sketshsd in by rapid and mssterly
haod. When the good priest came ac.
cording to his promise, to light the tall
wax candles which we're to illuminate
the night vigil, he was astonished at
the progress that had been made. 81.
lently the old man mounted the scaf-
told; lighted the thick tapers in the
tall, massive gold candle-sticks, that
stood on either eide of the picture {;
silently descended, glided over the pave
ment, and put some bread and wine 10
a corner which Eric had pointed out
And then he stood and watched him.
Rapidly he sketshed, rapidly put in tho
colors. The soft night breeze came in
at the open window; and the broad full
neon poured down a food of silver
light through the many !colored panes,
and strewed the pavement with the
| varied hues of the rainbow. Every.
thing was 50 hushed, so still, that the
hum Of the 6re.aies Va, heard Is they
danced beneath the trees which over
|'shadowed The sleeping dead in the
ohurchyard and q tuil.throatsd' bird
sang all night in a nelghboring wood.
Midnight struck. In the deep 81.
lenoe, the muffled strokes on the bell,
high up in the tower, shrobbed through
the church, as'it dealt BY the hand of
some mighty and invisible giant. The
old priest went out; Eric had not seen
him he was absorbed in his work,
body and soul. And there, by the
light Of the huge wax tapers, in the
deep silence of the night, his vision
spraug into being beneath his rapid,
skilltul fingers. The moon faded, the
bright stars vanished from the face Of
the glorious sun, Ill nature spraug in.
to life; and, when the good old priest
stood again in the church behind Eric,
he found him still At work. The suo
streaming in through the east windows
through gorgeous hues of crimson and
blue, poured purple radiance round
his head. The father stood amazed,
He saw the figure Of the Holy Chile
in oil its beauty. Tho oountenauoe val
entirely finished. Tho calm blue eye
seemed to pour down = food Of igh
on the amazed doctors, listening in
tently to the words proceeding trsu
the parted lips. The shining golt
ourla rolled down upon the shoulders
the pure white festsl robe, in whict
He had "oome up to Jerusalem" flow
ed down to the pavement, but did no.
CONCEAL the sandsled feet. He seemed
to be ia tho act Of descending the steps
around and upon which the doctors
were grouped. The left foot was on I
step higher than the right, and was
lifted, a. ,fthe child were coming for
ward, perhaps to descend to the very
steps Of the altar itself: The left arm
was raised, tho hand pointing to heav
en- :; the right hung down by his side
grasping parohment-roll from which
be seemed to be expouading.
The priest stood 10 silent wonde I
Eric was now busy on the folds of the
pure linen garment. Hs did not 40.
toe that any one was in the church,
any more than he had noticed man,
presence on the evening before. Tht
hours passed, aud he still fingered
over his work, 10th to part with it for
to the good fathers eye, it seemed in
ished still hs did not like to speak II
him; and if he had spoken, Eric woult
not: have heard him, 80 wholly "a
be absorbed in his work. The prizes