, 1876-04-22


there and saying nothing.
"Why, really don't know how left.
was sick and miserable during my last year,
and could not well bear creeping out of bed,
and going out suddenly into the frost and
cold. 1t was hard win'cr, but have got
out of it now. For few days the wealth
er was quite calm, but very cold, as yonr
honor must very well know. The sea was
covered with ice ns far as one could look.
All the people from the town walked out
upon the ice, and think they said there
was dance there, and skating. There was
beautiful music and II great feast there, too;
the sound came into my poor little room
where lay ill., And it was toward the
evening; the moon had risen beautifully,
hut it was not yet in its full splendor; |
looked from my bed out over the wide sea,
and far of, just whcrl the sen and sky join,
strln &c waite cl1ul came up. lay look-
ing nt the cloud, and saw little black
spot in the middle oft, that grew larger
and larger; and then knew what it meant,
Ior am old and experienced, though the
token is not often seen. knew it, and II
shuddrring came over me. Twice in my
there would bean awful TEN pest and spring
flood, which wonll ovcrwh elm the poor
people who were now drinking, dancing and
rejoicing young and old, the whole city
had issued forth; who was to warn them, il
il no one saw what was coming yonder, or
knew, as did, what it meant | was dread
fully alarmed, aud tet more lively than
had done for Il hong time. crcpt out Of
bed and got to the window, but could not
crawl further, WAS so exhausted. But |
managed to open the window. | saw the
people on the outside running and jumping
about On the ice; could see the beautiful
flags that waved in the wind. heard the
boys shouting 'hurrlh ~ and the servent
men and mails sinsing. There were all
kinds ot mcrriment going on. But the
white cloud with the black spot | cried
out rs loud as | could, but no one heard me-;
| was too far from the people. Soon the
storm would burst and the ICE would break
and all who were upnn it would be lost
without remedy. They could not hear me.
and could not come out to them. Oh! if
|
| could only bring them ashore Then
kind heaven inspired me with the thought
Of setting fire to my bed, and rather to let
the house burn down than that all those
people perish so mjsgmbly. succeeded in
lighting up beacon for them. The red
flames blazrd up on high, and escaped out
of the door, but fell down exhausted on the
threshold and could yet no further. The
flames rushed out toward me, fickering
through the window, and rose high above
the roof. All the people on the ice yonder
beheld it, and ran as fast as they could, to
give nil to the :poor old woman who
they thought, WAS being burned to death
Not one remained behind. | heard them
coming; but also became aware OF a rush
ing sound in the mir; heard rumbling
like the sound of heavy artillery; the spring
fool was lifting the covering Of ice, which
presently cracked and burst into thou sand
! fragments. But the people succeeded in
reaching the sea wall I saved them nlll
But fancy that could not ar the cold
and fright, and so II came up here to the
gltes of Paradise. am told they arc open
to poor creatures like me--anl now | have
no house left down upon the rampant no
that think this will give me admission here.
Then the gltes Of heaven were opened
and the angel led the old womaa in. She
lett straw behind her, 4 straw that had
been in her he'd when she set it on fire to save
the lives of many; and this straw had been
changed into tlIepurest gold gold that
grew and grew, and spread into beautiful
leaves and flowers.
Look, this is what tho poor woman
brought" sNid the angel to the critic. What
dost thou hrng2 know that thou mst nc.
c,mplishcd nothng-thou Inst not made So
much rs u sin Gle brick. Al, if thou cOulst
only return, and effect Mt least so much as tn
Probably the brick, when thou hlsl made it,
will not he worth much but il it were made
with goo will, it wOuld ut least be someth.
ing. But thou cNnst not 20 back, and can
do nothing for thee. Then the poor soul.
the old woman who had lived on the dixie,
put in n petition for him She spcl; His
brother gave me the bricks and the pieces
out Of which built my house. nnd that was
II great deal for II poor woman like me- could
not all those bricks and pieces he counted ms
u single brick in his favor? II was IN act of
mercy. He wants it now; and is not this the
very fountain Of mercy!"
Then thcangcI said; "Thy brother, whom
thou hast regarded rs the least among you all
he whose honest inlusty seemed to thee ~
the most humble. hath given thee tl& hcay-
cnly gift Thou shalt not bo turned AWAY.
1t shall I've vouChslled to thee to stand here
without the gate, and to reflect, and repent