CHAPTER XIV.  THE FORSAKEN AND DESPISED.

 

Proves it that she

Was wrong in being constant in her love! The man she loved in after years was not The one who wooed her girlish love;

Her lover changed to fiend; and could she love a fiend?"

 

WHILE engaged in this discussion, a spirit came near, on whose countenance rested the shades of grief and regret She saluted the group with a low bow, for their dazzling brightness informed her of their superior purity and wisdom. Her salute was returned, evidently to her surprise.

 

"Enter our circle," invited the silver voiced, "and be one with us." "Not a heart as sad as mine," she answered sorrowfully.

 

"Here the tearful eye is made bright with gladness," said the Sage. "Why are you sad?"

 

"Ah, noble sir, I am sad, and more than sad; I am in woe and misery. My heart is bursting with its secret grief."

 

"Why is it that one so fair and pure should be thus troubled?"

 

"Call me not pure; the words burn my brain. I am miserable. because I am not pure."

 

"What have you done to stain your purity or make you sad?"

 

"Ah, it is a sad tale—one which should remain a secret from any but those as bright and pure as you. I was a happy girl. The day was but a round of happiness. I sang in the old forest to the evening breeze, culled flowers from the murmuring brookside, gathered moss from the gray old rocks, and listened breathless to the songsters of the grove, for hours. Ah, I was happy then; I had no cares of the morrow, and the world went cheerfully on without infringing on me or mine. I lived to love, and was loved in return. How noble was my lover! Such towering aspirations as he possessed, united with such gentleness and affection, I never found in another. We were youths then, but had love for years.; and I began to look upon him as mine forever. Then fancy built airy castles in which we always dwelt; and hours and hours I passed in those delicious day dreams. Nothing so bright, so joyous, so beauteous, as 'Love's young dream.' How I have experienced that! how felt its influence! The heart pangs those dreams have caused me have more than compensated for short hours of bliss they afforded.

 

"After years of love, my lover left me—why, I never knew—and married one much my inferior in every point of view. Oh, that was a dark day—the darkest day in my life! I sunk under its miseries. My brain seemed on fire, and long I lay in delirium, but my physical strength grappled with the disease of my mind, and overpowered it. I was again free but no more the joyous girl I had been. I brooded over my crushed hopes in secret; stifled my aspirations as much as was in my power; and blame me not, great sire, if I called pride to my aid. Yes, pride was the greatest strength I possessed. A friend would have said from my demeanor that I cared nothing for him by whom my being was enthralled. And still more, to show my indifference for him, I married a man my equal in talents it is true, yet as black-hearted as night. It was a childish revenge— one which came bounding back, and stuck its keen edge in my own bosom. It was too late for repentance then—too late for hope! I soon found a misery greater than all. The man I thought I married, I married not. It was a sham, and the priest was a priest for the occasion. I was deserted, left in the heartless world, despised and scorned. Of the many friends I had previously, not one remained in the hour of my adversity. They passed by me without recognition, while scorn mantled their lips. I had no friends, no society—nothing but enemies who hated and despised me!"

 

"Oh, it is fearful to feel continually the jeering taunts of those who once pretended to be friends! I could not bear it, and I sank to rest. A kind mother who had been my support while I lived had me buried beneath the family willow In the churchyard, and planted flowers over my grave. I was, there when she moistened them with her tears, and I whispered to her: 'Mary lives with the angels.' The delicate breeze wooed the drooping willow, rustling to my mother's brow, revealed the careworn features and the tearful eye. Oh, I was sad, sad! I was transported into a new world, of which I knew nothing. I sat down on my grave, and oh, what sorrow I endured! I sat down for a long time wrapped in my grief, not daring to stir for fear of encountering someone who would laugh at or scorn me, when one came near me with the most beautiful expression of countenance I ever beheld. Perhaps I thought so because it was the first spirit I ever had seen. She took me by the hand, raised me up, saying in the sweetest voice, whose melody I yet hear:—

 

"Be cheerful. Let not such saddening thoughts influence you. You are no more of earth. Heaven is yours with its joys."

 

"Oh, say not so!" I cried. "I am a poor, despised thing, with no one but my mother to think or care for me."

 

"The inhabitants of this world," replied she, "despise not the unfortunate, but pity those who grieve, and under circumstances especially such as yours. The people of the world crush and then despise the blighted flower. Their prejudice may exist, but it has no place with angels who read motives and are not misjudged by actions. We love the unfortunate for their misfortunes. Cheerfully, then, sister, go with me."

 

"'I cannot,' I replied. 'It will cause every one to look with compassion on me. I can't bear pity. I want to be regarded, as when a girl, I played in the old forest or sang to the babbling brook.'

 

"'And that is as we regard you, not as those who commiserate.'

 

"'Ah, then, I am happy!' I exclaimed, in a flood of tears, and flung my arms around my angel's neck, and she returned the embrace with the same warmth.

 

"'Then accompany me,' she said, 'to those who will by their love strive to remove every trace of grief from your mind.' I grasped her extended hand and soon found myself in the midst of a band of bright beings, who came forward with joy on their radiant countenances and with embraces manifested their friendship and love. I could not repress my tears; they came from an overflowing heart. The change was too great. The scenes of earth were still fresh in my memory. Even now, great sire, a shadowy recollection crosses my mind, when I meet with these bright beings, of my own inferiority, and I fear the scorn I never receive."

 

"Nor ever will. If any scorn you, they are not worthy of your contempt, much less your regard. Earth's children have a great lesson to learn, and that is charity for their fellows and regard for their feelings."

 

"If one so elevated as you despise me not, I will not care for others."

 

"Never let the thoughts of how men regard you enter your mind again. Blot it out by thinking how angels regard you. You took a false step; and who has not taken one false step? And is a false step in one direction so much worse than one in another?"

 

"The world regards it so."

 

"Mankind are governed by their lowest faculties. They see dimly the principles of right. To show my appreciation for you, and to dispel every doubt from your mind, I request you to join our circle and become one of us."

 

"I feel so beneath you, I cannot. It is too great a privilege to ask."

 

"You will confer a favor on us all by doing go, and place yourself in a position for rapid advancement."

 

"I can not express my thanks to you by words."

 

This is the reception the broken heart receives from the angels. Their discriminative powers are used, and the thoughts weighed in an equitable balance. Be careful then, O man, how you condemn and despise the lowly; and the victim of circumstances.