,,life ,,and ,,labor ,,in ,,the ,,spirit ,,world4 ,,being ,a ,,description ,,of ,,localities1 ,,employments1 ,,surroundings1 ,,and ,,conditions ,,in ,,the ,,spheres4 ,by ,members of the ,spirit-,band of ,,miss ,m4 ,t4 ,,shelhamer1 ,medium of the ,banner of ,light ,public ,free ,circle4 ,the refulgent ray of ,truth is all-piercing2 it can never be quenched2 its light shall yet illuminate the world4 ,,second ,,thousand4 ,,boston3 ,,colby ,,rich1 ,,publishers4 ,,corner ,,bosworth ,,and ,,province ,,sts4 #ahhe4 ,,preface4 ,when the thought of publishing this volume was first suggested to me by my spirit guides1 ,i was led to ask1 what good will it accomplish8 and they replied3 ,it will teach mortals that which it is impossible for them to obtain from any other source1 but of which they are supremely desirous of being informed1--the conditions and surroundings1 and the pleasures and pursuits of and influence exerted upon the denizens of earth by the inhabitants of the spirit world2 it will reveal somewhat of the life their departed relatives and friends live1 and to which they themselves are rapidly approaching2 it will show that that life is a tangible reality1 that it is1 in fact1 the substance1 this being but the shadow1--the eternal1 while this is but transitory2 that while the joys they may there possess surpass all human power of conception1 they are attained only by purity of thought1 and a faithful performance of duty1 and that every advance made in those essentials in this life places them in a correspondingly advanced state when they enter the spiritual realm4 ,i had no desire to further question2 the accomplishment of such a work seemed every way desirable2 ,i cheerfully acceded to their wishes1 and the result is here presented4 ,i believe that all herein given has emanated from the minds of spiritual intelligences1 that even the words employed have been chosen by them as most befitting the thoughts they wished to express4 ,they have come to me in times of quiet seclusion1 when there was nothing to disturb the harmony absolutely required for the transmission of the truths they wished to convey4 ,m4 ,t4 ,,shelhamer4 ,,contents4 ,,part ,,first4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,spirit ,,violet4 ,sympathy4 ,girls4 ,old ,age4 #g ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,spirit ,,echoes4 ,a ,meeting of ,missionary ,spirits4 ,a ,spirit ,returns to ,comfort ,her ,mother4 ,just ,recognition of ,returning ,spirits4 ,consolatory ,thoughts for ,bereaved ,mothers4 ,the ,ministration of ,spirits4 ,the ,rain of the ,summer-,land4 ,happiness of ,spirits in ,communing with ,friends on ,earth4 ,poetry of the ,spirit ,spheres4 ,my ,mother 7poem74 #bc ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,real ,,life ,,in ,,the ,,spirit ,,world4 ,a ,darkened ,spirit ,led to ,see the ,light4 ,an ,outcast from ,earth ,returns to ,aid the ,fallen4 ,unseen ,helpers at a ,conflagration4 ,advent of a ,mortal into ,spirit ,life4 #cg ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,zencollia ,,city ,,and ,,its ,,surroundings4 ,a ,temple of ,learning4 ,hall of ,metaphysics4 ,hall of ,literature4 ,hall of ,music4 ,social ,life in ,zencollia4 ,interior ,view of ,zencollia4 ,a ,convocation of ,women2 ,equality of ,sex4 ,dwellers in ,zencollia4 ,a ,suburban ,view4 ,my ,home1 its ,life and ,associations4 #ed ,,chapter ,v4 ,,places ,i ,,have ,,seen4 ,the ,people of ,spring ,garden ,city4 ,children's ,lyceum4 ,harmonial ,city4 ,a ,magnificent ,temple4 ,city of ,joy4 ,floralia1 the ,valley of ,flowers4 ,the ,valley of ,delight4 ,the ,happy ,hunting ,ground of the ,indians4 #gb ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,scenes ,,and ,,incidents ,,in ,,the ,,spirit ,,land4 ,trial and ,triumph4 ,a ,home for the ,weary4 ,the ,condition of ,one ,selfish on ,earth4 ,first ,steps towards ,enlightenment4 ,enfranchisement of a ,spirit4 ,children's ,progressive ,lyceums4 ,methods of ,instruction in ,spirit ,lyceums4 ,a ,golden-,chain ,recitation4 #hg ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,how ,,spirits ,,work4 ,a ,spirit ,mother ,relieves an ,impoverished ,daughter4 ,parents ,suddenly ,bereaved4 ,the ,father's ,grief ,affects the ,spirit4 ,the ,spirit ,seeks to ,make ,her ,presence ,known4 ,the ,recognition and its ,results4 #ajc ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,an ,,echo ,,from ,,the ,,summer-,,land4 ,the ,lesson of ,self-,sacrifice4 ,days of ,darkness4 ,words of ,cheer from the ,spirit ,land4 ,the ,mists ,clearing ,away4 #aaf ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,the ,,fortunes ,,of ,,little ,,georgie4 ,shadows on ,earthly ,paths4 ,a ,spirit ,mother ,leads ,her ,child4 ,visions of the ,night4 ,dreams that ,appeared ,strange4 ,the ,strange ,dreams fulfilled4 #abf ,,chapter ,x4 ,,lucy ,,aiken',s ,,mission4 ,unseen ,helpers4 ,a ,spirit's ,efforts to ,reach ,her ,father4 ,the ,last ,penny and the ,last ,appeal4 ,the ,influence of the ,spirit ,begins to ,show ,itself4 ,the ,spirit ,daughter's ,presence4 ,happy ,results of ,spirit ,efforts4 ,angel ,visits not ,few nor ,far ,between4 #aci ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,experiences ,,in ,,spirit ,,life4 ,the ,various ,classes of ,spirits near the ,earth4 ,the ,power and ,extent of ,personal ,influence4 ,beulah1 a ,spirit ,missionary4 ,beulah's ,self-,sacrificing ,beneficence4 ,reformation of ,spirits in the ,lower ,spheres4 ,illustrative ,instance of the ,reformation of a ,spirit4 ,the ,work ,carried to ,completion4 ,the ,reformed ,spirit ,returns to ,earth to ,reform ,others4 ,first ,sensations upon ,entering ,spirit ,life4 ,the ,ultimate ,reign of ,peace and ,happiness on ,earth4 #aed ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,sanitariums ,,in ,,spirit ,,life4 ,localities and ,characteristics4 ,methods of ,treatment4 ,music as a ,means of ,recuperation4 ,restoration of the ,mentally ,diseased4 ,improved ,medical ,treatment on ,earth4 ,one of the ,sanitariums of ,spirit ,life4 ,interesting ,incident1--a ,mother ,finds ,her ,child4 ,cultivation of ,inherent ,talents4 #agb ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,surroundings ,,and ,,conditions ,,of ,,spirits4 ,reasons for ,different ,views of ,spirit ,surroundings4 ,earthly ,conditions that ,retard ,spiritual ,progress4 ,worldly ,success often a ,misfortune4 ,earthly ,conditions ,continued in ,spirit ,life4 ,an ,illustration4 ,external ,surroundings ,produced by ,mental ,conditions4 ,materialistic ,scientists in ,spirit ,life4 ,the ,dawning of ,spiritual ,light4 ,the ,liberal-,minded ,scientist4 ,contrasted ,causes and ,effects4 ,the ,simply ,intellectual4 ,cheerlessness of a ,want of ,spirituality4 ,blending of the ,spiritual and ,intellectual4 ,happiness ,derivable only from ,within4 ,the ,human nature of ,spirits4 ,right and ,wrong ,states of ,contentment4 #ahf ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,our ,,co-,,operative ,,societies4 ,earthly ,reforms ,originate in ,spirit ,life4 ,divisions of ,spirit ,mission of ,labor4 ,woman ,suffrage4 ,the ,indians4 ,peace ,arbitration4 ,heredity4 ,an ,organization of ,spirits for the ,elevation of ,earth's ,inhabitants4 ,care and ,protection of ,mediums4 ,development of ,new ,mediums4 ,our ,co-operative ,society2 what ,constitutes ,membership2 its ,plans1 ,purposes1 and ,influence4 #bad ,,part ,,second4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,introductory4--,,spirit ,,may4 ,the ,council of the ,flowers4 ,for the ,little ,ones 7poem74 ,who ,can ,tell 7poem74 ,work 7poem74 ,to ,my ,sister ,genevieve 7poem74 ,grandma's ,pet 7poem74 ,two ,birdies 7poem74 ,evening 7poem74 ,the ,awakening of the ,flowers 7poem74 ,baby ,nellie 7poem74 ,a ,happy ,new ,year 7poem74 ,snow ,drops 7poem74 ,an ,evening ,song 7poem74 ,children 7poem74 ,snow ,flakes 7poem74 #bcc ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,a ,,story ,,for ,,the ,,children4 #bec ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,the ,,children ,,of ,,the ,,summer-,,land4 #bgb ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,little ,,bertie ,,and ,,others4 #bij ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,golden ,,nest ,,and ,,other ,,places4 ,heavenly ,love 7poem7 #cjg ,,part ,,third4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,john ,,critchley ,,prince4 ,,his ,,experiences ,,in ,,the ,,spirit ,,world4 ,i ,come to ,thee 7poem74 ,heart ,treasures 7poem74 8,and ,he ,will make it ,plain0 7poem74 ,down by the ,sea 7poem74 ,coming ,home 7poem74 ,a ,friend's ,advice 7poem74 ,the ,welcome ,angels ,give4 #cbf ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,my ,,life ,,and ,,experiences ,,on ,,earth4 #cde ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,my ,,life ,,and ,,experiences ,,in ,,the ,,spirit ,,world4 #cea ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,the ,,poet',s ,,council4 #cfg ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,a ,,visit ,,to ,,robert ,,burns4 #chc ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,,my ,,spiritual ,,work4 #djd ,,life ,,and ,,labor ,,in ,,the ,,spirit ,,world4 ,,part ,,first4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,spirit ,,violet4 ,katie ,ammidown ,kinsey--the beautiful spirit to whom we are indebted for the larger part of the contents of this book--was the second daughter of ,joseph and ,ann ,frances ,kinsey1 of ,cincinnati1 ,ohio4 ,born in that city ,oct4 #g1 #ahef1 the subject of this sketch lived in the home of her parents--save when she was away at school--until her twenty-first year1 when1 in the ,july of #ahgg1 while making a visit at the home of an uncle in ,milton1 ,indiana1 she was suddenly summoned to enter the spirit world after an illness of only a few days4 ,the character and disposition of ,miss ,kinsey were of the most exemplary and lovely nature4 ,of her it could be truly said3 8,none knew thee but to love thee1 nor named thee but to praise40 ,hers was no common life2 imbued with an earnest and deep sympathy for humanity1 and ever desirous of doing good1 her days were spent in thoughtful care for others1 and in seeking to give practical expression to the golden rule4 ,in a memorial address framed by the officers of the ,sabbath school1 at which ,katie was a regular attendant1 and presented to her parents as a token of the rare appreciation in which she was held by all1 are to be found the following commendatory words of her earthly life3-- 8,her heart was open1 frank1 and transparent2 we all recognized the loveliness and beauty of her character and life1 and they have left an impression not easily removed4 ,she has always been the same sweet1 gentle spirit2 no expression which was not fitting to be made anywhere1 no harsh word or unkind look marred her beautiful life2 always ready to discharge cheerfully any duty assigned to her1 and always well4 ,as a scholar she seemed to absorb all that was taught1 and to drink in the great truth of redeeming love4 ,her long connection with our school1 and her interest in everything that would promote its welfare1 we record as worthy of all imitation40 ,for some time before her physical decease ,miss ,kinsey displayed a taste for literary pursuits1 which was very gratifying to her friends1 as well as pleasing to herself4 ,for a number of months previous to her last illness1 she had filled the position of editress of a lively little paper called ,the ,spectator1 published by the ,friends' ,lyceum1 an organization of which she was a member2 and it is needless to remark that she managed the sheet with becoming skill1 ability1 and discretion4 ,widely was the death of their beloved president and editress deplored by the various members of the society1 and a set of resolutions1 expressing grief at their loss1 and the esteem in which she was held by the organization1 was framed and adopted at its first meeting following her decease4 ,notices of the death of ,miss ,kinsey appeared in the ,cincinnati papers1 and bore expression to the universal love and respect in which she was held2 while letters of condolence were forwarded to her parents from all quarters4 ,shortly after the decease of their daughter1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,kinsey collected the memorial addresses1 resolutions1 letters of sympathy1 newspaper articles1 etc41 on her death1 and in connection with the literary productions of their ascended child1 published them in an elegantly bound volume1 copies of which were presented to the numerous friends who had known and loved her4 ,this memorial volume bears the following inscription upon its title page3-- 8,thus1 far beyond all noise of earthly strife1 ,or silent death1 rest 'neath the long1 green sod2 ,thou art gone triumphant into perfect life1 ,the soul's true life in ,god40 ,the articles that follow1 from the pen of ,miss ,kinsey1 will indicate to the reader her mental ability1 and the liberal opinions entertained by her4 ,they were written while filling the position of editress of ,the ,spectator1 and published in its columns on the dates specified3-- ,,sympathy4 8,of all the gifts given to man1 the power to sympathize is the most ,god-like1 and the man who has it not knows not what life is2 when he reaches his journey's end on this side1 having been supremely selfish all the way1 he will discover that what he called life was but a living death after all4 8,love and sympathy seem nearly synonymous1 but the former can be selfish1 while the very essence of the latter is thought for others4 ,genius is but an intense power to sympathize1 coupled with ability to express the same4 ,in fact1 this one word makes a part of so many good things that to enjoy life at all we must sympathize with nature1 man1 or ,god4 8,a sympathy with nature is the source of marvelous comfort2 ,shakespeare understood it when he said3 #8,and this our life1 exempt from public haunt1 ,finds tongues in trees1 books in the running brooks1 ,sermons in stones1 and good in everything4' 8,there are times when life grown burdensome hangs like a leaden weight upon our necks2 we would get away from ourselves1 and it is necessary to use all our power to crush the wish that we had never been born2 then if we can go into the fields or woods1 and1 throwing ourselves upon the ground1 rest our heads on the loving earth1 how soon we find relief4 ,the quiet breeze is like a friendly hand upon our brows2 the voice of the brook1 the song of birds1 and hum of insects are like balm upon a wound2 we are children in our mothers' arms1 and the grand old trees are our brothers and sisters4 ,whatever human friends may leave or disappoint us1 we have always sweet sympathizers in the flowers1 trees1 brooks1 rocks1 grass1 and everything which springs to life in the fields or woods1 on the mountains or in the valleys4 8,a sympathy with our fellow-beings is higher than that with nature1 because more active and requiring forbearance4 #8,put yourself in his place' has a world of meaning4 ,we should strive that ours may be the finger which shall touch the secret spring in our neighbor's heart1 which shall unlock the good lying dormant there for want of help to bring it out4 ,strive to realize their griefs and temptations4 ,if we could for one short hour put ourselves in the place of some one whom we now condemn with so much bitterness2 if we could see how circumstances have wrapped their fatal web around him1 how much the fatal tendency to do evil is the terrible legacy of his parents1 how often would harsh judgment lie low in the dust1 and loving mercy cover with her shielding mantle8 ,if we could throw off this crust of ice1 with which so many of us seem to have encased ourselves1 how much more good we could do8 ,now1 we stand apart2 then1 joined together1 each helping the other1 we would fulfill the purpose of our being4 8,sympathy with ,god6 ,is it blasphemous for weak mortals to think of such a thing8 ,no6 ,the loving ,father alone is acquainted with us1 and is therefore the only thorough sympathizer we have4 #8,he knoweth our frame2 ,he remembereth that we are dust4' ,we commence to be in harmony with ,god just as soon as by cultivating sympathy for man1 we become fellow-workers with ,him40 ,,march #b1 #ahgg4 ,,girls4 8,girls are queer creatures1 but we cannot help liking them4 ,under all the silliness and vanity there is a vein of gold in everyone which is undoubtedly genuine1--it comes to the surface sometimes1 but is often so deeply imbedded in nonsense that a superficial observer would not have the slightest suspicion of its existence4 ,part of this want of sense is natural1 but a great deal of it is acquired in a negative way4 ,the majority of girls have very little object in life1 and cannot see the use of accumulating material which they never expect to use2 to be sure they all intend to be married some time1 but1 judging from the specimens of male suitors1 they see that which requires but very little effort and less sense4 ,so1 when papa and mamma1 after a great deal of consultation1 decide upon a good school their daughter goes there1 but she could hardly tell you why4 ,if she has no positive love for study1 her chief end and aim1 while in school1 will be to shuffle off the lessons for the day with the utmost dispatch1 and #8there's an end4' ,when school days are over1 she expects to have nothing more to do with the subjects there considered1 excepting a little reading1 writing1 spelling1 and arithmetic4 ,she is to enter society1 which to hundreds means spending the days with a little house-work1 making a good many calls1 and doing some shopping4 ,the evenings are devoted to dancing or talking with vapid-brained young men1 who never had an idea in their lives1 and consider it an insult if a lady ventures one4 ,or worse than this1 perhaps they must talk with young men whom they know have sense1 but will not condescend to use it in their presence4 8,after a while the girl is expected to marry one of these individuals4 ,they do very well for a partner in a cotillion1 but how about life8 ,let us see what she has to say about it1 talking to a confidential friend3 #8,oh1 yes1 it is decided that ,mr4 ,b4 and ,i are to be made one4 ,i can't say ,i love him devotedly1 and really think him decidedly stupid sometimes2 but ,i suppose it is all for the best1 for you see ,i cannot do a single thing1 and if papa should be taken away or lose his health1 having nothing to depend upon but his salary now1 what would become of us then8 ,as it is1 ,mr4 ,b4 is rich1 and ,i can give a nice1 comfortable home to both mamma and papa at any time after we are married4' 8,what silly and romantic ideas we had about marriage when we went to school8 ,how soon they vanish in real life6 ,here we have to take the best we can get and be thankful for it4 ,we believe the above to be a fair sample of hundreds of the marriages made at the present day4 ,the man wants a housekeeper1 the woman a home4 ,each gets what he or she bargained for1 and so much more that it is not strange the daily papers are full of accounts of divorce suits4 ,let the girls1 as well as the boys1 be educated to do something whereby they can make an honorable living1 and we believe a great deal of unhappiness will be prevented4 ,it seems to us but justice to allow women to do #8whatsoever their hands find to do with their might1' whether it be dressmaking1 cooking1 washing and ironing1 or practicing law and medicine4 ,it also seems no more than right that she should have a voice in the affairs of the country under whose laws she lives and educates her children4 8,the sterner sex need have no fears that when woman has the ballot she will usurp their privilege of smoking1 swearing1 wearing the hair short1 fighting at the polls1 and other such delicacies2 neither will she monopolize the stump at election times1 and harangue the people1 calling everyone who disagrees with her names that decent people would blush to address to a dog4 ,some people pretend to fear that when women vote they will have no time for domestic affairs1 and that the institution of home itself will be destroyed4 ,heart-rending pictures are drawn of pater familias1 seated by the deserted hearth-stone1 vainly endeavoring to quiet a weeping infant1 while its mother has gone to the #8pollsys1 wollsys4' ,as the old woman said3 #8,we feel for that man1 but we can't find him'2 neither can we find the mother who would intrust her infant to such doubtful care4 ,from the fuss made about the time taken from domestic duties one would think it took a week to put a small slip of paper into a medium-sized box4 ,why1 we have known of men who could put in half a dozen in less than half that time1 and no one suspects women to be less clever than men4 8,as for home1 who made the home in the first place8 ,woman1 of course2 and she loves it as she loves her life4 ,here the golden vein in her nature will come to the surface and sparkle resplendently4 ,will her home be any the less sweet when she feels that she can indeed be a help-meet to her husband if disaster overtake him in business8 ,will her children be less dear because she has the consciousness that she can protect and care for them if the head of the house be taken away8 ,will she love her husband less1 knowing that she married him to have a loving companion1 and not simply a person to support her8 8,a woman naturally wishes to respect and look up to her husband1 therefore1 we have decided that society1 when it is perfected1 should be looked upon as a flight of stairs1--conceding to man the position on the highest step1 if you please1 but there is a woman on the one just below1 and the steps are not very high4 ,in this way they alternate until we reach the lowest step1 and what find we there8 ,a disconsolate old bachelor1 with disheveled hair1 croaking a tune1 the burden of which is that women have no business to vote40 ,,may #ah1 #ahgg4 ,the following little gem1 published by ,miss ,kinsey in the ,spectator early in #ahgg1 is here reproduced at the earnest solicitations of many friends3-- ,,old ,,age4 8,it is a melancholy fact that the majority of mankind hate to grow old4 ,if sin was looked upon with as much shrinking and dread as is the idea of growing old1 there would speedily be a great reformation in the world4 ,this is a bad state of affairs2 an evidence1 in fact1 that we are looking through the wrong end of the glass4 ,if we had a journey to make1 at the end of which there was a delightful country1 more beautiful than anything the imagination could picture1 where all that heart could desire should be ours1 the one nearest his journey's end would not be looked upon as the most unfortunate4 ,yet this is often the case in life2 looking upon one far in advance1 we think1 because his body is feeble and nearly worn out1 he must be unhappy2 he would not be so if1 having understood the journey1 he had taken pains to know and accept the blessings by the way4 8,we confess that1 looking upon life as seen now1 there is often much excuse for those who think youth the only pleasant season4 ,stopping to think a moment1 we see this is all wrong4 ,advancement1 not retrogression1 is the proper watchword in all undertakings4 ,is the bud more perfect than the flower1 or the flower than the fruit8 ,old age is the ripened fruit of life1 and it remains entirely with us to see that it shall be sweet and pleasant to the taste1 instead of bitter and disagreeable4 ,one cause for the latter condition we find lies in persons who1 having been disappointed themselves1 say to their children3 #8,have a good time while you are young2 old age brings nothing but care and responsibility4' ,better give a child poison at once than start him out with that idea4 ,some will say3 #8,children are so happy1 being so innocent2 do let them be children forever4' ,the innocence of childhood is unfortunately the result of ignorance1 and can never make character2 one who does good because he knows not how to do evil has no more character than the one who does evil because he knows no good4 8,in youth1 knowing little1 we have small ideas of life1 and consequently cannot have a broad and full enjoyment of it4 ,but we might as well remain children if the knowledge we gain with years does not make us wiser and prevent us running off into every by-path we see1 getting nearly swamped in somebody else's opinion1 and having to retrace our steps4 ,behaving in this manner1 we cannot expect to reach old age without being tired and disgusted with the journey4 ,having worn out our brains endeavoring to make two parallel lines meet1 and our bodies trying to follow them to the impossible point1 time has been too short to consider that which is spiritual1 and we must be miserable at the thought of entering a life entirely so4 ,as the body becomes feeble the soul should grow strong and triumphant1 for then we know that our feet are just upon the border of the #8,promised ,land1' only waiting till the thin mist which hides it shall be dispersed by the sunlight of ,god's will40 ,for some years ,mr4 ,joseph ,kinsey1 the father of ,miss ,katie1 has been an earnest and devoted ,spiritualist1 and his opinions concerning the future life of man are well-known in the community where he resides1 and among the business men of the country with whom he associates4 ,his daughter1 however1 had not become convinced of the truths of the spiritual philosophy previous to her death4 ,let us quote her own words on this subject as given through her chosen medium1 in a communication to her father some years after her transition to the higher life3-- 8,i was not well enough acquainted with ,spiritualism1 dear father1 to understand and accept its revealments2 nor was it until ,i myself became a disembodied spirit1 and realized that ,i possessed the power to return and intelligently communicate with my mortal friends1 that ,i cared to investigate its claims1 and to profit by the teachings and privileges that ,spiritualism affords to man40 ,after her departure from the mortal form1 ,miss ,kinsey embraced every opportunity to communicate with her father and other friends2 but it was not until ,dec4 #bb1 #ahgh1 that she appeared at a circle in ,south ,boston1 ,mass41 and controlled the now well-known ,banner of ,light medium1 ,miss ,m4 ,t4 ,shelhamer1 who was at that time the message medium of the ,voice of ,angels1--a spiritual journal then and now published semi-monthly in ,boston1--and gave the following lengthy communication1 which appeared in that journal ,jan4 #ae1 #ahgi3-- 8,it was in the beautiful summer time that ,i passed away from