Allegories of Life | Page 8

a little cottage by a roadside sat Mary Deane and her sister, reading.
They were two fair orphans whose father and brother were lost in
battle.
"Let's put out the light, and look at the stars awhile," said the youngest.
"Not yet, dear, it's too early. There may be some passer-by, and a light
is such a comfort to a traveler on the road. Many a time our neighbor's
light has sent a glow over me which has enabled me to reach home
much sooner, if not in better humor."
"As you like, sister,--but hark! I thought I heard footsteps."
They listened, and, hearing nothing more, finished their reading and
retired to rest.
On opening their door the next morning, their eyes were gladdened by a
lovely garland which hung on the knob. The flowers were rich in,
perfume and color--unlike anything they had seen on earth.
Much they marveled, and wondered from whence they came, and still
greater was their joy to find they did not fade.
Hope found a great many dwellings with lights in them, but had to pass
many, as there was no lamp to signal them. At the door of the former
she left garlands to gladden the inmates.
"It's no use to waste our oil: we have nothing to read or interest us,"
said one of two lonely women, on the night Hope came to the earth. So
they sat down gloomily together, the darkness adding to their
cheerlessness, while a bright glow within would have gladdened them
and all without.
Hope went by, laden with garlands, just as they took their seats in the
shadows. She would gladly have left them, for she had enough and to
spare; but, seeing no sign of a habitation, walked on.
The two women talked of the dreary world until they went to rest. What
was their surprise, in the morning, to find their neighbors rejoicing over
their mysterious gifts.
"Why had we none?" they said again and again. "The poor never have
half as much given them as the wealthy," they cried, and went back to
their gloom and despair.
"Did you find a wreath on your doorstep this morning?" inquired a
bright, hopeful woman at noon, who had brought them a part of her
dinner.
"No, indeed!" they answered. "Did you find one on yours?"

"The handsomest wreath I ever saw. Who ever could have made one so
lovely? But"--she stopped suddenly, on seeing their sad faces. "You
shall have part of mine: I will cut it in two."
"Never!" said the eldest quickly. "There is some reason why we were
omitted; and, until we can know the cause, you must keep your wreath
unbroken."
It was very noble of her to come out of herself and refuse to accept
what she instinctively felt did not belong to her.
A week passed away. A child in the village had had strange dreams
concerning the gifts, which, in substance, was that a beautiful angel had
come from the stars above, and brought flowers to every house in
which a light was seen.
"We did not have any light that night,--don't you remember?" remarked
the eldest of the women, as their neighbor told them of the strange
dream.
"There must be something in it," answered the little bright-eyed woman.
"For all the dwellings had flowers which were lighted."
"I suppose we ought always to be more hopeful," said the women
together. "The lamps of our houses should typify the light of hope,
which should never be dim, nor cease burning."
* * * * *
Hope was taken up, by a golden cord, to her abode. The starry group
sang heavenly anthems to refresh her, and Love twined a fresh garland
for her brow. They held another festival in the temple, in honor of her
and her safe return from the earth.
Ever since she has been the brightest light in the group; and at night,
when the clouds rising from the earth obscure all the others, the star on
the brow of Hope is shining with a heavenly lustre, and seen by all
whose gaze is upward.

VI.
JOY AND SORROW.
Many years ago, two visitors were sent from realms above, to enter the
homes of earth's inhabitants, and see how much of true happiness and
real sorrow there were in their midst. Hand in hand they walked
together, till they entered a pleasant valley nestled among green hills.
At the base of one of these stood a cottage covered with roses and

honeysuckles, which looked very inviting; and the external did not
belie the interior.
The family consisted of a man and wife somewhat advanced in years,
an aged and infirm brother, and two lovely young girls, grandchildren
of the couple.
The pleasant murmur of voices