By Rebecca Springer Originally titled  "Intra Muros" Published 1922

Within the Gates    Heavenly Homes     Everywhere I looked I saw elegant and beautiful houses of a strangely attractive architecture, half hidden by the trees, that I felt must be the homes of the happy inhabitants of this enchanted place. I caught glimpses of sparkling fountains in many different directions, and close to my retreat flowed a river with placid surface and water as clear as crystal. The walks that ran in many directions through the grounds appeared to be of pearl, spotless and pure, bordered on either side by narrow strips of crystalline water running over stones of gold. The one thought that fastened itself upon me as I looked breathless and speechless upon this scene was "Purity, purity!" No shadow of dust, no taint of decay of fruit or flower; everything perfect, everything pure. The grass and flowers looked as though freshly washed by summer showers, and not a single blade was any other color but the brightest green. The air was soft and balmy though invigorating; and instead of sunlight there was a golden glow and rosy glory everywhere; something like the afterglow of a southern sunset in midsummer.         Suddenly I looked up and heard my brother, who was standing beside me, say softly, "Well?" I discovered that he was watching me with keen enjoyment. I had in my great surprise and delight wholly forgotten his presence. I would have answered, but then such an overpowering sense of God's goodness and my own unworthiness swept over me that I dropped my face in my hands, and burst into uncontrollable and very human weeping.         My brother lifted me gently to my feet and said, "Come. I want to show you the river."         When we reached the brink of the river but a few steps distant, I found that the lovely meadow ran even to the water's edge, and in some places I saw flowers blooming placidly down in the depths among the colored pebbles with which the entire bed of the river was lined. My brother, stepping into the water, urged me to do the same.         I drew back timidly, saying, "I fear it is cold."         "Not in the least," he said with a reassuring smile. "Come!"         "Just as I am?" I said, glancing down at my lovely robe, which to my great joy I found was similar to those of the dwellers in that happy place.         "Just as you are," he said with a reassuring smile. Thus encouraged I stepped into the gently flowing river, and to my great surprise I found the water in both temperature and density almost identical with the air. Deeper and deeper grew the stream as we passed on.         "It will go over my head," I objected. "I cannot breathe under the water. I will suffocate."         An amused twinkle came into his eyes, though he said soberly enough, "We do not do those things here." Realizing the absurdity of my position, I plunged headlong into the bright water, which soon rippled several feet above my head. To my surprise and delight, I found I could not only breathe, but laugh, talk and hear as naturally under the water as above it.         Then the thought came as we prepared to leave the water, what would we do for towels, for Earth thoughts still clung to me. And I wondered too if my lovely robe was not spoiled. But behold, as we neared the shore and my head once more emerged from the water, the moment the air struck my face and hair I realized that I would need no towel or brush. My flesh, my hair, my beautiful garments were as soft and dry as they had been before the water touched them.         The material out of which my robe was fashioned was unlike anything that I had ever seen. It was soft and light and shone with a faint lustre, reminding me more of silk crepe than anything I could recall, only infinitely more beautiful. It fell about me in soft graceful folds, which water seemed to have rendered even more lustrous than before.         We walked on a few steps and then I turned and looked back at the shining river flowing on so tranquilly. "Frank, what has the water done for me?" I said. "I feel as though I could fly."         He looked at me with earnest, tender eyes as he answered gently, "It has washed away the last of the Earth life and fitted you for the new life into which you have entered."         "It is divine," I whispered.         "Yes, it is divine," he said.

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