earth1 but not from the love1 the true home affections1 of my parents' hearts4 ,then the birds1 the zephyrs1 and the flowers made life beautiful and glad1 and earth rang with the melody of perfected spring4 ,now the blasts of winter have appeared1--the cold blast and the biting storm4 ,i loved the glad1 warm summer2 ,i loved the winter too1 with its diadem of glittering ice-gems1 and its white drapery of snow1 covering all unsightly places with a robe of purity1 just as the mantle of charity1 drawn by the hand of pitying kindness1 covers all unsightly blemishes in the lives of those around it4 ,i come with gladness tonight1 not weak and worn out with pain1 but strong and robust1 to bring the stalks of creamy1 white ,christmas lilies1 that breathe only of purity and peace1 and to plant them in the hearts of my darling father and mother1 with the blessings of all their dear ones who have developed1 and are developing the graces of spiritual culture in the higher life4 8,oh1 father1 oh1 mother1 life is so beautiful6 ,here the forces and attributes of the spirit do not ripen at the expense of the external form4 ,spirit growth is so natural1 so in harmony with outward law1 that the inner keeps pace with the outer1 and both expand together4 ,the student presents no paling cheek1 no wasted frame1 for knowledge is gained while living in accordance with nature's laws4 ,my spirit is expanding1 developing2 ,i am daily gaining strength4 ,my instructors are judicious and kind1 and it is so glorious to express with perfected language the true1 pure essence of thought that permeates the spirit4 8,by-and-bye we will meet and greet you1 oh1 so lovingly in our own dear spirit home4 ,until then we come to you daily1 nestling in our sweet1 old home1 drawing love and sympathy from your souls1 bringing peace and affection to crown your spirits4 ,eight jewels#a flash a radiance of celestial love toward you tonight from this distant place4 ,eight gems1 polished by the hand of the ,great ,lapidary1 shine in the crown of light that awaits you above40 ,footnote #a3 ,referring to herself and brothers and sisters in the spirit world4 8#8,yes1 sir1' addressing ,mr4 ,robert ,anderson1 the chairman of the ,voice of ,angels circle1 #8,i have returned from spirit life before1 but not here4 ,we frequently come4 ,we have manifested tangibly and satisfactorily to our friends at different places4 ,last summer we did so in an unmistakable manner at the ,west4 ,a year ago1 some of us tried to manifest at ,mrs4 ,boothby's1 in ,boston4 ,we come as often as we can4 ,our home is full of harmony and love1 and it strengthens our spirits to come1 while it consoles our parents to believe that we are with them4 ,my uncle1 who passed away many years ago by accident1 has gained a great deal of experience and knowledge with my father at the bank1 and in other business places2 and he blesses father for his faith in spirit ministration1 for it is of great assistance to him4 8,the spirit editor#b of the ,voice tells me that if ,i desire at any time to write out my thoughts1 or to give expression to my ideas through this medium 7,miss ,shelhamer71 he will be pleased to publish them4 ,i thank him1 and may avail myself of his kind offer2 should ,i do so1 father and all my friends will recognize me under the nom de plume of ,spirit ,violet1 as that is the name ,i shall assume4 ,i love the violets1 their sweet perfume sheds an atmosphere of beauty around me1 and they breathe of innocence and peace4 ,footnote #b3 ,l4 ,judd ,pardee1 through whose agency the ,voice of ,angels was established and managed1 in connection with ,d4 ,c4 ,densmore1 the publisher4 8,i know not as ,i have given all ,i could wish1 but must not trespass longer4 ,i thank you very kindly for receiving me4 ,my name is ,katie ,a4 ,kinsey4 ,i come from ,cincinnati1 ,ohio4 ,my father is ,mr4 ,joseph ,kinsey of that city40 ,the paper containing the above was forwarded according to the spirit's direction to ,cincinnati1 and elicited a letter of inquiry from ,mr4 ,joseph ,kinsey1 of that city1 as to how and where the message was first obtained4 ,dr4 ,d4 ,c4 ,densmore1 the publisher of the ,voice of ,angels1 replied1 giving all the facts of the case1 as he had received them from the managers of the circle4 ,the following response1 received in due time by ,dr4 ,densmore1 and which explains itself1 was published in the ,voice of ,feb4 #ae1 #ahgi1 the very paper which contained the first literary production of ,spirit ,violet1 given through the mediumship of ,miss ,shelhamer3-- 8,,cincinnati1 ,feb4 #c1 #ahgi4 ,d4 ,c4 ,,densmore1 ,north ,weymouth1 ,mass4 ,dear ,sir1--,i have your valued letter of the #bjth ult41 in reply to my letter of inquiry for the particulars as to how and through what medium that beautiful message came from ,katie ,a4 ,kinsey1 published in your paper of ,jan4 #aeth4 ,your very full statement of the facts and circumstances1 together with her sweet message of love1 affection1 and sympathy1 which has since been partially corroborated through ,j4 ,v4 ,mansfield1 at #fa ,west #dbnd ,st41 ,new ,york1 leads me to conclude that the message is verily and truly from our darling daughter ,katie1 who left her mortal form about nineteen months ago1 aged twenty years4 ,in that message she brings to my remembrance occurrences in my father's family of nearly fifty years ago1 of which she probably never heard in her life4 ,i send you this affirmation as a pleasing duty in sustaining your work for the ,voice of ,angels4 ,truly yours1 ,,joseph ,,kinsey40 ,shortly after the publication of the message above alluded to1 ,spirit ,violet1 ,katie ,kinsey1 appeared to ,miss ,shelhamer for the purpose of writing for the press1 and in the capacity of a literary spirit has attended that lady from that time to the present1 forming one of her band of spirit intelligences1 whose work it is to assist other spirits to communicate to their mortal friends through the message department of the ,banner of ,light1 to instruct the denizens of earth concerning their duties to each other1 and the best manner of preparing for their future life1 and also to inform them of the condition1 surroundings1 and existence of spirits4 ,spirit ,violet subsequently contributed regularly to the columns of the ,voice of ,angels1 and it is from what she thus furnished to mortals from time to time concerning the real existence and experiences of spirits that we have selected the larger part of the contents of this book4 ,in a private letter written to her father some time since1 the spirit thus explains how she happened to learn and avail herself of the mediumship of ,miss ,shelhamer3-- 8,when ,i learned that it was possible for spirits to take possession of certain sensitives on earth1 and through the organisms thus provided1 manifest their love and sympathy to their earthly friends1 my great anxiety to reach you and mother led me to eagerly seek for a medium adapted to my purpose1 and ,i availed myself of every opportunity to express myself to you and others4 ,i remembered that you were strongly interested in the ,message ,department of the ,banner of ,light1 and that you held a high opinion of the abilities of the medium who presided over it4 ,so ,i expressed my desire to visit the ,banner circle to my spirit brother ,john1 who promised to accompany me there at an early date4 ,but upon presenting myself at that circle ,i was disappointed to find that it was utterly impossible for me to control1 or to influence in any manner1 the medium whom ,i found there4 8,her magnetism did not in any degree assimilate with my own1 and though ,i visited her circles many times1 and watched the ease with which other spirits possessed themselves of her organism1 yet ,i was never able to perform a like operation4 8,at those circles1 however1 ,i met the spirit ,rev4 ,john ,pierpont1 a frequenter of that place1 who noticed my anxiety1 and at length questioned me upon it4 ,to him ,i related my troubles1 and he kindly volunteered to direct me to a medium through whom he thought ,i could express myself4 ,the spirit further stated that the lady to whom he referred was under the charge of a band of spirits of which himself and ,mrs4 ,conant were members1 who were developing her powers that they might be utilized by the spirit world upon the ,banner of ,light platform1 as the lady who then presided at that office would soon be unable to attend to her duties4 ,and to further this end1 a branch office had been established at ,south ,boston1 where spirits who desired to communicate with their friends1 and were unable to do so at the ,banner establishment1 were given an opportunity to be heard through the columns of the ,voice of ,angels4 8,mr4 ,pierpont then introduced me to the spirit brother of my present medium1 and ,i was invited by him to attend a circle at his earthly home and to manifest myself through the organism of his sister4 8,this occurred in the early fall2 but though ,i became a regular visitor at the weekly circles of the medium1 it was not until the following winter that ,i gained power to control her organism1 and indite that message which was afterward received by you through the dear little paper4 ,in the meantime ,i had made the acquaintance of ,mr4 ,pierpont1 ,mr4 ,pardee1 ,john ,critchley ,prince1 and other noble spirits at those seances1 by whom ,i was cordially invited to become a literary contributor to the ,voice40 ,the selections from the writings of ,spirit ,violet1 which this book contains1 consist mainly of accounts and narratives of life in the spirit world1 together with an intelligent exposition of methods employed by spirits in their labor for the benefit of mortals4 ,we shall now leave the subject of this sketch to speak for herself in the chapters that follow1 concerning those things that appertain to the realms of spirit life4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,spirit ,,echoes4 ,what is more beautiful than a morning in the ,summer-,land8 ,all things breathe of harmony and peace4 ,no jarring discords break upon the ambient air2 no sense of unloveliness and distress disturbs the spirit2 no storm-clouds overcast the heavens with threatening anger4 ,the golden sun tempers his rays in mildness and with beneficent warmth4 ,the birds sing fearlessly in the tree tops2 the waters flow merrily to the laughing sea2 the breezes play in wanton glee1 tossing the leaflets upon the trees1 and robbing the flowers of their choicest perfume to greet the senses of the passer-by4 ,pure souls1 to whom no taint of materiality clings2 sweet spirits1 who have never felt1 or having felt1 have risen above the influence of earthly passions1 here abide1 and1 gathering together into convocations1--convened not for ceremony1 nor from pride of station1 but from sympathy and friendship1--interchange the rich treasures of the mind1 cultivate through soul communion1 the true graces of the spirit and work in unity together1 thus developing the adaptability of each one for his peculiar mission1 and1 above all1 seek1 by those united efforts1 born of sincerity of purpose1 and love for humanity1 to devise ways and means for the amelioration of suffering upon earth1 as well as for the elevation of lowly1 undeveloped ,beings in the spirit world4 ,this is the dear ,summer-,land of ascended souls4 ,a ,summer-,land as far removed from those spirits who still dwell in the darkness1 emitted by their earthly career1 and who continue to cling to the shadow of material dross1 as it is from those inhabitants of clay1 whose thoughts of the future are confined to longings for personal grandeur alone1 and whose souls never mount upon the wings of aspiration in reaching out toward the higher realms of purity and goodness1 or in searching for the dear ,father and his ministering angels4 ,the silvery chime of bells floats upon the morning air1 which bathes my spirit in waves of sweet1 melodious sound4 ,grandly1 solemnly they chime1 lifting the soul above all selfish thoughts and purposes2 bearing it upward and onward upon the wings of sacred music2 far upward in adoration toward the source of all this beautiful1 beneficent1 and immortal life4 ,faint and low the sweet chime flows downward also1 bearing a sense of what is highest and best to those plunged in sorrow1 pain1 and doubt1 and giving them hope of a sweeter life yet to be attained through honest endeavor and individual effort4 ,sweet and low1 floating down1 down1 into the hearts of loved ones on earth1 thrilling them with a calmness of heavenly peace1 a sense of perfect rest1 and bearing into their souls undying echoes of love1 sympathy1 and remembrance1 from their dear ones who have gone before4 ,a ,,meeting ,,of ,,missionary ,,spirits4 8,waft1 waft1 ye winds the story2 ,and you1 ye waters1 roll ,till like a sea of glory ,it spreads from pole to pole4 ,progression1 oh1 ,progression6 ,the joyful sound proclaim1 ,till earth's remotest nation ,hath learned ,progression's name40 ,i have just listened to the above rendition of the inspiring missionary hymn1 and my soul thrills in harmony with the aspirations and the desire to spread the light of truth before all people1 which was thus expressed4 ,it was in no hall of worship and assembly that the words of the hymn fell upon my hearing4 ,but in returning from the earthly home of loved ones1 where ,i had been to whisper my matin greeting of sympathy and affection1 to my peculiar haunts in the spirit world1 ,i found a knot of spirit missionaries who had met to exchange reports of their labor1 and to unite their powers and energies in doing good to the needy by shedding a stream of light upon earth's darkened places4 ,there were venerable men whose years had been spent in working for others4 ,their flowing robes1 and the sandals upon their feet rendered their appearance patriarchal4 ,there were elderly females in whose countenances appeared the light of pure love and benevolence4 ,these latter were the nurses1 the tender counsellors1 the gentle mother spirits1 whose lives are devoted to the ministering unto sin-sick1 battle-worn souls1 who enter spirit life without hope or faith4 ,there were also young men and maidens1 novices in the work of teaching others1 but who1 from their earnest desire to be of use and to do good1 were drawn to this particular field of toil4 ,the garb of all but the patriarchs was similar to that worn upon earth2 but the females were clothed in plainer1 less elaborate garments than ,i think any of their mortal sisters would have been content to wear4 ,no badge of office glistened upon their breasts1 or gleamed from the shoulder4 ,nor was this necessary2 their credentials shone from their sparkling eyes1 and beamed in their tender1 pitying faces4 ,theirs is a mission of peace1 and only the implements of love and good-will do they require1 such as tender1 earnest speech1 faithful hearts and helping hands1 to accomplish their work4 ,i could perceive the purpose of their meeting2 here1 in a comparatively isolated spot1 where the trees hemmed them in from external scenes1 unmolested by others1 they had met to make their reports1 and to gain strength1 cheer1 and encouragement from their friendly and soul-felt intercourse4 ,they had just begun to sing the old familiar hymn1 a verse of which ,i have quoted1 as ,i came up1 and the melody1 which trickled through the lines like a stream of light1 together with their earnestness of expression1 arrested my attention1 and thrilled my being with a new purpose and aspiration4 ,oh1 thought ,i1 what a glorious mission1 to be of use to others1 to be a beacon-star to some lonely wanderer amid the trials of life1 to speak words of kindness1 of hope and love to the broken-hearted and sad4 ,oh1 that ,i might be like these people6 ,instantly1 one of the band1 a gentle1 beautiful female1 turned to me with out-stretched hand as if in greeting1 her whole countenance suffused with joy1 and said3 8,dear child1 thy mission hath already begun2 thine is the task to bear love and sympathy to weary mortals1 to whisper words of peace and hope1 and to point them to a higher life4 ,what more heavenly task than this6 ,the divinest work for the soul is to fulfill the duty laid upon it4 ,in thee we see the promise of labor to be wrought4 ,go on thy way1 inspire the spirits of those thee doth approach with faith and trust in the love of ,god2 point each to the land of life beyond the rolling tide of death2 carry pure and gentle thoughts to mortals struggling with the trials of life2 drop the sunlight of peace upon all whom thou dost meet4 ,thus canst thou and every spirit become a messenger of joy1 a missionary of hope and truth4 ,god bless and guide thee in thy efforts for good40 ,like a holy benediction the words fell upon my spirit1 filling me with a sense of love for all things4 ,then and there ,i resolved to do all in my power to cheer1 enlighten1 and instruct the sorrowing and the uninformed1 feeling that in this ,i could perform my work1 and also brighten the golden links binding me to loved ones on the mortal side4 ,a ,,spirit ,,returns ,,to ,,comfort ,,her ,,mother4 ,just now my mind is filled with thoughts of an interview ,i have recently held with a fair young girl1 who but lately burst the bonds confining her to a material body4 ,she was sad1 very sad4 ,all this life is new and strange to her1 and though surrounded by tender care and loving sympathy1 yet filial affection draws her constantly back to those dear parents who1 sorrowing as those without hope1 cannot realize her presence with them4 8,my mother10 she said to me1 8oh1 my mother6 if ,i could speak to her and tell her of my home in ,heaven6 ,but my death was such a heavy blow to her2 she is so sad1 so miserable1 and ,i cannot help her60 8,you can2 you will bless and comfort your mother10 ,i replied2 8if you will come with me ,i will show you how to send a message to those you love on earth4 ,you have heard of a medium80 8,oh1 yes1 but it would be no use for me to visit one4 ,my friends would not accept anything given them from such a source2 they would believe it all nonsense4 ,no1 it is no use40 8,but you can make such an effort to reach your mother1 and if you fail it will be no worse to you than it is at present40 8,oh1 yes1 it would10 she exclaimed1 8,i might not be able to give facts enough through another organism to establish my identity to my friends1 and ,i think it would break my heart to have my love rejected4 ,i would rather not attempt it40 ,however1 in a little while ,i gained the young lady's consent to accompany me to a spirit circle1 and ,i hope ultimately to induce her to send a message to her friends on earth4 ,her evident sorrow and distress have filled me with deep solicitude to unite her in spirit with her sorrowing mother4 ,,just ,,recognition ,,of ,,returning ,,spirits4 ,how true it is that hundreds of spirits1 manifesting through organisms foreign to their own1 and doing the best they can1 expressing their love and sympathy1 and bringing words of counsel and cheer to mortals1 have been repulsed with distrust and suspicion1 even with a positive denial of their presence1 because they were unable to give every item of material affairs demanded of them4 ,such a reception of their efforts to communicate causes sensitive1 loving spirits untold pain and sorrow2 causes them to recoil from earthly conditions1 and thus retards their manifestation to mortals4 ,were ,i upon earth1 understanding this matter as ,i now do1 ,i would accept a loving1 kindly communication1 purporting to come from a spirit friend1 not with over credulity1 but with the thought it may come from my friend who is not yet able to give me all ,i wish to know2 but ,i will not reject this token of love1 lest in doing so ,i spurn and wound my loving spirit friend4 ,in this way ,i would throw out a ladder of reciprocal love1 upon which my dear one could descend and bear me tidings of immortal life1 thereby strengthening conditions1 until that spirit gained power to give me all my soul required4 ,,consolatory ,,thoughts ,,for ,,bereaved ,,mothers4 ,who can realize the anguish of a loving mother's heart when called upon to part with the mortal form of a beloved child8 ,others may sorrow and weep2 the nearest kindred may realize with pain a vacancy in the family circle1 a niche in their love unfilled1 that can never be occupied again4 ,but they have pursuits1 and in time enjoyments1 to call their attention1 and soon their grief becomes a tender1 sweet1 yet holy1 memory4 ,and well that it is so1 for death was but a golden bridge over which their loved one passed to immortal shores1 while she who left them bodily is unseen1 simply because she has come so close to their hearts that she can enter into their love1 and permeate them with a spiritual radiance4 ,but the mother's heart is longest in healing4 ,how she looks for her darling to come to her6 ,how she falls asleep weeping1 and awakens with a sense of loss1 of hopelessness that is almost akin to despair2 and how she hourly calls in spirit the name of the one child who is dearest to her because unseen6 ,oh1 darling mothers6 ,oh1 sorrowing1 heart-broken mothers6 weep not2 your dear ones are all around you1 bringing love1 peace1 and comfort to your souls4 ,they are not lost2 sweet and low they whisper tidings of a happy reunion yet to come2 and though you know it not1 their loving arms are around you1 sustaining and strengthening4 ,their sweet lips meet yours2 their white hands lead you onward toward the higher and the better life6 ,happy1 blessed mother1 who accepts this truth6 ,to you it is a pearl of great price1--a crown of unspeakable glory4 ,,the ,,ministration ,,of ,,spirits4 ,oh1 let my mission be to impress the glowing truths of immortality upon the hearts of grief-stricken mortals4 ,to bear to mourning parents1 brothers1 and sisters1 sorrowing husbands1 wives1 and children2 to those who murmur because they believe death has torn their beloved ones from their grasp1 this glorious conviction1 that the dear ones are not beneath the sod1 nor do they dwell millions of miles away1 beyond the stars1 but amid the glowing sunbeams that fail around their mortal friends1 their tender faces shine2 and through the golden mists of death their gentle voices are calling to loved ones here4 ,oh1 friends1 your dear ones are with you4 ,not one is lost1 none are separated from you1 they come to you in the gloom or sorrow1 or in the stillness of night4 ,they walk by your side and bless your lives4 ,whether your sight can pierce the clouds of doubt and fear or not1 your loved ones surely come1 and by permeating your lives with a holier thought and purer aspiration1 they lead you nearer to the heavenly gates1 which you shall one day enter1 and finding your darlings close beside you1 shall then know that they have never died4 ,,the ,,rain ,,of ,,the ,,summer-,,land4 ,a veil of silvery mist has gathered over my ,summer-,land home1 which is so fine and ethereal that it scarcely hides the golden sunlight that shines through the glittering vapor1 turning it molten gold1 and now and then changing it to red and blue and every other rainbow hue4 ,the shining mist1 descending from snowy clouds1 falls silently like a blessing of love upon the green sward1 the fragrant flowers1 and the branching trees that look up with grateful joy to catch the refreshing bath4 ,the far-off hills and mountains gleam through the lovely veil1 with a softened and subdued light that adds a new charm to their beauty4 ,the waters of stream and river murmur more musically sweet1 as if conscious of the new power they will have gained when the mists have cleared away4 ,the birds chirp contentedly in their leafy bowers1 as if in welcome to this spiritual rain1 and all life becomes animated anew1 and thrilled with a sweeter power and strength4 ,no heavy storms1 no tearing whirlwinds1 come to sweep away the works of nature4 ,those are but the effects of forces working through matter alone1 and belong solely to the mundane world2 but softly1 silently1 and sweetly descends the rain of the ,summer-,land1 covering hill and dale1 shrub and tree1 with a tiny dew-like moisture1 that brings new vigor and refreshment to all things4 ,all alone in my quiet sanctum ,i sit and gaze out upon the golden mist2 half lost in wonder and delight ,i ask myself1 was ever anything so beautiful as this8 ,the very essence of life seems descending in that spiritual shower1 and under its influence my spirit rises as with new energy1 strength1 and power4 ,,happiness ,,of ,,spirits ,,in ,,communing ,,with ,,friends ,,on ,,earth4 ,from the contemplation of the beautiful works of ,god spread out before me1 my thought flows out to dear ones who abide in the mortal form1 and filled with love and sympathy it reaches out to their hearts1 forming a magnetic chain which connects their lives with my own4 ,a quiet peace stealing over those dear ones on earth1 a happy sense of blissful repose filling their souls1 prove them to be en rapport with the ,higher ,life2 and though ,i do not leave my apartment in my spirit home1 yet ,i can see and commune with the loved ones1 and send out to them my thoughts upon the chain of affection that binds each soul to mine2 ,i know they receive the message1 and respond in the inner consciousness of their hearts to these echoes from the spirit shore4 ,but though spirits may thus live close to their earthly friends1 without leaving their upper homes1 yet it affords us sweet delight to return in spiritual presence to the homes we loved on earth1 and1 by mingling with dear ones in the mortal1 partake of their joys1 participate in their sorrows1 bless them with our affection1 and1 by silent impression upon their minds1 permeate their thoughts with our ideas1 and ever seek to draw them upward and onward toward the beautiful and the good4 ,such is the blessed mission of many loving and devoted spirits who are working for the soul elevation of friends on earth4 ,,poetry ,,of ,,the ,,spirit ,,spheres4 ,in my frequent visits to this medium ,i have sometimes encountered one who1 a poet when on earth1 still delights to sing his melodies through the lips of mortals1 and at such times ,i have felt my spirit bathed in a halo of light as ,i listened to his metrical utterances1 or better still came en rapport with his spirit1 saw the gems of thought therein1 and watched him weaving them into lines of richest grace and beauty4 ,oh1 ye mortals1 the poems you receive from minds on earth1 whether given forth by the acknowledged poet1 or through the organisms of