Page:Dealings with the dead.djvu/84

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78
DEALINGS WITH THE DEAD.

great Orders, to each of which there are three sub-orders or classes. I shall speak of the Orders, not of the classes. Many of those who, when living amongst them, I had ranked with the highest, I now found, in this place, where the secrets of all hearts are in very deed laid open, really belonged to a far lower plane, and, vice versa; for many a civilizee and aristocrat was now found to belong to the order of barbarians; whereas not a few of those usually considered low were seen to be better unfolded than thousands with loftier pretensions. Will it be credited, I even found the purest virtue in one whose occupation was harlotry! Once upon a time, long before I passed through death's cold river, I was walking through a beautiful grove, hard by my dwelling-place, the house upon the hill. It was a gala day, and hundreds had gathered there to celebrate the noon of summer. Mirth, gaiety and sport ruled the hour, and my soul was very glad.

Amongst the rest who had gathered there, were several females, whose trade was Sin, and who I supposed came there for their horrid purpose. How mistaken was I! At that time it did not strike me that beings so lost could have a pure thought, or in any way be tempted to quit the hot pavements of the city to spend an hour in God's great Temple, amidst its living columns—the stately forest trees—without mischief and wrong-doing in view. I looked upon them, especially her with the pale thin lips and large drooping eyelids, with utter loathing. And thus I passed them by; years fled; never again did I think of them—much less that such creatures could have aught of goodness in them, or feel the need of God's sunshine, or of a bath in His pure