New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-18
ON THE DARK MOUNTAINS
WHAT THE LITTLE PILGRIM SAW.

81 a woman whose humble career had terminated
in great yet modest promotion In another word
than ours. Ibis traveller between life and death,
this little pilgrim, had been In her further de-
velopment very curious TO see aud hear all that
could be learned in the wonderful country in which
her abode fil ed concerning the race OF men {;
and all the wonderful ways OF the Father In re-
spect TO those children of His who were not as
Ills children In the other worlds. but exposed TO
university and sorrow and trouble, which are but
as names 10 the others-those things which the
angels desire to look into and which the
subject of story and of song. not only IN the little
world below, but in the great realms above. She
had seen what the dealings of the Father were
in the hearts of men. and how till the end came
lie did not cease to send His messengers to plead
in every heart, and to hold court OF justice that
no might be deceived. but each know whittier
his steps were tending and what was the way
to read in the archives of the heavenly country the
sa'r O. Of one God GhO ond say had found him
self, when the little life was completed not upon
midst Of the Land of Darkness that region IN
which the souls of men are left by God to their
own devices ana d inc fa tben unf neither
suades them more. Over this story the little
pilgrim had shed many tears for she knew wei,
heavenly Wisdom, that it was pam aud grief to
the Father TO turn away HIS face; and that no
one who has but the little, heart OF man can
imagine to himself what that sorrow is in the
being of the Great God And great awe came
over her mind at the thought. which seemed we'll
heart heing His child she knew that it was true
And her own little spirit thrObbcd through and
through with longing and with desire; rborc ana "a
nothing which could make child afraid, save to
see them suffer. What are darkness and terror
if / might but go!" And by reason of her often
pleading, and of the thought that was ever IN
who knew might instruct her, and show her by
what way alone the travellers who come from
that miserable land could approach and be ad-
~ knew She said. q that between us and
them there is gulf fixed and that they who
would come from thence cannot come neither can
But here she stopped in great dismay, for it
seemed that she had thus answered her own
longing and prayer; had como for her
smiled upon her Nnd said, But
that was before the Lord had ended His work
And now all the paths are free-wherever there Is
a montain-pasS or a rivcr-ford the roads are all
blessed, and they are open, and no barriers for
those who will" e.
ALP
fic looked away from her into the depths Of the
lovely air, and he replied Little sister, our
faith is without bounds, but not our knowledge
L who speak to you no more than man Inc
princes and powers that are In high places know
more than l. but if there be any place wnefe ia
heart can stir and cry out to the Father ana he
take no heed-if il be only groan-lf III be only
with a slgh-I know not that place yet many
depths know" He put out his hand T ana LOOK re
some who are stumbling npon the dark mountains
Come and see"
AS they passed along there were many who
paused to look at them for he had the mien of q
great prince-a lord among men-and his face still
bore the trace of sorrow and toll. and there was
about him ar awe and wonder which was more
than could be put in words: but those who saw
him understood as he went by, not who he was,
nor what he had been but that he had come out OF
great tribulaton. Of sorrow beyond the sorrows OF
men The sweetness of the heavenly country had
soothed away his care. and taken the cloud from
his face; but he was as yet unaccustomed, 10
smile-thOueh when he remembered ana looked
ROUND him and saw that all was well his coun~
ter ance lighted like the morning sky, and his eyes
woke up in splendor like the sun rising. The
little pilgrim did not know who her brother was,
but yet gave thanks to Goa 1oE MN she Ane" not
How far they went cannot be estimated in
words for distance matters little IN that place
but az the end they came 10 path whlch sioped i
a little downward 10 the edge Of delightful
moorland country. all brilliant WITH the 3 aer OI
plateau high among the hills III region where are
no frosts to check the glow Of the flowers; or
scorch the grass II spread far around In h0llows
and ravines and softly swelling hills; with the
rush over them of a cheerful breeze full OF noun
tain scents and sounds; and high above them rose
the mountanheights Of the celestial world, Vellcd
IN those blue breadths Of distance winch are heaven
itself when mans fancy ascends to them from me
low world at their feet. The heart OF the NIUE
pilgrim swelled and she cried out, There is
nothing so glorious as the everlasting hills.
Though the valleys and the plains are sweet they
are not like them. They say TO US L1t UP your
heart!"
Her guide smiled, but he did not speak His
smile was full of joy, but grave like that OF man
whose thoughts are bent on other things ana ne
pointed where the road wound downward by Ihe
feet of these triumphant hills. She kept her
eyes upon them as she moved along. Those heights
rose into the very sky but bore upon them neither
snow nor storm. Here and there a whitencss like
n film of air rounded out over peak, ana she
recognized that il was one OF those angels VINO
travel far and wide with Gods commissions, gong
to the other worlds that are in the armament as IN
n sea The softness OF these films Of white was
like the summer clouds that she USED u watch IN
the blue of the summer sky IN the Ittle wotld
which none of its children can cease 10 love: ana
she wondered whether IL might not some
times have been the same dear angels whose night
she had watched unknowlngs higher than lholgm
could soar or knowledge penetrate watching
those floating heavenly messengers and the helehts
of the great miraculous mountains rising up into
the slSy the little pilgrim ceased TO thlnK whi,ner
she was going although she knew from the feeling
of the ground under her feet that she was descend
ing. still softly, but more quickly than at iirs In-
great wind coming in her face, cold as from sud
den vacancy She turned her head quickly from
gazing above to what before her, and started
with a cry of wonder For below lay great gull
of darkness out OF which rose at first some
shadOwy peaks and shoulders OF rock all falling
away into a gloom which eyes accustomed TO the
sunshine could not penetrate. Where she stood
was the edge of the hght-before her feet lay line
.of shadow slowly darSenlng out OF daylight INTO
twilight and beyond into that meaSureleSs black
mess OF night: and the wind in her face was like
that which comes from great depth below OF
either sea or land-the sweep OF tie current winch
moves vast atmosphere in which there is nothing
10 break lis force The little pilgrim startled
by these unexpected sensations that she caught the
arm of her guide in her sudden alarm, and chung
10 him lest She should fan INTO the terrible dark
ness and the deep abyss below:
There is nothing TO fear be said " there Is a
way. To US who are above there is no danger at
nll-aud it is the way of life TO those who are
below"
Il see nothing" she cried save few points
of rock, and the precipice--the pit witch IS below
Oh, tell me what Is IL IA not ,birn ,hat v ar
true. Let me go and hide myself and not see it,
for never thought that was true
Look again" said the guide
n go. lin shranl, lntn 4 creYice Of the