mediums1 are but the shadows of a glorious reality above2 they are but as skeletons compared with the full and perfect forms1 clothed with the majesty of perfected expression in the soul world2 a mere outline1 which conveys to you perhaps an idea of the beautiful whole1 as it flashes forth from the realm of spirit4 ,in poesy as in music1 and indeed as in all the arts and sciences1 you can never see its grand revealments1 its possibilities and its powers1 its radiance and its glory1 until you drop from your shoulders the mantle of materiality1 and stand forth all spirit1 with an abiding desire within your souls to find the beautiful1 the holy1 and the pure4 ,this poet soul1#c of whom ,i speak1 has at times requested me to give expression to some of my thoughts in the golden light of poesy1 to drape them with the snowy robes of melodious song2 but ,i shrink from the task1 feeling that ,i cannot do justice to the noble rules of rhyme and rhythm4 ,footnote #c3 ,john ,critchley ,prince4 ,spirits do not1 as a rule1 underrate their own powers2 there is no false delicacy to be assumed2 they understand something of the possibilities within1 and eagerly and thankfully accept the opportunities afforded them to cultivate their powers1 and to develop these possibilities of the soul4 ,therefore1 though ,i do not at present feel to echo these sounds from the other shore through the channel of poetic expression1 yet ,i do feel that some time ,i may so develop my inner powers as to sing in measured tones and cadences the song of my spirit1 the melody of my soul4 ,but there is one being on earth to whom ,i would bring the early efforts of my spirit1 to whose name ,i would sing my first song1 and over whose soul ,i would pour the melody of my undying love4 ,and so1 feeble1 crude1 and imperfect though it be1 ,i bring my song and sing it to ,,my ,,mother4 ,dear mother1 when ,i found that ,i was dead1 ,and that my soul had passed beyond the tomb1 ,the first few1 feeble words my spirit said ,were3 8,mother's heart is bowed in sadd'ning gloom2 ,and so ,i cannot leave her till you bring ,a balm of healing from the world above1 ,and o'er the anguish of her spirit fling ,a perfect peace from ,god's eternal love40 ,and so the angel forms who met me there ,brought rest and consolation to thy heart1 ,which1 in the hour of holy1 sacred prayer1 ,found heavenly peace that never can depart4 ,then from the scenes of earth ,i turned awhile ,to roam with spirit feet through realms above1 ,where all receive our heavenly ,father's smile1 ,and bask within the sunlight of ,his love4 ,a perfect 8home not made with hands0 is there1 ,but built by loving words and kindly deeds2 ,a heavenly heritage of beauty1 where ,the spirit finds each attribute it needs2 ,and friendly faces throng the open door1 ,with hands out-stretched in welcome to the soul ,who turns in gladness from the earthly shore1 ,and seeks to gain perfection's heavenly goal4 ,oh1 mother6 kind and true the angel friends ,who cluster round me at the open gate2 ,my soul with theirs in perfect concord blends1 ,as patiently for thee we watch and wait2 ,we guard thee with the deathless light of love1 ,we bless thee with the calm of holy peace1 ,we guide thy spirit on to realms above1 ,where sad heart-longings shall forever cease4 ,the heavenly fields are fair with glistening green1 ,and gemmed with blossoms of immortal bloom1 ,that beautify the sweet enchanting scene1 ,and scent the breezes with their sweet perfume2 ,the sunlight smiles1 and waters flow in glee1 ,the woods reveal new depths of light and shade2 ,the song-birds warble in each leafy tree1 ,or scatter dewdrops in the flowery glade4 ,all life is gladness1 and the spirit grows ,in perfect harmony with ,god above1 ,and1 catching higher inspiration1 flows ,in grateful praises to the throne of ,love4 ,and so ,i cull its rarest gems and flowers ,to bless my mother1 whom ,i love so well1 ,and use its aspirations and its powers ,to guide her spirit home where angels dwell4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,real ,,life ,,tn ,,the ,,spirit ,,world4 ,my object in writing these pages is to give mortals an idea of the real life that is constantly passing in the spirit world1 and to inform them of the conditions1 surroundings1 duties1 labors1 and pleasures of the denizens of the immortal state4 ,the unsightly and desolate places ,i shall describe are as real to their inhabitants as are the dark alleys and gloomy by-ways of your own large cities4 ,but while city lanes and alleys have been occupied1 and made unpleasant and unsightly by carelessness and the neglect of physical comfort1 these spiritually dark spots have been hedged in and rendered squalid and barren because of the sin and selfishness gathered around the inner life of those who linger here1 at the expense of the beautiful qualities of the soul that should shine out and make all places bright4 ,thus1 spirits whose earthly lives have been impure and selfish find themselves surrounded by darkness and gloom when they enter the other world4 ,the objective scenes around them represent the wild1 chaotic state and barren results of their past lives1 and present an appearance of great disorder4 ,but as soon as they fully realize their terrible condition1 begin to mourn over their past errors and follies1 and struggle to arise out of such an unhappy state1 the darkness commences to vanish1 light dawns upon them1 they find sweet fields where before appeared sterile rocks and sandy wastes2 and they dimly feel and perceive the presence of ministering spirits1 where previously all had appeared lonely and desolate4 ,then begins the struggle to break from old ties and associations that still fetter the soul2 then repentance and reformation commence1 and the spirit pauses not until he or she has arisen out of old errors1 and gained knowledge1 light1 and peace4 ,spirits of this class who have passed through the cleansing waters of suffering and trial1 who have felt the purging fires of tribulation1 remorse1 and contrition1 do not pause and rest content with their own deliverance from temptation and evil1 but invariably become grand and efficient co-workers with those sweet missionary angels who delight to do good1 and as messengers of light spend their time in seeking to aid other unfortunates out of the slough of error or despondency4 ,in the spirit world there are many beautiful spots that present an appearance of peace and loveliness1 even of grandeur and enchantment to those who linger therein4 ,of these places ,i will speak to you by-and-bye1 and you shall learn of the life and doings of their inhabitants4 ,but first1 ,i desire to devote a portion of this chapter to scenes and incidents ,i have witnessed among the unlovely and darksome haunts and resorts of those spirits who have not yet arisen into the light4 ,what ,i am about to describe to you is far from being a heavenly scene1 and yet it is a scene ,i myself have witnessed1 when in company with a beloved aunt1 a veritable angel-missionary1 ,i visited one of the many fields of her angelic labor4 ,a ,,darkened ,,spirit ,,led ,,to ,,see ,,the ,,light4 ,a barren waste of sand and rocks spread out far and wide before us2 no blooming plants1 no lofty trees1 no singing birds1 to awaken music with their melody2 all was silent1 profound1 deep desolation4 ,at a distance ,i could perceive the white foam and the dashing waves of angry waters breaking upon a great line of cragged1 dreary-looking rocks4 ,oh1 what an appearance of unrestfulness was here6 ,at first ,i could perceive no signs of human life1 not even a vestige of animal existence4 ,the place was too sterile1 barren1 and forbidding for even the very lowest form of conscious being4 ,i turned to my companion in surprise at having been brought to such an unhallowed spot2 perceiving which1 she silently pointed to an object slightly in advance of us1 which appeared to me but one of the many rocks about us1 so thickly was it enveloped in a cloud of darkness2 but which in a little time ,i discovered to bear a resemblance to a human form4 ,the figure was crouching down in the sand1 its head bowed upon its knees1 presenting a most abject and despairing appearance4 ,it was evidently a male1 and he seemed to be suffering intensely4 ,i shall never forget the terrible pang that shot through me at the sight2 nothing more than that experience would ,i need through all my life1 to pity1 sympathize with1 and seek to assist the miserable and unfortunate4 ,i clearly saw that this unhappy soul could not perceive our approach4 ,his senses were absorbed in his own condition and discordant surroundings2 but we could trace upon the cloud-like vapor enveloping him lines indicating that his had been a hard and bitter life4 ,misery1 intemperance1 impurity of life1 had marked his way2 unmourned and unregretted on earth1 he had entered spirit life1 engulfed in degradation and despair4 ,and then and there ,i learned that this place1 appearing so terribly desolate1 was typical of the earthly lives of those who came here for a time1 because of their unhallowed existence through mortality4 ,drawing closer1 the angel with me spread her hands above the unfortunate's head1 and presently little lines of light streaming from her white fingers began to permeate the darkness1 and the being before us groaned and stirred restlessly4 ,continuing her work1 my blessed companion made rapid passes over the form before us1 the light still flowing down upon him from her fingers4 ,he trembled1 great tears coursed down his cheeks1 and at last he cried3 8,oh1 ,lord1 save me6 ,help me1 and ,i will be a better man60 ,it was the cry of a spirit1 struggling through the darkness1 the degradation and sin of years1 yearning for light and praying for assistance4 ,to me the place began to grow bright and beautiful4 ,the gloom became permeated with streaks of rosy light4 ,sweet music floated through the air1 which had lost its stinging sharpness4 ,i lost sight of the barren rocks1 the desert sand1 and the dashing waves4 ,only the praying1 tearful being before me1 bloated and disfigured as he was1 and the shining spirit at my side1 were visible to me4 ,the man's tears redoubled1 great sobs shook his frame1 heavy sighs came welling up from his heaving breast2 broken murmurs of remorse1 contrition1 and despair fell from his lips4 ,still he did not see us2 but to me the place grew brighter and brighter1 until no ray of gloom remained4 ,still continuing her magnetic passes1 my friend cast a beam of light over the man's face1 and1 looking up1 he discovered her angel form bent in pity above him4 ,stretching out his hands with an imploring gesture1 but with no sound1 the miserable being gazed and gazed1 as if to drink in hope1 encouragement1 even life itself1 from the beautiful sight4 ,i soon became conscious of another presence beside me2 an elderly female1 bright1 shining1 beautiful1 yet sad1 very sad4 ,catching sight of this new face bending over him1 the suffering spirit cried3 8,my mother1 oh1 my mother60 and bowed his head from sight4 ,drawing me away1 my companion said3 8,we will leave him now to his mother's tender care2 she will help him to redeem himself4 ,he is in the valley of tribulation1 but soon he will arise to liberty and happiness40 ,in company with that angel-missionary1 my dear aunt1 who passed from earth many years ago1 a sweet1 innocent maiden1 ,i have many times visited these dark by-ways where undeveloped spirits1 surrounded by gloomy clouds1 remain1 many of them perhaps indifferent to their condition4 ,yet we are always sure of finding one or more among them1 who has grown weary1 and become anxious for more light and goodness2 and when we find them in this frame of mind1 it is a beautiful task to talk to them1 show them how they may grow better1 and little by little lead them up to more pleasant conditions of existence4 ,,an ,,outcast ,,from ,,earth ,,returns ,,to ,,aid ,,the ,,fallen4 ,but to go on with my description of places ,i have seen3 ,a thick1 almost impenetrable forest1 stretching out far and wide before us1 its deep1 dark undergrowth of shrubbery growing up in great thickets2 tangled vines covering the trunks of the trees1 and so interlaced that no sunbeams strayed through the leafy covert4 ,no sound of singing bird1 no scent of beautiful flower1 could there be found4 ,all was so dark1 so lonely1 so impervious1 it seemed that not even a spirit might enter the confines of the gloomy place4 ,but as we approached1 the seemingly objective wood became subjective only2 ,i found that we could pass through readily4 ,in the depths of this forest1 we came upon a female spirit1 apparently asleep2 wan1 pale1 and haggard1 she presented an appearance of deep suffering4 ,my companion explained to me the meaning of this scene4 ,this spirit had shortly before inhabited a mortal form4 ,tossed about here and there on the waves of poverty and misfortune1 scorned and neglected and despised1 she had felt herself an outcast from the human family1 and in a fever of despair had ended her mortal life by poison4 ,her wild longing for solitude1 the hatred of society of any kind1 her dislike to the city1 and her desire to bury herself and her griefs in some uninhabited spot1 had surrounded her spirit with this deep forest1 within which no step disturbed her lonely vigils4 ,she had realized that she could not kill the soul2 she had found herself in this wild spot1 alone and unclaimed1 and for a time was thankful that no eye could look upon her4 ,but the silence1 gloom1 and solitude produced such an effect upon her spirit that a terrible reaction set in4 ,she had had time to reflect1 to realize her past life1 and the cause of much of her misery4 ,she had wept1 and at last even prayed2 and here alone with herself she had recognized her dependence upon humanity1 and the duties she owed to it and to her own immortal nature4 ,then came a longing for companionship1 a desire to leave this dreadful place1 and a wish that she might go away where she could begin a new life1 and be happy1 innocent1 and good like others4 ,weary with contending emotions1 she had sunk down exhausted1 and her guardian spirit1 who was no other than her own mother1 and who had never left her1 threw her into a deep trance1 in which we found her1 still attended by that mother-soul4 ,raising the stricken being in our arms1 we three spirits bore her away from the solitude1 gloom1 and darkness out into a beautiful valley1 where the sun shone warmly1 the birds warbled in the branches of the trees1 the blue waters of a stream gurgled playfully between green banks1 where flowers bloomed in fragrance and beauty1 and laying her gently upon one of the mossy beds1 we assisted the mother-spirit in bringing back the senses of her child4 ,soon the blue eyes opened1 and as they began to take in the scene around her1 they filled with a happy light1 and a peaceful smile played around her pallid lips4 ,very weak was this child of ,god1 and we left her upon the fragrant couch1 where balmy breezes bore new healing to her weary frame4 ,but not long2 again and again we visited her1 and shortly after found that she had been taken to a tiny1 white cottage by her mother1 where she was constantly growing stronger and better4 ,at times1 thoughts of the old life would cause her cheek to blanch and frame to shudder2 but as she was so thoroughly regretful for whatever had been wrong in her life1 and was filled with such a desire to atone for past errors1 and to learn the laws of her being1 to perform whatever work my friend and teacher appointed her to do1 she was so willing to learn and so anxious to aid others1 that the memory of earth at last ceased to pain her1 and now only serves to deepen in her soul a tender sympathy1 and gentle1 helpful love for the suffering and sin-tried souls who dwell on earth4 ,we call her 8,charity10 and she has become a tender helper wherever a poor soul is in need of strength or encouragement2 she goes out alone into the darkness1 where others are suffering1 and with her spirit love dispels the gloom1 and sends rays of hope and mercy into the lowly depths of degradation and sorrow4 ,above ,i have described scenes ,i have witnessed in the inner or soul-life of individuals1 whose moral perceptions were but insufficiently developed1 or had been warped and limited in action during their residence in the material form4 ,let me attempt to convey to you an idea of a scene ,i not long since witnessed in connection with a terrible disaster occurring upon the earthly plane4 ,,unseen ,,helpers ,,at ,a ,,conflagration4 ,a terrible conflagration was raging in one of your large cities4 ,down among the business portions of the place1 tenement houses1 to be filled with families of human beings1 had been erected4 ,they had grown brown and unsafe with age1 yet were swarming with human beings--a family of children1 as well as grown persons1 on every floor2 and in this place a fire had broken out in the night1 and had been raging for an hour before discovered4 ,at last1 relief came1 but too late to save the lives of all those poor1 helpless creatures4 ,the bodies of a number of children1 as well as men and women1 were burned to a crisp in that holocaust of flame4 ,attracted to the scene by the sufferings and necessities of human beings1 hosts of invisible spirits penetrated the smoke and flame 7which1 though having no power to destroy disembodied beings1 yet caused a darkness and gloom to surround them71 and in company with dear spirits1 whose work is ever for the amelioration of suffering and distress1 ,i was privileged to approach with the hope of being of use to those who were passing out from mortal life in the midst of fiery flames4 ,and what a sight was there6 ,half-developed spirits1 not realizing the grandeur of the triumph of right over wrong1 were gathering around1 as if to gloat over the sufferings of the stricken ones before us2 gathered together by the fascinating attractions emanating from the spirit of that incendiary who had created this terrible blaze2 and it seemed as if they were delighted at the calamity taking place before us4 ,but a noble band of spirits1 drawn together by the ties of sympathy1 and attracted to the place by the tender pity in their souls for the suffering1 approached1 and with them brought such a radiant light that the evil-disposed influences speedily departed4 ,and then we turned our attention to the spirits struggling out from the flesh2 by gentle magnetic passes we released them from the flame and smoke and bore them away to pleasant scenes and blooming places in the spirit world1 where nothing can destroy4 ,three little children it was our good fortune to release from a terrible sense of suffocation and fear--dear little children1 whom we bore away to the ,summer-,land1 and placing them in a bower of blooming roses1 we left them in the charge of a kind mother-spirit1 whose tender love and soothing care would hush all grief and fear which might overtake them when they awoke from the deep magnetic sleep cast upon them by spirit power1 in order to remove all traces of suffering and anguish4 ,oh1 could you witness from the spirit side of life the results of such a terrible conflagration as this1 you would never rest until your streets were so laid out1 your buildings so constructed1 and so remote from each other1 that it would be impossible for a fire to spread among them and carry such deadly mischief in its blazing folds4 ,and yet1 in spite of the awful scene of blackening smoke and lurid flames1 the presence of evil-disposed influences attracted thither by the destroying elements1 the suffering1 the misery and despair1--in spite of these1 the sight of high and exalted intelligences1 whose interior life brilliantly illuminated their features1 and dispelled the darkness1 abashed the evil-disposed1 and stimulated the sympathizing efforts of mortals to aid the suffering1 was a scene to be witnessed with joy2 creating within us a sense of thankfulness1 that above and beyond all sorrow1 evil and pain1 there is a life peopled with unselfish1 holy beings1 who glorify their ,father by alleviating the pangs of the sorrowful and distressed4 ,and ,i observed that around those kind souls in mortal1 who were working with herculean efforts to save the lives and property of the tenants of these houses2 around the noble firemen2 the crowd who were putting forth powers and desires to be of use2 around those who opened their homes for the destitute and suffering1 a golden light shone1 and bands of helpful1 shining spirits gathered1 aiding with strength and sympathy2 and a light shone in the darkness of despair1 a star gleamed brilliantly above the light of human sympathy1--the star of heavenly love4 ,the unpleasant1 disagreeable1 desolate places ,i have seen in my experience of spirit life have been few indeed compared with the many beautiful spots ,i have visited1 and the scenes of grandeur1 sublimity1 or sweetness ,i have been privileged to look upon4 ,i find that the natural scenery of the spirit world far transcends in beauty of forms and coloring everything of the kind which exists upon the earth2 for1 though the glowing sunset1 the fairy-like sunrise1 the exquisite blending of colors in fragrant flowers1 the blooming vales1 the luxuriant forests1 the grand old mountains and foamy oceans belonging to earth combine to make up many a scene of indescribable beauty1 yet these same forms and tints1 existing as they do in the spirit world1 are so refined1 so delicate1 yet so grand1 majestic and glowing1 that it is impossible for mortals upon earth to comprehend their beauty1 or to experience the emotions of reverential delight and solemnity that a spirit feels while gazing upon the wonderful forms of nature1 and listening to the rapturous melody of sound rising from birdlings' throats1 gurgling waters1 and rustling leaves4 ,,advent ,,of ,a ,,mortal ,,into ,,spirit ,,life4 ,i will now describe to you1 as well as ,i can1 a beautiful scene ,i once witnessed1 the memory of which runs through my spirit experience like a strain of music4 ,not a great while ago1 there dwelt on earth a young girl of about twenty years of age4 ,of delicate organization and slender mold1 one could see that want and suffering had been no stranger to her4 ,her home was in one of your large cities1 where1 in an humble dwelling1 she lived alone with her invalid mother1 whom she supported by the fruits of her needle4 ,for years she had plied that slender instrument--which has indeed proved an instrument of torture to many a toiling1 suffering woman--patient1 resigned1 and cheerful1 as long as she could earn the necessities of life for her dear mother1 who was unable to do much of anything for herself4 ,it was thought that the mother would depart from the mortal life long before the daughter2 but exposure to a heavy storm had given a severe cold to the poor girl1 and in a few days she was pronounced dying with pneumonia4 ,who can describe the terrible grief of the stricken mother as the labored breathing of her child told only too well that the end was near6 ,but angels watched beside that humble bed1 and when the last breath was drawn1 they mercifully cast a spell of unconsciousness over the mother's senses1 while they gently bore the arisen spirit to a haven of rest4 ,in the midst of a charming spirit vale1 where beautiful flowers bud and bloom1 and fill the balmy air with fragrance1 where the stately trees cast a pleasant shade over many a mossy bank1 where glistening waters dash musically along between beds and thickets of roses1 and where birds make music as they glance here and there in the soft and mellow light1 there is a bower composed entirely of roses1 red and white1 which lift their regal heads and offer incense to the breeze4 ,this bower has been constructed by loving angels for the resting-place of that beautiful spirit1 whose illness and death ,i have just described4 ,within the bower1 upon a bed of dewy ,may-flowers and violets1 the spirit form of the maiden reclines2 she is robed in garments of white1 arranged about her by ministering spirits4 ,she has been resting1 drawing long draughts of health and strength from the flowers beneath and around her2 the paleness disappears from her cheek1 which loses its thin1 attenuated appearance2 the eyes no longer appear dim and sunken from exhaustion1 but as they flash open1 reveal a luster and beauty untold4 ,she starts1 looks around1 but perceiving the flowers1 utters a low cry of rapture1 and grasping the roses1 ,may-flowers1 and violets in her arms1 she presses them to her bosom and buries her face in the rich fragrance of their leaves4 ,never before has she seen so many fresh and beautiful flowers together2 never has she possessed so great a quantity of blossoms in her life2 and she revels in their fragrant beauty with unmitigated delight4 ,but she is not long allowed to remain thus alone2 loving spirits1 gentle women1 whose souls are all love and tenderness1 enter the bower1 and1 taking the maiden by the hand1 give her loving welcome in kindly words4 ,she gazes upon them in delight2 they appear to her the embodiment of all that is lovely and pure2 and as they kindly greet her in her heavenly home1 her spirit becomes filled with affection and gratitude for all that she sees4 ,now she has recovered strength and is rested2 her gentle companions bear her away from the bower of roses to a beautiful little cottage1 embowered in flowers1 which stands at the edge of the lovely valley4 ,it is surrounded by a tiny flower garden1 abounding with delicate colors and redolent with exquisite perfumes4 ,the cottage is open on the side1 being composed of snowy lattice work1 through which the golden sunbeams and the tender rose leaves stray4 ,the interior of this little dwelling is daintily though simply furnished in white and azure1 and all betoken it to be an abode of purity and simplicity4 ,the new-comer is greeted at the entrance by a motherly1 loving face1 kindly hands out-stretched in greeting1 and made to feel that she is indeed at home4 ,the ministering band of spirits who have thus far cared for the newly-arisen one1 now leave her in the care of the motherly soul who has been awaiting her in the cottage home2 and she immediately learns that this new friend is her own grandmother1 who has been dead for many years4 ,this is a home never dreamed of by the poor1 working girl1 and it seems almost like enchanted ground to her4 ,but a short time had passed since the spirit departed the body2 she