Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-09-14
J P A r A D |. S e
By Eloise Jane Hunt.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

(From the New Orleans Ttnes-Democpad
by PermissioaA
THE young mother had been into the
dim shadows where Death and
Life struggle, and win or lose, just at
tbs happiest, sweetest, fullest hour
which had been hers, when love took
on 8 new and tender urselfishness,
when it's lifting, dancing measures
broke into the deep melody Of IN au'
them, and, as she drifted back into tho
light again, thus il was thas she han
wished and half prayed In her still
childish way that Death would never
take thin woman-c iild Of hers as long
Us Life held Happfness-thssl love Of
Life shosld be taSisman to'stay the
hand OF Death.
Thrice in the wcnan's ttfreeseore
years Deash had CONE to WOO her from
his brother Life out into the far be-
yond, that unknown land, that here
after which he called Paradise, and OF
which he spoke with aswondrous eao-
quence and'a great wiuchery.
When first he came ID was tust ut the
dawn of day, just rs the east was flush
ing In the faint rays OF the rising sun
and the birds twittersd In the trees;
shod with silence he glided through the
quiet halls end still hushed household :
among the watchers with wetifaoesa and
terror-touched eyes. All. unseenl
though they looked for his coming: he
went in the gray Of the spring MORN
ing into the sweet:sanctity of the giIls'
chamber. Pcnking on the Threshold
as IL 10th to enter an unbdden gusst.
he noted oil litswhitenessandits its dainty
simplicity; noted, too. an the, nanslin--
draped dressing: table II tiny silver
frame, with the pictusrdl faee- eff a
youth, an earnest, gravo facet. and
Death smiled ut the story Hut
he went to the bed d'where-Ahe lay asone
asleep, until she seemed tp,be already
Deaths own. He stood Beside hsr and
looked with sad eyes and oold, iinpah-'
sive brow at tia child wHo.was ais~for'
the taking. and ~ was lin tenderness
and with love. and pity sunpassihg tiis
human that he gazed on the fair YonnG
face, like an untouched lily leaf, taia
unwritten brow, the sweet childish
mouth. upon which the Kisses off Iowa
had left neither song noEhigh, tim sihnS
der little hands,. SO weak and Ehagil!r.
and he stoopedi and touRhedi hen with
his pulseless fingers as lie saids NY
child, you are ready, yonl are willing 10
come with rne 2 for l am your ft1iand-
and will givs. you eternal oalhn and
peace, n gift which human love aaill care
cannot bestow. l will take !eiu 10 II
land where N0u will newer l0sT yo'
youth; / wils save YOU from Life Lo
into the faces OF the aged, nG httls
maid, and read there of ull chnt Life
writes upon faces once us fresh and fall
as yours; an that love cptaifss all thai
heightened years give to those wh'
wait too long for me- the fever that II
ambition; the deliriam that is love; th'
chill that is regret; the eeaseiess an
guish of sorrow and disappointment
r that dims the eyes fixed upon the thing
of this world"
His voice had almost the wooing mt
the pleading of lover, as he saw In he
awakened eyes the cloudless, an
troubled soul of child.
From all this will save You. Com
II with me now before Life has taugh
n YOU to yearn for me, for come not q
your call. however sorrowing an
d loud"
The girl gazed upon him with gres
II wonder In her gentle, dove-like eyes
,e she quietly unclasped his hold and lai
d her fingers caressingly upon some fade
roses on the bed beside her. and st
said, as one repeats words OF foreig
tongue, all unlearned in their meaning
"Regret, sorrow, disappointment
what are these"
death went on: "Come. my chill
l. come with me to Paradise. TO the laI
n, where all Is serenity, all Is JOY and co
y tent; where the days nre all one as
other in their changeless. tranquil ha
e, piness." And then. us Death becaa
OF the more imperative, as he aga
%, touched her with his icy fingers. .
nr looked across the room until she II
is. the pictured face, and something II
ng frmness gathered and settled upon
childish textures. THAT Is not TIA
re- disc of which you tell me-" Then y
~ hesitated. but. looking straight a
direct into the close, stern face
Death. a little faint flush creeping II
her checks and sweet. unafraid wo
. anliness giowing upon her as
spoke: "1hut Is not Paradise. Pa
rs disc Is hery. because John is here"
a And Death went his way with emf
arms. ard when she walked the wat
ers said mat she wandered, still
d. was feyerlsh and distraught. althor
= ber eyes were placid and clear and