The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-02-28

up towards the heavens in a thoughtful
posture, and in the midst of a specula-
ton, stumbled and fell out of sight. Null
titudes were very busy in the pursuit of
bubbles that glittered in their eyes and
danced before them, but often when they
thought themselves within the reach of
them their footing failed and down they
sank. In this confusion of objects l OBJ
served some with scimitars in their
hands and others with weapons : no ran
to and fro upon the bridge thrusting sew
eral persons on trapdoors which did not
seem to lie in their way, and which they
might have escaped had they not been
thus forced upon them.
The genius seeing me indulge myself in
this melancholy prospect, told me that 1
had dwelt long enough upon It Take
thine eyes off the bridge" said he, and
tell me If thou seest anything thou dost
not comprehend" Upon looking up,
What mean,' said I. those great flights
of birds that are perpetually lowering
about the bridge and settling upon it
from time to time? I see vultures, har-
pies, ravens, cormorants. and among
many other feathered creatures, several
little winged boys that perch in great
numbers among the middle arches"
These said the genius, ARE envy, ava
rice, superstition, despair and love, with
the like cares and passions that infest
human life"
I here fetched a deep sigh. Alas"
said I. imam was made in vain; how is
he given away to misery and mortality
tortured in life and swallowed up In
DEATH" The genius. being moved with
compassion towards me, bid me quit so
uncomfortable prospect. Look no more"
said he, ION man in the first stage of his
existence, in his setting out for eternity,
but cast thine eyes on that thick mist in
to which the tide bears the several gen
erations of mortals that fall into it."
directed my sight as I was ordered and
whether or not the good genius strength
ened with any supernatural force, or dis
sipated part of the mist that was before
too thick for the eye to penetrate) I saw
the valley opening at the farther end and
spreading forth into an immense ocean
that had a huge rock of adamant run
ming through the midst of it and dividing
1t into two equal parts. The clouds still
rested on one-half of 1t, insomuch that L
could discover nothing in it, but the other
appeared to be vast ocean, planted with
innumerable islands that were covered
with fruits and flowers and interviewer
with thousand little shining seas that
ran among them. I could see persons
dressed in glorious habits, with garlands
upon their heads, passing among the
trees, lying down by the sides of foun-
tains, or resting on beds of flowers.
Gladness grew in me at the discovery
of so a delightful a scene. l wished for
the wings of an angel, that l might fly
away to those happy seats; but the gem
ius told me there was no passage to
them, except through the gates of death
that I saw every moment upon the
bridge. 1.-The islands," said he, that lie
so fresh and green before thee and with
which the whole face of the ocean ap-
pears dotted as far as thou canst see 1t
are more in number than the sands on
the seashore There are myriads of is
lands behind those which thou here dis
coverest, reaching farther than thine
eyes, or even thy imagination can ex-
tend itself These are the mansions Of
the good men after death. who, accord
ing to the DEGREES and kinds Of virtue in
which they excelled. are distributed
among these several islands, which
abound with pleasures of different kinds
and degrees, suitable to the relishes and
PROJECTIONS of those who are settled in
them; every island is | aradise accom-
modated to its respective inhabitants.
Are not these, Mira, habitations worth
contending for? Does life appear miser-
able that gives the opportunities of earn
ing such a reward? is death to be fear
ed that will convey thee to SO happy an
existence2 Think not man was made In
vain, who has suoh an eternity reserved
for him." l gazed with indispensable
pleasure on these happy islands. At
length, said l, Show me now, / be-
seech thee the secrets that lie hid under
those dark clouds which cover the ocean
ON the other side of the rock OF ada
mant" The genius making no answer I
turned about to address myself to him a
second time, but found that he had left
me then again turned to the vision
which I had been so long contemplating,
but instead of the rolling tide, the arch
ed bridge and the happy islands, 1 saw
nothing but the long, hollow valley of
Bagdad, with oxen, sheep and camels
grazing upon the sides of it.