 | The Virginia comedians, or, Old days in the Old Dominion |  |
EPILOGUE.
It was one of those pure days which, born of spring, seem
almost to rejoice like living things in the bright flowers and
tender buds:—and she was failing.
All the mountain winds were faintly blowing on the
smiling trees, and on the white calm brow of one who breathed
the pure delightful airs of opening spring, before she went
away to breathe the airs of that other land, so far away,
where no snows come, or frost, or hail, or rain; but spring
reigns ever, sublimated by the light which shines on figures
in white garments round the central throne.
She heard those figures calling, calling, calling, with
their low soft voices full of love and hope; calling ever to
her in the purple twilight dying o'er the world; rejoicing
every one that she was coming.
She looked upon the faces seen through mist around her,
and besought them smiling, not to weep for her, but look to
the bright land where she was going—for her faith was
strong. She begged them to take tender care of the flower
which lay but now upon her bosom, and not think of her.
A voice had told her in the night that she was waited for:
and now the sun was fading in the west, and she must go.
Alcestis-like she kissed them on their brows and pointed
to the skies: the time had almost come.
She looked with dim faint eyes, as in a dream, upon that
past which now had flowed from her and left her pure:—
she saw the sunset wane away and die above the rosy head-lands,
glooming fast:—she murmured that her hope was
steadfast ever; that she heard the angels; that they called
on this earth, for now the expected time had come.
The tender sunset faded far away, and over the great
mountains drooped the spangled veil, with myriads of worlds
all singing as her heart was singing now. She saw the rosy
flush go far away, and die away, and leave the earth: and
then the voice said Come!
She saw a cross rise from the far bright distance,
and a bleeding form: she saw the heavenly vision slowly
move, and ever nearer, nearer, brighter with the light of
heaven. She saw it now before her, and her arms were
opened. The grand eternal stars came out above—the sunset
died upon her brow—she clasped the cross close to her
bosom—and so fell asleep.
| The Virginia comedians, or, Old days in the Old Dominion | |