had lain in the bower of roses1 tended by gentle missionary spirits2 sunk in a semi-unconscious condition1 but wrapped in a sense of ecstasy1 very exquisite to the weary soul1 until after the burial of her body1 when she had been aroused and borne to her spirit home by her attendants4 ,oh1 how she enjoyed the sweet song of the birds1 the balmy air and the fragrant flowers4 ,the house she inhabited possessed no grand adornments2 only white drapery1 rustic yet graceful furniture1 polished floors1 here and there a tiny picture or bit of color within2 climbing vines and fragrant flowers without2 yet all was beautiful and sweet2 and best of all1 this pretty home had been reared bit by bit from the daily life of its occupant4 ,patience1 self-sacrifice1 devotion to an invalid parent1 cheerfulness1 and a spirit of perseverance1 that faltered not in the midst of suffering1 poverty1 and affliction1 together with an almost passionate love of the beautiful1 had thrown out material from the life of this young girl that had been eagerly seized on by her spirit guides with which to rear her cottage home4 ,and within a tender grandmother had been domiciled to give her greeting and companionship4 ,from the entrance of this little home1 its occupants could look out1 beyond the blooming garden1 into the glowing valley1 with its stately trees1 its rippling brooks and mossy dells1 with here and there a white homestead1 around which gardens spread1 and before the doors of which children made glad music4 ,nestling between two massive mountain ranges1 the crags of which glowed in the sunlight like bronze1 or deepened into purple radiance at twilight1 the valley presented a scene of smiling peace and tranquility4 ,but you are not to think the girl1 who had been borne from the cares of material life to this beautiful spot1 had forgotten that invalid mother whom she had left to suffer earthly sorrow and care4 ,not so2 her whole soul went out in love1 sympathy1 and longing toward that lonely parent1 and guided by a slender cord of silvery light which1 though invisible to others1 yet was always visible to herself1 and which extended from her own spirit home to the spot where her mother lay1 she constantly returned to the side of her she loved so well1 and by her ministrations soothed many a weary pain1 and eased her mother's passage to the spirit land4 ,she found that her mother had been removed from her former habitation to one of the wards of a hospital1 and she--the spirit child--found among the nurses one whom she could influence to act tenderly towards the invalid under her care4 ,but it was not long that tenderness of earth was needed4 ,the shock of her daughter's sudden illness and death was too much for the poor invalid1 and in one month from the decease of that daughter the mother joined her in the spirit world4 ,as ,i was privileged to be with the guardian band who had attended the younger spirit into the ,higher ,life1 so ,i also had the privilege of being present at the spirit birth of the elder woman2 but the first to greet her was that daughter who had preceded her to the immortal realms1 and who now1 radiant as an angel of light1 returned to bear her mother to rest in her own sweet1 little home4 ,the expressions of delight at her appearance from her mother first called the attention of the daughter to herself2 for the first time since her change she discovered that she was no longer pale1 wan1 and weary-looking1 but radiant1 bright1 and beautiful4 ,with the self-devotion so natural to her1 she had been so absorbed in her mother's condition that she had no idea of the beauty which now enveloped her own being like a halo of light4 ,these spirits1--mother and daughter1--with the noble grandmother1 dwell happily together in their valley home2 and their time is spent in doing good1 and in influencing others to assist the needy and suffering4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,zencollia ,,city ,,and ,,its ,,surroundings4 ,shall ,i speak of my surroundings in the ,summer-,land8 ,shall ,i tell you of the beautiful city that we in the eternal world call ,zencollia1--meaning1 literally1 8city of light10--so called from the brilliant rays which are reflected back from its towers1 minarets1 and gleaming walls when the sunlight falls upon them8 ,the spires and towers of this beautiful city gleam in the distance as ,i am seated by my eastern window4 ,its white walls1 glistening with alabaster-like spotlessness1 seem to tell of purity and peace4 ,a ,,temple ,,of ,,learning4 ,amid that wonderful array of exquisite workmanship a brazen temple arises1 its massive dome seeming to crown the structure with a coronal of living light4 ,this grand temple ,i have visited in company with dear brothers who have gained a comprehension of truth and knowledge in the wisdom-schools of spirit life1 and who have become familiar with the interior of this shining temple from frequent attendance upon the instructive lectures delivered therein4 ,the temple of learning in ,zencollia is the most massive building ,i have ever beheld4 ,it is surrounded by an open space paved with delicate pink and white tiles of shining1 translucent stone4 ,a flight of variegated marble steps leads to the vestibule1 which is also paved with pink and white tiles4 ,the building contains four spacious halls1 the finest of which is dedicated to ,science1 the second to ,literature1 the third to ,metaphysics1 and the fourth to ,music4 ,each hall is furnished with roomy seats for the accommodation of the audience2 a raised platform at the farther end1 upon which stands a marble table1 and a cushioned seat1 something like a capacious sofa1 serves for the accommodation of the speakers or instructors4 ,the floors are all paved with variegated marble1--white1 streaked with delicate pink and sea green2 the pillars are of carved ivory2 the walls are adorned with beautiful paintings1 representing some illustration of the nature of the work to which the hall is dedicated2 while the lofty ceilings are frescoed in the faintest azure1 white and gold4 ,one of my companions1 a student in the hall of science1 was eager for my admittance there as a spectator1 which was soon obtained4 ,at the time of my visit the seats were filled with a throng of people1 young and old1 and of both sexes4 ,the lesson was on the laws of chemistry2 and the speaker1 a gentleman apparently forty years old1 but whom my brother assured me had been in the spirit world many decades of years1 had a number of strange-looking instruments before him1 with which to illustrate his theme1 and to prove the truth of his theories by experiments4 8,do you notice that gray-haired gentleman in front1 the one with the high forehead1 whose penetrating1 searching gaze seems to be taking in every movement of the speaker80 whispered my companion4 ,i nodded assent4 8,that is ,michael ,faraday1 the scientist2 and ,i tell you he is as earnest a student as any of us2 he attends all our conventions4 ,he has been invited to take part in the exercises1 but declines1 preferring to study rather than teach4 ,oh1 ,i tell you1 ,sis1 a good many of earth's smartest men come here or go to other places to learn1 when they reach spirit life40 ,the lesson of the day was very instructive1 and the experiments interesting2 but as they were new to me1 and far advanced1 ,i did not understand them very well4 8,i'll tell you what1 ,miss ,ammidown10 said brother ,j41 playfully1 as ,i expressed my amazement at some of the results of the professor's experiments1 8,i'll bring you here when we have a lesson on ,electrical ,life1 and you shall see the teacher produce some most wonderful results without the aid of instruments4 ,you look incredulous2 but1 ,kitty1 that is only because you have been used to earthly1 material instruments4 ,here we can make use of the currents of electricity without any such adjuncts4 ,you shall witness some of my own private experiments some time4 ,you have a great deal to learn yet40 ,and1 indeed1 ,i felt like a child who had just entered into the wonderful arena of knowledge1 and saw spread out before her strange sights1 and heard strange sounds1 which she could not comprehend1 but which seemed deliciously clear and interesting to those around her4 ,this was long ago1 but the feeling clings to me yet2 and ,i feel there is so much to learn and understand1 one can never be idle4 ,,hall ,,of ,,metaphysics4 ,to the ,hall of ,metaphysics we wandered4 ,here the speaker was a female2 but although the ideas she expressed were grand and beautiful1 the language with which they were clothed was almost too abstruse for me4 8,i brought you here1 dear sister10 said my companion1 8not because ,i expected you to understand the proceedings2 you are too familiar with earthly expressions for that as yet2 but that you might visit a place where those filled with lofty ideals concerning the soul1 and its relations to life1 meet to exchange thoughts and to learn of each other4 ,emerson#d will delight to frequent this place when he comes over to our side of life4 ,we have scores of other places10 he continued1 8where such teachers as ,theodore ,parker1 ,channing1 and hundreds of like noble souls1 hold forth with earnest utterance for the lifting up and sanctification of the people4 ,these you can understand2 and their teachings are generally delivered in some airy chamber or leafy grove1 where all the surroundings and conditions are conducive to the worship of ,god4 ,you will visit many of these with those who love you40 ,footnote #d3 ,this was written some time before ,ralph ,waldo ,emerson ascended to the higher life4 ,,the ,,hall ,,of ,,literature4 ,we did not tarry long in the ,hall of ,metaphysics4 ,the teacher was grandly beautiful1 clothed in flowing robes of classic style2 her speech gently modulated2 her gestures graceful2 her mien earnest and convincing2 and to those who understood she appeared to furnish a feast of good things4 ,i felt humbly penitent1 because ,i could not comprehend the whole2 observing which1 my guide hurried me away to the ,hall of ,literature4 ,here ,i could appreciate1 for ,i understood4 ,the services were conducted by a number of men and women1 who favored us with sketches of real life1 not published1 but what they had themselves witnessed2 also readings from eminent authors1 bits of rare1 descriptive power1 rich delineations of gifted writers1 with extracts from their productions2 followed by expressions of gorgeous imagery and brilliant passages of poetry4 ,here ,i was deeply interested1 and the more so1 because my companion pointed out to me the presence of gifted men and women1 whose works ,i had admired and read on earth with never the hope of meeting them in person4 ,,the ,,hall ,,of ,,music4 ,but ,i must hasten4 ,with all the wonderful things ,i had seen and heard1 what shall be said of the ,hall of ,music8 ,the whole front of this spacious hall is a raised balcony1 upon which the performers and choristers are generally seated4 ,here we were joined by a dear sister1 who ,i shall designate as ,may2 like the ,may-flowers1 she is beautiful and sweet2 and hand clasped in hand1 in silence1--and so far as ,i was concerned1 in awe1--we listened to the enchanting strains of music evoked from stringed and keyed instruments1 by the skillful fingers of their manipulators2 and to the deep1 rich tones1 or bird-like1 thrilling notes of the singers' voices4 ,i can never describe it4 ,what ,i have said is but a faint type of all ,i witnessed in that marvelous temple2 but the music6--the music was so grand1 so powerful1 so uplifting1 and yet so sweet1 so subtle1 so enchanting1 that ,i seemed floating away1 with no thought but to soar upward to the very throne of ,life and ,love4 ,all petty affairs of life1 all outward sense of existence melted away2 and in the pure atmosphere of that celestial melody1 my soul asserted itself in all its purest aspirations for the perfect completeness of life4 ,i love ,zencollia for its divine harmony of sweet1 inspiring music2 and1 oh1 dear ones ,i love on earth1 could you have been with me in spirit1 my bliss would have been complete4 ,,social ,,life ,,in ,,zencollia4 ,in walking through the streets of beautiful ,zencollia ,city1 ,i have observed the perfect freedom of its inhabitants1 the undisguised manner of living1 the open frankness1 and the confidence each one seems to repose in his neighbor1 and also the unceremonious hospitality of each household2 for every passer-by is welcome to enter1 rest1 refresh himself1 and examine whatever excites an interest in his mind4 ,i have noticed this1 because at first it appeared very strange to me--so at variance with the customs of mortals1 who shut themselves up in their homes1 becoming sometimes exclusive and ceremonious in their bearing toward others4 ,but ,i have learned that while it would be unwise and unsafe for mortals to leave their homes open to the inspection of every curious passer-by1 and imprudent in the extreme for them to invite every stranger into their households1 it is perfectly safe to do so in the spiritual city ,zencollia1 whose inhabitants are pure and spotless1 who have become purged from all gross and carnal appetites and habits1 who do not gossip and slander1 who love each other1 whose families are bound by the closest ties of tender sympathy and affection1 and whose lives are so pure1 so devoted to the welfare of others1 they have nothing to conceal4 ,every home is a shrine of prayerful praise2 every family bows at the altar of ,infinite ,wisdom2 each inhabitant has some lesson to repeat1 or some experience to rehearse to the new-comer into these high spheres1 that will be a guide to his feet2 every habitation contains something of interest to the stranger who may have but recently ascended to the upper courts of ,zencollia4 ,and there is no risk in entertaining the stranger2 for no impure1 selfish1 worldly-minded spirit can enter ,zencollia2 he could not breathe its refined atmosphere1 the brilliancy of its light would blind him4 ,for while it is true that exalted spirits can descend to lower spheres or conditions1 where grossly-minded intelligences dwell1 surrounded by the darkness which their mental state throws off1 and there minister to the necessities of those earth-bound souls1 yet it is as impossible for those spirits to ascend to the upper heights as it is for mortals to pierce the heavenly worlds with their material bodies2 for as the physical keeps you down to earth1 so the weight of passion keeps those spirits down4 ,therefore1 no impure spirit enters ,zencollia1 and none who dwell there fear to entertain the stranger1 for all the inhabitants of that celestial city are possessed of clear vision1 and they can readily read the interior thought and desire of whoever comes within their sphere4 ,the dwellers in that happy city associate together in groups1 all working for the common good2 each obeys the law which all assist in framing2 everyone contributes to the welfare of the people1 the beautifying of the city1 the maintaining of free1 open schools of instruction1 and in upholding a good government4 ,i have often thought of the beauty and glory of this sweet life1 wishing that ,i could cause mortals to view it as ,i do1--to view and to emulate1 to bring down something of its happy conditions to earth2 for then there would be no need of prison-walls1 no cause for corporeal punishment1 but love and justice would reign supreme1 and the millennium1 long foretold by prophet and seer1 dawn upon the new earth4 ,,interior ,,view ,,of ,,zencollia4 ,zencollia1 8,city of ,light10 the sight of thy white walls1 gleaming in the distance1 recalls a vision of thy beautiful streets1 so unlike the city streets that mortals know4 ,no jarring noise disturbs the serenity of thy places2 and yet the ceaseless murmur1 the ever-present appearance of active1 energetic life within thy limits1 proclaim that therein is found sentient1 individualized1 conscious existence4 ,the edifices so beautifully constructed of shining stone1 artistically adorned with carvings of exquisite grace and symmetry1 do not crowd and elbow each other for want of space2 but each building stands within its own enclosure1 surrounded by garden plats and banks of emerald green4 ,lofty trees1 whose umbrageous foliage furnishes a cooling shade1 are scattered here and there1 giving an aspect of natural beauty to the scene4 ,the very streets1 though paved through their centres with polished stones1 are fringed on either side with grassy leaves and nodding flowers1 which no careless foot seeks to trample down4 ,and yet1 it is a city1 vast and magnificent4 ,its massive buildings1 its countless inhabitants1 all mark the difference between it and the town or country4 ,at regular spaces1 great plats1 enclosing flowery beds of every variety of color and perfume2 tiny lakes and gushing fountains2 gleaming pavilions1 furnished with rustic seats and tables2 small groves of shade trees1 tiny grottoes and fairy glens1 where birds make music through all the sunny day--are kept under constant care and cultivation for the enjoyment of all who wander therein2 and it is no uncommon thing for groups of harmonious spirits to gather together in one of these gardens1 and spend an hour in that communion of soul expressed in the singing of hymns1 the exhortations from inspired lips1 or the encouraging words given from one to another1 that lift the spirit still nearer the ,infinite ,light that pervades in some measure all space and permeates all life4 ,a ,,convocation ,,of ,,women4--,,equality ,,of ,,sex4 ,i have recently attended a convocation of women1 in one of these city gardens1 earnest1 noble1 true-souled women1 who met together to discuss plans and devise measures for the welfare of their sister-women upon the earth4 ,they had gathered together to send forth their silent1 penetrating1 uplifting sympathy toward those who are crowded almost out of existence1 either by the pitiless hand of poverty1 or shunned and scorned because of the unfortunate lives circumstances have compelled them to lead4 ,in the realm of spirit1 our societies are not confined to one sex2 there is no exclusiveness2 woman is not considered incompetent to discuss the questions of life with her brother4 ,men do not meet in club or barroom1 to revel in scenes they would blush to have their sisters witness1 neither do women have their sorosis1 that the gentlemen cannot enter1 or sewing-circle1 where gossip and slander--those tender tid-bits so delicious to some tastes--are woven into the garments they fashion1 with their pernicious and malicious influence4 ,each convention1 every organization is founded upon the polished square of ,equality1 and membership is freely extended to male and female alike2 thus rounding out the perfect circle of harmonious life4 ,but this convocation of which ,i speak1 composed entirely of women--tender1 helpful1 loving women--who have witnessed the struggles and the sorrows of those dear children of humanity1 whom mortals consider lost1 but whom angels know shall yet be redeemed to honor and virtue1 was called together because it had become evident to thinking minds that the so-called ,progress of ,humanity will remain but a sham1 until society awakens to the fact that while one outcast remains outside the closed door of fraternal sympathy1 while one poor sufferer is refused the helping hand or kindly word1 to encourage her onward toward the highway of goodness1 it is an agency of intolerance1 and unworthy the name it bears4 ,and so1 out in the bright1 clear air1 with the radiant sky above their heads1 the flowery sod beneath their feet1 where the grand old trees chanted their anthems of glory1 as the breeze swept through their branches1 these spirit women met1 and with earnest faces and solemn words1 dedicated themselves to the high mission of going one by one out into the material world to sow seeds of love and good-will in the hearts of mortals1--going forth from their beautiful spirit homes as teachers to humanity2 and the one little lesson1 so easy to read1 so hard to remember and weave into practical life1 which they seek to implant in human hearts1 is this3 8,judge not1 but extend the friendly hand1 the kindly word and smile1 even more if you can1 the cup of water and the meal of bread1 to the poor unfortunate1 whose life is bowed beneath the weight of its own mistakes1 and who bears more punishment within the soul than you can dream it possible for one to endure40 ,and so1 from out the company of that heavenly band1 whose influence stills all commotion1 whose presence breathes a blessing of comfort and peace upon the passing spirit1 ,i come to you today1 dear reader1 and in the tones of love say unto you of earth3 8,oh1 cultivate the truly ,christ-like principles within you2 develop the germs of benevolence1 charity1 patience1 sympathy1 and kindness1 and let them flow out from your souls toward all those--whether male or female--who tread the paths of sorrow or vice1 until like a cleansing flood they roll in waves of light over their sin-stained souls4 ,be just2 give unto every soul the full measure of love that you would crave for yourself6 ,then shall the age of humanity become indeed a golden age1 the fruitage of which will shine forth in noble lives1 in redeemed lives1 and in progressive lives2 and society so blossom under the developed influence of ,love and ,sympathy as to shed its wealth of fragrant beauty over the hearts of all humanity1 and every soul be known by the endearing name of brother or sister40 ,,dwellers ,,in ,,zencollia4 ,the dwellers in ,zencollia are calm1 peaceful1 happy souls1 who1 having known the cares1 the sorrows and the temptations of mortal life have1 through their earnestness1 through their aspirations1 risen above all the annoyances of external things1 and grown into harmony with the law of ,love1 which is the law of ,god4 ,associating together in bands of fraternal sympathy1 they spend their time in devising ways and means to alleviate the condition of those bowed down by woe and suffering1 to enlighten the ignorant1 comfort the distressed1 and free the imprisoned soul from error's bondage1 whether it be encased in mortal flesh1 or dwelling in darkness of spirit4 ,they have founded schools of learning1 colleges1 where eminent teachers in the various branches of knowledge preside1 and give forth their wisdom to the seeking mind1 drawing forth and developing all the deepest1 fullest powers of comprehension1 and awakening all the noblest faculties of the student4 ,investigation into the realms of ,natural ,law proceeds with minute exactness2 experiments which test conclusions as to the cause1 utility1 and result of chemical and electrical forces are carried on2 and schools are constantly sending out graduates1 whose duty it is to search earnestly among the children of earth until they find minds capable of receiving1 brains enlarged by earnest thought and study1 competent to grasp and elaborate the ideas the spirits give1 in order to convey to earth a practical demonstration of their experiments and investigations4 ,such is ,zencollia--happy1 peaceful1 industrious city of light2 and as ,i gaze upon its glittering walls from my casement1 ,i seem to feel a pulsating thrill1 emanating1 as it were1 from its center1 of good will to man1 coursing through my being1 until ,i become one in sympathy with the divine mission of its dwellers1 which is1 love toward ,god1 manifested through love and helpfulness toward all creatures1 all things4 ,this is but one of the many cities of that spirit country1 that no thought can measure1 no being scan4 ,it is dearest1 because nearest to me2 yielding light1 instruction1 soul-sustenance to myself and to those ,i love4 ,but there are countless other cities as glorious1 peaceful1 and ennobling1 of which ,i shall speak in future pages4 ,among them may ,i mention ,spring ,garden ,city1 home of intellect1 philosophy and truth2 ,harmonial ,city1 abode of wisdom1 purity1 and peace2 ,washingtonia1 within whose walls dwell knowledge1 justice1 and freedom2 and many another that presents a beautiful record of noble lives and enduring deeds1 that shall outlast all perishable evidence of grandeur6--for they are engraved in spirit1 and can never tarnish or decay4 ,oh1 darling friends in mortal1 from the boundaries of that sweet city of light1 we waft you spirit-greeting1 love that shall know no change1 sympathy that outlives all outward separation1 and only grows the sweeter2 peace that the world can neither give nor take away1 and which passeth all understanding4 ,a ,,suburban ,,view4 ,i have told you of the beautiful city of light1 so near my spirit home2 let me now speak of the natural surroundings upon which ,i may continually gaze in an ecstasy of delight from my western portico1 or where ,i may roam at will1 filled with the bliss of knowing the truth of existence1 and its enjoyment among the beautiful works of ,nature1 that kind mother of us all1 who brings her sweet offerings of waters1 woods and flowers1 birds and insects1 mountains and hills1 for the gratification and pleasure of humanity4 ,close beside the home ,i inhabit a sweet vale lies1 decked with fertile meadows and sunny glades1 watered by glistening streams and rippling brooks1 shaded by magnificent oaks and elms1 and gemmed with starry flowers of every hue and of delicious fragrance4 ,thickets of roses1 blooming in rich profusion1 dot the landscape here and there--roses independent of limited days and weeks1 but which blossom on from day to day1 one bud bursting into beauty after another1 and no one left to bloom alone4 ,a grove of giant pines make music through this leafy vale1 as the breezes sweep through their rustling branches2 the carol of birds1 the hum of insects1 the rippling of waters1 and the music of murmuring breezes1 all combine to form a sweet harmony of sound1 that1 blending with the pure harmony of beautiful scenery1 brings rest and peace to the souls of all who linger here4 ,sweet spirit vale6 dear ,auburndale6 for such ,i love to call you2 within your borders1 in sweet communion with ,god and ,nature1 the soul becomes purged of all material impurities1 and grows into closer harmony with the sacred laws of being--,love1 ,sympathy1 and ,purity4 ,away in the distance rises that majestic pile which to me is ,mount ,lookout2 and as the sunlight rests upon it in gorgeous splendor1 ,i know that upon my earthly home the sun is slowly sinking1 in lines of rose and purple glory1 behind the western hills4 ,who could dream of pain and sadness amid the sunny sweetness of this enchanting vale8 ,and yet1 even here sometimes comes from a-far a sound of distress and anguish1 brought plainly to our spirit ears by the waves of sympathy that surge within our souls2 and we hear the wails of pain welling up from earth life1 and mark the signs of devastation and distress bearing down upon the friends in mortal4 ,but why is this8 ,because from the depths of human suffering1 pain1 and death1 that we see around us1 a heavenly sympathy is born within our souls1 and we become desirous of helping those in need1 a sympathizing pity1 prompting us to extend the cord of love we hold1 until it encircles and draws upward1 into realms of ineffable peace1 the storm-tossed spirits in pain4 ,disasters come to earth--conflagrations1 misfortune--and from them often result suffering and death2 but1 glory to ,him who rules6 from the midst of these scenes of sorrow arise pure streams of helpfulness1 strength1 and succor for the distressed1 that not only enriches the receiver1 but also overflows with sympathy and blesses the soul of the bestower4 ,up from the surging billows of distress1 out of the fiery furnace of affliction1 arises the pure ,spirit of ,love1 cleansed by its contact with water1 or refined by its passage through fire--noble1 enduring1 true--growing stronger and better from its upward flight1 seeking as it goes the sympathy of angels1 who1 looking downward from the upper heights1 send forth the sustaining cord of affection to draw the spirit upward1 singing as it arises this grand refrain refrain-- 8,nearer1 my ,god1 to thee1 nearer to thee2 ,e'en though it be a cross that raiseth me40 ,,my ,,home2 ,,its ,,life ,,and ,,associations4 ,the home ,i inhabit in the ,celestial ,sphere would appear to mortals as a large1 spacious1 white mansion1 surrounded by porticoes1 verandas1 and the like1 the doorways opening upon a scene of surpassing loveliness2 for there ,nature wears her richest robes to beautify external life4 ,the interior of this habitation you would observe to be divided into various apartments1 each furnished with appropriate furniture and hangings1 the whole designed to harmonize in a perfect blending of form1 color1 and texture1 pleasing to the eye and restful to every sense of the beholder4 ,we have private apartments of our own1 where1 when in need of mental repose1 silent study1 or deep meditation1 the spirit may retire1 apart from all companionship save that which breathes through every breadth of space--the presence of its ,god4 ,there are times in every life when it is best to be alone1 when the spirit requires silent1 undisturbed self-communion1 when outward presence is an intrusion upon the soul2 and at such times we are privileged to retire to our own private sanctum1 unquestioned and not misunderstood by others4 ,in my pleasant spirit home there is a quiet nook1 where ,i love to retire and ponder over the great problems of life constantly unfolding themselves before me2 and there1 surrounded by the beautiful in nature and art1 natural flowers climbing over marble statuary1 singing birds making music beneath some exquisite painting1 ,i strive to unravel the seeming mysteries of existence2 and not in vain1 for to the earnest seeker after truth there comes a flood of light1 illuminating the dark places and answering all silent questioning4 ,but my home contains apartments where sociability reigns1 and there a happy band of spirits daily congregate to amuse1 instruct1 and bless each other2 there1 social converse1 mingling with the recital of some experience1 lesson1 or advice1 pleasant faces and loving hearts1 fill the place with that harmony and peace only to be found where spirit meets spirit in sympathy and appreciative kindness4 ,eight of us1 all young souls1 meet together hour after hour1 bringing each one his or her store of acquired knowledge1 or displaying his or her ignorance upon any theme1 only to have it dissipated by some new truth revealed to our understandings by others4 ,we are never unhappy1 never restless1 never idle4 ,in earthly experience others are far younger than myself2 but in spiritual love and life ,i am the youngest of them all1 and it refreshes my soul to partake of what those ,i love have to offer in the way of acquired knowledge4 ,this is a sample of group-home-life in the spirit world2 a band of loving1 earnest spirits1 whose highest ambition is to become great in knowledge1 that they may understand the laws of life1 and thereby be able to avoid mistakes1 and competent to transmit a light and knowledge of life to poor1 darkened1 misguided souls1 who moil in sorrow and pain4 ,the members of these groups or bands are guarded and protected1 instructed and upheld1 by wisdom spirits1 who1 having dwelt in mortal until the physical ripened naturally for the change1 passed on to enjoy the fruits of their experience1 and1 having dwelt long in the spiritual1 are competent to guide and instruct these young souls bound to their own by the ties of soul-affinity1 as well as those of consanguinity1 yet confined by no arbitrary laws that chain and restrain the higher emotions2 thus our lives flow smoothly on1 and each moment of existence brings us some new lesson1 or some new opportunity of being of use to some one of the many spirits who walk the paths of sin or suffering4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,places ,i ,,have ,,seen4 ,you have heard of ,zencollia ,city1 with its peaceful homes and stately temples4 ,let me now speak to you of that sweet1 blooming1 delightful ,spring ,garden ,city1 where the good1 the beautiful1 and the noble gather together to engage in works of love for humanity4 ,it is impossible for you of earth to conceive of the magnitude and extent of this spirit city1 which seems almost boundless in width and length4 ,the habitations are of various hues and textures2 many of them standing in the midst of luxuriant groves1 where the branches of stately trees cast a pleasant shade1 and where birds make music all the sunny day2 or in the center of blooming gardens1 where parterres of beautiful flowers make the balmy air redolent with perfume and the landscape to glow with beauty4 ,these habitations1 built as they may be of spotless1 alabaster-like stone1 marble1 or a particular kind of variegated stone1 peculiar to this place1 which seems almost translucent1 as it gleams in rainbow colors beneath the shining sun1 are all furnished and adorned with soft1 velvet-like draperies1 snowy hangings1 pure white tables and seats1 beautiful1 life-like pictures1 ivory statuary1 and hanging baskets of flowering plants1 and present a picture of home-like comfort and hospitality4 ,many of the houses are open at the sides1 the ceilings being supported by exquisitely carved columns of stone1 around which emerald vines1 laden with fragrant flowers1 climb and cluster2 and the passer-by can note the appearance of purity1 peace1 and comfort within4 ,,the ,,people ,,of ,,spring ,,garden ,,city4 ,the inhabitants of this celestial city are ever busy1 either devising some new method of aiding and assisting the distressed1 attending some of its many schools of instruction1 its halls of music and literature1 or working together in bands to elevate and instruct needy souls upon earth1 or in the lower realms of spirit life4 ,these spirit people dress simply and naturally1 in flowing robes1 of any color which most harmonizes with their interior condition2 they are all beautiful1 a light radiating from each countenance1 an expression of peace and contentment upon each face1 and a smile upon the lips2 all of which beautify the features and cast a halo of brilliancy around the form4 ,beautiful groves1 watered by running streams1 shaded by lofty trees1 and made charming by banks of velvety moss1 starred with fragrant blossoms1 are seen in the midst of this city of souls2 and in these spots beneath the blue canopy of the sky1 inhaling the perfumed invigorating air1 many spirits daily congregate to listen to words of advice1 instruction1 and wisdom from inspired lips4 ,and from these places the inhabitants of ,spring ,garden ,city go forth to their homes1 exalted in spirit1 or come down to mortals who dwell in sorrow1 and shed over them the divine influence caught from higher scenes1 which uplifts and strengthens the struggling ones below4 ,,children',s ,,lyceum4 ,in the center of one of the largest1 most beautiful groves1 where rippling waters1 breezes swaying the leafy branches of the trees1 and the song of birds send a constant stream of melody through the air1 made fragrant by odorous flowers1 a stately temple stands4 ,it is of burnished silver1 which flashes and glows in the light of the sun4 ,within1 its walls are hung with landscape paintings1 and draperies of azure satin4 ,the floor is of white marble1 and the spotless ceiling is frescoed with paintings of marvelous beauty4 ,here the spiritual lyceum of ,spring ,garden ,city daily convenes its sessions1 where spirit children are taught the duties and the lessons of life4 ,some of the most exalted and brilliant souls resident in that city are teachers and guardians in this school1 and it is their delight to so cultivate and train the young minds under their charge that only the beautiful attributes of the soul will grow1 and the selfishness of life shall be eradicated4 ,and it is because of the instruction and development received in such schools as this that little children can so readily return to earth1 and bless and comfort weeping mortals with their sweet words of sympathy and love4 ,,harmonial ,,city4 ,harmonial ,city is a broad1 beautiful1 extensive city of the spirit world4 ,its streets are literally shining1 broad and straight1 paved with blocks of cool1 white stone of great purity1 and lined on either side with beautiful1 fragrant flowers4 ,in the center of each street1 a fountain constructed of a material resembling silver1 carved in the most wondrous designs1 sends forth jets of crystal water1 which rise in fan-like shapes and fall again in gleaming sprays upon the beds of flowers blooming at the fountain's base1 whence a cloud of sweet perfume rises to scent the balmy air4 ,at regular intervals1 in this city of the spirits1 beautiful parks are laid out1 abounding in all the natural beauty of flowers1 trees1 shrubbery and water1 serving to delight the eye and calm the senses of the soul4 ,the habitations of this city of harmony are formed or fashioned of various substances1 each dweller building his mansion to suit himself2 hence we observe the tiny1 white vine-embowered cottage1 with its surrounding flower garden1 side by side with the stately mansion1 environed with smooth walks and velvety lawns4 ,the inhabitants of this place are particularly sympathetic and harmonious2 they are at peace with all the world and their own souls2 they take no active part in the turmoils and strifes of others2 they do not commune with earth save only as they transmit their messages through spirit intelligences below them4 ,here are grand and massive temples1 more richly draped and ornamented than any ,i have elsewhere seen2 temples dedicated to ,poesy1 ,music1 ,literature1 and ,philosophy4 ,here the active1 critical1 keen-searching scientist is not at home2 but the musician1 the poet1 the philosopher1 and the idealist find a heaven4 ,the poetry that delights the soul of the bard is here breathed forth through flower and streamlet2 all the surroundings seem made up of poetry1 so fragrant1 sweet1 and subtle is the calm1 beautiful life we behold in this wonderful city4 ,well may it be named ,harmonial ,city2 for its very atmosphere1 its pretty homes1 its adornments1 and the features and forms of its inhabitants1 all breathe of harmony and peace4 ,the dwellers within this city ,i am told seem not so much like members of one family1 as parts of one healthy body1 each performing its function and duty1 the whole harmoniously blending in one form of symmetry and beauty2 and ,i can well believe this1 from what ,i have seen of them4 ,in this city1 musicians1 poets1 artists1 and idealists--transcendentalists1 if you will--love to congregate in their respective temples1 which are ever open to all who wish to enter1 and by contact with each others' minds throw off new strains of harmony in verse1 outline some new work of beauty1 develop some beautiful idea1 or evoke a new melody of the spheres4 ,and from these master-souls beautiful ideas1 melodies1 and ideals come floating down to earth4 ,transmitted through the atmosphere below1 they eventually awaken an echo in the heart of some aspiring soul1--when1 lo1 a new poem1 a new strain of melody1 a new harmonious thought1 is given to the world4 ,it has been my good fortune to visit once or twice this wonderful ,city of ,harmony1 and ever after my mind has possessed a new and beautiful picture to hang upon the snowy walls of memory1--a picture of harmoniously blended tints1 of flowery beds1 of sunny fountains1 of massive temples1 crowded with faces from which all trace of passion hath forever vanished1 and which bear only the impress of ineffable peace2 where harmony is the life of the spirit1 and melody runs like a liquid stream through all the sunny days4 ,a ,,magnificent ,,temple4 ,imagine1 if you can1 a magnificent temple built of a kind of white translucent stone1 which1 as the sunlight falls upon it1 glows and sparkles with the bright1 prismatic hues of the rainbow2 imagine this temple to be so vast and spacious in its dimensions that its brilliant dome seems to pierce the snowy clouds1 while in length it extends as far as the eye can reach2 imagine delicate vines1 wreaths and pictures carved exquisitely upon the outer walls of this building1 while a magnificent garden1 blooming in the rich luxuriance of summer1 surrounds it on every side2 and after you have imagined all this1 you will have a faint idea of that massive temple of ,harmonial ,city1 in which artists of every grade congregate to pursue their favorite studies4 ,the interior of this splendid palace is hung with richest drapery1 and adorned with rarest works of art1 creations of those artist-spirits who delight to give outward expression to the ideals of beauty within their souls4 ,mortal eyes have never witnessed such forms of skillful beauteous art1 so life-like in every sense1 so soul-thrilling1 as are gathered here4 ,mortal ears fail to catch the celestial tones of harmony1 the divine notes of melody1 that are uttered here by spirits who appear to be all music1 all harmony4 ,the interior of this beautiful building is divided into four spacious compartments1 with one vast hall over all4 ,the lower halls are devoted to sculpture1 painting1 music1 and poetry4 ,each one is fitted up grandly1 hung with shimmering drapery1 and adorned with forms of peerless beauty4 ,here the student lingers1 his soul entranced with the glory of his work1 his being illuminated with the divine inspiration he gathers4 ,the whole edifice1 with its splendid appointments1 is like a divine poem1 a completed strain of harmony1 a perfect picture1 or a finished statue of grace and symmetry2 and the forms and faces of the masters who dispense instruction to the student give glory and benignity to the whole4 ,the vast hall above is the most beautiful place ,i have ever seen--paved with white and gold1 the walls hung with exquisite paintings1 adorned with gleaming statuary1 save here and there where openings admit the balmy1 perfumed air2 the ceiling of white and azure1 gemmed with golden stars2 the shining fountains on the floor1 which send up sprays of crystal water1 the baskets of richly-blooming flowers1 swinging here and there2 the grand stands of shining gold1 where the favored children of genius gather2 the silken couches and dais for the visiting company--all present a scene of richness and beauty difficult to be described4 ,in this place grand entertainments are given1 to which the denizens of the city and elsewhere are admitted1 to feast the intellect upon the wondrous creations of artist1 poet1 sculptor1 and musician1 and to listen to instructive lectures upon the arts4 ,and it is indeed a feast to the soul to attend one of these receptions2 it is an experience which draws the spirit upward1 and elevates it into a purer1 more refined condition2 for purity and goodness are the themes of the artist's inspiration1 and love broods over all1 manifested in the desire to instruct and bless every life4 ,this is one of the largest temples ,i have ever seen1 although many smaller ones1 erected for like purposes1 are scattered throughout the higher spheres of spirit life4 ,,city ,,of ,,joy4 ,there is a beautiful little city in the ,summer-,land1 which1 situated between rising hills of ever-glowing verdure1 presents an appearance of restful tranquillity and harmonious peace4 ,its name signifies 8,city of ,joy40 ,the habitations of this place are all of a circular shape1 pavilion-like in appearance1 typical of the rounded out completeness of human life4 ,these buildings are open at the sides1 the roofs of shining brightness1 supported by columns of white ivory1 exquisitely carved1 and entwined with clustering plants and flowering vines4 ,they also are ranged in circles or spheres1 eight of these homesteads1 with their connecting flower-gardens1 comprising a circle4 ,here and there are gateways1 leading to vast and beautiful grounds1 where all that can delight the eye and charm the ear may be found4 ,these gateways are reared of solid alabaster-like stone1 in the form of an arch4 ,everywhere we observe the circle and arch1 nowhere do we find sharp corners1 or the angular edge2 all is smooth1 completed1 harmonious4 ,the flower-beds are in rings1 blooming with soft1 exquisite tints1 and redolent with delicate odors4 ,the inhabitants of this city dwell in unity1 co-operate together in associative bodies1 each one working for the good of all4 ,their sphere represents brotherly love and honest fidelity2 their aura is clear1 shining and transparent4 ,i understand that these beings rarely1 if ever1 return to earthly scenes4 ,they have long since passed beyond the conditions of material things2 they are without passions1 but delight to minister to suffering souls2 they understand the art of preparing their beautiful garments from elements gathered from the gardens1 and their food likewise grows spontaneously in the shape of rich1 juicy1 and nutritious fruit4 ,the habits of life of these beings are extremely simple2 they have no artificial wants and desires2 their clothing is of the flowing1 drapery style2 their homes are simply furnished with furniture framed from tree and shrub1 and adorned with vines and flowers4 ,they are a studious people1 interested in all that affects humanity1 and have groves and temples dedicated to ,truth1 ,wisdom1 and ,knowledge2 also temples1 large rotundas1 where the sage and the philosopher1 the chemist and the scientist1 hold forth in words of wisdom4 ,this place ,i have seen but once1 and then imperfectly4 ,thither ,i was guided by a venerable ministering being1 who delights to instruct the young and ignorant4 ,but one peculiarity ,i observed2 instead of the brilliant light of golden sunshine pouring down upon the scene1 the whole city seemed partially veiled in a peculiar1 rose-tinted haze1 which threw a delicious sense of beauty over the white homesteads1 the gleaming waters of the circular fountains1 and the blooming gardens4 ,the inhabitants of this supernal city traverse space mostly by the intensity of will-force1 but ,i am told they also possess conveyances for rial travel1 circular-shaped1 silken-draped air cars1 which glide through the atmosphere like graceful birds of golden plumage4 ,these ,i did not see1 but ,i have seen similar rial cars in other places4 ,oh1 were it possible to convey to you an adequate comprehension of the wonders and beauties of another life than this1 it would be a task over which an angel might rejoice4 ,,floralia1 ,,the ,,valley ,,of ,,flowers4 ,i cannot begin to enumerate to you the beautiful cities of spirit life1 and the sweet1 outlying country places2 neither can ,i hope to convey to you a description of the peaceful1 glowing valleys and woodlands of the ,better ,country4 ,but there are two beautiful valleys of which ,i feel to speak1 and which may give you a conception of the many fertile spots1 rich with luxuriant growth1 that adorn the ,land of ,souls4 ,floralia1 or the ,valley of ,flowers1 is charmingly situated between two ranges of massive mountains1 which glow in the sun with more than roseate brightness1 or deepen into purple as the cooling shadows ascend their gleaming sides4 ,long and wide the valley stretches out1 sweet and fair1 dotted here and there with groves and clumps of trees2 a clear and limpid stream of water1 reflecting the azure sky1 runs through the midst of the valley1 which is fed by living springs from the mountain4 ,clusters of snow-white cottages abound1 whose inhabitants are composed of little innocent children1 with their guardians1 teachers1 or spirit parents2 for little ones coming to our life1 who have no father and mother to greet them1 are at once adopted by kind spirits1 who devote their lives to their care and guidance4 ,but the most remarkable feature of this valley1 and the one from which it derives its name1 ,floralia1 is the lavish profusion of flowers on every hand4 ,the green sward1 so like velvet in softness1 is literally covered with flowers--flowers of every type1 degree1 and color--the whole forming a magnificent scene of beauty and fragrance2 so exquisitely do the colors blend and their odors harmonize4 ,this you will believe is the home of honey-loving insects and singing birds1 and the whole presents a perfect picture of delight4 ,to this flowery home1 little children are brought1 who pass out from earth in childhood's hours2 here they are borne by loving1 ministering angels1 and tenderly reared and cherished4 ,many of these little ones knew not the meaning of care and tenderness on earth1 but all are lovingly tended at this place4 ,here they attend the school of ,nature1 learn of flower and bird and rippling rill2 and are instructed in the lessons of life1 and the laws of being1 by their gentle guardians4 ,only purity and peace abound here1 and the little ones develop all their sweetest attributes of soul4 ,,the ,,valley ,,of ,,delight4 ,the other vale of which ,i have spoken is called the ,valley of ,delight4 ,this valley is somewhat depressed and nearly round2 nestling between gigantic hills1 it resembles a great green basin set with flowers of many hues4 ,no scorching wind1 no battling storm ever sweeps across this valley2 all is mild and balmy4 ,the crystal water flashes from many fountains and gurgles from leaping springs4 ,in this sweet spot more than one poet abides1 more than one artist makes his home2 but the great attraction of the place is a massive1 white1 academic-looking structure1 in the center of the valley4 ,this building is indeed a college of learning2 within its lofty walls lessons are given and learned1 not only in the usual arts and sciences1 but1 best of all1 in the art of teaching1 and of becoming competent to guide1 instruct1 and develop all the best powers of the little children4 ,from this college in the ,valley of ,delight1 spirits1 men and women1 youths and maidens1 go forth to ,floralia1 to become teachers and guides for the little children who gather there4 ,in this college school1 even elderly men and women are entered as pupils2 those who1 having experienced earthly life without the advantages of education1 or have passed through mortality confined to one department of learning4 ,in our world every spirit receives the opportunity for acquiring an education1 and all1 at some time1 avail themselves of it4 ,there are many such schools of learning in the spiritual world1 and they are of untold benefit to the inquiring soul4 ,it would be useless for me to attempt to describe even a tenth part of the places ,i have visited1 and scenes ,i have witnessed in the spiritual4 ,mortal language fails to convey a proper idea of certain phases of spirit life1 even when the brain of our instrument can receive correctly the thoughts we impress upon it4 ,to realize positively the beauties as well as the deformities1--if ,i may be allowed to use the word in relation to the lower spheres of spirit life1--one must be able to perceive them with spirit vision4 ,hence ,i have only attempted to convey to you a faint though real idea1 so far as it extends1 of what ,i have witnessed in other lands than those of earth4 ,,the ,,happy ,,hunting ,,ground ,,of ,,the ,,indians4 ,before ,i close this chapter ,i must speak to you of that fair1 peaceful1 mountainous country of the spirit world1 where the ,indian race find a happy home4 ,to reach this region from the cities of which ,i have spoken1 one must go far out into the open country2 through valleys and over hills2 through deep forests and sunny glades1 up1 ever upward in his march1 until at length he comes to an open stretch of green fields1 where the mellow sunlight gleams and tiny flowers blossom4 ,beyond this level plain of verdure1 a deep1 blue1 rolling river sweeps1 its shining waves dancing in the sunlight under the quaint1 canoe-like boats that rest upon them4 ,kanalaw1 ,smiling ,river1 ,i have heard these waters called2 and it seems indeed a fitting name1 for only peace and joy is suggested at the sight of its shining waves4 ,beyond this rolling river there is a deeply-wooded country4 ,here you are up high among the mountains2 this is the red man's home1 his happy hunting ground1 where no foe disturbs him1 where no storms can come4 ,the white race is welcome here as visitors1 and a number live here as teachers to their dusky friends2 but this is exclusively an ,indian country4 ,throughout the deep forests1 where cooling streamlets flow1 and birds make merry music in the branches of the stately trees1 the picturesque wigwams of the ,indians stand1 white and shining1 embroidered with quills1 feathers1 and silks of every hue1 hung with many-colored hangings or curtains of silken texture1 and ornamented with natural flowers1 which give out sweet incense to the breezes4 ,the young people of the race delight to weave flowery garlands with which to deck their homes4 ,out in the sunny glades of this region1 where flowers of every kind bud and blossom1 where the brooks murmur over mossy stones1 and all life is glad1 the great lodges of the country stand1--their