The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-02-28
THE VISION OF MIRA
Joseph Addison in the Spectator.

Joseph Addison in the Spectator
~ the fifth day of the moon, which.
according to the custom of my
- forefathers, I always keep holy,
after having washed myself and offered
up my morning devotions. ascend the
high hills of Bagdad, in order to pass the
rest OF the day in meditation and prayer.
AS l was here refreshing myself on the
tops of the mountains I fell into pro-
found contemplation of the vanity of hui
man life; and passing from one thought
to another, surely said I, man Is but a
shadow, and life dream. Whilst I was
thus musing I cast my eye toward the
summit of a rock that was not far from
me, where I discovered one in the habit
of a shepherd, but who was in reality a
being of superior nature. drew near
with profound reverence and fell
down at his feet. The genius smiled upon
me with a look of compassion and affa-
biity, that familiarized him with my
Imagination and at once dispelled all the
fears and appreh ensions with which 1 ap-
preached him. He lifted me from the
ground, and taking me by the hand,
'Mirza." said he, u have heard thee in
thy soliloquies; follow me-"
He then led me To the highest pinnacle
of the rock; and placing me on the top
of it, Cast thine eyes eastward" said
he, land tell me what thou seest." IT
see," said I, "a huge valley and a pro-
digious tide of water rolling through it."
1.-THE valley that thou seest, said he, lis
the vale OF misery; and the tide of water
that thou seest is part of the great tide
of eternity" What is the reason" said
l, that the tide I see rises out of a
thick mist at one end and again loses it
self in a thick mist at the other endT'
what thou seest," said he, sis tho, por-
ton of eternity which is called time,
measured out by the sun, and reaching
from the beginning of the world to its
contamination. Examine now" said he,
this sea that is bounded by darkness at
both ends and tell me what thou dis
coverest in it." Il see a bridge" said 1
standing in the midst of the tide" 1.-The
bridge thou seest," said he lis human
life, consider it attentvely." Upon a
mere leisurely survey of 1t 1 found that
arches with several broken arches, which,
added to those that were entire, made
up the number about hundred.
As l was counting the arches the gem US
told me that this bridge consisted at first
of a thousand, but that great food
swept away the rest and left the bridge
in the ruinous condition / now beheld it,
But tell me further" said he, what
thou discoverest on it." Il see multitudes
s,f CD = 7
black cloud hanging on each end OF it"
As 1 looked more attentively l saw sew
eral of the passengers dropping through
the bridge into the great tide that flow
ed underneath it, and upon further ex-
animation perceived that there were in
Vulnerable trap doors that lay concealed
in the bridge which the passengers no
sooner trod upon than they fell through
them into the tide and Immediately dis
appeared These hidden pitfalls were set
very thick at the entrance of the bridge
80 that throngs Of people no sooner broke
through the cloud than they fell into
them. They grew thinner towards the
middle, bur multiplied and lay closer to-
gether towards the end Of the arches
that We're entire. There were indeed
some persons 1T their number was very
small, that COZ 1ued kind of hobbling
march on the Token arches. but fell
through. one after another, being quite
tired and spent after 80 long a walk
passed some time in the contempla-
tion of this wonderful structure and the
great variety of objects which 1t present.
ed. My heart was filed with deep mel
ancholy to see several dropping unexpect-
eddy in the midst Of mirth and jollity and
catching at everything that stood by them
to save themselves. Some were looking