The Chilhowee echo. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1899-19??, 1899-12-23

purity.
Thou hast an ideal which long thou hast
sought,
And if thou doest as | bid thee do,
This twilight shall be thy life's radiant
morn.
Soon, shall leave thee, but before 60
this rock.
At that moment the maid shall appear
When first you see her, | bid thee arise,
Go to her and offer this rose of red
which | have given thee.
If she shall then give you rose OF spot
less white,
It shall be as token of loves holy
night
And assurance to you.
| bid thee, BE of good cheer
AS spake the prophets of old,
For 10, 1 am with thee, and will give
thee aid.
Be not afraid.
In doing as babe thee thou hast proven
Perfect faith.
Be thou faithful unto death"
! Before | could realize it, the spirit
smote the rock,
And then was gone.
Instinctively, l looked toward the cot
tage, and my eyes beheld,
Such maid as the spirit described.
| had expected to be dazzled to be daz-
ed by her beauty,
But was not.
| advanced to meet her, as the spirit
had directed me to do,
And offered her the rose of red.
| l. 30. 1
Loosened rose of pure and fragrant
white
And gave it to me.
l led her to a seat, where, with the
spirit l had sat.
At first | was pleased, but that was all.
She was both sweet and beautiful.
Her ways were pleasantness and her
paths were peace.
The longer remained in her presence
The more discovered, the more | adj
mired and esteemed her.
At last the day ended. Others came
and went.
Each day | was with her, saw her, and
learned her better.
Now, | began to see that all the sor-
rows of the past,
. All the disappointments ] had suffered
: Now served 70 teach me better and
higher appreciation
OF this lady fair.
The sunshine of peace and happiness
Dispelled every hanging cloud of gloom.
, l now heard ''sweet voices of the night
And children sweetly singing
Hosanas and hallelujahs.
There was sunshine and music in my
soul.
What wondrous transformation,
Night was gone.
The Radiant morn had dawned at
last"
= What tongue can describe,
What pen depict,
5 What brush portray,
What words can tell,
The JOY of the heart
Filled with immaculate and unseltish
= love?
Me thought saw this love grow to its
full fruition,
Winning for me commensurate re-
ward,
The treasure sought.
One magnificent evening" this fair lady
and |
D Were sitting on the same rustic seat
Where my fairy spirit had led me be-
/ fore.
I told her of my love, in simple and
truthful vein,
And asked her to crown true hearts
appeal and devotion,
With the diadem of her own spotless
love.
| know not what ensued.
Human existence seemed to cease, anc
!, in it's place there came
Joy supreme, and life divine.
As to her answer and how it was given
All | can remember is this:
| felt the touch of soft white hand,
And head crowned with queenly
tresses
Resting on my shoulder.
| heard her speak,
d In accents soft and low,
And knew that she was mine.
n Such dazzling brightness | had never
!; Such swelling joy and pride had never
d known.
In an instant heard sound
Which came floating out upon the even
il ing air
Y From nearby chapel window.
Twas the sound of an organ
:. The notes of sacred offertoire.
Every note, every sound from thi
''King of instruments"
Touched a responsive chord in my owl
heart
Which sang an endless "Halleluial
" Amen"
Time seemed linked to the golden shore
|, of eternity.
And life was happiness, love, and peace
Y AS the notes of the organ died away,
We bowed our heads in silent prayer.
The Angelus was ringing.
The prayers were for Heavens Omni
d potent protection
And Gods holy care of a love we cher
3, ished.
Sunlight is now streaming into m
room.
If Suddenly | awake.
20 Yes, it was but DREAM
San Idyll of a Dream.
" But, the dream Is picture, a revela
ton and an inspiration.
4 I prize this dream, and will cherish 1t
memory,
Because, the lady fair, the ideal of tn
IN dream,
Was no other than you.