The record-union., 1897-09-19
For the Record-Union.
A Dream.


OF sunlight and music and love;
Twas a vision both real and beautiful
Like vision of Heaven above.
The air was all fragrant with gladness,
1t breathed of an infinite rest;
There seemed naught that could mar the
sweet happiness
In that realm with its plenty so blest.
Yet I yearned with a strange new long
ing
For Something besides my throne:
O. what good were the flowers the fruit
and the bowers
To a soul living proudly alone?
For my stately palace of marble
And its gems l did not care,
OF what use was such art to surfeited
heart
With no one the rich feast to share?
I sat drinking Hopes rosy nectar
From a goblet of rudy gold
When, 10! to my side did a shadow glide
In somber hood. .unsghtly it stood,
And beckoned me pale and cold.
1t was Sorrow, the shade standing by me;
A sign of the cross she made
O Ter my heart as [ rose in wonder
wrapt
With senses a-daze, meath her search
And she led me down through a gloomy
glen
Which | fancied had never been trod-
For it seemed as tho through it Gods
light had ne'er shone
And the singing birds We're all mute
And the Winds icy breath whispered
DEATH DEATH
Like a ghost of it's voice afraid.
Once more, with the hand which 1 dread
She pressed on my brow her sign;
Twas the finger of pain that [ felt again
And with it came a writing flame,
Searching my half numb'd heart and
A Relish flood thro' the tortured blood.
Till | cursed, then prayed for a sip of
Or death, quick death, to be mine.
And she drew from her cloak what 1
Twas bitter, I knew at a glance;
To the dregs | must drink not from
What matterd? All life is chance!
Then she led me on thro' the darkness
Till my limbs all aweary were,
And the way was lonesome and thorny
And sharp rocks were everywhere.
AS one waits thro' a night for morning,
So in silence / struggled along
Till the dawn showed the grace Of my
guide, whose wan face
Revealed beauty in truth and my
wrong.
For her smile had an angels glory,
And her form was beyond compare;
When the sun rising bright, a rich ra-
dance of light
In a Cloud, as divine hov'ring round
her did shine,
And | fell at her feet in deep fear,
| Whilst her words clear and low came
With such stn love as the heart can scarce
bear.
Learn, child, by this dark path of sad
o. learn by the cross you wear,
That the inner strife for the holier life
Must be waged by a soul without fear;
That the heart must be free from all pas
And the heart to be pure must bear
pain;
That ali pleasure and pelf-sought from
Is wicked and worthless and vain.
Life is crowded with crosses and shad-
Yet it CLEANS with bright bars OF col l.
And these must be boarded, as meadows
Hoard sunshine each season untold.
Before oGd's great throne all are broln-
Your iiife's not your own, nor is gold;
And both should be given up for Others
So one love may the whole world en-
fold.
pray God in His infinite mercy,
To cleanse you from SOIL OF SIN
And then with firm faith and long fastins
A happier life begin
Walk with Him in the ranks of the
needy;
Be the help of the poor and distressed;
Do the humble work of thy Master,
So hereafter thou shalt be blessed
Sorrows voice ceased as winds of the
woodlands
In suspense at the coming of day..
But my heart message nlled was like
harp strings deep thrilled
Walked by joy on his wlng-s"eepinG
Ere she vanished as snow on a hillside.
She called one, who remained with me
still.
Her sweet child the young bride of my
heart. sore and tried,
Lovely Peace, with her salm OF good
will JOE BARBOUR.
Tn. A.cArnr,.n,s &c tea 81 NJ