Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Thy streets of pearl and gold
Are trod by the blest feet of them
We knew and loved of old.
Their voices full of calm delight
Steal through the radiant air--
Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Our hearts are with them there!
As the days passed I found my desires often led me to the sacred lake,
sometimes alone, sometimes with one or more of my own family circle--my
revered father and precious mother, my dear brother and sister, and
many beloved friends both within and without the bond of consanguinity.
It was always to me an inspiration and an uplifting. I never could
grow sufficiently familiar with it to overcome the first great awe with
which it inspired me; but I found that the oftener I bathed or floated
and slept in its pellucid current, the stronger I grew in spirit, and
the more clearly I comprehended the mysteries of the world about me.
My almost daily intercourse with the dear ones of our home life from
whom I had so long been separated, served to restore to me the home
feeling that had been the greatest solace of my mortal life; and I
began to realize that this was indeed the true life, instead of that
probationary life which we had always regarded as such. I think it was
the day after my return from my first visit to earth, that, as I had
started to cross the sward lying between my father's house and our own,
I heard my name called in affectionate tones. I turned and saw
approaching me a tall, fine-looking man, whose uncovered head was
silvery white, and whose deep blue eyes looked happily and tenderly
into mine, as he drew near.
"Oliver!" I cried with outstretched hands of welcome, "dear, dear
Oliver!" It was the husband of my eldest sister, always dearly loved.
"I did not know that you had come, until a few moments since, when our
father told me. It is delightful to have you here; it seems more like
the old life to see you than any of the others who are here--we were
together so much during the last years of my stay," he said, grasping
my hands warmly. "Where are you going now? Can you not come with me
awhile? I was thinking only a few days ago how much I wished you could
be here a little while before Lu came; you know her tastes so well.
And now here you are! So often our unspoken wishes are thus gratified
in heaven!"
"Is my sister coming soon?" I asked a little later.
"That I cannot confidently say; but you know the years of the
earth-life are passing, and her coming cannot be much longer delayed.
Can you come with me now?"
"Gladly," I said, turning to walk with him.
"It is only a little way from here," he said. "Just where the river
bends. Lu loves the water so, I chose that spot in preference to one
even nearer your home."
"This is truly enchanting!" I cried, as we drew near the place. "I
have not been this way before."
"I want you to see the river from her room windows," he said; "I know
you will enjoy it."
We entered the truly beautiful house, built of the purest white
granite, so embedded in the foliage of the flower-laden trees that from
some points only glimpses of its fine proportions could be seen.
"She loves flowers so much--will she not enjoy these trees?" he asked
with almost boyish delight.
"Beyond everything," I answered.
We passed through several delightful rooms on the lower floor, and,
ascending the stairway, which in itself was a dream of beauty, entered
the room he was so anxious I should see. I stopped upon the threshold
with an exclamation of delight, while he stood watching with keen
enjoyment the expression on my face.
"It is the most delightful room I ever saw!" I cried enthusiastically.
The framework of couches, chairs and desk was of pure and spotless
pearl, upholstered in dim gold; soft rugs and draperies everywhere; and
through the low window, opening upon the flower-wreathed balcony, so
enchanting a view of the broad, smooth river below, that again I caught
my breath in delight. A thousand exquisite tints from the heavens
above were reflected upon the tranquil waters, and a boat floating on
the current was perfectly mirrored in the opaline-tinted ripples. Far
across the shining waters the celestial hills arose, with domes and
pillared temples and sparkling fountains perceptible everywhere. When
at last I turned from this entrancing view, I saw on the opposite wall,
smiling down upon me, the same Divine face that I daily looked upon in
my own room at home.
We descended the stairs without a word, then I could only falter:
"Only heaven could give such perfection in everything!"
Oliver pressed my hand sympathetically, and let me depart without a
word.
Many months, by earthly time, had passed since that day, and many times
I had visited that lovely home and held sweet converse with one I loved
so well. I could suggest nothing that would add to the beauty of the
place, but we talked of it together, and planned for and anticipated
the joy of her coming.
One day I found him absent, and though I waited long for his return, he
came not. I had not seen him for several days, and concluded he had
been sent upon some mission by the Master. As I passed onward to our
home, I met a group of happy young girls and boys, of different ages,
hastening the way I had come, with their arms full of most beautiful
flowers. As they drew near I saw they were the grandchildren of my
dear sister--Stanley and Mary and David and Lee and little Ruth. As
soon as they saw me, they all with one accord began to shout joyfully:
"Grandma is coming! Grandma is coming! We are taking flowers to
scatter everywhere! We are so glad!"
