Lilith
Lilith
Lilith
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I had seen the lightning, but heard no words; Lona saw and heard with the children. A second flash came, and<br />
my eyes, though not my ears, were opened. The great quivering light was compact of angel−faces. They<br />
lamped themselves visible, and vanished.<br />
A third flash came; its substance and radiance were human.<br />
"I see my mother!" I cried.<br />
"I see lots o' mothers!" said Luva.<br />
Once more the cloud flashed−−all kinds of creatures−−horses and elephants, lions and dogs−−oh, such<br />
beasts! And such birds!−−great birds whose wings gleamed singly every colour gathered in sunset or<br />
rainbow! little birds whose feathers sparkled as with all the precious stones of the hoarding earth!−−silvery<br />
cranes; red flamingoes; opal pigeons; peacocks gorgeous in gold and green and blue; jewelly humming<br />
birds!−−great−winged butterflies; lithe−volumed creeping things−−all in one heavenly flash!<br />
"I see that serpents grow birds here, as caterpillars used to grow butterflies!" remarked Lona.<br />
"I saw my white pony, that died when I was a child.−−I needn't have been so sorry; I should just have<br />
waited!" I said.<br />
Thunder, clap or roll, there had been none. And now came a sweet rain, filling the atmosphere with a<br />
caressing coolness. We breathed deep, and stepped out with stronger strides. The falling drops flashed the<br />
colours of all the waked up gems of the earth, and a mighty rainbow spanned the city.<br />
<strong>Lilith</strong><br />
The blue clouds gathered thicker; the rain fell in torrents; the children exulted and ran; it was all we could do<br />
to keep them in sight.<br />
With silent, radiant roll, the river swept onward, filling to the margin its smooth, soft, yielding channel. For,<br />
instead of rock or shingle or sand, it flowed over grass in which grew primroses and daisies, crocuses and<br />
narcissi, pimpernels and anemones, a starry multitude, large and bright through the brilliant water. The river<br />
had gathered no turbid cloudiness from the rain, not even a tinge of yellow or brown; the delicate mass shone<br />
with the pale berylline gleam that ascended from its deep, dainty bed.<br />
Drawing nearer to the mountain, we saw that the river came from its very peak, and rushed in full volume<br />
through the main street of the city. It descended to the gate by a stair of deep and wide steps, mingled of<br />
porphyry and serpentine, which continued to the foot of the mountain. There arriving we found shallower<br />
steps on both banks, leading up to the gate, and along the ascending street. Without the briefest halt, the Little<br />
Ones ran straight up the stair to the gate, which stood open.<br />
Outside, on the landing, sat the portress, a woman−angel of dark visage, leaning her shadowed brow on her<br />
idle hand. The children rushed upon her, covering her with caresses, and ere she understood, they had taken<br />
heaven by surprise, and were already in the city, still mounting the stair by the side of the descending torrent.<br />
A great angel, attended by a company of shining ones, came down to meet and receive them, but merrily<br />
evading them all, up still they ran. In merry dance, however, a group of woman−angels descended upon them,<br />
and in a moment they were fettered in heavenly arms. The radiants carried them away, and I saw them no<br />
more.<br />
"Ah!" said the mighty angel, continuing his descent to meet us who were now almost at the gate and within<br />
hearing of his words, "this is well! these are soldiers to take heaven itself by storm!−−I hear of a horde of<br />
black bats on the frontiers: these will make short work with such!"<br />
<strong>Lilith</strong> 159