school-houses and their council-halls1--and there they meet to give or gain instruction and to receive counsel from the wise chiefs whom they honor and love4 ,tribes here mingle together and dwell in unity2 no hate1 no anger1 no fears disturb their minds2 they grow in harmony1 and gain that strength of mind which they send back to aid and assist the pale-faces through their chosen mediums4 ,here the ,indian finds rest and peace1 gaining freedom1 vigor1 and strength from the waters1 woods1 and hills2 growing gentle like the flowers1 and mild as the evening breeze4 ,his soul grows and expands in the power of love1 and he gains knowledge not only from surrounding scenes1 but through his intuitive faculties1 which are receptive to truths1 and likewise from learned and cultured beings from the higher spheres1 who delight to teach the red man1 and whom he in turn listens to with reverence and love4 ,this beautiful country1 fairer than mortal eye hath ever witnessed1 has proved a blessing to many a weary spirit4 ,not only is it a refuge for the poor1 hunted and despised ,indian1 who1 fleeing from mortal chains1 finds therein rest and peace1 but it is also a haven of rest to many a poor1 weary pale face1 who1 passing out from mortal life1 uncared for and alone1 is taken up by tender spirits into this blooming country1 and amid its pure air and green hills1 cared for by the tender ,indian maid1 he gains strength and ease of mind and body4 ,here1 too1 many little children gain strength and power to return to earth as messengers of light to weary hearts4 ,and there are lyceums in the ,indian country1--lyceums1 where lessons are learned from the singing brook1 the mossy stone1 the budding flower1 and the warbling bird2 where the grand march is made beneath archways of living green1 and many-colored banners are formed of blooming flowers2 where life is natural1 and where souls are happy and free4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,scenes ,,and ,,incidents ,,in ,,the ,,spirit ,,land4 ,as you gather around your cheerful firesides as mortals1 and rejoice in the sweet associations and affections of the family circle1 do you not sometimes think of those homes not made with hands1 which the great army of your so-called dead inhabit8 and do you not long to know something of them and their manner of existence8 ,i have recently visited one of these homes in the spirit world1 of which ,i will endeavor to tell you4 ,imagine a large1 white building1 surrounded by pleasant grounds1 and shaded by lofty trees 7similar to your trees of maple and oak71 in form1 construction1 and surroundings much like a substantial1 comfortable country-seat of some well-to-do merchant in earth life4 ,this home of which ,i speak is situated in 8,pleasant ,valley40 ,no wintry storms1 no sudden waves of cold1 no visitations of extreme heat1 ever come to this place6 ,the temperature of the valley is mild and delightful4 ,there are many such homes as this of which ,i speak in ,pleasant ,valley1 but they are not all inhabited by the same class of people4 ,,trial ,,and ,,triumph4 ,in this comfortable home dwell two beings1 male and female1 companions in every sense of the term1 whose delight it is to minister to the wants of others4 ,i know not all the roads of suffering they passed1 but ,i do know that on earth1 many years ago1 this woman loved and trusted in this man1 and through the force of circumstances and conditions 7perhaps because of a vacillating1 fickle nature71 he abandoned her to the merciless scorn of an unpitying world4 ,left alone1 friendless and unaided1 to fight the battles of life1 what wonder that she was plunged in despair6 ,her babe lived scarcely three months on earth1 ere it passed to the spirit world4 ,crazed at this culmination of all her woes1 the poor mother ended her mortal existence by suicide4 ,for a time she led an aimless1 restless existence in spirit1 owing to the law of association drawing her back to former scenes2 but soon1 through the aid of ministering spirits1 she was aroused to her true condition and prevailed upon to reach outward for a higher life4 ,her mother-heart yearned and prayed for the tiny babe she had lost1 when1 lo1 it was brought to her arms by tender mother-spirits1 who had tended and cared for it with loving kindness4 ,mother and child were taken to a bright home1 where flowers bloomed and branches waved1 where all was beautiful1 and there was nought of selfishness or woe to mar the serenity of the scene4 ,here in ,pleasant ,valley1 surrounded by loving helpers and guides1 these two beings unfolded in sweetness and purity1 their lives growing into harmony with all mankind4 ,but the mother1 whom ,i will call ,mary1 could not forget her early love2 the object of her fondest affections was still dear to her soul1 and in spite of unkindness1 desertion1 and neglect1 her woman's heart went out to him in a devotion born of undying love4 ,at times1 she could feel something like a chord vibrating within her1 as if with pain1 and she would feel that the spirit of her dear one was calling her to him4 ,at length she found him1 still on earth1 but1 oh1 how changed6 ,sorrow1 want1 and pain were marked on every feature4 ,oh1 what tribulation and suffering had been his6 ,friends had died or deserted him2 fortune had fled1 and sickness marked him as her own4 ,in hours of misery1 thoughts of ,mary had come to him2 bitterly did he repent his past conduct1 sadly did he mourn over his wasted life4 ,soon he was called to the spirit world1 but not at first did he find the angel of his dreams2 though she was near1 seeking to aid and assist him to throw off the clouds that pressed upon him1 and to aid him to emerge from the terrible conditions that surged around him1 it was impossible for her to announce her presence4 ,at length1 by the herculean efforts of his will1 by a determination to live for others instead of wholly for himself1 he succeeded in throwing off the incubus that weighed upon his soul and confined it in the bondage of darkness4 ,then1 what a glorious sight burst upon his awakened vision1--the face of her he once knew and loved1 the face of her he had wronged1 he beheld smiling upon him tenderly and peacefully1 glorified by angelic love and pardon1 while beside it gleamed another1--sweet1 innocent1 lovely1--the face of their angel child4 ,it is impossible for others to realize the misery and anguish of a human heart1 to comprehend the thorny path a soul may have to tread in its journey of purification2 therefore ,i cannot convey to you a knowledge of the suffering and sorrow these two beings experienced1--the one through betrayed confidence1 the other through selfishness and wrong-doing2 but we may well believe the anguish of the latter must ultimately have exceeded ten times the suffering of the former1 as the wrong-doer must meet with stings and scourges of conscience of which the wronged is never aware4 ,a ,,home ,,for ,,the ,,weary4 ,led by ,mary and her child into paths of peace1 and at last pleasantness1 the erring spirit began to blossom out from old conditions1 and to develop depths of goodness in his nature1 undreamed of hitherto4 ,at length1 it became their desire to open a spiritual home of peace and comfort for such weary souls1 who1 like our friend ,mary1 are forced out of mortal existence by the relentless hand of despair and to surround them with that sweet magnetism of love that serves to assuage their sorrows and strengthen their hearts4 ,consequently1 this beautiful home in ,pleasant ,valley1 surrounded by shaded walks1 rippling streams1 blooming flowers1 and smiling fields1 is sustained by them as a refuge for weary1 heart-sick souls1 who through misery1 want or neglect1 have passed out from earth by their own act4 ,within1 the apartments are pleasantly situated1 commanding views of the joyous scene without2 comfort1 and even luxury1 abound2 the furnishing of the house is such as to please the eye and harmonize with the senses2 form1 color1 and texture all blend in perfect unison4 ,seclusion and privacy may be had by those who will2 cheerful companionship also is freely offered4 ,surely such a house of refuge1 such a home of peace1 must be welcome to a weary1 storm-tossed soul4 ,content in their work for others1 ,mary and her companion pass their time1 constantly devising something new for the amelioration of human suffering1 or giving of their energy and influence to strengthen and encourage the morally weak and blind4 ,as teachers1 helpers and guides1 they are invaluable to others1 and their labors follow them in the blessing and appreciation of all4 ,serenity and peace are stamped upon their features1 while their forms1 clad in simple robes1 shine with dignity2 hand in hand they pass through life1 happy in each other and in their work4 ,what shall we say of their child1--innocent1 star-eyed ,stella1--she who returns to earthly scenes daily1 as a missionary of light and peace to weary mortals1 who brings an influence of benevolence to the hearts of the affluent1 that they may bestow their bounty upon those in need2 who soothes the weary and sad1 and carries a blessing wherever she goes8 ,she is a missionary of light1 performing a noble work in guiding sorrow-stricken hearts to a haven of rest4 ,the angels bless her1 as mortals would do1 were they aware of her presence in their midst1 at times1 when a deep influx of strength and consolation flows out from her life to theirs1 and they know not whence it comes4 ,a few words more3 ,those happy1 calm1 and quiet beings1 who at present inhabit the home in ,pleasant ,valley1--the 8,mary ,home10 as we love to call it1--would never be recognized as the sorrowful1 hollow-eyed1 unhappy creatures who not long since dragged their weary frames through the streets of earth4 ,now1 peace and content are theirs2 affection and sympathy feed their lives1 and their hearts are no longer starved for the sustenance they crave4 ,but these beings will not always remain here4 ,one by one1 as they become strengthened and refreshed1 as they become imbued with a desire to help others1 they pass out to other scenes1 to new labors1 and new associations1 where1 as missionaries1 they will continue to work for others1 leaving sweet memories to cluster around the old home1 and bright influences which bless and strengthen the weary ones who are brought to fill their places4 ,such is the work accomplished in the ,mary ,home2 such the life spent by those who1 through much tribulation and sorrow1 have found the dawn of a new existence4 ,we do not scorn a spirit for what it has been2 we honor it for its efforts to advance and grow into something better2 for in this way happiness1 peace1 and blessing come to humanity4 ,,the ,,condition ,,of ,,one ,,selfish ,,on ,,earth4 ,passing through the various places and conditions of the spirit world1 on missionary or beneficent purposes intent1 one comes in contact with strange and startling scenes and people1 presenting a weird and uncouth appearance1 as well as with those bearing the impress of suffering and woe4 ,i well remember one being with whom ,i was brought into association by a beautiful spirit1 whose delight it is ever to work out some benefit to others4 ,this being1 to whose side ,i was brought1 was a female1 tall1 gaunt1 unhappy2 her garments seemed to be formed of a heterogeneous mass of fabric1 of every color and texture1 presenting at once a grotesque and unnatural appearance4 8,see10 she said1 as ,i gazed upon her1 8see my fine robes1 how beautiful1 how rich2 ,i hid my jewels1 that none should find them2 ,i cut up my handsome dresses1 that none could wear them when ,i was dead2 ,i hid my gold1 that none should spend it in riotous living2 and see1 ,i have them all here again1 in these beautiful robes of mine40 ,it was plainly to be seen that this unfortunate creature believed what she said2 presenting a pitiable appearance to others1 to herself she appeared to be the perfect ideal of dignity and beauty4 ,i soon learned the secret of her deplorable condition4 ,on earth this woman had been cursed with great wealth4 ,i say 8cursed10 for to her spirit it had indeed proved a curse1 narrowing her intellect in the eager pursuit of more wealth1 and warping her spiritual faculties to a truly lamentable extent4 ,while not denying herself the luxuries of life1 she yet refused to spend one penny for the comfort of others2 indeed1 so selfish and greedy had she grown1 that she could not bear to see others enjoying one grain of the wealth and luxury which she possessed1 and she determined that since she must 8die10--she did not believe in a future life1 nor in the existence of a higher power than man1--since she must leave all she possessed1 no one else should enjoy it2 and so she had destroyed her riches and garments1 and hidden much of her jewelry and gold1 so that after she was dead1 her relatives would fail to benefit by them4 ,this woman had lived alone on earth1 a solitary1 haughty1 mercenary being2 and in this spirit of unrest she had passed out into the ,eternal ,world1 only to find herself stripped of all wealth1 grandeur1 and honor1--a poor1 wretched creature4 ,but as yet she had not aroused to this fact2 she felt herself a dethroned queen2 she did not realize the utter poverty and squalor of her surroundings2 her only desire seemed to be to keep the gold and jewels hidden from the light of day4 ,i was much interested in this spirit4 ,i sought to awaken some sense of justice1 honor1 and benevolence within her soul1 but without avail4 ,to all my entreaties1 arguments1 and persuasions1 she would turn a deaf ear4 ,her mind seemed to gloat only upon the disappointments of those on earth1 who sought for her hidden treasure1 and her time was spent in mocking their futile search1 bewailing her own inability to profit by her wealth1 or parading herself to and fro before the eyes of any passer-by4 ,the surroundings of this miserable woman seemed to be as sterile and gloomy of aspect as her own soul1--cold1 cheerless1 and deserted4 ,no blooming flower1 no shrub of luxuriant green adorned the scene2 barren rocks and stony ground alone met the sight2 not even the maligned thistle or thorn-bush were here to enliven the scene2 and yet this being in her haughtiness of spirit1 perceived not the gloom and darkness and dearth4 ,this woman1--seemingly in all but outward appearance anything but a woman1--so haughty1 selfish1 even vindictive--what could she produce sweeter than thorn or thistle8 ,spirit parents and friends of this unfortunate being gathered around1 who would fain have assisted her out of her miserable condition2 but she knew them not1 and waved them away from her side4 ,,first ,,steps ,,toward ,,enlightenment4 ,but this state of things could not continue long2 as the constant dropping of water will wear away a stone1 so the continued influence of earnest spirits descending upon another will produce its result1 and so the influence of these good1 beneficent ones began slowly yet surely to produce a softening effect upon this woman's heart4 ,she grew unhappy1 restless2 the gold and jewels of her former days haunted her2 she longed to see them once again4 ,in one of these moods she found herself in the bodily presence of a kinsman1--one poor1 but worthy1--whom she had despised as shiftless1 because while burdened with an invalid wife1 and a family of little ones1 he could do nothing more than keep himself and family above want and debt4 ,thinking deeply of the hiding-place of her treasure1 and longing to behold it once again1 she did not know that the intensity of her desire1 and the impression on her soul concerning the place of concealment1 communicated itself to the mind1 or spirit1 of her relative4 ,he was in a partial slumber1 it was early morning2 just the time and condition favorable for producing spirit impression4 ,starting from his sleep1 he exclaimed to his suffering wife3 8,i believe ,i have dreamed out the hiding-place of aunt ,sarah's money2 ,i believe ,i can find it2 at least1 ,i shall search for it40 ,his companion tried to soothe him into quiet1 but all in vain2 he could not rest1 and shortly left the house1 followed by the now anxious and thoroughly alarmed spirit4 ,i need not enter into details2 before nightfall the treasure was found1--bank-notes1 gold and jewels1--together with a note in the handwriting of the deceased woman1 stating that the money should be owned by whoever found it1 but the jewels must be returned to the heirs of the family4 ,the only heir to the property was a young lady1 a governess in a distant city4 ,gladly did the fortunate finder communicate with her1 and as the jewels were worth fully as much as the money1 she was glad to take them1 and leave the residue with her relative4 ,thus were honest hearts made happy1 and needy ones provided for4 ,he who found the treasure had been sorely tried2 his wife's health had become more precarious than ever1 and his family were in need of even the necessities of life2 for he had been thrown out of employment1 and there was no prospect or hope of better days before him4 ,you may judge of the rejoicing in the poor man's cottage that night2 the children were elated1 but the invalid's tears flowed freely1 as in broken accents she thanked the ,father of us all for his tender mercy4 ,,enfranchisement ,,of ,a ,,spirit4 ,it was this scene that softened the heart of that unhappy spirit1 and actually brought tears to her eyes4 ,she had rejoiced at the sight of her treasures again1 then grown alarmed as she realized they had forever passed away from her2 but when she witnessed the tears1 and listened to the thanksgiving of the invalid woman1 her own heart melted1 and she wept in sympathy4 ,and so one little wayside blossom dared to lift its head above the arid soil1 and to shed its fragrance over a bitter life1--the flower of ,sympathy1 which is so near akin to ,love1 that the angels consider them twin lilies blooming from one stem4 ,at this blessed moment1 those earnest spirits who had longed for this surrounded the woman1 dissipating the shadows with their brilliant presence1 and revealing her to herself as she was4 ,horror1 shame1 anguish filled her spirit for a time2 remorse for the good she had left undone pierced her through and through2 but possessing strength1 endurance1 and energy1 and assisted by her friends1 she at length rallied and emerged from her old condition into a brighter one2 her old garments dropped away1 and womanly robes of simple fashion clothed her form1 which soon rounded out in beauty of expression and symmetrical proportions4 ,she is still growing1 seeking to learn more of her new life1 and to benefit others2 and it is her delight to impress the receivers of her former fortune to expend a part of it for the benefit of others4 ,thus have the wayside flowers of sympathy1 love1 benevolence1 humility1 and peace blossomed out from the defilement of selfishness and pride4 ,,children',s ,,progressive ,,lyceums4 ,in this chapter1 which ,i have devoted to the recital of scenes and incidents that occur in the spirit land1 ,i must mention something concerning the ,children's ,progressive ,lyceums of that world1 which are in session at this hour4 ,i will give a description of that school which daily convenes in the massive temple at ,spring ,garden ,city1 dedicated to ,truth and ,education4 ,in this1 as in all of our spirit lyceums1 spiritual principles and aspirations are inculcated1 and a knowledge of the laws of life instilled into the young minds who throng its spacious halls4 ,in that delightful temple1 adorned with the artistic expressions of grace and beauty1 where snowy statuary gleam out from nook and corner1 displaying the sculptor's skill1 marvelous creations of ideality1 representing all the grace and loveliness of human conception2 where beautiful paintings adorn the crystal walls3 scenes of natural beauty1 glowing landscapes1 gleaming water pictures1 representations of calm and peaceful life1 which the artist-soul has caused to speak a lesson from inert canvas2 where the ceiling is carved in delicate forms of beauty1 and the open walls invite the perfume of the flower and the balm of the passing breeze2 where in truth all the surroundings are calculated to awaken only thoughts of the good1 to develop a love of the beautiful in the growing mind1 and to cause sensation to glow and blossom under the light of ,purity2--groups of spirit children meet to learn the lessons of life1 develop all the highest1 noblest attributes of mind1 and to cultivate the strongest1 purest health for the outward form4 ,there spirit teachers gather1 to give instruction to these young souls2 to draw forth the inner powers of the undeveloped minds under their charge1 and to inculcate on them the principles of true spirituality1 which are love1 purity1 fidelity to truth1 and a sense of justice4 ,and these groups of innocent children1 from the prattling babe to the laughing youth or maiden1 present a picture at once sublime and inviting4 ,whether chanting in chorus their beautiful spiritual hymns1 which awaken devotion1 or delivering in concert their golden-chain recitations1 which tell of the wisdom and boundless love of our ,father2 whether relating some simple story of actual experience1 or transmitting the grand and soul-inspiring utterances of others2 whether exercising the limbs in wing movements1 or performing the graceful and strengthening evolutions of the grand triumphal march2 in each and all of these they present a picture of youthful beauty and innocence1 of developing power and purpose1 which strikes the beholder with the conviction that these groups of spirits are yet to wield a mighty power4 ,by-and-bye those young souls will depart to take their places as teachers1 guides1 and helpers to the needy and lowly of earth1 or to the ignorant1 darkened minds who enter spirit life covered with the pall of superstition and fear2 and to such beings they will prove a light that will brighten the highway to knowledge4 ,,methods ,,of ,,instruction ,,in ,,spirit ,,lyceums4 ,these spirit lyceums are schools of education where thought is developed and love awakened2 where beautiful sights and sounds arouse the young spirit into activity1 and draw it into a condition of perfect harmony4 ,the lessons are all instructive while entertaining1 and are drawn from some natural object of bird or blossom1 or taken from some beautiful painting1 or group of statuary1 which represents the idea to be conveyed to the mind grasping for knowledge4 ,each child whose musical taste is developing1 receives instruction in the laws of harmony and melodious sound2 each child who loves art in its expressive form of painting or sculpture receives lessons from master-minds who delight to guide the awakening talent in its proper direction4 ,all work in concord and all delight to please each other4 ,the rose and the acorn1 the sparrow and the bee1 the tinkling brook and the mossy stone1 all speak a lesson of active1 changing life to the child4 ,the stars and the sunbeams breathe a lesson of divine goodness to him2 and the spirit of all things is felt as he communes with ,nature4 ,and thus these children are prepared to go forth from their spirit lyceums breathing holy inspirations upon the lives of others1 gently drawing them upward towards the life that knoweth all1 the ,love that enfoldeth everyone4 ,oh1 ye fathers and mothers1 who weep in sorrow today because some darling has been taken from your earthly homes2 did you realize how tenderly your loved one is cared for1 into what a beautiful school your child has entered1 to prepare him or her to become a glorious messenger of life and light and peace to the weary and the sad1 you would not mourn1 but rather rejoice that you have been permitted to offer up to the service of the ,lord such a beautiful and pure missionary of love4 ,these spiritual lyceums1 unlike your earthly gatherings of like import1 convene daily2 and the children and leaders1 in constant association with each other1 grow so in harmony together in sympathy and love1 that they become a perfect whole1 each one fitting naturally and beautifully into his or her place2 and hence are enabled to perform an unequalled amount of good for humanity2 and ,i have found that to these bands of holy angels1 together with the efforts of the red race1--our ,indian brothers1--belongs the credit of swinging back the pearly gates of immortal life1 and setting them forever ajar1 for the benefit of those who linger yet in mortal clay4 ,a ,,golden-,,chain ,,recitation4 ,i would like to give you a specimen of the golden-chain recitations ,i listened to at the lyceum of ,spring ,garden ,city4 ,the ,guardian of the school recited the first line2 the teachers of the various groups or classes followed on1 in concert1 with the second line2 then the children of the first group recited the third line2 the scholars of the second group the fourth line2 and so on1 until all had taken part in the exercise and become impressed with its beauty and devotional tendency2 when all joined in the recitation of the last four lines4 ,spirit of ,life and ,love6 ,to thee our souls we bring1 ,and lay them on ,thy ,fount of ,truth1 ,our purest offering4 ,spirit of endless ,peace6 ,who worketh all things well1 ,to ,thee our soul's divinest praise ,in songs of gladness swell4 ,god of the wise and good6 ,who rules by perfect law1 ,thy vast creations show thy power ,without a single flaw4 ,the storms and tempests sweep ,impurities away1 ,and after darkness brightly shines ,the golden light of day4 ,the green fruit and the sour ,are but unripened good1 ,and every crude1 imperfect life1 ,when rightly understood1 ,will teach the human soul ,progression's deathless power ,to beautify the living form ,with perfect fruit and flower4 ,father6 we bring to ,thee ,all that our souls contain ,of love and reverence and joy1 ,without one touch of pain2 ,and1 oh1 we ask of ,thee ,thy blessing evermore1 ,that we may walk still close to ,thee-- ,thou whom our souls adore4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,how ,,spirits ,,work4 ,the work of the spirit is true labor2 it may not be labor of the hands1 but it is of the heart2 it is the impelling of spiritual force outward from within1 directing that force in certain channels1 or against special obstacles1 in order to accomplish a purpose4 ,spirit work is always for the attainment of some definite end or object1 never for the whiling away of an idle hour1 or the performance of some task that is to delight for