The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1879-06-26
NJ i - cell u n q GU -
THE GATE OF PARADISE.

Easter Eve was fast passing into
the early dawn of Easter-day. For
many nights / had been watcher
by the bed of dear child, but on
this night anxiety had given place to
hope, and he had fallen into deep
sleep that foretold returning health.
With a qniet aud thankful heart l
marked the hocrs pass, the stars
fade in the purple sky aud the morn.
ing twilight steal over tho gray sea.
"Bven So" / thought, 10y eternal
cometh in the morning even so
will the last glad Easter dawn aud
end the night Of all earthly watch
ing.
At length, however, wosriness
overcame me anl fell asleep, and
in my dreams nethought l heard
the voice of Hin, the Prince of
Peace, calling unto mo. Immediate
ly all sorrow ana earthly aih ctions
deserted me all earthly cares We're
banished from my presence the
dark clouds that overriding the sky
disappeared. and in their stead came
a canopy of pure Wilderness, bestui-
ded with emeralds and bri!liants 50
exquisite that mortal Imagination
even could never comprehend. In
the far off distance II WAS still moro
beautiful aud as l drew near saw
il was the GAZE of Paradise, in tue
midst of which saw standing th'
Prince of Peace surrounded by q
host of angels. lie commanded that
my soul and body should part aud
while my body remained, tho soui
should for a few brief moments visit
the Home of tho Blessed "
With these words he beckoned to
one of the fairest of those shining
ones had observed at the gate, aud
gave me into her care, saying, Ga
brielle, take cusrge of this poor wau-
derer aud show her such things as
she can understand Then GIbri-
Gle took my hand aud led me with
in the gates. Thou art surely
weary sue said, "thou shalt rest
beside the fountain OF Water of life.
So We sat down together beneath
stately palms which dropped over II
clear Stream, that ever flowing from
the fountain took it's course by many
windings to the sea aud looked
around me and tried to take iu
something of tho beauty that every
where met my gaze. Bat even as
then it far trapscended what my ut
most Thought had conceived, so now
words fail ME when would describe
that homo Of the Saints. i can toll
Of strange and heavenly light, like
unto o stone most precious, that lay
10 endless glades, aud lit up the ra-
diant forms of the blessed ones, who,
making the air melodious with song,
moved to and fro mid groves and
plains of unearthly beanty. i eau
speak Of the everlasting hills whose
outlines lay in golden mist in the
far distance, to which Gabrielle
pointed as the hills Of the Celestial
country, where the King rens in
eternal glory and | can tell Of o
Sea, which, like belt Of molten sill
Yer, lies between those shores and
Paradise-a sea that knows no
storms, aud in whose clear depths
can at times be seen as O mirror
something Of the unknown glories
OF New Jerusalem, for which the
Saints in Paradise wait in hope.
But cannot paint in human
words the energy Of life, the surpass
ing gladness. the perfection and pure
delight OF this land Of rest. On the
margin Of the stream by which we
sat grew many lovely plants, and as
they swayod to aud fro in the breeze,
! thought ! could hear amongst their
blossoms soft whisperings as OF
prayer. Turning to Gabrielle, l
asked, "if it were SO, or il my fancy
mislec me- You are not mistaken,
sue said, these are the, AZ yet, un-
answered prayers OF somo who are
sun upon earth. Stoop aud thou
slalt hear. Then ! bent over fair
my, and 10 its pure chalice hoard, as
II were. q distant echo Of these
words: Lord, he hath lost the
,aith and love OF his childhood he
h'th wandered from Thee aud from
nei bring him home at last !
Alas ! l said, surely this 10 the
prayer of mother for her sou.
again listened, aud from tho grim
spn boil OF another flower ! heard,
Lord. that ! might receive my
Sght, and said, Amen tor Ut that
lemont y seemed ~ thought | could
sos boar that blind mAuh GROSS.
~ voss l o more J listened ovss thoss