The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-10-28
BEATIFiC HEIGHTS.

-IarV'' u. OihTH, IN .. .. IIiueb.
BEATIFiC HEIGHTS.
A Ncritable Picture of Human Life and
Mortal Experience.
The weather, to begin with, was de-
pressing that day. Not that weather
should ever sensibly affect the spirits
OF anyone blessed with ordinarily good
health, or one surrounded with earthly
comforts, or most of all Christian
who hopes for Christ and Heaven some
day: that is, a visible Christ and a
visible Heaw n. But matters were az
gravated on 'ust that day to sn unusual
degree, for not only had the sun abso-
1utciy refused to show his bright face
for over three days, this making the
fourth, but dear friends had gone to the
distant city for visit, so robbing the
house of all kinds of sunshine, except
of course that perpetual light which
should, as before limited, have
an abiding place in prOperly-chastened
heart. 1t seemed doubly hard, in the
next place, that an errand of an imper-
atiye character must he performed, ne
cessitating long walk in the misty,
drizzly atmosphere-trylng enough with
pleasant company to beguile the muddy
way; but no willing feet could keep
pace with my own to-day, because of
that visit which had taken my loved
ones away, and left me behind.
1t became not only necessary, how
ever, but also philosophic and courage
ons to go straightway about necessary
exertion, without stopping either to
argue or repine. and SO the GRAND was
attended to, albeit the country roads
were heavy and difficult to travel, and
the murky skies sent down little pats
of rain, as if in too sulky and whimsical
a mood to clear up, and help tired NOR
tails to cheer up also.
The worst came at the foot of a
wcarisome hill. A glance upward
showed nothing beyond the apex but
the tops Of some tall trees and the low.
ering half-weeping heavens. Step by
step the laborious ascent was being &c
complished. when on looking up again,
the tops of high houses in an adjoining
suburb were plainly visible, and all
along the distant horizon was wide
break in the leaden clouds. Somehow
the sight was inspiring. "A little high
er up" came the thought, land the
whole view will be one to make the
heart glad" And sure enough, every
step upward showed more and more of
the fine houses just beyond, and at
every forward step that streak of light
broadened and increased in brightness,
until standing on the summit of the
dreaded hill, great thrill of joyous,
ness and relief found heartfelt ex.
preston. Not only they comely sub
urb, but the bright spired city be.
yond, were brought clearly out in the
broad belt of light now cleaning along
the western horizon. The place where
my beloved ones were sojournine
seemed enveloped in light, and the
brightness glowing above them was
fast approaching the place where my
owr footsteps were lingering in the
days fair cleaning. 81
such a veritable picture of human
,'fe and mortal experience! The simili
tude came pressing home with sucl
force as to impel half fearful, but com
plete recognition: Inseparable from
nearly every earthly career are misty
murky days and many high hill o
difficulty 1t makes no difference iI
the iron march of infiexible necessitie.
and requirements that beloved helper.
have gone over to the Othel
side" the lonely stretch o.
road must be traversed, ant
if it rains meantime, then even through
the rain one must walk alone. But
blessed be God, every difficult hill ha.
its summit and its inevitable beyond
And this strange hill Of life has tina
about it which pertains to no earthly
rminence whatever Man has no power
20 choose or to elect what shall lie be
yond the earthly hill his feet may have
to climb, but how much of sunshine
safety and glory shall attach to tn,
beyond" of mortal existence-hov
much of cheer and hope shall burs
upon him at the summit of all possibl,
achievement on this side of what i
called life--it is mans solemn, tremen
.ious privilege to decide. Every think
ing man and woman must have som,
defined idea of that city whose builde
and maker is God" lying beyont
earth's narrow bounds, and mus
also possess some consciousness o
what constitutes fitness to ente
the fair, celestial land. Not only tn
loved ones gone before, but its owl
nearness and brightness beckon us on
and there the Saviour waits to welcome
the brave, persistent climbers Wit
reach the jeweled gates. Every faith
full step taken in the present life is
step Heavenward. What matter it |
now the skies do frequently lower an
the rain fall as the hill of life stretche
before us? II can't be so very long
A: every step the distance shortens
The bright sunshine of ''the other side
can be imagined all the way along
sunshine as sure to greet the Christian
as il is certain that after this heetin
life comes the life everlasting.
On to the golden citadel they fare,
Aud as they 20 their limbs grow full z
might.
And One awaits them ut the topmost stair.
one whom they mad not seen, but knew Z