The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-02-10
EsIBLEMs OF SNOW.
"a sad tales bestsIor winters

cemetery.
/ In the bright daylight, the ston
II figures ofmen aud angels had stood i
I harsh relief against the sombre back
ground of dark cedar trees; but no,
! the figures were softened until The
faded imperceptibly into the colder
ether.
We wandered among the differen
lots Of this vast ssGod's acre" until GU
minds became confused with the mul
titude OF designs they had contem
plated.
/ All were somewhat similar and al
were equally meaningless to US tina
had never kown the dead that lay be
4 meath them. Experience taught U.
that the handsomest slabs and statue.
were erected 10 those who had been
rich in life.
|. So that, as we were strangers in the
city we left the grounds, having only
that indefinite
/ "Feeling of sadness and longing,
That is not akin to pain.
But resembles sorrow only.
AS the mist resembles rain"
/ However, when we reached the
hotel all such mystical unhappiness
was dispelled by the merry talk and
laughter of the guests.
Nevertheless, in my dream, the
picture of the cemetery with its gleam-
ing marbles, its dark aud mournful
cedars aud its small mounds of earth
! was once more present.
But, in place of the golden glory,
the sky was covered with steel-blue
clouds, and the snow was falling
silently. Finally the snow became SO
thick that the whole burial ground
was transformed.
And instead of the memorials
erected by man.. there lay on each
grave an emblem of ruling principle
of the sleeper's life. There, where,
before, we had found only wooden
slab giving the name of woman. now
appeared beautiful flower bed flied
with stately lilies aud firmly modelled
olive branches. The winds from
heaven swaycd these snow flowers
tenderly, causing the petals Of the
lilies 10 brush the one unbroken chord
Of a shattered harp that lay upon the
nearest grave. Whenever it was
touched, this chord trembled into
music. 1t breaihed the low, sweet un-'
derione of love that flowed through
vanished life. Harps, similar to this
one, rested upon many Of the mounds.
Some Of them were entirely whole,
but almost all of them had only a few
strings left. Complete harmony is
rarely found in any life. However i'm
perfect they were alone, though, these
fragments together formed a ficlI
melody. Many aspirations seem dis
cords to US, because we view them
singly, and cannot see athc glory of
the sum of things" 1t is only when
tie individual life is in sympathy With |
the universal life that music is pro-
duced.
Then, whenever the wind spirit
passed through the white solitude, her
garments brushed the chords of these
harps so that they vibrated into a
mighty anthem that tbrobbed through /
the gray atmosphere until it reached
The throne of God.
Upon many of the graves, where
here were no harps, there lay beauti-
ful crowns of snow, wrought in ex-
luisite minute designs, and illunlina-
ed with jewels Of ice. These crowns,
however, were lined inside with hard
'rozeu points, SO that should person
wear one, these small spikes would
pierce in on the braiu with dim,
iilating pain"
The crowns represented the fulfilled
of those that slept beneath.
come had struggled for fame, some
or wealth and some for worldiness.
each that had gained his prize, knew
t was beautiful only 10 those that did
lot have TO bear its weight aud misery. !
After looking at these emblems Of
arthly strife, noticed for the first
ime, that there were hundreds of
now crosses with wreaths of thorns {
pom them standing ut the heads of
large number Of mounds. These
ymbols were their own interpreta-
ion.
Outside, the icicle crowns looked I
arsh aud penetrating, but / found
he inner circles of thorn wreathes
'ere lined with soft snow models Of
lst little flower.the arof Bethlehem.
A crash Of music broke my rcverile.
he night was both warm and clear,
nd tho brilliant efara that xvhirsof1 c