Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1910-12-23

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lynn THE early days of men the Lord
! sent two powers on earth to have.
I dominion over them. One Of these
was Death-the other Life. . .z3::
- The stern front of Life showed
what he really was: unmerciful.
exacting, swift to demand obediencs
to thousand laws, swift to punish
with the keen sword of pain whe1
those laws were broken.
His eyes we're the eyes OF a war.
lord; his hand as cold as iron-and -
strong. -Hs:%z
The tasks he set were many. Few
Of these were to the liking Of the chill.
aren of men, though some thinkers
perceived that >out OF these heavy
tasks came strength, also that If one
wrestled with them stoutly one might
even master Life himself and compel
him to graciousness.
Now the other power-Death-was
I woman.
Tall she was, but so perfectly
formed that her height was no blem-
lsh Sleepy-eyed she was, but her
slow, sweet smile was so infinitely
tender and lovely that in the midst OF
their tasks men stopped to gaze ON
her as she passed.
lowed her. She spoke to him-her
voice being that unspeakable music
which not even violin can outsing-
and the young man returned into the
fields of Life no more.
Then a little child, weary Of flower.
gathering, pulled at her garments
hem, and all the workers held their
breath, waiting to see what Death
would do: for Life had painted her In
very evil colors.
But Death lifted the child and laid
her on her own deep bosom and sang
to her.
AS she sang the child slept, and an
exquisite smile fingered on its lips, rs
though it's visions were very fair.
Then Death held out the child that
tho workers might see, and cried:
-Oh, ye who labor, beset with I'M
ending toll see ye how have blessed
the child? Never more shall the heat
of summer vex her, nor the cold Of
winter! I have made her deaf to sor.
row and unmoved by the vibrations ye
call Joy. Forever shall her brow go
unwrinkled, and because she hath
chosen me l will give her the key to
Heavens immortal gates"
And a worker cried:
"Ye have blessed the child because
she was your chosen one?"
The cry was a question.
Said Death dreamily:
"As gave the child peace. 80 would
I give 1t to all who come to mo
trusting me wholly!"
Looking out across the blazing
fields she stretched her rounded arms
and cried: Eye are all mine! Lover
OF souls am II"
And with ono accord they threw
down their tools and followed her into
a far land, beyond the domain of Life
Now Life was vexed exceedingly by
the unfinished task. He went straight
way to the Lord and complained how
Death had led away part of his work
ers.
And the Lord sent a great white
angel unto the remainder and forbade
them, through the angel, to hearken
unto Death until they could serve Liis
no longer.
For the Lord knew that the sterr
dominion of Life must be. for the sake
of the men he hoped to complete.
But only a few, a very few, of the
children of men obeyed the angel. Lot
Death but pass the toilers, and her
beauty was so great they continued to
desert their posts and follow after
her
Then Life cried unto the Lord with
great voice:
Death seduces my servants!"
And the Lord said:
Deal with Death as thou wilt"
Therefore Life seized on Death and
cut away her perfumed locks. and put
on her painted mask, most hideous
to behold. And he sealed the lips Of
Death, saying, BE thou dumb, and be
thou no longer known as woman"
| With this he cast over Deaths Won
derful form black mantle, like pail.
and on it Life painted:
''This is the King of Terrors," =
Then he sent Death forth, and there
after whenever she came near the
workers they fed from her and cried
aloud unto Life:
+ matters not how hard thy tasks, oh
dear Life, If thou wilt but save us
from this frightful Death!"
And Life said unto the Lord:
"Have I not done well?"
And he answered in exceeding son
row:
Needs must thy work on Death
stand And this because of the weak
ness of men who were seduced by her
beauty and who needed not my an
gels voice. Yet very differently had
I planned for my people. For in the