The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-14


So he went on for little while without
seeing anything, until at last he came to
middle-aged gentleman. So he said to
the gentleman, "What are you doing
here?" and his answer was, II am always
busy. Come and be busy with me-"
So he began to be very busy with that
gentleman and they went on through the
wood together. The whole journey was
through wood, only it had been open
and green at first, like wood in spring;
and now began to be thick and dark like
wood in summer; some of the little
trees that had come out earliest, were
even turning brown. The gentleman
was not alone, but had lady OF about
the same age with him, who was his wife;
and they had children who we're with
them too. So they all went on together
through the wood, cutting down the
trees, and making a path through the
branches and the fallen leaves, and carry
ing burdens and working hard.
Sometimes they came to long green
avenue that opened into deeper woods,
then they would hear very distant lit.
tie voice crying, Father, father, an an
other child Stop for mel' and presently
they would see very little figure, grow
ing larger as it came along, running to
join them. When it came up, they all
crowded round it and kissed and well
coined it; and then they all went on to.
gether.
Sometimes they came to several ave-
nues at once, and then they all stood
still and one of the children said, GA
ther, am going to sea-" and another
said, "Father, I am going to India;" and
another, 'Father, am going to seek my
fortune where CAM" and another, "Fa-
Their, / am going to heavenp' So, with
many tears at parting, they went solitary
down those avenues, each child upon it's
wsy; and the child who went to heaven,
rose into the golden air and vanished.
Whenever these partings happened,
the traveller looked at the gentleman,
and saw him glance up at the sky above
the trees where the day was beginning to
decline and the sunset to come on. He
saw, too, that his hair was turning gray.
But they never could rest long, for they
had their journey to perform, and it was
necessary for them to be always busy.
At last there had been so many part
u, nc tbok fhara xyara M oh;Jd rox, loft op1
only the traveller, the gentleman and the
lady, went upon their way in company.
And now the wood was yellow; and now
brown, and the leaves, even of the forest
trees, began to fall.
So they came to an avenue that was
darker than the rest, and were pressing
forward on their journey without looking
down it when the lady stopped.
"My husband. said the lady, II am
called"
They listened, and they heard voice, a
long way down the avenue, say, "Mother,
motherr'
Itw the voice of the first child, who
had said, 81 am going to hesvenP' and
the father said, II pray not yet. The sun
set is very near. pray not yeti
But the voice cried, ''Mother, motherl"
without minding him, though his hair
was now quite white, and tears were on
his face.
Then the mother, who was already
drawn into the shade of the dark avenue,
and moving away with her arms still
round his neck, kissed him and said,
"My dearest, am summoned, and gop
And she was gone. And the traveller and
he were left alone together.
And they went on and on together,
until they came very near the end of the
wood, 60 near that they could see the
sunset shining red before them through
the trees.
Yet once more, while he broke his way
through the branches the traveller loet
his friend. He called and called, but
there was no reply, and when he passed
out of the wood. and saw the peaceful
sun going down upon a wide purple
prospect, he came to an old man sitting
ON fallen tree. So he said to the old
man, "What do you do here?' And the
old man said, with calm smile, 81 am al
ways remembering. Come and remem-
Der with mer' So the traveller sat down
by the side Of that old man, face to face
with the serene sunset; and all his friends
came softly back and stood around him,
The beautiful child, the handsome boy,
the young man in love, the father, moth
or and children; every one Of them was
there, and he had lost nothing. So he
loved them all and was kind and forbear-
ing with them all, and was always
pleased to watch them all, and they all
honored and loved him. And 1 think the
traveller must be yourself, dear grand
father, because this is what you do to us,
and what We do to you.
WELCOMING THE NEW SCHOLAR.