Year: 1876

The God OF day had sunk to rest
beneath the western horizon; the hum
of voices had ceased and nights sill
very curtain hung low over our little
village. Being weary with tho cares
and tolls of the day, I wandered forth


and sat me down by a little babling
brook to muse upon other scenes and
other times. AS | sat there engaged,
a vision came over me, and | saw ap-
preaching me an old man whose form


was bowed with years end frosted
with the SHOWS of many winters, was


his head. As he came forward said
to him, father whence comsst thou?
and who art thou? He answered me


saying, my son, I came from tho dark
valley, or the land Of shadows, and the
people of earth call me the dark angel.
My occupation IS to lead the lone pill
grims of earth through the dark val
lev, and across the black and turbid
waters on to the banks Of that beautl-


full river that ever issues from the
throne of God. | am much feared by


the sons of earth, and my approach
strikes terror to the hearts Of the chill
dren of men. But they should not
fear me, for my mission is 3 holy one,
for | take their old mortal body, con-
sign it to dust, and clothe tho spirit in


pure, heavenly body, which fits it for
that beautiful land of which poets
have sung and sages have taught.
Then fear me not my son, for though
a dark and unslghtly being, yet am
friend t. the children OF men. But
can liuger no longer, for I see my
most deadly enemy approaching, so
farewell for the present. Again, l
looked and saw beautiful youth ap-
preaching me, whose step was light
and graceful, and whose countenance
shene like the stars in the armament


and whose eyes sparklsd like diamonds
in the Toys Of the noon day sun. AS
he came forward l said unto him,


friend who art thou, and what wantest
thou of me! He answered me say
ING, Ny name is life, life that is and


life to come. And | came from the
realm of eternal life, to give life i'm


mortal to the weary sons of earth. |
have fought and gained the victory


over death and the grave, and the


dark-winged messenger fees at my


approach. came to earth to teach


poor sinful mortals the way to eternal


life. You my son have been taught


that the way to the life to come Is to


deny yourself of all earthly pleasures


and become morose uncultivated be


ing, only fit to dwell with the low anc
degraded of the earth. This is the


great mistake of the sons of earth
they were made and placed on the


earth to enjoy themselves in the so'Ie


ty of each other. And morose un'
social being is only fit to dwell with
beasts of the fields, and never shoult
be permitted to enter the society o
intelligent beings Your professors
nv son, teach that in order to enjo!
life that is and life to ccme, you mus
come out from the world and not par
take of any of its enjoyments. Thi


is the mistake of lifetime. In orde


to enjoy true life, you must gathe


the crumbs of wisdom and knowledg'


that are scattered on every hand, a
you pass along through your earthl.
life, and must go up higher and high
) er in the scale of being until you be
come a wise, perfect beng. You can
not enjoy life here or hereafter b.
: subscribing to any particular tenen'
It's only to be gained by storing tn
0 mind with wisdom and knowledge
: This my son, is the whole mission Q
e man on earth Your God is wisdom
n and the more you gain of it the NOR
e of God you possess. Go forth an
e gather knowledge from the great store
s house of nature; the humblest tlowe
e that raises its head to kiss the morl
II ing dew can teach you a lesson G
y wisdom. Then gather knowledge te
d knowledge is life here and life herea
ter. The vision passed away and
= was alone. Yours,


u ONE OF THE READERS.
1t White River Junction, May Sth.