_Jerusalem--First Day of the week._
My Dear Father:
How shall I make known to you, in words, the marvelous, joyous, happy,
happy, and most wonderful news which I have to tell! My heart beats,
my hand trembles with rapture, while a sense of profound awe impresses
all my soul! Jesus is alive! Jesus has risen from the dead! Jesus has
proved himself to be the Son of God!
I can scarcely hold my pen for joy and wonder, or collect my thoughts,
for very amazement, at what has transpired.
Upon hearing my name called by Mary, and others, in eager,
joy-trembling tones, I hastened to go down. On reaching the staircase
I met my cousin ascending, almost flying. Wonder, love, and happiness
inexpressible, beamed from her beautiful countenance. Meeting me, she
threw her arms about my neck and essayed to utter something! But her
heart was too full, and, bursting into sobs, she wept convulsively upon
my bosom, in an ecstasy of delirious joy.
Amazed and confounded, not knowing what had happened, I held her to my
heart, and tried to soothe her emotion.
"What--oh, what hath happened? Speak, dear Mary!" I asked, unable to
wait longer in suspense.
She raised her head, and through her tears and smiles, at length said,
brokenly:
"He--he--is--risen--oh, he is risen from the tomb!"
"Who?" I cried, half believing, yet doubting.
"The Lord! Our Mighty Master--Jesus--the very Son of God, the Blessed!
He is alive, Adina! Come--delay not! I have flown into the city to tell
thee, and Mary has told Peter and John, whom she met at the door, and
who, doubting, as thou hast done, have run to see if these things be
so. They will find the sepulchre empty! Haste to go with us!"
While, overwhelmed with wonder, and trembling with joy, I was preparing
to accompany her, Martha appeared, her face radiant with celestial
happiness.
"You have heard the tidings of great joy, O Adina?"
"Can they be true, Martha?" I asked, earnestly.
"Yes, for I have seen him walking, heard his voice, and touched him!
You, also, shall see him, for he hath sent us to tell his disciples!"