The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-02-11

aAtls restfuI repose i
ta's suddenly changed
to the sleep Of
death. The gladdest moment is some
times filled unexpectedly with the
crushing burden of sorrow. 10 the Ups
which have just been vibrant with the
joyous song may be pressed the bitter
cup Of anguish Upon the life Wnleh
has never known aught but peace ana
purity and happiness there may fall,
like lightning out of clear sky, the
weight of sudden disaster, or heart
breaking tragedy 1t is the perfect calm
which often is the prelude to the WIG
notes of the mad tempest
Such, man has learned, are the expert
ences which earth brings unbldden into
the life. And in Heaven once, at least,
did the angels know such experience.
Once in Heaven Gods will was broken.
Once the perfect peace which filled the
blissful realm was shattered by the roar
OF battle. Once the quiet industry OF
the busy place was interrupted by the
call to arms, and the martial tread OF the
angelic hosts. Once. once at least. as
Coos sacred record tells US, the govern
ment of Heaven was torn by awful re-
bellion, and upon the Celestial plains
was waged the fiercest conflict of the
ages.
There is no land SO fair and lovely
as that OF the Realm Of the Eternal and
Almighty One; no place where every
sound, whether the busy hum OF indus
try. or the song of praise, or the melody
of the harps OF many strings, or the
earnest converse of the angel tongues,
blend in which perfect harmony; no
country where every activity is SO
marked by wisdom and perfect utility.
And never was the place more beauti-
fu1, never was the harmony of every
sound more perfect, never was the ac-
tivity of the realm more kindly and
helpful and profitable than during the
period just preceding the events OF our
story. From the distant province OF the
realm, presided over by the Archangel
Satan. To the near province where was
located the Palace of the Secret Pres
ence, all was perfect peace and har-
monx
Gabriel, the Arehangel, who '.standeth
in the presence of God" and rules over
the regions about the palace, was busy
directing the preparations for the con-
ference which was to be held that day
with Satan, the Archangel OF the dis
tant province, and Michael, the Arch
angel Of the province when lay between.
At last all is in readiness, and word
is brought by a swift messenger that
Michael and mis- retinue have entered
Gabrie1's province and are coming
towards the palace. Quickly the Arch
angel Gabriel summons his attendants,
and in stately splendor goes forth to
meet them. Glad welcome is spoken and
the music Of the attendant choir fills the
air.
In the name of the Father, Son and
Holy Spirit / greet thee, and welcome
thee to the Palace of the Secret Pres
ence. May thy coming be to the honor
and glory of God, and fruitful in His
service said Gabriel, as he embraced
Michael But where is the ArchangeI
Satan?' he quickly added. as he noted
that he was not in the company
Il know not, replied Michael, save
that he sent word at the last moment
and while | was awaiting his coming
to make the journey with him-that he
was detained, and thatI should proceed
ne 49,, !, Y
sent seemed either unwilling or unable
to answer the questions put to him,
and / could not discover the nature of
the business which detained him, nor
Just how soon he would follow
Thus in earnest conversation Gabriel
and Michael and the attendant angels
proceeded, and entered the spacious
wing of the great Palace where Gabriel
held court and conducted the affairs OF
his province.
And while they are waiting, let us
see what is transpiring in the distant
province.
That something unusual is on foot
there is at once apparent, The hurrying
angels. as they speed in excited groups
towards the mansion Of Satan, the Whls-
pered conversation and averted glance.
as though they feared the listening ear
or the observing eye of some unwelcome
foe; the feverisE haste o. Satan's spe-
cial ernissaries as they 90 hitler and
thither amidst the hosts Of the angels
already gathered: the atmosphere OF
emotion and hrooding pas
sion which elvefoped the place. all
spoke too plainly Of some momentous
event about to transpire.
Near the entrance to the mansion
there stands a group OF angels who at d
glance It IS seen are ef superior rank
Satan's close conidants and advisers.
They are evidently talking. over the ex-
perIences O. the past few days while
they wait the coming OF their chief, the
Satan. for one is overheard
TO say:
1T vas no easy task for me to win the
angels. of my division over to the prof
aet. but / note with satisfaction that
they are all here to-day. and to Judge
from their looks and their words the
seeds of rebellion which / soWed have
taken deep root and the speaker
ehuclled in a self-satIsded way.