The Continental Monthly, Vol. IV. October, 1863, No. IV. | Page 7

constant effort to commune with the
Father; in humble prayer and supplication for strength to resist the
power of sin. For he feared the Evil which lurked in the land. He
examined the springs of his own actions, analyzed his motives, and
tortured himself lest any of the evils denounced in the Book should lurk
in the folds of his own soul. In contemplating the awful justice of the
Father, he sometimes forgot that He is Love. He feared close commune
with the children of the earth, for Evil dwelt among them; he looked
not into the winecup, nor danced with the maidens under the caressing
tendrils of the vine or the luxuriant branches of the myrtle--nay, the
rose cheek of the maiden was a terror to him, for lo! Evil might lurk

under its brilliant bloom. The Dread of Evil sapped the Joy of Life!
He turned from all the lovely Present, to catch faint traces of the dim
Past, to picture the unseen Future, about which it is vain to disquiet
ourselves, since, like everything else, it rests upon the heart of God!
His life was holy, innocent, and self-sacrificing. He sought to serve his
fellow men, yet feared to give them his heart, lest he should rob the
Father of His just due. He knew not from his own experience that Love
is infinite, and grows on what it gives. He bore religious consolation to
the afflicted, aid to the needy, sympathy to the suffering. He was
universally esteemed, but the spirit of his brethren broke not into joy at
his approach, for the trusting heart of genial humanity throbbed not in
his sad breast. He was no Pharisee, but he dined not with the Publican,
and the precious ointment of the Magdalen never bathed his weary head.
His language was: 'All is fleeting and evil, save Thee, O my Father; in
Thee alone can rest be found!'
Solace for human anguish can only be found upon the heart of love.
'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul,
with all thy mind: and thy neighbor as thyself!' Blessed Son of Mary!
Thou alone hast fully kept these two commandments!
'For wisdom is justified of her children!'
* * * * *
Angelo, Zophiel, and Jemschid also resolved to avoid the Evil spoken
of in the Book of Life. But the far country into which the Father had
sent them was lovely in their eyes, and they were charmed with the
Beauty with which He had surrounded them. They dreamed by the
shady fountains, with their silver flow and gentle ripples; roamed by
the darker rivers as they hurry on to plunge themselves into the sea;
gazed on the restless ocean breakers when the dying sun fringes their
crest with rainbow hues, and the flushing sky, to cool her burning
blushes, flings herself into the heart of the restless waters. They loved
to breathe the 'difficult air' of mountain tops, so softly pillowed and
curtained by the fleecy vapors, which they win again from heaven in
limpid streams, leading them in wild leaps through gloomy chasms

fringed by timid harebells, whose soft blue eyes look love upon the
rocks, while the myriad forest leaves musically murmur above their
flinty couch. They watched the fitful shadow-dance of clouds over the
green earth. They loved to see these heaven tents where Beauty dwells
chased by the young zephyrs, or, driven on in heavy masses by the
bolder winds, blush under the fiery glances of the sun, and melt into the
sky upon his nearer approach. Ah! these clouds and vapors had more
than human tenderness, for had they not seen them throng around the
ghastly disc of the star-deserted moon, weaving their light webs into
flowing veils to shadow the majestic sorrow written upon her
melancholy but lovely face, shielding the mystic pallor of the virgin
brow from the desecrating gaze of the profane?
The three brothers were happy upon earth, for they looked into the
heart of their fellow mortals, and felt the genial feeling beating there;
and so luxuriantly twined its vivid green around, that the evil core was
hidden from their charmed eyes, and they ceased not to bless the Father
for a gift so divine as Human Love! They could not weep and pray the
long night through, as did the saintly Anselm, for their eyes were
fastened upon the wildering lustre of the thronging stars as they wove
their magic rings through the dim abysses of distant space, yet the
incense of constant praise rose from their happy souls to the
Beauty-giving Father.
They struggled to awake the sleeping powers of men to a perception of
the glories of creation; to lead them 'through nature up to nature's God.'