The Washington herald., 1910-08-07
Heaven but the Vision Of fulalled desire

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And he'll the shadow Of a soul on fre"
My mirror moves and ever moves to-
day. for I sit here and look in the flow
ing waters Of the creek, and all about
me and above there is a lattice of green
leaves. came out here-why?
am too happy TO stay in doors. Often
before I have come because I have been
too miserable to stay indoors I would
not let Jimmie come with me. I could
not bear that even he should speak to
me to-day. Ny Joy is sufficient There
IS a spirit that seems ever at my side.
ever about to break the silence. ever
breath on my cheek. It is Of no use &c
tell me 1t is the summer wind that lifts
my hair and kisses me with its fragrant
breath, for I know It is you, you you
God made me. and gave me a soul
to be my companion. Yet I never could
quite understand It. nor could it quite
satisfy me- / said the soul is all" and
sought TO feed 1t through my senses
with the exquisite beauty OF spring
mornings. with the exhalations OF the
scented night and was often happy and
absorbed. and the life that beat about
me. knew il not
But there was something that seemed
sitting. and It was always stretching its
arms outward. for It was always hungry.
and it would not let me sleep; nor could
IT be stilled by star. or music. or prayer.
or lovely vision. or rapturous thought.
Sometimes It lay stifed. heavy, all but
dead. Sometimes It awoke. arose, and
beat at it's prison bars. learned to look
in terror and dread for the awakening.
for I was the slave Of this rebellious
thing knew not and could not naaae. I
! searched the Scriptures and told my
beads and asked to be forgiven for what
1 had not done. but these were unavail-
ing. and the years passed. Life was
riddle; men and women an indistinct
mass-interesting. fun OF color, life. but
Ike a landscape TO an unappreciative
eye. a blur.
One day this bounding. quivering thing
lay wounded unto death, and I knew II
was my heart. Jack did that for me.
the greatest thing one person may ever
do for another-broke my heart. The
awful pain was but the throes Of birth
came into the kingdom OF understand
Ing; / came into the fellowship Of all
men and women who have ever suffered
that great society which gives life its
dignity. its worth. For the first time I
am a woman.
Jimmie. Jimmie, In spite OF everything.
you make your way with me, for YOU
have made me forget my pain and you
care for me. I cannot use that other word
which was once so dear. wonder why?
But you are restless now, and I am
happy all day long. although I know It
is a dangerous Soy.
There Is a story 70 the effect that our
friend, the Devil, took Christ to a high
place and there. with the cities OF the
world in view (the aggregation Of humaA
passions and pleasures typehed) the Holy
One was tempted Henceforth Christ had
a deeper insight into the human heart
What IS Il that possesses one when he
no longer heeds anything that may hap
pen save as It touches the all-controHing
central vibration-fire. light, love, call il
which you will Earthquakes may occur
IN divers places" There may be wars
and rumors of war" A new Atlantic
may rise and sink again into the sea:
there may be individual loss, pain. death
what are these? For this one there IS
but one reality. The busy brain suspends
its collection and correlation OF facts.
it no longer weighs and compares values;
it goes on receiving Impressions. but they
are all converted into fuel for the insa-
table fire. The brain itself becomes the
! instrument or passion, tenaciously cling
ing to tone. a look, an odor, weaving
day and night an enchanted palace OF
dreams.
All, God! II it has once possessed you
this devil-and led you for your view tc
/ the heights or TO the unsounded depths
will YOU cease to wrestle. with the dream.
er? Let him alone. He is mad. but the
madness is divine. and forever and for.
ever would we wander with him in the
delirium and the fever OF his dream.
ALICE GARDINER wHIPPLER.