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Impressive Dream
525
We then thought of those who had not accustomed themselves
to privations and hardships. Where were such now? They were not
in the company. At every change some were left behind, and those
only remained who had accustomed themselves to endure hardships.
The privations of the way only made these more eager to press on to
the end.
Our danger of falling from the pathway increased. We pressed
close to the white wall, yet could not place our feet fully upon the
path, for it was too narrow. We then suspended nearly our whole
weight upon the cords, exclaiming: “We have hold from above!
We have hold from above!” The same words were uttered by all
the company in the narrow pathway. As we heard the sounds of
mirth and revelry that seemed to come from the abyss below, we
shuddered. We heard the profane oath, the vulgar jest, and low,
vile songs. We heard the war song and the dance song. We heard
instrumental music and loud laughter, mingled with cursing and
cries of anguish and bitter wailing, and were more anxious than ever
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to keep upon the narrow, difficult pathway. Much of the time we
were compelled to suspend our whole weight upon the cords, which
increased in size as we progressed.
I noticed that the beautiful white wall was stained with blood. It
caused a feeling of regret to see the wall thus stained. This feeling,
however, lasted but for a moment, as I soon thought that it was all as
it should be. Those who are following after will know that others
have passed the narrow, difficult way before them, and will conclude
that if others were able to pursue their onward course, they can do
the same. And as the blood shall be pressed from their aching feet,
they will not faint with discouragement; but, seeing the blood upon
the wall, they will know that others have endured the same pain.
At length we came to a large chasm, at which our path ended.
There was nothing now to guide the feet, nothing upon which to
rest them. Our whole reliance must be upon the cords, which had
increased in size until they were as large as our bodies. Here we
were for a time thrown into perplexity and distress. We inquired in
fearful whispers: “To what is the cord attached?” My husband was
just before me. Large drops of sweat were falling from his brow,
the veins in his neck and temples were increased to double their
usual size, and suppressed, agonizing groans came from his lips.