Are there bodiless creatures around us, moulding
our thoughts into darkness or brightness, as they will? Whence,
otherwise, come the shadow and the sunshine, for which we can
discern no mortal agency?
Oftener, As we grow older, come the shadows; less frequently the,
sunshine. Ere I took up my pen, I was sitting with a pleasant
company of friends, listening to music, and speaking, with the rest,
light words.
Suddenly, I knew not why, my heart was wrapt away in an atmosphere
of sorrow. A sense of weakness and unworthiness weighed me down, and
I felt the moisture gather to my eyes and my lips tremble, though
they kept the smile.
All my past life rose up before me, and all my short-comings--all,
my mistakes, and all my wilful wickedness, seemed pleading
trumpet-tongued against me.
I saw her before me whose feet trod with mine the green holts and
meadows, when the childish thought strayed not beyond the near or
the possible. I saw her through the long blue distances, clothed in
the white beauty of an angel; but, alas! she drew her golden hair
across her face to veil from her vision the sin-darkened creature
whose eyes dropped heavily to the hem of her robe!
O pure and beautiful one, taken to peace ere the weak temptation had
lifted itself up beyond thy stature, and compelled thee to listen,
to oppose thy weakness to its strength, and to fall--sometimes, at
least, let thy face shine on me from between the clouds.
Pages:
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86