The National tribune., 1894-04-26
THE ,,R,pGE DIFFICULTY,
which Spans the Chasm Between the
Nights Aspiration and COnsummstion.

which Spans the Chasm Between the
Nights Aspiration and COnsummation.
By Kate Brosrnlce Sherwood
was in "A strange country, and strange were
the people around me. Fair and pleasant was
the valley through which they were stroillng;
bows and girls and young men and women from
the villages not caring whittier they were go
ing.
They were out on a Spring holiday, and the
air was sweet aud pure and the birds chirped
in the grasses or scared on sudden wing above
them, and hope sang songs IN their hearls ana
oil nature was wreathed in smiles of gladness.
Aud they went on and on, until at last the
grass grew snarsely. and here and there were
matches of cinders, where no green thing grew;
and when they had sat foot upon the clnders
they gave forth harsh, grating sound and
roughened the bright shoes they were wearing.
Suddenly they became aware of vast
mountain rising before them, dim and shad-
oWy, though the sun shone brightly. And 1t
lured them on and on, until the grass had dis
appeared entirely from the cinders and their
feet were burned and their shoes torn and
ragged but they needed not, and kept on
steadily over the pathless waste.
They took no thought of each other any
more and if one dropped down on the burning
einders he was left TO die alone: and the young
men were old men now, and the boys and girls
were men and women grown.
At last they came to the foot Of the mount
ain and it was bare and arid, and many COM
panies were there from many directions and
some tOiled wearily upward. though no two
went the same way, for there was no beaten
path to the mountain-top.
At the foot OF the mountain there was little
oasis in the midst of which vine -~reathed
cottage stood. And in the door they saw man
of very benevolent aspect, and ne said:
Whittier are you going?"
And they answered Alas we know not
for we are far from home and night comes on
space. Tell US, we pray thee, what we shall
DO"
And be said: Know ye not, then, that this
is the Hight of Aspiration, and that on the
summit is the Bridge Difficulty, which spans
the cbssn lying between the Hight OF AspiTs-
tion and the Hight of Consummation
And they said: Alas, we knew it not Tell
rs, then, what We shall do"
o And he looked upon them in holy pity and
be said: How thenghtless are the children of
men. They go forth at morning not thinking
whittier they going. And they cross the
fragrant meadows and the lowery meads sing
ing, and they set their feet on the waste places
singing. aud no thoughtful prudence shapes
their Steps.
"But 10 turn back ye cannot, and only By OBJ
serving strictly what l tell you can you mount
the Hight of Aspiration and cross the Bridge
Difficulty, and stand at last on the Hights of
ConsumnatioH, in the Gardens of Delight, kept
by the sons Of God, where whatever you long
for shall be given you"
And he said: There are many lights set on
the Hight of Aspiration, and some are false
and some are true. Give no heed 10 the great
light Of red and blue and divers cOlors, for uu-
der them lie great pitfalls, and no one who has
followed them has ever reached to the top
Follow steadily the small white lights set
low down in the rocks, and give no heed TO the
voices crying Come TO tie right side or Come
fof he left sid I'm SIR fultt tn flfa
And when you have reached the top pass
steadily along TO the Bridge Difficulty and set
instant foot upon ii, or you will never pass over
and be at rest"
Then / saw them, great company, ascend
the Hight Of Aspiration, and some ran eagerly
st the FIRST, and before very long they sat down
70 rest, and sitting there lost all hope and de-
sire
And some listened to the voices and swerved
to the right side TO the left side, and were
lost in the pitfalls that were spread for them.
Aod of those who after arduous climbing.
neared the top, some stopped 20 talk with the
mnititudes who were camping there and talk
ing of the dangers Of the Bridge Difficulty,
and so stopping never went on.
Few there were who passed through the
crowds and went steadily over the mountain
plane TO set instant foot the Bridge Diff
Guilty. And as they went on great fear possessed
the most Of them, for all around the air grew
yawn and the noise of angry waters rose threat
eningly from the gulf below.
All around them were covering crowds with
blancned faces, aud wild, hollow eyes, from
which all tears had fed, and they spakc not,
but motioned back the advancing company
with their long, bony arms.
Then, one by one, the advancing company
fell back, and now there was but little group
passing fearlessly up to the ehasm; and the air
grew darker and the waters in the gulf grew
louder, and at last one could see spanning the
gulf like dipping black cable. the Bridge
Difficulty, connecting the Hight of Aspiration
with the Hight of Consummation.
Then my heart stood in ny mouth aud great
fear came over me, for never halting, and with
steady steps, the little group OF men and
women were at last upon the brink Of the
chasm, and had set instant foot on the Bridge
Difficulty; aud thousand feet below them
gurgied and roared the black waters OF the
gulf
And when ] would have fallen as one dead,
behold at my side the man of benevolent as
pect. and be said:
Mind you not what told you at the fo6t of
the Hight Of Aspiration, that only those who
followed the white lights steadily to the top aud
PAID no heed TO the false voices and stopped not
20 daily with the multitudes on the top and
who sat instant foot on the Bridge Difficulty,
could ever cross the deep chasm 70 the Hight Of
COnsummation?"
And when / had answered that remembered
he said 10 ne:
Look yonder."
And looked, and behold the little group had
safely crossed the Bridge Difficulty, aud radi-
ant beings in white garments met them And
my onpanion said:
Those are the sons OF God, and they lead
them TO the Gardens Of Delight aud there what
ever they wish for shall be granted them"
And said 20 my companion. will you cross