Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-11-08

beauty OF earth, that the DAY before
enwrapped it, now seemed dashed
, away as by a great blow struck in
angry mood.
II stood on the wet, green bank
above the spring, with my arms fold
ed across my bosom looked into
the spring. 1t was muddy but the
clear, pure waters that came up from
the rock in the bottom of it were
slowly filling it and driving out the
impurity. The muddy waters that
had rushed in suddenly were passing
out, aud as / watched it / saw the
pebbiy bottom showing itself down
through the pure depths
"With quickened breath | thought
of myself as / looked on this emblem
before me. The fountain in my soul
was muddy too, and full of impurity.
I said May God forgive me and
cleanse my soul and wash me clean
even though it be through much suf.
fering.'
"And now Rosa, listen how the
angels met me mot angels that float
ed down through the fresh blue above
me, with wings visible and with harps
attuned"-and dear Annie's eyes
sparkled through her tears-"but
angels such as we meet every day, in
| one form or another.
Gas stood on the bank above
that rocky hillside spring, with
the shadows slowly lifting themselves
from about nae, and the blessed sun
shine of Gods amazing love steal
ing softly into the dafkened places OF
my soul, | heard song swelling up
on the air grandly. It seemed to fill
all space around me. The sound
came from where the road winds
about the hill, and almost held my
breath to listen just as the singers
came around the hill, and / eoEGht
sight of them, they finished verse,
and the chorus fell sweetly upon my
strained senses, in a full, rich roll of
melody, and it was the simple,
precious words
"Trast in the Lord.'
Goods angels, but not enveloped
in a mist that set them apart from the
gaze of mortal eyes: angels so me,
though they wore the guse of two
old men, with broad. brimmed hats
and queer coats, and unshorn boards,
riding on a patchwork quilt in little
low, rickety buggy, that looked as
though it had done good service since
the days of Noah.
"They sang, and the words were
strong and vitaiized with Christian
life and love and faith. and they lift
ed me right up, as would pair of
stout arms and set my feet on firm
footing. The refrain rose on the fresh
air of that June morning-it fell like
a benediction, for the blessing of
God went with it,
cover broken roads. and across
where little bridges had SPAWNED
them the day before, and through
deep pools of muddy water, and
around impossible places, the old an
gels in Disguise calmly drove their
big broad backed horse, while they
never lost a note out of their song,
nor changed any of its wondrous
harmony into discord.
81 stood spell bound. No lady's
voice was fuller, or sweeter or more
perfect. No instrumental music had
ever filed my soul to such complete
ness, or gwen me such a sweet sense
of satisfaction. The words Of the |
song, or hymn were grander and full
err of glory to me then any anthem
/ had ever heard chanted, or any SER
mon or Grafton delivered by the most
eloquent.
Il listened and watched until the
sound had died away among the hill
tops and the old trees that skirted the
road on either side. and then, with a
chastened heart, / returned to my |
children aud my disordered house.
"But Joy was in my soul. Gods
grace had been showered down upon
me- The fountain had become clean |
sed. No darkened chambers were in |
my heart then, because | had been |
met by the angels.
kissed the children,an the kisses
must have impaired little of my |
own newness of life into them, for the |
little fellows took hold with me and |
we worked together and soon had our
rooms made nice aid neat They |
rolled their pantaloons and liked the |
job of helping clear out the spring |
house.
"With a triding loss the rolls of
butter were made clean the cows
gave abundantly OF new, creamy milk,
and the garden was fixed up and was
a great deal better than no garden at |
all.
81 shall never forget the incidents
of that June morning. have felt
more perfect trust in my Heavenly |
Father ever since the clouds that |
darkened my sky were SO OPPORTUNITY |
removed
eyes | do believe the angels meet |
us daily and that often they find our
hearts so closed they cannot enter in,
and they turn away and seek not to
abide with us. | shall always well
come them as being sent by One who
loves us, 10 manner in whatsoev
guise they may approach me, wheth-
err in the rags of the beggar or
the royal purple of the prince. Either
may be tho bearer of the blessed
message of 'peace, be STILL
So, wheu Annie died and l was
not there to close her "long dashed
hazel eyes, or hold her slender little
hand as her feet went down into the
Jordon OF death and touched the chill
ing waters alone, | knew by the ev-
idence given me in the hours of con-
versation when our very souls met
each other, that her mistaken trust
was in One mighty to save and
strong to deliver"
Though our friendship on earth
was pure and unselfsh, and cemented
by love that could not be shaken in
time or broken in eternity, there was
a friendship and a friend more and
dearer to her than this of ours. When
all earthly ties were severed, aud all