Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-04-01
OF EASTER EGGS


As Winnie and | talked we sat dowf
on a fallen tree trunk: the ground al
about us was carpeted with spring
flowers. blue and white yiolets, Solo
mons seal. tiny yellow sorrel. BABY
bluets, and pink. coral-like drops o.
Indian hemp and all were in profu
sion. In truth. / think there never was
so sweet morning, and so lovely 6
spot in which to talk of Easter ano
Casters Lord
1t was so natural there, with natures
beauty all about US. to remember the
sepulchre in the garden and the rock
hewn tomb, where with reverent care
Joseph. the rich man of Arimathaea
laid the body of his crueified Lord
And then. the sacred history tells us
he rolled great stone to the door OF
the sepulchre, and departed.
Near this sepulchre thus the legend
runs-there grew stately tree. laden
with early fruit buds. and pendulous
leaves, and deep in the green of the
thick-leaved boughs a beautiful bird
sat singing beside the nest she had
built with patient labor of fluff and
straw, and bordered with moss, soft
and green like malachite: and safe
within the nest there lay four eggs of
white. pure and stainless as newly
fallen snow.
Now when the little bird beheld the
body of the cruciied Lord wrapped in
a clean linen cloth. and laid in the
tomb, when she looked on the holy.
pale face, and saw the dear feet and
hands pierced with the cruel nails, her
song of joy became Il song of woe, and
all night. long that song continued, a
song of sorrow like the moan of ''the
wind with its wants. and its infinite
wall" And the bird sang on until the
grief of the world was turned to song
And the song did not end when. while
it was still dark through the gloom a
glimmering angel clothed !. in white,
swiftly sped from heaven to earth and
rolled the stone from before the
sepulchre. AS Christ. the Lord of Life
came forth robed in the glory of the
resurrection morning, the sun rose
over the eastern lis-Easter dawned
and "earth. and her various myster-
les. seemed touched with holy bliss as
holier things they symbolized."
And 10. as the bird on the leafy
bough beheld the heavenly wonder of
death swallowed up in victory" her
heart was filed with exultant glad
ness. that straightway turned the
songs of the night into morning songs
of joy-songs of cheer. so sweet. so
glad, 'the pastures clothed with focks.
and the valleys and the hills heard. and
they, too. shouted with joy. they also
sang When the angel heard this joy
Gus chant of universal praise. in which
every praise note was in tune with the
birds glad refrain. Rejoice, rejoice, .
he said: Sweet bird, be forever blest
myself. thy eggs and thy moss-bur-
dened nest" And
Ever since that blessed night.
When death bowed down to the Lord
of Light.
The eggs of that sweet bird changed
their hue.
And burn with red and gold and blue.
Reminding mankind Ill their simple
way.
or the holy marvel of Easter day."
This is the legend | told Winnie. |
read it long ago | do not remember
when or where, | only know
THUS with glories rich and bright.
Whisper the sweet voice of Faith,
Shall dawn for MS heavens holy light.
After the solemn night of death"
for Christ is risen. AS in Adam all
die, so in Christ shall all be made
alive" Thanks be unto God for his
unspeakable gift"