AN ALLEGORY by Clara Edna Rosencrans

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 13, 1904

AN ALLEGORY.

By Clara Edna Rosencrans

(By a sufferer and a cripple.)

I AM a princess. Any one would not think it looking at my poor, crooked body, and face drawn sometimes with pain, but it is even so. My Father is a King and my Elder Brother, the Lord Jesus, is heir apparent to this world in which I live. I am an exile now, banished by the one who tried to usurp this beautiful land from my Father. But one day He will win it back once more, and will bestow it upon One who is entirely worthy of it. Even now His armies draw near. Only a few more strongholds of the enemy to overcome, and then my Brother, the Captain of the "Lord's Host" will appear, surrounded by shining beings, more beautiful than ever graced the court of earthly king, and will take me to dwell in His kingdom forever.

I have never seen this Brother and yet I love Him. Many are the loving messages that He has sent me; and it helps me to be patient when I suffer most severely, to know that this dear Friend has me always in His mind, that I am carried constantly on His heart.

And the letters I have received from Him! In one of these He describes the city which is to be the capital of His kingdom. I can scarcely imagine how it will be, it is so much more beautiful than anything I ever saw; but it has twelve gates of pearl, and streets of shining gold. And there is a river of pure water which flows through the city, and on either side stands the tree of Life which bears twelve manner of delicious fruits, the leaves of which are for the healing, or service, of the redeemed. Fountains of living water also flow from the throne, and the air is filled with the music of countless harpers.

It must be very beautiful there, and sometimes when I get to thinking about it, I can hardly wait for my Brother to come but then He is constantly educating me, and making me fit for a home in His Royal Family. And most beautiful of all, when I get home I will never suffer any more. Once inside the golden gates, my hip will not hurt me, neither will it hurt my foot to walk on it. I shall be well, well forever! And can go where I like and never be weary any more, for my Brother told me in one of His early letters that the dwellers there "shall run and not be weary, shall walk and not faint." These are His very words. Is it any wonder, then, that I sing as I go about my work, and that people wonder that I am so happy?

Why this is only probation, and I am being fitted for the society of saints and angels. Who would not be happy? For there will be no sin there, no tempter, but love will be the rule of life, and our dear ones will be forever safe.

I hope that my Brother will come soon, and that all my dear ones will be ready to go, for as many as wish may go to that country, and become its citizens, if they enlist in the war. The Lord Jesus has need of many valiant soldiers, and the reward will be life in the city of gold. So I try as the days go by to win some one to enlist under the banner of my Father and King. CLARA EDNA ROSENCRANS. Mansfield, Mo.