anctified;
Peace is there that knows no measure,
Joys that through all time abide.
"In the cross of Christ I glory;
Towering o'er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime."
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[Illustration]
THE FIRST EASTER DAWN
By J. K. Thompson
"The day of resurrection,
Earth, tell it out abroad:
The Passover of gladness,
The Passover of God.
From death to life eternal,
From earth unto the sky,
Our Christ hath brought us over
With hymns of victory."
--_John of Damascus_
[End illustration]
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THE STORY OF THE FIRST EASTER DAY
It was Easter Day. Both Margaret and Harold went to church. It was a
beautiful day, warm and pleasant. The grass was green, and the tulips
and the crocuses were blossoming in the gardens. Everybody was glad
that the snow and the cold of winter had gone. When they were on their
way to church, they saw a robin on a branch of a tree. The children
laughed with pleasure to see Mr. Robin Redbreast back again. At church
there were beautiful flowers, and the choir sang Easter songs and
hymns. One of the hymns Harold liked very much indeed. He said it made
him feel that the world was so glad that it couldn't help singing its
gladness right out. This hymn began--
"Christ the Lord is risen to-day
Sons of men and angels say,
Raise your joys and triumphs high,
Sing, ye heavens, and, earth, reply."
In the evening they sat with their mamma, watching the beautiful
sunset.
"Mamma," said Harold, "I don't think that I just understand about that
long word the minister used so much this morning--resurrection; won't
you explain it, please?"
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"Well," said mamma, "it is not very easy for little folks to
understand, but I will try. I will tell you the
STORY OF THE FIRST EASTER DAY.
"You know that the enemies of Jesus crucified him as I told you, and
he died upon the cross."
"Yes," said Margaret, soberly, "I know about that. My little kittie
died. She went to sleep, and couldn't wake up any more. Poor little
kittie!"
"Yes," said mamma, "and you know that dear Grand-mamma White went to
sleep and didn't wake up, and God took her dear, beautiful soul to be
with him.
"After Jesus had suffered on the cross, he went to sleep, that sound,
sound sleep that we call death. Then they took him from the cross, and
placed his body in a tomb dug out of the
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