The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-03-07

LKx.

stood upon the plain Of Indecision.
Above me lowered the mountain Of Assur.
ancs; below lay the Valley Of hodessy.
(which way shall turn r. said I.
On the top Of the mountain could see
the palace OF Deceit, a. it shone in the
MONDAY sun. and I said:
Il will go hence, for surely I may be-
lievs my own eyes"
AZ | looked back into the Valley Of
Modesty, ! thought aloud:
There is nothing 10 aIiract me, only
the simple cottage where Humiliation
lives. and no LOFTY towers and walls Of
gold like yonder palace"
So started up the mountain. but my
staff Of support gave way. and a. turn
ed to break another. and grasped Il in my
hand. 1t crumbled to pieces.
Isntsred q by-path, and was before q
gate. over which was written, in letters oil
gold. this Inscription:
PASS through rae. and thou shalt be
rewarded"
! paused . moment, then entered, but
looking back saw another inscription
Thou fool, I am Falsehood, but il ID
too late; thou eanst not retrace thy
steps"
/ sat down and wept over my fall
when i was aroused by voice:
20 come with me; am The only one
capable Of guiding you up the bill; al
travellers pronounce me far superior to
either Pride or Beauty. Ny name il
Love, though I am falsely called Conceit.
We had ascended the hill about hall
way, when some one rapidly approached,
and throwing his arms around my neck,
began 70 speak of my many charms and
uncommon beauty"
"Ah," ssid Conceit, "look at me, Flat
terry; I am perfect; thou wouldst do well
to praise me-"
l soon grew weary OF my companions,
and longed to be free from them, but Il
was impossible. How I regretted moi
turning TO the Valley Of Modesty, for
was sure all Was lovely therel
As We neared the palace. L thought: &C
how glorious! perhaps am repaid, )" bal
soon changed my opinion There seemed
to fall cloud over NE. which bedimmed
my eyes, and changed all things around
me.
The countenances Of Deceit and Flat
terry were as black as ebony. and about
them look OF INDISPENSABLE horror; th,
brillisncy of the diamond was turned in
to the dullness Of q gravel stone, and tn,
sun had ceased to shine.
What lie it p said I. "Surely this !.
the palace Of Deceit, but must endure
since / was so foolish as to pass through
the gate"
Deceit. the king OF the palace, cam.
mp to me, saying:
Come in and thou shalt see things fol
thy good"
l obeyed. The interior was . dark
vault; here and there 9 ray Of light
shone through Q crack.
Sarcasm first confronted me:
mo doubt you enjoyed your journey
up exceedingly; lovely spos is Mount
Assurance"
Then dersion said: Fr '--
welcome, thou, not wise enough tc
keep on the other side Of falsehood." Be
wildered, dazed, could not think, ss va,
told by scorn, that my prison was ready
Crime led me through long dark pas.
sage. and l could hear human groan.
and howlings OF wild beast. mingled with
the changing OF chains This is thy de-
struction," said be, as he swung open an
iron door and hurled me headlong into
the darkness.
How long / had remained there. ]
know not; but saw peering into mine,
a face Of peerless sweetness:
II am Repentance; 90 with me, and
will bring thee into the presence Of For
giveness;" and I did so, but how, l do
net know. only that l was in an open
field, and no one there but Forgiveness
who said nothing. but gave me n leaf Of
a white lily. on which was written;
"FaiIh," and pointed to the right.
/ started to the right. and in q short
time stood before another gate, the gate
OF Faith, and over il was written:
II am the substance OF things hoped
for: BY me shall ye enter into your hap
piness," and crossed over and found
myself in the valley which had viewed
when / stood upon the plain Of Indecis
ion and am there now in the cottage Of
Humiliation, and have no desire to re
turn, ior I am happy.
----