a brief1 fleeting moment4 ,let me give you an illustration of how spirits work2 but this instance is by no means an example of all the methods that spirits take to accomplish their labors4 ,oh1 no2 these methods are varied1 even as individuals vary in their natures and constitutions4 ,a ,,spirit ,,mother ,,reforms ,,her ,,wayward ,,son4 ,in a certain city of this fair land dwells an individual who is at our present writing universally respected and beloved by all who know him2 but such was not always the case4 ,twenty years ago this individual was a young man given to dissipation in its various forms2 his mother1 then in the body1 wept and besought him in vain to abandon his evil course1 and turn to a better life4 ,finally1 the mother entered spirit life1 and for a time that young man plunged into the wildest of dissipations4 ,in the meantime1 the mother1 awakened in the spirit world1 found that she could return to the side of her son1 and to a certain extent exert an influence upon him4 ,she began to follow him wherever he went1 steadily bending her will-power upon his mind4 ,into places of low and evil resort went that spirit mother with her erring son2 scenes that made her soul grow sick within her met her pure vision4 ,yet she faltered not2 her work lay before her1 and accomplish it she would1 whatsoever obstacles might interpose4 ,it would make an interesting volume to describe the experiences and incidents that befell the spirit4 ,for a time the case seemed hopeless1 but still the spirit despaired not4 ,occasionally thoughts of his mother's teachings1 and remembrances of her devotion and love for him1 would flit across the mind of the dissolute youth1 and for the moment his heart would seem to melt2 but the force of habit and association had such a hold upon him that these brief moments of remorse would pass away and seem to leave no trace4 ,but all such experiences do leave their impress upon the spirit for good1 and in this instance they afforded means of encouragement and power to the angel mother1 whose mission was to accomplish the reformation of the immortal soul of a well-loved son4 ,three1 five1 eight years passed2 the youth1 now grown to manhood's estate1 but in all appearance a perfect wreck of humanity1 drifted away from the home of his boyhood among strangers1 homeless and alone4 ,of course he fell among evil associates1 but still memories of long ago1 and occasionally remorseful thoughts of his own impure life1 continued to haunt him4 ,still the spirit mother exerted her influence upon him1 and it finally became manifest in a singular manner4 ,groping through the city streets one dark night1 he stumbled and fell1 striking his head upon the pavement1 which caused him to lose consciousness for a few moments2 when he beheld the face of that mother gazing upon him with sorrowful eyes4 ,he started up1 confused and alarmed2 but the ringing pain in his head refused to leave1 and he seated himself upon the curb-stone1 holding his bowed head in his hands4 ,all at once a scene opened before him3 he saw his boyhood's home1 and his mother standing in the door to meet him as he came from school2 he heard her gentle1 earnest words3 8,my son1 whatever you do in life1 seek to keep a pure heart and a clean hand40 ,that was all4 ,then a calmness fell upon his spirit1 as though the peace of heaven had descended there4 ,he felt an angel's touch upon his aching head1 and tears of anguish fell from his tired eyes4 ,in this condition he was found and taken to a hospital1 where his wounds were dressed1 and he was cared for until he recovered from the blow he had received4 ,in the meantime the spirit mother1 who had followed her son1 succeeded in influencing one of the physicians in charge of the hospital1 in her son's favor2 so much so1 that he offered to obtain manual employment for him if he would work1 which offer was accepted4 ,i cannot go into details2 suffice it to say that the hitherto wretched man seemed to have changed his nature completely2 and why8 ,because the mother's influence had gained the ascendency over him4 ,he worked early and late1 at first at rough toil1 afterward at more congenial labor4 ,time passed2 he became respectable and manly in appearance2 he shunned the haunts of evil and followed the good4 ,finally1 he succeeded in gaining a competence2 until now he is beloved and honored by all4 ,and what do you think his present work is8 ,he is the superintendent and guide of a mission for the suppression of crime and the development of good in the street urchins and unfortunate youth of the city4 ,for ten weary years a spirit mother watched and toiled1 but at length she was rewarded1 for her son was saved1 not only to bless himself and her1 but also to bless and strengthen many others4 ,thus one mother toiled and watched and hoped1 for many years1 for the reformation and uplifting of a child4 ,this is one way in which spirits work1 but not the only one which they have of accomplishing their purpose4 ,let me relate an instance of spirit work of another kind1 and in a different direction from that spoken of above1 which will reveal to you how possible it is for your ascended friends to assist you in material ways even though you know it not3 ,a ,,spirit ,,mother ,,relieves ,,an ,,impoverished ,,daughter4 ,a widow1 who resided in a neat little cottage with her only child1 a young girl of sixteen years1 maintained herself and daughter by the preparation of certain kinds of fancy work1 in the making of which she was highly skilled1 and which1 being in great demand1 yielded her an income sufficient to provide a comfortable living for both4 ,this woman was a good1 careful1 tender mother1 and her daughter was reared to respect herself1 her fellows1 and her ,god4 ,but she made one mistake2 loving her child as she did1 she argued that she could not put her to hard or tedious labor1 and1 therefore1 she left her to her own pleasure1 in place of teaching her some good and profitable employment4 ,when the girl was between the years of sixteen and seventeen1 the mother suddenly sickened and died1 leaving her child without the means of support4 ,for a few weeks after this calamity1 the orphan existed as best she could4 ,being obliged to give up the pretty cottage home1 she disposed of a portion of its furniture1 and taking an upper room in a lodging-house1 furnished it with the remainder in a comfortable manner4 ,as long as the money realized from the sale of her mother's effects lasted1 our young friend managed very nicely1 in spite of the terrible gloom and loneliness that had settled over her spirit2 but in a little time this was exhausted1 and want stared her in the face4 ,in the meantime1 the spirit mother1 becoming painfully alive to the condition of her mourning child1 sorrowed that she had not given her the means of earning a livelihood1 and grew restlessly anxious to care for and assist that lonely one4 ,she could not remain in the spirit world with her dear companions1 but constantly returned to her child1 who lived alone and friendless on the earth1 seeking ever to influence and guide her aright4 ,finally1 as pressing want necessitated the immediate trial of some work1 the young girl--in a state bordering upon desperation--decided to attempt to perform a piece of the work which her mother had been wont to do so skillfully and well1 whose busy fingers she had watched so many times4 ,materials being at hand1 she collected them together and began her unaccustomed task4 ,never before had she attempted anything of the kind1 and at first she was excited and nervous2 but as the fingers flew over the delicate1 fairy-like work1 she grew more composed and hopeful1 until1 when her task was finished1 she held it up to the light in an ecstasy of admiration1 exclaiming in triumph3 8,why1 it looks almost as good as mother's used to40 ,again and again did she attempt a piece1 and each time her success grew more sure and certain1 until1 when the curtains of evening fell1 quite a little pile of delicately finished work lay before her shining though weary eyes4 ,on the following morning1 our friend1 after consuming a hasty meal of crackers and water1 carried the work she had finished to one of the former patrons of her mother1 who examined1 bought1 and paid for it1 furnishing materials for more of the same kind4 ,the girl hastened home to resume her work1 and again transpired that strange scene of an inexperienced1 unskilled child performing work which required dexterity and practice1 without making a single mistake2 and so on1 from day to day1 week to week1 until she was no longer inexperienced1 but had become skilled in her task1 and was enabled to take advantage of it1 and thus gain more time for recreation for herself4 ,what was the solution of this--to the girl--seeming mystery8 ,why1 merely that the spirit mother1 drawn to her child day by day through the intensity of her love and anxiety1 impressed that child to attempt the work1 and guided her in the performance of it1 not by unconsciously entrancing her and doing the labor--in which case she would not be teaching the daughter--but by impressing her how to proceed1 guiding her fingers1 and directing the work1 until at length the daughter needed no teacher1 for she had become an adept in the art of labor4 ,and yet another good than the power of earning her own living was received by the maiden2 in close communion with her spirit mother1 though she knew it not1 she began to lose the sensation of loneliness and gloom1 and gradually grew peaceful and calmly happy4 ,thus was a double good wrought by that spirit mother1 whose anxiety for her child's happiness first led her to make the mistake of rearing her in ignorance of manual labor1 and afterward caused her to project her influence from the spirit sphere upon that child1 thus becoming a teacher1 in order to rectify the mistakes of the past4 ,to those interested in this narrative ,i will say the young girl soon made friends and companions1 and she is now living a loving1 happy1 useful wife and mother4 ,every spirit who cares more for others than for self--and all spirits will do so in time--has a work of some kind to perform1 a work of uplifting1 benefiting1 and blessing one or more individuals--spirits or mortals2 and he or she will pause not in despair in this labor of love until it is accomplished1 and then at its completion the spirit will not lay down its power of work and say3 8,i have accomplished my labor2 ,i will now rest20 but1 instead1 passes on with a smile to new departments and new scenes of labor4 ,,parents ,,suddenly ,,bereaved4 ,a young and beautiful girl1 the pet and pride of fond1 indulgent parents1 the joy of the household and its only flower1 just passing into the budding stage of womanhood1 met with an accident4 ,she was out riding with a friend1 when the coachman1 who was partially intoxicated1 lost control of the spirited animal he was driving1 and it dashed along the road at headlong speed until brought to a sudden check by rushing against a great rock by the roadside4 ,the carriage was overturned2 one of its occupants escaped with but few injuries1 as she fell upon her companion2 but the other1 the young girl of whom ,i write1 was taken up senseless and conveyed to her home1 where a medical examination revealed that a fatal injury had been inflicted upon the spine4 ,for nearly three weeks the young lady lingered1 enduring the most excruciating agony of body1 unable to move1 while nothing but the administration of ansthetics would give her a moment's ease from pain4 ,at length her exhausted spirit took its flight from the poor broken body1 and she was at rest4 ,the parents of this child1 whom ,i shall call ,estelle1 were in affluent circumstances1 cultivated and refined people2 the father1 however1 did not believe in a future life1 and his grief at the suffering and death of his only child was almost uncontrollable2 the mother1 a beautiful little brown-eyed woman1 was a member of a ,christian church1 and while she sorrowed in anguish over the bereavement she had sustained1 yet felt as one who has something to look forward to2 for she hoped to meet her treasure again in another world4 ,estelle1 who had passed from earthly life and suffering1 had been lovingly welcomed1 and tenderly cared for by gentle ministering spirits1 who bore her to a bright home1 where immortal flowers bloomed1 and where everything spoke only of beauty and of joy4 ,the sweet spirit was delighted with all she beheld1 and for a brief time seemed to bask in the glory of her new surroundings4 ,,the ,,father',s ,,grief ,,affects ,,the ,,spirit4 ,but soon those around her observed that she ceased to take an interest in them and their work2 her thoughts constantly turned backward to earth and the home of her parents4 ,shades of sadness lurked in her lovely eyes and clouded her pure face4 ,soon the cause became apparent2 her father was drifting away from her spirit1 and she could not hold him by her love4 ,her mother's spirit she could meet and soothe and cheer1 and so leave a quiet blessing of holy peace with her1 that upheld while it strengthened2 but the father's spirit was so beclouded and tossed that the spirit child could not find comfort by his side4 ,and no wonder2 for as the weeks flew by1 the father became still more restless and unhappy4 ,said he to a clergyman who came to condole with him3 8,sir1 it is of no use2 ,i cannot believe in your religion4 ,i can find no hope for a future life in its teachings1 no assurance that there is a divine ,creator4 ,why1 sir1 did ,i believe in the existence of a ,god who permitted that terrible suffering and horrible death to visit my beautiful1 innocent child1 who never wronged a human being1 or did an unkind thing in her life1 ,i would curse him as a fiend1 unfit for human companionship1 much less for worship40 ,such talk as this1 engendered by morbid1 bitter feelings1 distressed his gentle wife and tortured the spirit daughter2 but what could be done8 ,the man seemed to be fast drifting toward hopeless insanity1 and there was no one to give him succor and relief4 ,his friends offered him as consolation words of religious sympathy and exhortation2 but these only served to madden him the more2 while his poor wife could only clasp her hands and kneel in prayer to ,him who knoweth the needs of each one1 and responds to them as he thinketh best4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,seeks ,,to ,,make ,,her ,,presence ,,known4 ,the beautiful spirit ,estelle had learned that it was possible for spirits to return to mortals1 manifesting their intelligence and demonstrating their identity to their earthly friends2 and feeling that nothing but a complete and perfect recognition of her presence would convince her father of her continued existence1 and so restore the equipoise of his wavering senses1 she set herself to work to prove to him the immortality of the soul4 ,but how was she to begin operations8 ,her parents never mingled with ,spiritualists1 would not listen to a word in their favor2 they were not mediumistic themselves1 and their home did not afford suitable conditions for spiritual manifestations of any kind4 ,what was to be done8 ,our friend ,estelle visited medium after medium1 seeking to influence them to address her parents2 she attended circle after circle1 in order to gain experience in spiritual control2 she devoted her time to this work1 and the months rolled on1 bringing no satisfaction with them1 only increased sorrow and gloom to the earthly home1 and sadness to the waiting1 watching spirit1 who could only exert just influence enough over her paternal parent to prevent him from becoming insane outright4 ,at length1 through the agency of a kindly spirit1 ,estelle came in contact with a poor and humble working-woman of about twenty-two years of age1 and after a few experiments found herself able to sway the thoughts and control the actions of this person as she desired4 ,one morning1 this woman awoke with a strange feeling of depression2 the thought of going to work in the great mill where she was accustomed to labor seemed more than ever distasteful1 while the idea of taking a holiday for herself appeared very alluring to her4 ,after an early breakfast1 dressed in her ,sabbath clothes1 she emerged from her boarding-house1 but1 in place of turning toward the mill1 walked in the opposite direction toward the heart of the town1 and wandered hither and thither1 scarce knowing for what4 ,,the ,,recognition ,,and ,,its ,,results4 ,it was nearly noon of the same day1 when ,estelle's mother hastily entered her husband's library and requested him to come out into the garden1 for a strange person had been found within the gate who was acting in a very unaccountable manner4 ,the husband passed out into the garden followed by his wife1 and found our mill-hand seated by the side of a rose-vine1 which had been a favorite of his daughter4 ,her eyes were closed1 and her hands lay folded in her lap1 but at the approach of the pair she stretched them out and said3 8,oh1 father1 father1 don't you know me8 ,i am your little ,estelle1 whom you thought had left you2 ,i have not died2 ,i am here with you1 to bring to you and darling mother my love4 ,don't you know how you used to call me #8pet1' and #8chickie1' and your #8blue-eyed belle8' ,oh1 father1 ,i am so glad to come to you1 and tell you what a happy home is awaiting you and mother with me40 ,the man and woman were astounded2 they knew not what to say2 they had heard of ,spiritualism1 but had never attempted an investigation of it1 and1 therefore1 did not understand what to do with this strange being4 ,however1 she continued to speak1 relating story after story of the early life of their child1 until at length the mists seemed to clear away from the father's brain1 and he accepted the joyful truth that his child was before him1 not in her own material form1 but in control of the organism of one who was a perfect stranger to all parties4 ,i cannot continue these interesting details2 suffice it to say that1 when spirit ,estelle loosened her control of the medium-stranger1 her parents were both bathed in happy1 joyful tears4 ,the father of the spirit questioned the strange woman1 who was in a perfect tumult of amazement1 incredulity1 and wonder at her surroundings and the strange story related to her4 ,her humble history was soon told1 and investigation proved its truth4 ,in a short time1 this lowly working-woman was invited to make her home with ,estelle's parents1 she to receive a liberal compensation as companion and medium for them4 ,the generous offer was accepted1 and today she is an honored inmate of that happy home1 where1 when evening's shadows fall1 ,estelle makes her daily visit1 to impart instruction and information concerning the heavenly life to her listening parents1 and to shower their hearts with loving benedictions1 which purify and bless their souls4 ,no longer is the mother sad and despairing2 no longer is the father bitter and misanthropical2 peace and joy have become inmates of their household4 ,no longer is the humble medium friendless and alone2 a beautiful home and friendly1 loving attention are hers4 ,no longer does ,estelle sorrow and repine2 but she returns from the spiritual world day by day to accomplish her work of guiding her dear ones home to the better land4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,an ,,echo ,,from ,,the ,,summer-,,land4 ,the ,summer-land is so near to this mundane sphere of yours1 my friends1 that ,i am often led to question why it is you cannot often hear the sounds of its busy1 active life4 ,but ,i know that the din and bustle1 the cares1 turmoils1 and perplexities of mortal existence have dulled your hearing1 and sealed your senses to the beautiful1 internal1 ever-new life and activities of the spiritual universe1 and that only in a few instances can you sense the presence and power of invisible1 potent beings4 ,but ,i have to record one instance of perception of spiritual things1 that ,i may term an echo from the ,summer-land2 an echo that brought music1 heart-ease and peace to two weary1 suffering human hearts1 yet encased in the temple of flesh4 ,recently a rare case of suffering and devotion has come to my knowledge4 ,a woman1 young in years1 yet a mother and widow1 was struggling on in spite of want1 poverty1 and pain1 seeking to earn a subsistence for her two children1 grew weary1 faint1 and exhausted1 when her little ones were taken from her without a moment's warning1 and hurried into the spirit world by what you of earth call an accident4 ,they were together at play1 when an embankment caved in and buried them beneath its ruins4 ,the poor mother was nearly wild with grief4 ,she became ill1 and in a little time it was found that she could never see again4 ,the shock to her system1 together with previous exhaustion from over-work1 had paralyzed the optic nerve1 and she was blind4 ,upon a lower floor of the humble tenement where this poor woman lived dwelt another1 a noble soul1 one who had seen better days1 but had also been brought to a condition of extreme poverty by the hand of adversity4 ,this was a poor1 middle-aged woman1 who was employed as night-nurse at a public hospital in the city4 ,she had always presented a kindly1 friendly manner to the widow and her children1 but nothing of a special nature had been observed4 ,suddenly1 however1 as the terrible catastrophe that hurled the two children into eternity occurred1 this woman seemed to arouse to the distress of her neighbor2 and when it was found that the poor woman was ill and in need1 all the heroism of her nature was called forth4 ,she hastened to the bedside of the suffering one1 nursed and attended to her wants with rare devotion1 neglected her own comfort for the sake of her neighbor1 and finally gave up her situation at the hospital1 in order to be with her at all times her presence was required4 ,at the time of the accident1 as the situation of the poor mother became known1 a few sympathetic persons contributed certain sums of money for her relief2 but in a little while these became exhausted1 and she was again penniless2 then did the kind nurse take prompt action4 ,not content with caring for the sufferer1 she brought her down to her own more comfortable apartments1 shared her little store with her while it lasted1 and watched and tended her like a mother caring for a well-loved child4 ,but the invalid was unhappy1 aye1 wildly unhappy4 ,her children dead1 her home broken up1 herself bereft of sight1 a weak1 miserable wreck of her former self1 dependent upon the bounty of another1 and that other a poor woman1 almost a stranger1--what had she left to live for8 ,surely nothing1 she thought1 and daily she longed and prayed for death to come to her deliverance4 ,before a great while1 however1 the slender resources of our nurse had given out2 then it was that she sought and obtained a kind of cheap needle-work that she could take home1 and at the same time attend to the wants of her charge4 ,these were dark days4 ,poverty1 hunger1 and cold sometimes stared them in the face2 but still the noble woman faltered not in her labors of love1 nor ceased to speak cheeringly and encouragingly to the helpless invalid she had chosen to burden herself with4 ,,the ,,lesson ,,of ,,self-,,sacrifice4 ,let me here pause to comment upon the noble1 self-sacrificing spirit of this humble nurse4 ,impecunious herself1 she could yet find something to spare for another2 but far more than this1 she could deprive herself of the necessities of life1 and devote her time1 attention and care to one who had no claim upon her1 save as she appealed to the sympathies of a tender soul4 ,risking want and suffering for herself1 she gave up her only means of support in order to be able to care for that other1 and finally took that other into her own home1 shared with her her own little all1 depriving herself of health1 strength1 and much that makes life bearable1 to comfort and sustain her charge4 ,can human love do more than this8 ,is spirit love more tender1 more self-denying1 more beautiful8 ,the ,nazarene said3 8,as ye have done it unto one of the least of these1 ye have done it unto me20 and again1 8,greater love hath no man than this1 that he lay down his life for another40 ,but better than the sacrifice of life is the constant denial of self1 that continually blesses another at the expense of the individual4 ,oh1 ,spiritualists1 heed the lesson of this woman's work as revealed to you in these pages2 heed it well1 for by such labors is the soul brought into communion with the angels and fitted to enjoy the blessings of heavenly life4 ,there are thousands of human hearts pining for some one to love1 and for some one to love them2 would they but look around them1 and take an active1 sympathetic interest in their fellow-creatures1 they would speedily find some one to love1 and would win a soul's affection in return4 ,,days ,,of ,,darkness4 ,the days sped away1 bringing only poverty and want to the little humble home4 ,the brave woman fought nobly to keep the wolf from the door1 but with ill success4 ,the invalid still lay exhausted1 weak and sightless1 a helpless burden1 constantly pining for a release that did not come4 ,dark and dreary seemed the days before them2 friends they had none1 and their neighbors took no notice of them4 ,still the brave nurse resisted the sick woman's plea to be sent away2 well did she know that unkindness and neglect would become the portion of that suffering one1 did she heed her request1 and so she struggled on until the hour of which ,i write4 ,it would seem that human distress could go no further4 ,it had been a day of suffering untold4 ,hunger1 cold1 and darkness settled down upon that little home1 as the shades of night closed in upon a dreary ,march day4 ,the last morsel of food had disappeared1 the last stick of wood burned the day before4 ,silence fell upon the inmates of that little room1 for their anxiety and care were too great for words4 ,a sense of feeling like despair settled upon their hearts2 it seemed that the burden of life was too great to be borne4 ,,words ,,of ,,cheer ,,from ,,the ,,spirit ,,land4 ,suddenly1 through the stillness and darkness1 there came a faint1 sweet sound of children's voices2 like a far-off echo from some unseen land it fell1 swelling louder and louder1 until the tones could be distinctly heard1 and these words sung in chorus floated upon the quiet atmosphere of that little room1 made holy