The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-21
TOR THE DEMOCRAT
An Easter Thought.

At our bidding the hand of Fancy with
draws the curtain that conceals the Past,
while we look upon world all newly
made. Primeval man is there, radiant
with health and beauty he views his fair
inheritance intelligently, but without
foreknowledge of change-unlike those
two who walked in Eden supeTnaturally
warned and illunined. To his delighted
gaze the first morn spread its glory Der
earth and sky, the sun shone FORTH immOr
tal and when shadows dimmed his splen-
dor no thought of darkness or eclipse dis
turbed the worship his majesty evoked
The worlds first night, dark one, with
out moon or star, brought terror and
disnay to man for no prescience of a new
dawn arose to calm his fears. The first
summer lavished fruits atd flowers in linz
itlcss profusiOn !; gladstone streams flowed
through smiling valleys and in their liq
uid depths shining fish disported; gentle
breezes stirred the air and walked to song
gay-plumaged birds. Man reveling i'll
Natures bounty lived supremacy blessed.
Autumn came to deck the earth in royal
colors, grapevines hug their purple clus-
tiers in the sunshine, ruddy apples held
their glowing cheeks for final kisses, the
yellow grained swaycd heavily upon the
plains, but man, umheedful, left the har-
vest all ungarnered. Then wintry winds
blew tiercely, heralding the ice king, who
threw his mantle DER the earth and hid
the Autumn's pageantry-his icy touch
next barred the trees and locked the flow
ing river. In discomfort and despair man
sought warmth and food and shelter
Hope whispered not that Spring would
come to paint the flowers again and loose
the prisoned river. Upon leaf was found
worm, dark and creeping thing, twas
gently laid in sheltered spot and seemed
to die, but dying wove a shroud and seal
ed within tomb it's Shiny form; after
certain days it's bonds were burst when,
10 brilliant insect scared aloft on shin
ing wings. A seed was placed in moist
mold, slowly it decayel and from its
sloughing rind germ protruding sent
above the sod u green and living plant
Which the sunshine and the dews until it
blossomed into perfect beauty.
When day and night returned in regu-
lar succession, when Spring-time, and
harvest and Winters dearth had grown
familiar, when natures constant ways
were known to man Death came-a
gifted youth was stricken down by fell
disease, his graceful form lay PROSTATE,
his features CHASTITY; one by one his SEN
SEES dulled, the voice was hushed, the pull
ses stilled, and with last sigh the spirit
torsook its earthly prison leaving cold,
dead body on which disconsolate mourn
ers gazed with awe, and soon were forced
in wondering anguish to hide from sight.
Faith shuddered, Hope shrank back ap-
palled at this dread feat. But Love stood
undismayed, she gazed above, around,
and soon her tender soul discerned the
truth which nature strOve to teach-"Al
must die to live again;"-across Deaths
portal the spirit plumed itself for higher
flight, and even as man crowns creation
so must his resurrection transcend all mi
nor mysteries. Had revelation withheld
the wonlrous truth, human love would
have wrcstcd it from Natures BOSOM
''From the grave itself is born the great
assurance Of something above and beyond
death" ~