The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-03
HE IS COMING TOMORROW Z
From the Pen of Harriet Reecher
Stowe.
Then Shall They See the Son of Man
Coming in . Cloud With Power ana
Great Glory; and When 1heso Thinss
Begin to Come to Psss, Then Look
Up For Your Redemption praweth
Nigh"

Nigh"
Then shall they see the Son of Man
coming in cloud with power and grest
glory. And when these things begin to
come to pass, then look up, for your re-.
demption draweth nigh.-Luke xxi. az,
comingi-The Son Of Man really com.
Ing into this world again in power and
glory. viii this really ever happena
WIN this solid, common place earth see
itP VIII these skies brighten and fash.
and Will upturned faces in this city be
watching TO see him coming?" So our
minister preached, In solemn sermon;
ana Tor moments. at times, felt q
thrill OF reality in hearing. But AZ the
weil-dressed crowd passed down the
aisle my neighbor, MIR. Stockton, whis.
pered TO me not 90 forget the meeting
OF the bank directors ON Monday even.
Ing and Mrs. Goldthwaite poured into
my wife's ear charge not to forget her
party on Tuesday; and my wife, as she
came out, asked me If 1 had observed
the extravagant toilet of Mrs. Penny-
man.
Ispoke of the sermon. "Yes.n said
my wife, what Q sermon!-so solemn
MY dear, by-the-by, don's forget to
change Mary's opal ring for diamond
one-dear mel The Christmas presents
were all 80 ON my mind. and that was
80 wrong OF me-"
my dear" said I, "sometimes a.
seems TO me as II oil our life was un.
real. We 20 to church. and the things
we hear Ia either true or false. II thew
are true, what things they are II we
are looking for that coming, we ought
70 ieei anu live differently from what
we dol Do we really believe what we
hear In church. or is it dreamf|
After . pause, / said, "Suppose Christ
should really come this Christmas, and
1t should be authoritatively announced
that He would be here Tomorrow
Thst evening the thoughts of the
waxing hours mirfored themselves In n
dream.
seemed to be out walking in the
streets, and to be conscious Of q strange.
vague sense OF something just declared,
OF winch all were speaking with q sup.
pressed air Of mysterious voices. There
WAS whispering stiffness arouna'
Groups OF men stand at the corners of
the streets, and discuss an impending
something with hushed voices. I heard
one say to smother. "Really cominoY
WhatP Tomorrow" And the others
said, Eyes. tomorrow"
IL was right. The stars were elim.
merinR down with keen, frosty light.
the shops glistened in their Christmas
array, and the same sense of hushed
expectancy prevailed everything. There
seemed TO be nothing doing, and esch
person looked wistfully on his neigh
Dor, as If to say, Have you hesrden
Suddenly, as walked, an angel form
was with me, gliding softly by my side.
Inc race was solemn, serene and calm,
above the forehead was pale radiance
OF light, purer than any on earth-so
different from that of the street lamps.
Yet. though felt awe, felt sort of
conhding love as said, Tell me-is IL
really .rueP Is Christ coming?"
HE is," said the angel "To-morrow
He will be here!"
What joy" cried.
"ls IL joy" said the angel. "Alas, to
many In this city 1t is only terror. Come
with me-"
In moment seemed to be standing
with him in the pArlor of one of the
cnier palaces OF the city. A stout, fiorfd.
oald- headed man WAS seated at q table
covered with papers, which ne was Sort
Ing over with nervous suxiety, mutter-
Ing to himself rs he did 10.
on sofa lay . delicate woman, her
emaciased hands clnsped over q little
pooh' Ane room was, In all Its appoint
mentS, witness of boundless wealth.
Gold and silver and gems, and foreign
furniture and costly pictures; everything
that money could buy was hesped to.
getner; and yet the man himself seemed
nervous ana uneasy. He wiped the
sweat from his brow and spoke:
~ don't know. wife. how you feel, but
don't like this news. I don't under
stand IL. II puts Q stop to everything
that know euyshing about"
"Oh, john" said the woman, turning
towards him face pale and fervant,
ana clasping her hands, show can YOU
say SOP"
We'll, Mary, It's che truth. don't
care II say IL. don't want to meet
we'll, wish He would put 1t off! What
does He want OF me? I'd be willing to
make over three millions. to found a
hospital IL He'd be satisfied aud let ma
go on. Yes. I'd give three uilliona--to
buy of from to- morrow"
us He not our best ffiend?.
BEST FRIEND" said the man. with q
look OF half fright. half anger. "Mary.
CONTINUED ON SIXTH pAeE.o