Allegories of Life | Page 7

will not add cowardice
to sorrow," he said to them, in reply to their entreaties not to go in the
storm. With one strong effort he faced the chilling sleet, which so
blinded him that he could not find the path which led to the highway;
yet he went bravely on, till hunger and chill overcame him, and he
could no longer see or even feel. He grew strangely dizzy, and would
have fallen to the ground, but for a pair of strong arms which at that
instant held him fast. He was too much overcome to know who it was
that thus enfolded him; but soon a well-known voice rose above the
wind and the storm,--he knew that his father's arms were about him,
and he feared no more. In the hour of greatest need the father had come.
There, in that hour of brave effort, he was spared a long exposure to the
wintry blast. A carriage laden with food, fuel, and timely gifts, for each,
was already on the road, and would soon deposit its bounties at the
door of those whose faith had deserted them.
What a happy household gathered around the father that night! There
was no need of lamps to reveal the joy on their faces, and the darkness
could not hide the tears which coursed down their cheeks. The little one
awoke shouting, in her child-trust, "My father has come! me knew him
would!"
And they called her Faith from that hour.
The only alloy in the joy of the others was, as the kind father explained
to them the causes of his delay, that they had not trusted him with the
faith of the little child; and when he told them of the strange people he
had been among, who needed counsel and instruction, and their great
need of his ministrations, they sorrowed much that doubt had shadowed
for a moment their trust in their father.
Thus do we distrust our Heavenly Parent; and when our needs rise like
mountains before us, and all seems dark, we cry, "Alas! he has
forgotten us!" And yet in our deepest night a light appears, his strong
arm uplifts us, and we are taught how holy a thing is Faith.

V.
HOPE.
Darkness had been upon the earth for a long time. It was a period of
war and bloodshed, crime and disaster.

The old earth seemed draped in habiliments of mourning; and there was
cause for aching hearts, for out of many homes had gone unto battle
sons, fathers, and husbands, who would return no more. They fell in
service; and kind mothers and wives could not take one farewell look at
their still, white faces, but must go about their homes as though life had
lost none of its helps.
* * * * *
"The poor, sad earth!" said one of a glad band, belonging to a starry
sphere above. "I long to comfort its people; but my mission is given me
to guide souls through the death valley, and bear them to their friends
in the summer-land. I must not leave my post of duty. Who will go?"
"I will," said Love, in sweet, silvery tones.
"You are too frail to descend into such darkness as at present envelops
the earth; beside, they need another, a different element just now, to
prepare the way for better things."
"Who shall it be?" they all said, and looked from one to the other.
"Hope," said their leader, the queen of the starry band.
There was to be high festival that night, in a temple dedicated to the
Muses; and it was quite a sacrifice for any of their number to leave
their happy sphere, for one so dark as that of earth.
Hope came forward at the mention of her name, holding in her hand the
half-finished garland which she had been twining for one of the Graces.
"Wilt thou go to earth to-night, fair Hope?" asked the queen.
The star on her fair brow glittered brighter as she said unhesitatingly, "I
will."
"Your mission will be to carry garlands to every habitation which has a
light within. The others you cannot, of course, discern. Come now, and
let me clasp this strong girdle about thy waist, to which I shall attach a
cord, by which to let you down to earth."
They filled her arms with garlands, and flung some about her neck, till
she was laden and ready to go.
"Now," said their leader, "descend on this passing cloud; and while you
are gone we will sing anthems for you, to keep your heart bright and
linked to ours."
Then she fastened the cord to her golden girdle, and let her down gently
from the skies.
* * * * *

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