Heaven's Right Side by M. J. Cottrell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 10, 1866

Heaven's Right Side.

By M. J. Cottrell

Thoughts suggested by the remark of the little Swedish girl, who when contemplating the glories of the starry skies, exclaimed, "If the wrong side of Heaven be so glorious, what must the right side be?" Review, Vol. xxvii, No. 17.

IN fancy now I see that child with eyes upraised to Heaven, Her sunny tresses gently swayed by passing breeze of even; Those tiny, dimpled hands are clasped in ravishing delight, And then I hear her clear, sweet voice, rise on the air of night: "If Heaven's wrong side so glorious is, what must the right side be?" Sweet little one, a vision bright thou hast conveyed to me.

I turn my eyes to Heaven above, and what do I behold? An ocean of blue ether fair, bedecked with stars untold.

Oh, never can artistic skill a scene so grand portray, And poet's pen can ne'er describe the beauteous sky's array; And as I gaze upon this scene, and think of Heaven's "right side," Which ne'er to sin has been so near, where love and truth abide, Where beauty in its fullness dwells and purity doth reign, Her simple thought I would adopt, and with her would exclaim, If Heaven's wrong side such glories rare, doth to our eyes display, The exceeding glories of the right, what language can portray?

M. J. COTTRELL.

Mill Grove, N. Y.