Phases of an Inferior PlanetGlasgow, Ellen Anderson Gholson
General
Phases of an Inferior Planet
Glasgow, Ellen Anderson Gholson
Fiction
Then, even as he watched the crisp sunshine, a cloud crossed the sky,
its shade descending like a gray blotter upon the shivering city.
At first he walked rapidly, but a sudden fatigue seized him, and his
pace slackened. He remembered that he had not rested for six hours. In a
moment he saw the cross on the steeple of his church emblazoned in fire
upon the heavens where the sun had burst forth, and, crossing the
street, he pushed the swinging doors and entered softly. It was
deserted. With a sensation of relief he passed along the right side
aisle, and seated himself within the shadow of the little chapel.
Atmospheric waves of green and gold sifted through the windows and
suffused the chancel. Beyond the dusk of the nave he saw the gilded
vessels upon the altar and the high crucifix above. A crimson flame was
burning in the sanctuary lamp, a symbol of the presence of the sacrament
reserved. Above the chancel the figure of the Christ in red and purple
was illuminated by the light of the world without.
Suddenly the sound of the organ broke the stillness, and he remembered
that it was the day of the choir practising. The disturbance irritated
him. During all the years of his priesthood he had not lost his old
aversion to music. Now he felt that he loathed it--as he loathed the lie
that he was living.
He raised his eyes to the stained-glass window, where the Christ in his
purple robes smiled a changeless smile. A swift desire stung him to see
the insipid smile strengthen into a frown--to behold an overthrow of the
strained monotony. Change for the sake of change were preferable. Only
let the still red flame in the sanctuary-lamp send up one fitful blaze,
one shadow darken the gilded serenity of the altar. Would it forever
face him with that bland assumption of the permanence of creed--the
damnation of doubt? Would time never tarnish the blinding brightness of
the brazen cross? He shivered as if from cold.
Then the voices of the choir swelled out in a song of exhortation--the
passionate and profound exhortation of the "Elijah." In an instant it
filled the church, flooding nave and chancel with its anthem of
adoration:
"Lift thine eyes. O, lift thine eyes unto the mountains whence
cometh help. Thy help cometh from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and
earth. He hath said thy foot shall not be moved. Thy Keeper will
never slumber."
Over and over again rang the promise of the prophet:
"Thy Keeper will never slumber--thy Keeper will never slumber."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account