The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-06-29
COmminS Tomorrow.

vent sermons rector breaches. do
we really believe what we hear III
church? Or is it only a dream"
~ do believe" said my wife earnest
Nv (she is a good woman, mywlte)
"Yes, I do believe, but is just as you say.
Oh, dear! I feel as if I'm very worldly
Il have so many things to think Of"
and she sighed.
So did L; for knew that ], too, was
very worldly.
After a pause + said, 'Suppose Christ
should really come-suppose it should
be au~thoritatively announced hal he
would be here tomorrow"
II think" said my wife, There
would be some embarrassment on the
part of our great men, legislators and
councillors, in anticipation of a person
al interview. Fancy meeting OF the
city council to arranged reception for
the Lord Jesus Christ"
"Perhaps," said I, ''he would refuse
all offers of the rich and great. Per.
haps ou fashionable churches would
plead for his presence in vain. H.
would not be in palaces"
"Oh," said my wife earnestly, IF L
thought our money separated us from
him, l would give it all-yes, all
might I only see him."
She spoke from the bottom of her
heart, and for. moment her face was
glorlfied. =,
'tYou will see him some day" said
7, land the money we are willing TO
give up at a word for him will not keep
him from u.s."
That evening the thoughts of the
waking hours mirrored themselves in
adream, I seemed to be walking in
the streets, and conscious ola strange,
vague senses of something just declar-
ed, of which all were speaking with a
suppressed air of.mysterious voices.
/ heard one say to another, Greatly
coming? What? Tomorrow? And
the other said, eyes, tomorrow be
will be here"
1t was night. The stars were gilt
tering down with a keen frosty light;
the shops glistened in their bright al
ray; but the same sense of hushed eX-
pectancy pervaded everything. There
seemed to be nothing doing; and each
person looked on his neighbor as II to
say, "Have you heard? ~
Suddenly, as I walked, an angel-form
was with me, gliding softly by my
side. The face was solemn, serene
and calm. Above the forehead was a
pale, tremulous, PHOSPHORUS radiance
of light, purer than any on earth-a
light of quality so different from that
of the street lamps that my celestial
attendant seemed to move in q sphere
alone.
Yet, though I felt a sense of awe, J
felt also q contiding love as I said
Tell me, is it really true? Is Christ
coming?"
He is" said the angel. "To-mor-
row he will be here"
"What joy!" 1 cried.
lis it joy? said the angel. 'Alas,
to many in this city it is only terror!
Come with me-"
In a momentI seemed to be standing
with him in one of the chief palaces
of the city. \ stout, ford, bald-head'
y ed man was seated at table covered
papers, which he was sorting e
with nervous anxiety, muttering to
himself as he did so. On a sofa lay a
sad-looking, delicate woman her en-
aciated hands clasped over a little
book.
The room was, in all its appoint
ments, a witness of boundless wealth,
vet the man himself seemed to have
been neither elevated o refined by
the confluence of all these treasures.
He seemed v and uneasy. He
wiped the sweat from his brow and
spoke:
az don't know, wife, how you feel,
but I don'tlike this news. 1 don't un-
derstand it. 1t puts a stop to every
thing 1 know anything about"
ooh, john" said the woman turn
ing toward him a face pale and fervent,
and clasping her hands, chow can you
say 80 ?"
"Well, Mary, it's the truth. I don't
care it I say it. I don't want to meet
well, I wish he would put it off.
What does he want of me? I'd be
willing tt make over-well, three mil
lions to fourd a hospital if he'd be
satisfied and let me 60 on. Yes, I'd
give three millions to buy off from to-
morrow"
She cast on him a look full of
pity.
Cannot I make you see ?" she
said.
"No, indeed you can't. Why, look
here" he added pointing to the papers,
"here is what stands for millions. To-
night it's mine, and tomorrow it will
all be sc much paper; and then what
have L left! Do you think [ can
rejoice?. I'd give; I'd I'd give
the whole, not have him come
these three hundred years." She
stretched out her hand towards him,
but he pushed it back.
"Do you see ?" said the angel, to
me, solemnly. "between him and her
there is>a great gulf fixed. They have
lived in one house with that gulf be-
tween them for years. She cannot go
to him; he cannot 60 to her. To-mor-
row she will rise to Christ as a dew
drop to the sun; and he will call on
the mountains and rocks to fall on
him-not because Christ hates him;
but because he hates Christ"
Again the scene was changed.
We stood together in a little low
attic, lighted by small lamp-how
poor it vas "a broken chair. a rickety
table, a bed in the corner where the
little ones were Guiding close to n
another for warmth. Poor things !
The air was so frosty that their breath
COuSedleu upon Ile peu ClOtues, dS tney
talked in soft baby voices {: "When
mother comes she will bring US some
supper" said they. But I'm 30
cold," said the little outsider.
Get into the middle them" said
the other two, land we will warm you.
Mother promised she'd make a fire
when she came in, if that man would
said the oldest boy, she never pays
mother if he can help it,"