_AT LAST: AN ALLEGORY._
"I am sorry we have come to the Gold page," said Alice, with a sigh,
folding her hands together as she seated herself in the bow-window seat
on the Sunday before their parents were to sail for America.
"_Sorry!_" echoed Minnie, "why, I am very glad indeed!"
"Because it is the last, I mean," answered Alice; "we shall miss our
Sunday afternoon story dreadfully."
"I propose that Agnes tells us one every Sunday," said John.
Agnes shook her head, but answered, half-smiling. "Sometimes, perhaps, I
may, but you know they cannot be all allegories."
"Oh, no!" said Hugh; "but let us begin our last page now."
Gold--Glory.
Once again I dreamed, and once again I saw the boys in whom I took so
much interest.
This time they were nearing the Hills, above which the radiance shone.
The country was still of the same mountainous description, and I thought
I could see beneath the steep ascent before me a River winding in and
out.
The golden light seemed to shine down on some parts of the River, but
generally it was dark and sombre.
Just now the boys were standing near it, and Edred was gazing down into
its depths.
"It is rather dreadful, Alwin," he exclaimed, turning round and glancing
in his companion's face, "to think of having to cross this before we
reach the Palace of the King."
"Yes," answered Alwin, "and when we look down into it, instead of
looking up at the Glory, we do get depressed. But, you know, Edred, our
Deliverer has promised to bear us safely through."
"Of course He has. He would not leave those whom He has delivered at
such a price to perish in the final water, Alwin. No; I will not look
down into the River any longer, but rather, as you say, to the Glory
beyond. But I wish I knew more of its delights."
"The Guide-book tells us a great deal about it; and often since we have
neared this River, I have had to turn to the description of it to cheer
my fainting courage."
"I wish I were acquainted with the Guide-book as you are, Alwin; but I
do love it much more than I used--I love it dearly! What does it say?"
"Shall I read it to you?"
"Yes, do," answered Edred, throwing himself down on the grass by the
side of the water, and settling himself into an attitude of expectancy.
Alwin once more drew from his knapsack the Guide-book, which had seen
much service since my eyes had first fallen upon it, and with one glance
upwards at the radiance over the Hills, he turned towards his companion
and read in a thrilling tone from the book in his hand, words which
seemed familiar to me, though I could not tell in my dream where I heard
them:
"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the
first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And God shall
wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for
the former things are passed away. Then came unto me one of the seven
angels..., and he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high
mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending
out of heaven from God, having the glory of God: and her light was like
unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are
the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the
moon to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb
is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk
in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and
honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for
there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and the
honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it
anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or
maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. And
there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb
shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: and they shall see His
face; and His name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no
night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the
Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever."
Alwin ceased reading, and Edred, whose eyes, from being turned on his
friend's face at first, had been latterly directed upwards, now rose
from the ground with a new light shining in them.
"Alwin," he said solemnly, "I always have dreaded this River, but I do
not any longer. I have long known that I should soon have to pass
through it. Ever since we were in that Cavern of Death I have known it,
but now I fear it no longer. The words of the Guide-book have taken away
my terror. See, I shall soon be where the light will never fade away."
As he spoke a touch of golden light which had for a moment illumined the
dark river passed away from it, and the gloom grew deeper.
But Edred thought not of it, his eyes were fixed on the Light beyond.
"You are not going to leave me alone?" said the younger boy yearningly.
"I must; I have been sent for by the King. He told me some little time
ago that it would be soon."
"Oh, Edred!" murmured Alwin.
"He will bear you through too," answered Edred kindly. "I could not have
believed that His words would have cheered me so. I am quite joyful in
going now. I only long to cross."
As he spoke he stepped into the River, which looked to me so dark and
drear.
Now a mist brooded over the River, between those standing on the bank
and the Shore beyond, and so Edred was lost to my sight.
Alwin stood long looking after him, with tear-dimmed eyes; but by-and-by
he turned once more to the Book in his hand, and as he read it I noticed
that the sorrow passed away from his face.
"A little while," he murmured to himself, and turned to go on his
journey.
But I saw that his road lay close to the River; and, or ever I was
aware, I found he too had entered the water, and was actually crossing
over to the bright Land.
As the waters got deeper and deeper, his face only grew the more
radiant, and when the mist almost hid him from my view, I heard a
triumphant voice exclaiming, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable
Gift."
* * * * *
Minnie's little head was laid on Agnes's lap during the narration of
this dream, and she now raised it with an earnest look.
"And that is _all_?" she said, sighing.
"All, except that there is no _end_ to the Glory," replied Agnes.
"No," said John, "I often think that is the best of Heaven--there will
be no 'leaving-off' there."
"That is just it," answered Agnes, "and the summing-up of all these
Wordless pages--of Sin--Blood--Righteousness--Glory--seems to me to be
expressed in these words, 'That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto
all pleasing.... Who hath made us meet to be partakers of the
inheritance of the saints in light.'"
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