The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-07-07
TO DEAR JAMIE.

sun was up, | was out on the porch.
The air was not cool, even then. but
the gray sky, only touched with a
streak of rose-colored cloud. was re-
freshing as a background to the vivid
green of the willows.
On account of not being able to use
my eyes for the past week, / felt such
hunger for books, to-day. as have
never felt before. and, as is usual with
self-indulgent people, it was not many
minutes before | ''fell too at the
banquet.
First, the Bible, chapter from the
New Testament. jamie, [ think the
scriptures are the finest literature in
the world. This is as original as say
ing "The sun is bright; = but you must
know the scales have not long been
from Off my eyes. l used to find it
| impossible to read either testament.
Now, the words of Christ are the chief
inspiration of my life. They have a
truth, a justice and a poetic richness
about them which even Shakespeare
lacks. Sometime, uust for an expert
ment, test the parallels. They are so
perfect, and utterly devoid of affecta-
ton. The heart of the matter is
probed at once-there is no waste or
extravaganza of language. Christ
speaks of the grape vine, and instantly
itrises..before us heavily ladened withits
fruited wine; also the picture OF the
husbandman, of the whitening branch
r |, full Of NJ
life and yigor.
One sees the blue sky of Gallilee
arching above it, and the laborers
sweating in their toll. 1t is altogether
proportionate. ~ am the trueivine and
my Father is the husbandman. Every
branch in me that beareth not fruit, he
taketh away; and every branch that
beareth fruit, he purgethit, that it may
bring forth more fruit" Isn't that
finishedp In Shakespeare, there are
faults of rhetoric, mixed metaphoric,
obscure figures of speech, etc. In the
New Testament, never is there any
thing of the kind. Then, as l said,
Christ doesn't falsify life. CThis state
ment is not made in the spirit OF
irreverence, but in the spirit of a child
that has. for the first time, discovered
an old, old fact.)
He tells us the trials are many, the
world is harsh, the temptations, great.
In this life, He promises but two
spiritual blessings, peace and character
In the world to come are found the
joys.
Then, jamie, what seems so beautiful
to me are the actual scenes OF the
divine life.
The Infant in the manger with the
fair young mother bending over him.
The wise men of the Orient. in their
costly robes. kneeling before Him.
Their keen, dark narrow eyes showing
all the mysticism of the East. The
rich gifts of gold and frank incense
and myrrh lying on the floor. Above
the weather stained roof of the stall,
the glorious effulgenee of the star of
Bethlehem, lending light to the dark
ness.
Afterwards the boy Christ, standing
in the Temple and expounding the
long history of the scriptures. Speak
ing without boldness, but with full
assurance to the old scribes that have
spent their lives in study.
Then, at the marriage of Gallilee,
blessing the water until 1t bushes into
wine.
Again the form, so beautiful and
strong; with the face of concentrated
power and sweetness looks from out
the Book OF. the centuries looks across
the sea, and at the rude fishermen on its
margin, knows the troublons depths of
the waters and the troublous depths of
of the heart. Afterwards, the King OF
Kings entering the gates of the city In
triumph. The long procession of gaily
dressed countrymen. The waving OF
the palm branches, in honor of the
Nazarene. The joyous entrance into
Jerusalem and the glad hosannas OF
the multitude.
Then. the spreading of the long
table for the passover. The upset.
ting of the salt cellar by Judas
Iscariot. The breaking of the bread,
the conservation of the wine, and
the washing of the feet of the disciples.
Too soon, after this, there follow
the agonized hour in dark Gethsemani.
the sword CLEAN of the enemies
weapons. beneath the pale cold moon.
The Identification of the Saviour,
the doom fraught words, s'Judas be-
trayest thou the Son Of Man with a
kissp'
Hurriedly, the mock trial before
Pontious Plate, the false witnesses,
the purple robe, the crown Of thorns,
the cruel yell of Cruelty Him; Cruelty
Him.
At last, the patient bearing of the
cross. by Simeon and its Victim, with
the reaching of the low brow of Col
gatha. Then, the sinking of the
crosses in the ground. The anguish
OF Mary, the mother of Jesus, and of
the other Mary and of John. The
long hours of torture. Finally the be-
ginning of the end. The veil of the
Temple is rent, the sun ceases to shine.
The earth trembles in cold blackness.
Above the fear stricken multitude
rings the cry, triumphant, of Father.
into thy hands l commend my
spirit and the perfect Christ is
dead! Confusion over the land of the