The Bessemer indicator., 1893-04-22

Ne YoSp1s Sno dSo cbo3&81 Vtu 4&ll
u white b. that ! spu1d dAsst!ba
that hall so you. II wss bet marble.
It WAS not crystal. 1t was not gold.
but light, pure light in consolidated
form. 1t was the moon, without its
| GOODNESS, 1t was the sun without its
dazzling ray, and within was a stair
case mounting upward all OF light.
and saw 1t touched by the snowy
feet and spotless garments Of those
who ascended. 1t was indeed passing
fair, but 1t made me shuddsr aud
turned away.
As turned / saw on the lowest
step one looking at me with an in
terest 80 intense and u manner SC
anxious, that stopped to hear what
he had to say. lie askad me in a
voice like liquid music:
"Why do you turn away Is
thore peace elsewhere! Is there
pleasure in works OF darknessa" |
stood in silence. He pressed me to
enter. but | neithor answered nor
moved. Suddenly he disappeared.
and another took his place, with the
same look and manner. | wished to
avoid him but seemed rivetsd tc the
spot.
cart thou come so far" he said,
land wilt thou lose thy labor' Put
off thine own garments and take the
white livery here" He continued to
press me till got weary and angry,
and said:
IL will not enter. do not like
your livery and / am oppressed by
your whiteness.
He sighed and was gone. Many
passed by me with looks OF mingled
kindness and pity, and urged me to
follow on with them. and offered me
hand up the stairs which led to
their mysterious change; but | re-
jected them and stood melancholy and
distressed.
At length one bright young mes
senger came up to mo. and entreated
mo to enter, with voice and manner
could not resist.
"Do not turn away" he said.
"where canst thou go! Do not lin
ger for why shouldst thou weary thy
self for naught. Enter thou, and
taste Of happiness. Do not all tribes
and oolors enter into that hall? Are
they not clothed and washed and
comfortedp"
He gave me his hand and I entered
along with him. Here was sprinkled
with pure water, and u garment OF
pure white was put upon me; and
knew not how, l mounted tho white
staircase with my happy guido.
., what light burst upon mo
when l reached the summit! mortal
words cannot describe it, nor mortal
fancy conceive it. Where are the liv-
ing sapphires, whore are the glitter
ing stars that are like the bright
radiance on which 1 stood2 Where
are the forms or the looks of love
that breathed in tho innumerable
company before mes sank down,
overpowered and wretched. | crept
self, for | felt that had nothing in
unison with the blessed creatures OF
such place.
AS ] gazed in speechless and
trembling amazement, one who saw
me left the company and came where
| stood.
why" he asked, art thou silent?
Come quickly and unite in the praises
of the Som
felt sullen anger in my heart,
and answered with sharpness,
al will not join in your song for l
know not the strain
He sighed and with look of hu-
initiating pity and surprise returned
to his place. About minute after
another came and addressed me as
he had done; and with the same
temper | answered him in the same
words. He seemed as il he could
have resigned his own dazzling glory
to have changed me. If heaven knows
anguish he seemed to feel it but he
left me and returned. What could it
be that put such Il temper in my
hearth AT length tho Lord OF that
glorious company OF loving hears oft
light and beauty, saw me, and camc
where l stood. l thrilled in every
pulse with awe l felt my blood
curdle, and my flesh upon me tremb!e.
but my heart grew hardened, and my
voice was bold. He spoke, and deep
toned music seemed to drop from his
lips.
"Why sittest thou so still. when
all around thee are glad? Come Join
the song for have triumphed! Come
join in the song for now my people
reign"
Love. ineffable. unutterable love,
beamed upon me. as though it would
have melted heart Of stone, but |
melted not. l gazed an instant and
then said:
Il will not join the song, for know
not the strain"
Creation would have fed ut the
change in his countenance! His glance
was lightning, and his voice thunder.
He said:
Then what dost thou herep"
The floor beneath me opened. the
earth quaked and l sank into consum-
ing fire. With fright, awolie
There was silenco for time, for
the sisters were struck with awe,
they considered tho dream-the i'm
preston it had made.
Anna" said they, 1--WE cannot
wish you to forget this dream. We
surely believe it to be from God.
Your description Of the holy city is
much the same US VIC find in the Bible,
The city hath no need of the sun nor
Of the moon to light it, for the glory
of God did tighten it, and the Lamb
is the light thereof. All who enter
there must put OF their own gar
ments, that is their own righteous
ness. and must be clothed with linen
clean and white, even in the right
eousness, OF the saints, and their
righteousness is OF me. saith the
Lord. Those that walk in the light
of it are those that have come out OF
great tribulation, and washed their
robes In the blood of tho Lamb 0.