"How do you know she is coming, children? I have just been to the
house--no one is there!"
"But she is coming," said little Lee. "We had a message from grandpa,
and he is to bring her."
"Then I will tell the others, and we will all come to welcome her," I
said.
With a great joy in my heart I hastened onward to my father's house. I
found them awaiting me, full of joyful expectation.
"Yes, we also have had word," my father said, "and were only awaiting
your return, that we might go together."
"Then I will go for brother Frank, that he also may accompany us," I
said.
"He is here!" said a genial voice; and, looking up, I saw him at the
door.
"Col. Sprague is always present when he is needed," said my father
cordially.
So we set forth, a goodly company, to welcome this dearly loved one to
her home--my father, my mother, and my sister Jodie; my brother the
doctor, and his two fair daughters; my Aunt Gray, her son Martin, and
his wife and daughter; my brother Frank and I.
As we approached the house we heard the sound of joyous voices, and
looking in, we saw my sister standing in the room, her husband's arm
about her, and the happy grandchildren thronged around them, like
humming-birds among the flowers. But what was this? Could this
radiant creature, with smooth brow and happy eyes, be the pale, wan
woman I had last seen, so bowed with suffering and sorrow? I looked
with eager eyes. Yes, it was my sister; but as she was full thirty
years ago, with the bloom of health upon her face, and the light of
youth in her tender eyes. I drew back into the shadow of the vines and
let the others precede me, for my heart was full of a strange,
triumphant joy. This truly was the "victory over death" so surely
promised by our risen Lord. I watched the happy greetings, and the way
she took each beloved one into her tender arms. When, one by one, she
had greeted and embraced them all, I saw her, with a strange yearning
at my heart, turn and look wistfully around, then whisper to my father:
"Is not my little sister here?"
I could wait no longer, but, hastening to her side, cried:
"Dearest, I am here! Welcome! Welcome!"
She folded me to her heart and held me fast in her warm arms, she
showered me with kisses upon my upturned face, while I returned each
loving caress, and laughed and cried for very gladness that she had
come at last. Oh, what a family reunion was that inside the walls of
heaven! And how its bliss was heightened by the sure knowledge (not
the hope) that there should be no partings for us henceforth forever!
My brother Oliver looked on with proud and happy eyes. The hour for
which he had longed and waited had come to him at last; his home-life
would now be complete for evermore. I told him how I had waited for
him that day, and he said, "We saw you as you left the house, but were
too distant to call you. I had taken her into the river, and she had
looked at and admired the house very greatly before she knew it was our
home."
"What did she do when she saw her lovely room?"
"Cried like a child, and clung to me, and said, 'This more than repays
us for the lost home of earth!' If the children had not come, I think
she would have been at that window still!" he said, laughing happily.
"I am glad you had her all to yourself at the first," I whispered; "you
deserved that happiness, dear, if any man ever did."
He smiled gratefully, and looked over at his wife, where she stood the
center of a happy group.
"Does she not look very young to you, Oliver?" I asked.
"The years rolled from her like a mask, as we sat beneath the water in
the river. Ah, truly in those life-giving waters we do all 'renew our
youth'; but she became at once uncommonly fair and young."
"Her coming has brought youth likewise to you," I said, noting his
fresh complexion and his sparkling eyes; "but I hope it will not change
your silver hair, for that is to you a crown of glory."
He looked at me a moment critically, then said:
"I wonder if you realize the change that has likewise come to you in
this wonderful clime?"
"I?" I said, a little startled at the thought; "I confess I have not
once thought of my personal appearance. I realize what, through the
Father's mercy, this life has done for me spiritually, but as for the
other, I have never given it an instant's thought."
"The change is fully as great in your case as in Lu's, though with you
the change has been more gradual," he said.
I felt a strange thrill of joy that when my dear husband should come to
me, he would find me with the freshness and comeliness of our earlier
years. It was a sweet thought, and my heart was full of gratitude to
the Father for this further evidence of his loving care. So we talked
together as the hours sped, until my father said:
"Come, children; we must not forget that this dear daughter of mine
needs rest this first day in her new home. Let us leave her and her
happy husband to their new-found bliss."
So with light hearts we went our way, and left them to spend their
first hours in heaven together.