The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-05-31

to me the very acme of comfort on winter
night A figot fire blazed end cracked
chcerily in the grate, and cast pickering
lights on the furniture and damask curtain
hanging4 of the wind lrHi for | had turned
the lamp low in order to rocede within nv
own thoughts, The wind, which had been
laid all day, nov began to be-tir itself and
hurry around the c,ppay to,s I felt in
| spirsd with Il ppem--i poem ex ,res.ing my
present happiness aud NY love. Ny heart
struggled lpr utierdncr, aud 4 fee ing of n-
rplration grew upon mo | was possessed
by the muse. A Hule writing table stood
near, with writing materials all handy, and
kindly provided for my use 10y thoughtful
hostess ar perhaps by E'hel herself | drew
1t close to my elbow and prepared myselfto
write. The thoughts cane glowing but dis
jointed and ircohtrent from my heart. /
wrote them down rs tney cana, intending 10
put them in verse ru att rwarl. | wished
now only to exPre., my confessed happiness
and passion, and covered sheet alter sheet
in few moments with rapidity OF a short.
hand writer and ten stopped, having
worked of the III rrahuudant feeling b..
gan to drcIa'm 70 myself what had written
and to polish ii into fnrm
Vision Of beauty, gliding through my NE.
began ina iil-H ii elevated voice,
EtherQl gooinas~. haunting groves,
And bringing 10 men lost in the earthly haze
glimpse cf azure Holds and y9'y ri is6 g4ISs rivers
In the Idt'l 'lregIJns, too much forgot
Divine Ethel !.
stopped to correct this into Ethel
divine aud almost lancied that | heard a
slight sound Of mocking laughter quite close
to my face. listened, and could hardly be.
lieve my senses, but seemed still to catch
a light laugh-a faint, tiny, nuilled kind of
laugh, but yet perfectly distinct. 1t seemed
to be in the air aud hover over the table
There was nothing on my table but tn,
writing paper and blotling book, the ink
bottle. Il pen-holder and pen-wiper. Tn,
holder was representation Of Cleopatra
Needle, opeH at The top to i1aerJ the han
dies Of pens; and the wiper was made VI
in the form of an Egyptian sphinx, aud wa
at the same time Il pin cushion. 1t was
neat little sphinx in dark red cloth, with .
woman's head. The body served for tn,
pin.cushion, and the pedestal for the wiper
This was all the table contained. fanciet
must have been dreaming, or perhaps
, had taken too much wine. was sleep
fool, and ought To get of to bed as last a
, possible; but tin ga, ,teriou, voica a-ait
r seemed to break ,l-nc, ras time it sppk,
and seemed to is,ue from lhe sphinx, vines
impassive face regarded me with a calm an,
: rigid solemnity.
. Child Of morlals,' said the sphinx, know
! that the immortals brook is no comparisot
; with things of clav. Cease thy futile ra
wings, thy incomprehen-ibIe cri,s ot a pas
} sion that is as feetiug It, thy eph. m ri race
which is is as the gras, that is cut down
who art thou? demanded, in clear
but forced voice.
Il am the Oracle Of rum. | ktow all tha
is past and all that Is 20 cone Excu.,
, metre
wilt thou answ. the questions woul,
put to late 2
, Il will
Oracle Of Tum thoi knowest love
DeiGn to tell me- II there is hope tor me in
my attachment. Aaswer-Aye or No!
Child Of mor,al-, replied tue sphinx
know that lhgr, Is nr-Good night, Anc
the voice abruptly a-ed.
Tn- silence recalled me d, my .pn.as an,