Year: 1864

bereavement. No sign comes across the
river of death. Nay, it is not to them a
river, but an ocean to the farther shore
of which the eye cannot reach. How
can the spirits, who dwell in the light Of
heaven, come nigh them? was reading
yesterday, about the wives of Adriatic
fishermen. One incident charmed me.
Do you remember to what I refer?


NO


At eventide, the wives of fisherman
who are away out on the deep come down
to the seashore, and sing the first stanza
of verse, which the wind carries sweet
ly over the water. PausiDg, they listen
eagerly until they hear the second stanza
sung by their husbands. Then both are
happy; for it is well with both. Though
absent in body, they are present in spirit
Dear friend let US sing to our absent
ones, as we stand on the shore of time
Let US send forth song to which they
can respond. Would the fishermen be
happy as they cast their nets, if instead
of sweet melodies and words of cheerful
ness, there had come to them over the
stiltwatgrs a wall Of grief? If they knew
that because of their absence, their wives
sat idly weeping, instead Of singing at
their appointed work?


My heart is heavy. How can 1 sing?'
Tears filed the mOurner's eyes. 1t is a
hard thing to lose all


DO not think Of your loss; but Of his
gain. Love goes out ofitself. It is hap
py in the blesseduess Of its object 1t
does not seek its own, but another's.-
Dear f.iendl go down to the seashore,
and send your voice out upon the deep


'IfI knew how to send it. fl knew
what to sing


A cheerful heart makes the lip musi-
cal


4 can never be cheerful again


Say not SO. By the love you bear
your absent husband, say not so. By the
yearning for his presence, by the hope of
a reunion, sag not sol Sing to him across
the sea!-sing to him, and you shall hear
his answering voice. Put off your sack
cloth, and array your spirit in more seem
ly robes, Your love is waiting for you
meet him in-bridal garments


Who, by an effort Of the Will, can
change a state of sorrow into one of joy?'
said the mouruer. 1T is impossible. I
have no power over my heart.


=. But you have power over your actions
You can force the externals of your life
You can act or be idle at will The fish
erlnan's wife may haye felt very sad be-
cause of her husbands S absence. What
if from very sadness, she had remained
at home, instead of going to the seashore
and singing to him across the water
would she have heard his answering vol.
ce? I fear not; and so both would have
lost the happiness in store for them


IF I knew how to send my voice ove1
the water. If I knew what to sing.
There was dependency in the voice thai
uttered this sentence a little while before
Now the tones had in them both life are
purpose.


You sit idle and brooding many hours
of each day? returned the friend. Yor
nurse your sorrow as a thing sacred ant
10 be cherished. This may be changed
You have power here. You can arist
and put your thoughts and hands init
useful work. In heaven, the love of be
ing useful and of doing good to others, i
the life and joy of the angelic spirits
Your stanza, to sing across the water fo
your husbands ears, is the doing Of goot
here, and his responsive stanza, the do
ing of good there. Use alone can unit
US to our beloved ones in heaven-cheer
full use; not gloomy idlcness,'


The friend arose, and in departing
said-'Think on what have suggested



and let it go down into your heart.
you would hear again your husband
voice, send your voice to him. He is lis


tening for the sound, and will assured


answer.


Many days passed ere the friends me


again. The veil of tears had passed frOl


the mourner's eye, and the shadow fror


her countenance. L have heard hi
singing from the great deep of eternity


she said, as light broke over her face.
You sang to him frst?'


Yes


How did you sing2 Where did 70
sing?'


The story of the Adriatio fishermen
: wives impressed me deeply. For awhi
after heard it there was a constant vi
! ion before me of an expanse Of waite
Z and women singing over the waves
[ their beloved in the far distance. HO
f shall I sing to my beloved? That W
e the question which soon filed my tho
/ The answer came. On the next Su
y day I went in the morning, to a schO
t where my husband had taught class