Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-01-13
[ Written for the BeaeoH
u II e I'd.
BIT ERIE.
CHAPTER TX.


"And now, behold! rs at the approach Of morn
ing,
Through the gross vapors Mars grows fery red
Down In the West upon the ocean floor
Appeared TO me, may again behold itl
A light along the sea so swiftly coming,
Its motion by no fight Of wing is equalled.'
A weird, unearthly guide fitted, not
for terra frma, but the regions in which
il moved. We all need guide to warn
US Of hidden caverns and unexpected
presipices. High among the Alps grows
the edeIweiss that lives and blooms
spite of biting cold and storms. The
traveller, weary with climbing CLASSY
precipices and balancing himself on the
edge of frightIul abysses, pauses a mo-
ment to rest aud breathe air whose rar-
ity Is loudly warning him TO limit his
aspirations. Leaning on his pole, his
eye fails on this little flower. All, what
a world OF thought it opens to HIM
His eye is iatigucd with the glare and
and irridescence of snow and ice, so
cold and brilliant, fitting type Of the
heartless life ofthe world: with no heart
throbs, not even faint pulse beating
under ITS frigidity; its yawmng cav
ems into which unwary voyagers in
adverientIy plunge through blind Of
snow. Very white aud pure seems ;he
next step, but down, down through un-
fathomable depths, wreathed in the
trescherous cloud mist. he bounds and
rebounds. reaching at last his frozen
tomb.
But growing from this mighty ice heart
IS this little emblem Of pas;;y--a s.fnrle
flower! II turns his thoughts TO happy
valleys, lighted with soc, warm sun
light: to fruit-laden trees and fragrant
winds that whisper gentle messages OF
home and friends. He leans lower. II
tells welcome stores; il breathes sweet
music in his ears. He will gather
it and cherish il IN has bosom. A
grasp for this pole, his trusty pole,
flies from its rest, and grssping the DEATH
flower, he rolls despairngly over the
crsg 10 meet his tate. The flower rs
forgotten; these may be his last living
moments, and he realizes bitterly that
he has risked all Tor bauble. He has
fallen half down on ledge thIckly COW
cred with new snow; itbresks his fall, and
though nearly dead from cold and fright,
he realizes that foi the time al least he
is saved, The light comes; he sees
chamois. startled by the unexpected adj
diiion TO the scene, bounding down the
crag. With anxious eyes he notes her
track; the course she takes must libeF-
ate him. And SO he follows guide,
fully convinced that one is Necessary,
and hurTies joyfullY from ice fields
whose desolate grandeur have for him
no further attraction. You speak Of the
subIimity Of inaccessible heights, Of the
elevation OF soul TO be gained by digni-
fed solitude among cloudy mountain
caps. He listens with mild scorn that
-discourages enthusiasm andsuggests in
surmountabie difficulties and objections.
His wings have been wounded and bro
ken, and nevermore will he face the
sun with steady eye or plume his feath-
ers Tor lofty flights.
For long time after laying my head
on the pillow that night did speculate
on the past life Of Mr.. Paul. HIS cold
ness and hauteur made hIm much dread
ed, while his wonderful mind attracted
and retained the admiring respect ofthe
Iterati that circled round him. He was
to them Sphinx that never opened its
grim lips 10 whisper one word of its
former history. None dared ques-
ton him, and no tremor OF past exis-
tence stirred the crust Of bis outward
II petrifed nature TO crafty the Curl
osity of numerous wonderers. He
strangely moved but always angered
me; but not so with him; would give
what would consider a most enven-
omed thrust only TO see him smile non