Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1904-04-01

bay window OF the breakfast room 0p- |
pressed her When robin, one of the
earliest of the season, alighted in tree |
by the open easement and poured forth |
his little soul in n burst of melody, Ag- |
mes invountarily put her hands to her |
ears AT last she impulsively donned |
her wraps and fled from the house.
The home of the Norwoods was well |
out on the outskirts'of the city. Only |
mile away was beautiful Woodvalc |
cemetery. Spring had come early. The
snow was nearly gone, and in places the
ground was already quite dry. This !
Easter morning a south wind blew softly
and the warm sun fingered lovingly on
the low mounds in the sacred city of the
dead. 1t shone with particular bright
ness on one marked by a slender gran
ite shaft.
Agnes entered the cemetery and walked
rapidly down the avenue that lay nearest
this mound. Leaning her head wearily
against its monument, she remained mo-
tionless, with closed eyes and drawn
brows. What though the south wind
caressed so lightly the silent home of
the sleepers? 1t would pass on to riot
among scenes of gaiety. The sunshine.
too, would soon desert them for some
less lonely spot Darkness would come
as the darkness that had settled over her
life. How could there be light hearts
and songs and gladness in this sad, sad
world? Life was so pitifully brief, and
death was over all. Yea, life itself was
death. They had tried to tell her that
she would meet her dearest again, but
did they know? No, no, they could not.
And she was young yet. How could she
endure the long life that stretched be-
| fore her, the years that must pass be-
fore she could interpret the mystery of
| death? Oh, if she might only receive
some message, some least token that
Arthur still lived!
She shifted her eyes for moment
to the blue sky and then brought them
wearily back to earth. Close by the
monument q little pale flower, one of
springs first hepaticas, had pushed it's
frail petals above the ground and was
lifting its tiny head to the sunlight.
Agnes bent over it and tenderly drew
away the dead grass How came it
'AiNAN' iDy manu- 4NO, IL Luh
risen from the dead. Risen from the
dead she repeated softly to herself
Yes, it had died with the summer but
only to await earth's resurrection day,
when from the germ of it's old dead
self sprang this wondrous new life,
this pure and beautiful thing. She
touched tenderly its petals with a
strange feeling of awe. 1t seemed to
breathe out a message of hope and
trust, token of Gods own love. 1t
told her of the new life that begins with
the decay of the old, of Immortality
beyond DEATH of an eternity when
time shall end. 1t whispered of a
faith that is stronger than sight, and
of God of love.
Long Agner knelt over the little
blossom that spoke comfort to her soul,
untiEshe had come 10 learn that life is
not death. but death is life; that love
lives beyond the grave, for it is eternal.
Her heart was softened at last. Then
came tears like rain-the first that had
wet her lashes since that terrible day
When, after long time, the passion of
her sobs had worn away, she rose and
left the cemetery, taking with her the
little flower that had brought her mes
sage from him who though the doorway
of death, had passed into life.
The morning service in First church
was not yet concluded when little fig
ure clad in black entered softly and
stole into the first vacant pew. The
beautiful Easter lilies at the altar had
of H. 1,
congregation that morning. From the
pulpit came ,the closing words of the
sermon: Because l live, ye shall live
also" They are the words of the Sor
of God himself, who hath tasted deatt
for every man. In the face of this Di
vine attestation to the immortality Of
the soul, we canont but cry: "Oh. Death
where is thy sting? o Grave, where il
thy victory?"
Upon the hush that followed the min
q ister's words came the strains of tn,
great organ, which swelled and throbbeC
d with its glad message. The congregation
: arose and sang, Christ, the Lord, is riser
to-day"
With the last stanHa, voice of won
derful power and pathos rose abov,
: the others, and the people turned t.
see fair, sweet face, upon which shon,
e the light of faith triumphant, as Ag
mes Norwood sang the words, as sh,
: had never sung before:
Il Made like Him, like Him we rise,
: Ours the cross, the grave, the skies."-
u The Housekeeper.
e In Austria and Hungary.