The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-04-08
10 be cantlnued.1
4 floral Easter Offering.

FoEEsToS, April 4.-There are moments
when the impeded circulation Of thought
comes to = solemn pause; when the mind,
wearied by the past, bewildered by the pres
crt, refuses to look beyond the conscious
ness that an over-mastering will has solved
for us, the great problems which have per-
picked our live.
Wearied by the past did we say? The
past On golden realm, peopled with
shadows, shall we sever the mystic tie which
bridges the clIasm between no,o and then,
which links the fretful present to the tran
quill days that are gone?
Such were the soliloquies of your CORES
rondent, waif of destiny, who watched
the tide of life flowing in the direction Of
tho MsthoaisL cnurcn, oh tne glorious Easter
morn Of 1891. 1t was soft, fair day.
Light, heecy clouds drifted across the daz-
Ziing sky, coQuetting with the golden
CLEANS as they danced over the quiet homes
Of Foreston, and gliding the church spires
peeripg bravely into the blue ether, voice.
less messengers from earth to heaven.
There were gracious touches from natures
magic pencil wnich transformed the forests,
in their silent grandeur, the yiolets in their
nests of green, and the sombre landscape,
into chef-d'auvre Of surprising beauty.
In the distance glittered the dewv plains,
"When stead Of one unchanging breeze,
There blow thousand gentle airs
And each different perfume bears"
Lovely forms and faces fitted by; we heard
the echo Of angels voices, and almost caught
the rustic OF their wings.
Spell-bound, we followed one of Fores-
tons $uirest nymphs, who gllded on, serene
ly unconscious of the havoc she had perpe-
trated in our young affections We entered
the church, just as the solemn overture OF
the organ died away, and the choir rendered,
with magnificent effect, the sublime Easter
hymn, "Christ arose." Over the chancel,
and in the recess, inscribed in letters OF
silver, were the sweet words, speaking to
the heart, Christ is risen, and "Our pass
over" Everywhere an Eden Of flowers met
the eye. They peeped out from pyramids
OF moss and ivy. There were other flowers,
too, with brown and violet eyes, forming
tabeaux of breathing lovliness. One, es-
pecially, stole our thoughts away from the
deep significance Of the day, with its radl-
ent memories, and hallowed associations.
And Mr.. Editor, it is our great misfortune,
to be always, too tate While we are hesl-
tating, trembling, fearing to turn the key
of destiny. some other fellow, not half as
good looking as your correspondent, steps
boldly forward, bears of The prize, and We
are left hors de combat.
But we digress. As we glanced around
the church, we saw many, whose kind faces,
revealed their gentle graces OF mind and
character We would like to live amongst
these people, whose purity, moral excel
lence, and genuine hospitality, have dis
PEELED dark shadows OF doubt and disap-
polntment, and encouraged US to look
cheerfully, to the future, where the fairest
flowers bloom, where the wine OF hope bub-
bles up to the lips Of the wearied pilgrim,
and, where, in the blue distance, sleep fairy
isles of JOY and love.
But now to our sweet Easter day, whose
sun set royalty behind banks of gold, GRIM
son, purple, and brilliant pink, melting in
to soft, rose-tinted gray. The day is dead,
but not its teachings. Far beyond the crys-
tai deeps does our prayer ascend, that the
lesson taught by the viewless flight of its
bIissful hours, may be one Of perfect peace,
faith, and hope. LIE NoIE.