The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-05-20
Tho Mother In Paradise.

Eugene Field in Chicago Record.
4 mother came to the gateway of heaven. She
was aged and weary. Her body was bowed and her
face was wrinkled and withered for her burden
had been the burden of care and trouble ana sor-
row. SO she was glad to bc done with life ana to
seek ut the gateway of heaven the fuldIlment OF
the promisemcnt of the promise that had been
heI soiace through all the hard bitter years.
An angel met the mother at the gateway and put
her arms about the dropping figure ana spoke
gracious, tender words.
'Nhom seekcst. thou?' asked the angel.
al seek my dear ones who came hithcr before
me- answered the mother. ''Theyare very many
my father, my mother, my husband my children
they all are here together, aud for many ana weary
years have lived in my loneliness with no other
thing to cheer me but the thought that should
follow them in good time"
''Aes. they are here and they await thee said
the angel. Lean upon me, dear mother and L
will lead thcc TO them"
Then the angel led the way through the garden
of paradise and the angel and the mother talked
as they walked together.
81 am not weary now" said the II other, land
my heart is not troubled"
at is the grace of heaven that restoreth thee,
dear mother" quoth the angel. "Prescntiy thou
shalt be filled with the new life and thou shalt be
young again; and thou shalt sing with rapture
and thy soul shall know the endless ecstasy Of
heaven
1
mother. 81 care only to find and TO be forever
with my beloved ones.'
As they iourneyed in their way a company came
to meet them. Then the mother saw and knew her
dear oncs-even though the heavenly life had
GloTihcd their countenances the mother knew
them, and she to greet them and there was
great JOY to her ana to them, Meanwhile the an
gel kept stcadlastly at her side.
Now the mother, when she had embraced her
dear ones. looked NJ each of them separately once
more. and then she said: "Ne are indeed my be-
loved-my mother, my Their, my husband and
my children hut there is one who should be of
your company whom do not see-my babe, my
little helpless babe that came hither alone 50 many,
many years ago My heart fainteth, my breast
vcarncth Tor that dear little lamb Of mine Come,
let us 80 together and search for her. or await me
here under these pleasant trees while search and
call in this fair garden for my dear, lost little
babcr
The others answered never a word But the an
gel said: Il viii 80 with thee, mother. and to-
gcthcr we shall hnd thy child"
rs they went on their way the angel said Shall
! tell thee of myself? For was u little helpless
babe when came hither to this fair garden and
into this heavenly lie"
''Perchance thou knowest her, my precious
lamhkinr cried the mother
81 was a babe when came hithcr, said the an
gel. "Sce how ! am grown. ana what happiness
hath been M ne! The compassion Of divinity hath
protected and io-tcrcd me and hath led me all
thc,, years IN tlr peace that pasSeth all human
understanding. tod hath Instructed me in wis
dom, and lie shall instruct thCc too, for all who
come thither are as children in His sight and they
shall grow ia wisdom aud in grace eternally"
..Iiut my habe-uly own lost little one whom ]
have not heid in these arms for 80 many weary
ycars-sllan she not still be my little babe, and
shall not cradle her in my bosum2' asked the
mother
"Tly child shall be restored TO thee said the
angel. "lor Size yearneth for thee even as thou
ycar.c,t ion her Only with this difference dear
mother: Thy child hath known, in the grace OF
heavenly wisdom, that at the last thy earthly sor-
row should surely be rewarded with the joys OF
the endless reunion in paradise"
'.ihcn she hath thought OF me and longed for
me 10 come, cried the mother "And my lost
hgre shah BE- restored and shall know her mother
again.
LAY, she ioyejh thee foudy," said the angel,
'and she hath awaited thy coming, lo, these many
years. Presently thine eyes shall he opened anu
thou shall see her standing before thee in heaven
ly rimvnl Whittier than snow, and abodt her nec,
thou shalt see hcr wearing most precious pearls
the tears which thon hast shed, oh lonely
mother when are the pearls the little ones in
heaven gather up and cherish adonment
most pleasing unto God and them"
Then the mother felt that her eyes were opened
and she turned looEed upon the angel And the
mother saw that that angel was her lost beloved
child whom she was seeking; not the helpless
babe that she had thou INT 90 find, hut "a maiden
OF such heavenly beauty and GentlcncsS rs only
the jewellers in paradise behold and know. Ahu
the mutHrr spread her arms ANA gave great cry
OF Jos and lu.dcd her very dear one 10 her bosom
1ucn prt-cuJly they returned together 70 lac
others. And there Was rapturous acclaim phr
adisp ami % was Gub'S sweet plea~anre that II
was 80. tor q muthtr and her beloved COmmuncd
m the hoy companionshp OF love everlasting.