by the spirit of tender love and abnegation3-- 8,we come1 we come from the ,summer-land1 ,our earthly friends to greet2 ,we come a happy1 joyous band1 ,with blessings pure and sweet2 ,we bring you peace from ,heaven above1 ,where sorrows never come3 ,we call your spirits with our love ,to their eternal home40 ,a hush of holy quiet now fell upon the tortured hearts of the two women2 peace indeed entered their souls1 for in those angelic tones they recognized familiar voices1--the one1 those of her two children1 who had been so recently snatched away from her2 the other1 that of a beautiful boy who1 years before1 at the tender age of four years1 had been called home to the angels1 leaving her almost crazed with pain and grief4 ,the instance here recorded was the first echo our friends caught from the ,summer-land1--nothing more1 nothing less than that one little verse sang in the familiar tones of their departed children1 and which were recognized as those of the voices of loved ones gone before4 ,want of space compels me to be brief with my narrative4 ,i must not dwell on the long1 hard1 cold winter which these two women were called upon to endure2 ,i will only state that on the day following the blessed evening that brought such great comfort and peace to their weary hearts our good nurse succeeded in finding a little work1 which continued from time to time1 and yielded just enough income to purchase the plainest necessities of life4 ,many times did these two women feel the pangs of hunger and cold2 many times during that relentless winter did they almost despair of keeping life in the body2 but after events proved these bitter experiences to have been refining1 spiritualizing1 and unfolding to their natures4 ,for two months after the spiritual experience which ,i have recorded occurred nothing more was heard or felt of a like character2 yet the memory of that one beautiful hour lingered in the hearts of those women1 and caused them often to speak in rejoicing tones of it4 ,but at last the time came when our poor1 sightless invalid began to hear whispered words and sweet sounds2 lights of golden and azure hue flitted before her eyes1 and finally she beheld smiling faces and shining forms1--first those of her dear children and departed husband1 then others that she recognized as those of dear ones who had passed from earth life years before2 and1 at length1 strange individuals1 whom she did not know1 yet who smiled upon her1 bringing her messages of encouragement1 hope and cheer4 ,her faithful companion and friend had become obliged to leave the invalid daily for a few hours1 in order to earn the trifle which she could obtain by menial service to others1 and it was during these lonely hours that she beheld the glowing forms and listened to the spirit utterances of which ,i write4 ,many an evening then did the two women spend in happiness together--the one in relating her pleasant spiritual experiences of the day1 the other in listening eagerly to them2 and though cold and hunger sometimes nipped them severely1 yet there were no two happier beings in all that large city1 for they had spiritual meat to eat1 which others knew not of4 ,in describing some of the strange visitants who came to her1 and mentioning the words they uttered1 our invalid was delighted to find that they were recognized by her companion2 and now a double joy was theirs1 for through the unfolded medial powers of one1 both were enabled to hold sweet and loving communion with their dear ones in the spirit world4 ,,the ,,mists ,,clearing ,,away4 ,it was a clear1 cold ,sabbath day in ,march2 our friends were seated together in their humble room1 conversing on spiritual things1 when a rap upon the door of their apartment startled them1--for visitors they had none1--and in answer to the invitation 8,come in10 a lady1 clothed in heavy and costly apparel1 entered4 ,the lady proved to be the wife of a wealthy ,spiritualist4 ,she had been directed to this humble abode by the spirit of her child1 who had told her1 through a medium1 that there she would find manifold evidences of spirit existence1 and a medium of great power1 poor and unknown1 in need of assistance4 ,the events proved these statements to be true2 for hardly had the lady entered than the medium beheld a bright light shining all around1 and standing in this light were many spirits who spoke their names to her1 and whispered messages of hope1 coupled with words and sentences concerning their identity2 and a power she could not withstand impelled her to describe those spirits and to repeat their words aloud4 ,the visitor wept for joy at receiving such tokens of spirit power and presence2 she recognized the spirits1 both by their description and words1 and for a time it seemed as though heaven had descended to earth1 and was chiefly known in that almost barren home4 ,you may be sure the lady insisted on paying the poor1 blind woman liberally for her services as medium that day1 and departed promising to visit her again in a short time4 ,and not only did she keep her promise1 but sent her friends to the poor woman to receive a spiritual baptism4 ,not one went away disappointed2 all were gratified with what they received1 and paid for it with willing hearts4 ,at length the visitors became so numerous that the good nurse found herself obliged to remain at home to attend to her charge and those who came daily4 ,instead of the spiritual power lessening1 it seemed to increase1 and the medium grew strong and happy4 ,all care of the morrow passed away1 and the two friends now began to reap the harvest of their weary-watching and patient trust in ,god4 ,our good nurse found sweet compensation for all her hours of toil1 self-denial and sacrifice2 for she had not only some one to love and to love her1 but the daily companionship of angels1 and likewise the comforts that material means can furnish4 ,in a short time1 our friends were enabled to remove from their humble abode to a neat brick house in the heart of the city1 which they furnished with taste and an eye to comfort4 ,here business grew and thrived2 here the two women lived and blessed each other1 the one by providing means of existence1 as well as imparting spiritual light1 the other in tender helpfulness and care for her companion4 ,and today these two individuals reside in one of your large cities1 honored and respected by all who know them4 ,the spiritual work goes on2 the medium has never regained her sight1 but she is no longer the pale1 emaciated1 despairing being she once was4 ,angel friends have saved her from a living death1 and she delights to impart their blessing unto others4 ,she has never been obliged to advertise for business1 for she has all she can attend to2 and it is not for the wealthy alone she sits1 for many a poor soul has received spiritual bounty from her1 without money and without price2 while it is the delight of our dear old nurse1 strong and hearty in her well-doing1 to minister to the bodily comforts of those who are in needy circumstances4 ,occasionally she1 too1 listens to the sound of angel voices1 and it makes her heart rejoice2 but her grand work seems to be in caring for others4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,the ,,fortunes ,,of ,,little ,,georgie4 ,a child1 young1 fair1 and innocent1 lay dying among the pillows of a snowy couch in the upper room of a large and spacious house1--the only child of wealthy parents1 whose hearts seemed breaking under the necessity of giving their loved one up to death1--for these parents had no idea or knowledge of the spirit world1 and the power of its inhabitants to return to earth and to minister to their friends4 ,all that skill could do or love suggest had been tried for the recovery of their one ewe lamb1 but all in vain2 slowly and surely the change was stealing upon him1 and in a little while his spirit had joined the angel band4 ,out in the chilly streets1 not far from the stately mansion of which ,i have written1 another child1 as young and fair and innocent as the first1 sat shivering with cold1 and trembling with hunger4 ,what was to be his fate8 who could tell8 ,this was the offspring of poor1 respectable parents2 the father had passed to the spirit world1 the mother had earned her bread by hard labor1 until an attack of acute bronchial trouble threatened her life1 and she had been taken to the hospital for treatment1 where she still lingered1 battling with disease2 while her little boy1 uncared for and alone1 sat in the street1 or roamed about1 picking up a bit here and there as best he could1 returning at night to the humble room he had always called home1 to throw himself upon his lowly bed and weep himself to sleep4 ,you may ask1 in doubt1 8,can such things be8 ,are such things allowed in a ,christian land80 and we answer3 8,yes2 here in your boasted civilized country1 little children1 the pride and flowers of humanity1 are permitted to struggle up through poverty1 hunger1 cold1 and misery2 and then you wonder at the existence of crime1 the spread of evil40 ,,shadows ,,on ,,earthly ,,paths4 ,the child of the wealthy parents passed to the higher life1 leaving that elegant home lonely and desolate1 and those parents' hearts sad and sorrowful4 ,the mother of the little street-waif also passed on to the other world1 leaving her beloved boy homeless and destitute2 for the authorities1 finding that the woman was no more1 sent to her former home to ascertain the whereabouts of her friends4 ,the neighbors could tell the messenger nothing1 only that there was a little boy of about eight years2 but they had seen nothing of him of late4 ,of the woman they knew little2 she had been a hard-working1 decent body1 who minded her own business and did not talk much4 ,concluding--without taking the trouble to investigate the matter--that the child had been taken care of by some one who knew its mother1 the city authorities ordered the burial of her remains1 stripped her former abode of its humble possessions1 and when in the coldness and darkness of night the child crept home to his bed1 he found the door locked1 and himself unable to gain admittance4 ,and thus it happened that he wandered off1 until1 faint and weary1 he sank down upon a door-stone1 where he was found by a night-watchman and taken to the nearest station4 ,having been warmed and fed1 our little waif told his story4 ,he was then given a place to sleep1 and in the morning taken to a charitable institution for children1 and left in charge of its matron4 ,just three weeks after these events1 a wealthy farmer arriving from a ,western city visited the institution in search of a boy to accompany him home and learn to do chores on the farm4 ,our friend ,georgie was selected to accompany him2 and after giving the references required by the institution concerning his character and ability to care for the child1 the stranger departed1 taking the little one with him4 ,but arriving at his destination1 it transpired that the man of wealth had not taken the child into his own service1 but had brought him from the ,east to deliver into the hands of a neighbor of his1 a hard1 grasping1 relentless man1 who proved to be a most terrible and heartless task-master to our little boy1 whose life now became one of drudgery and abject servitude4 ,time passed2 the health of the child began to suffer severely under the severe treatment received4 ,this only served to harden his master toward him4 ,it seemed that death must soon come to his release1 when an event happened which changed the entire life of the boy1 and brought him under conditions favorable for the growth of his hitherto stunted powers1 as well as for the unfoldment of happiness within him4 ,we are not unmindful of the work of the spirit2 in this case1 the work of many spirits4 ,the poor mother who had breathed her earthly life away upon a hospital cot had joined her husband and found a sweet home in the spirit world2 but she had not forgotten her little1 homeless boy on earth1 and it was now her purpose and her mission1 aided by her companion1 to work early and late for that child's welfare4 ,with sorrowful hearts did they watch over their loved one1 with anguished feelings did they behold the misery of his daily life1 caused and promoted by the severity of his cruel master2 and it was with the greatest anxiety that they sought to guard him from evil1 and to guide his spirit in the path of right4 ,a ,,spirit ,,mother ,,leads ,,her ,,child4 ,at length1 one calm summer evening1 about eight months after the child had been taken to the ,west1 and placed in the power of his keeper1 our little boy was made happy by a sight of his dear mother4 ,it had been a day of unusual hardship--work too heavy for him to perform had been given him to do1 and when he broke down under it he had been met with blows and curses4 ,smarting under the infliction1 he had crept away to his humble room1 beneath the eaves of the old house1 and1 throwing himself upon the lowly bed1 had sobbed himself to sleep4 ,it was yet early evening1 when our little boy suddenly awoke1 to behold the well-remembered face of his mother beaming upon him1 and to hear her well-known voice saying3 8,come1 my darling1 you have remained here too long1 ,i cannot see you suffer under the power of your cruel master another day2 follow me1 and ,god will take care of you40 ,the child1 bewildered and but half awake1 not doubting but that his mother had found him1 and had come to take him away--for he had never realized that she was dead--arose from his low couch and softly followed the spirit form as it glided from the room and down the stairs1 out into the cool1 sweet dusk of a summer evening4 ,in the glimmering twilight he stumbled on1 still following that form which he believed to be his mother's1 yet half-awed and somewhat frightened that it did not speak1 but only seemed to glide along as though barely touching the ground over which it passed4 ,by-and-bye1 the wandering child heard the noise and bustle of a large city1 not yet settled into the quietude of night1 but he lost sight of the form which had led him such a long distance1 and realized that he was alone4 ,what a situation for a child of nine years to be in1 alone in all the world1 homeless and friendless1 a waif upon the wide sea of humanity4 ,but do you for a moment imagine that the good spirits had deserted this little one8 ,ah1 no6 ,hopeless1 helpless1 and alone1 the child sank down by the roadside2 the night was warm1 the stars gleamed above his head2 he was footsore1 tired and lame1 from his long and wearisome journey4 ,soon he fell into a troubled slumber1 his head rolled from side to side1 and he moaned in his sleep4 ,in this condition he was found by a passing traveller1 a gentleman of business1 who was journeying to his home in the suburbs of the city1 not far away4 ,not having the heart to leave the child alone1 and knowing of no habitation near at hand1 this gentleman determined to convey him to his own home2 and as he was travelling by carriage1 this was easily accomplished4 ,upon reaching his destination1 the little boy was kindly received and tenderly cared for by ,mrs4 ,webster1 the wife of the gentleman who had found him1 and her sister-in-law1 ,mrs4 ,harris1 who1 in company with her husband1 was visiting this region from their home in the ,east4 ,the terrible hardships which little ,georgie had undergone for months1 together with the mental and physical strain of that one night's journey1 left him stranded upon a bed of sickness1 which lasted many weeks1 during which time he knew nothing of what was taking place around him2 but careful nursing and skillful treatment at length triumphed over the dangerous fever1 and the child once more awoke to life and consciousness4 ,we must now leave our little orphan in the care of the kind friends who had found him1 and return to the eastern city from which he had been taken by the western farmer4 ,our readers will remember that about the time little ,georgie wandered friendless and alone throughout the city's streets while his mother lay ill in the public hospital1 a young child1 fair and innocent1 lay dying in a sumptuously-furnished chamber of an up-town residence4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,harris were religious people2 they attended a respectable and fashionable church1 listened to the teachings of their pastor1 and believed the bible to be unqualifiedly the word of ,god4 ,but in the hour of their bereavement they found no relief1 no consolation in these things2 theirs was utter and profound sadness4 ,,visions ,,of ,,the ,,night4 ,the lady's health1 never robust1 began to fail2 she became easily wrought upon by her surroundings1 and sensitive to the slightest influence brought to bear upon her2 the nervous system was pronounced prostrated by her attending physician1 who recommended a change of scene and associations for her benefit4 ,at times1 while her mortal senses were locked in slumber1 ,mrs4 ,harris would behold the face of her little boy1 and hear his well-known tones calling to her in words of love4 ,so real did these visions seem to the lady that she could hardly believe them to be dreams1 although--as she said to her husband while relating them to him--her common-sense told her that they could be nothing else4 ,weeks passed away1 ,mrs4 ,harris dreamed on1 drawing comfort and peace from the nightly visits of her spirit child4 ,the visions became stronger and clearer2 other forms than that of her little boy were sometimes seen1 and other voices than his mingled in her ears4 ,these voices spoke to the lonely woman of the spirit world1 its joys1 its home life1 and its duties2 so vivid did they appear to her that she would remember and repeat them to her husband in her waking hours4 ,at length the lady began to declare her belief that ,god had permitted her little one to return to her in her hours of sleep1 to comfort her in her sore affliction2 and truly did she seem to grow calm and happy in mind1 even though her body became more delicate and fragile4 ,anxious for his wife's health1 and fearful lest her mind was becoming unbalanced1 ,mr4 ,harris consulted with his family physician concerning her strange condition4 ,the doctor examined the lady1 and pronounced her of sound mind2 he declared the nervous system1 however1 to be shattered1 and recommended travel as a means of restoration to health4 ,about this time1 ,mrs4 ,harris received a letter from her sister and husband living in the ,west1 urging her and ,mr4 ,harris to visit them in their far-off home4 ,after mature deliberation on the part of our friends1 it was decided to accept the cordial invitation extended by their relatives1 the ,websters2 and they accordingly prepared to leave their home for the ,west1 as soon as the spring should open and render travelling comfortable and easy4 ,,dreams ,,that ,,appeared ,,strange4 ,one morning--soon after the above decision was made--,mrs4 ,harris appeared at the breakfast table in a pre-occupied state of mind1 which her husband noticed1 and which elicited inquiry from him as to its cause4 8,i will tell you10 said the lady4 8,you remember ,mrs4 ,stevens1 the seamstress ,i used to employ to do my plain sewing8 ,well1 the last time she was here ,i noticed she labored very hard for breath1 and fearing that she had taken a violent cold1 ,i paid her her due1 and advised her to go home and attend to herself4 ,it was the time ,freddie was so very ill1 and in my anxiety for him ,i forgot all about the poor woman2 until about six weeks ago ,i sent for her to come to me1 when ,i learned for the first time of her death at the hospital1 which occurred last winter4 8,i wondered what had become of her little boy1 but supposed he had been taken care of by friends4 ,you remember what a liking our ,freddie took to the little fellow1 and how he always begged to be allowed to show him some toys and give him cake whenever his mother brought him with her4 8,well1 for the last three nights ,i have seen ,mrs4 ,stevens as plainly as ,i ever saw her in my life1 but with a look of distress on her face that she never wore in my presence4 ,last night1 our ,freddie was with her1 and ,i heard him say3 #8,oh1 mamma1 her ,georgie is in trouble1 he is not treated well1 he is unhappy1 and it makes her so too4 ,i like ,georgie1 and ,i want you to find him and make him happy1 as ,i am happy in this lovely world4' 8,there10 continued the lady1 8,i have told you my dream4 ,i promised ,freddie ,i would do what ,i could for the little ,stevens boy2 but ,i don't know where he is1 ,i am sure4 ,however1 ,i am certain ,i have had a visit from the dead1 and ,i feel that ,i must keep my promise40 ,this occurrence convinced ,mr4 ,harris that his wife's sanity depended upon his taking her away from home immediately2 and so quickly did he push his preparations for departure that the end of another week found them fairly started on their long journey4 ,we do not propose to enter into the details of the trip1 nor of their welcome to their sister's home4 ,the expectations of ,mr4 ,harris seemed about to be realized4 ,the excitement of the journey1 the change of scene and of atmospheric influences1 appeared to exert a beneficial effect upon his wife4 ,the extreme degree of lassitude1 formerly so frequent with her1 departed2 her step became firmer1 her eye clearer1 her voice more cheerful4 ,her appetite also began to improve1 her new life seemed full of interest to her1 and1 best of all1--in her husband's opinion1--no more was heard from her of nightly vision and visiting spirit4 ,it was a beautiful morning in summer1 when ,mrs4 ,harris startled her husband by exclaiming3 8,i had a visit from ,mrs4 ,stevens again last night1 who said to me3 #8,remember your promise2 my child is in trouble2 he will be brought to you ere twenty-four hours have gone over your head2 ,i trust you to take care of him4' ,and when she passed from my sight1 our ,freddie came1 looking so beautiful that ,i almost cried aloud1 so anxious was ,i to hold him in my arms1 and he said3 #8,dear mamma1 ,i come to you in this way1 for ,i love you1 and ,i want you to see how happy ,i am in the spirit world4 ,i love you and papa dearly1 but ,i don't want to come back here to live4 ,you will come to me by-and-bye2 but ,i want you to have a little boy here to love and care for1 and we will bring you ,georgie ,stevens4 ,the cruel man beats and curses him2 you and papa must love him1 and teach him of ,god and the angels2 he will be their gift to you4'0 ,the lady ceased speaking1 and the husband stood looking upon her in silence4 ,the sweetness and solemnity in her tones impressed him deeply1 yet a terrible fear that his wife had become insane filled his soul with speechless sorrow4 ,,the ,,strange ,,dreams ,,fulfilled4 ,it was the evening of the same day that ,mrs4 ,webster sat watching for her husband's return from the distant city4 ,he was late1 and anxious fears for his safety disturbed the serenity of her mind4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,harris had retired1 but not to rest2 for the minds of both were disturbed1--the one over her vision of the night before1 the other over the condition of his wife4 ,it was near the midnight hour when at length ,mr4 ,webster arrived1 bearing a burden1--the form of an unconscious child found by him on the roadside4 ,the noise and bustle of the arrival aroused ,mr4 ,harris1 who decided to investigate4 ,judge of his surprise to find his brother-in-law burdened with a waif of apparently nine years of age1--one1 too1 whose sunburned features seemed strangely familiar to him4 ,actuated by a feeling of uneasiness1 ,mrs4 ,harris wrapped a light shawl around her1 and also descended to the lower part of the house to ascertain why her brother had been detained so late4 ,no sooner had the eyes of the lady rested upon the face of the child--who had been conveyed to a bed-room and placed upon the couch1 where ,mrs4 ,webster was now attending to him--than she started forward1 exclaiming3 8,it is1 it is ,georgie ,stevens60 ,in a moment her husband was beside her1 and as he1 too1 gazed upon the form before him1 the conviction fastened upon his mind that it was no other than the little boy whom he had more than once seen in his own house1 and whom he knew to be the son of a poor yet worthy woman employed in former times by his wife as a seamstress4 ,a startled silence fell upon all in that apartment1 for each one present knew of the 8strange dreams0 that had visited ,mrs4 ,harris2 and as the stillness deepened1 a peculiar light shone above the face of the fever-tossed child1 which formed into letters1 and then words1 until the sentence3 8,god's and the ,angels' ,gift10 could be read1 and having been read slowly faded from sight4 ,when the fever abated1 and little ,georgie returned to consciousness1 he found himself cared for by loving friends1 who had accepted their charge reverently and gladly2 and when he became able to relate the story of his miserable life in the ,west1 under the persecutions of his cruel master1 the confirmation of the spirits' statements to ,mrs4 ,harris was received4 ,in a little while the child was able to travel1 and he was taken by ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,harris to their eastern home2 for these good people had determined to adopt and educate him as their son4 ,through these occurrences1 ,mr4 ,harris sought to investigate ,spiritualism1 which he did to his satisfaction1 receiving unbounded evidence of its truth4 ,his wife still continues to have 8visions0 and to hold communion with the spirits1 and her soul is happy and at rest4 ,little ,georgie1 now a youth who bids fair to make a mark in the world1 has never seen his own mother since the night he followed her spirit from the home of his tormentor2 but he delights to receive tidings of her watchful care over him from the lips of his beloved second mother1 ,mrs4 ,harris1 who often holds communion with her spirit in the silence of the midnight hour4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,lucy ,,aiken',s ,,mission4 ,in relating to you these incidents in illustration of the work of the spirit1 and its influence upon mortals1 you are not to suppose that they are fictitious1--truth is ever stranger than fiction2 and the events of daily occurrence in the lives of human beings are more marvelous1 more significant1 in their bearings toward the mission and destiny of individuals than any tale of novelist can possibly seem to be2 while1 in reality1 he who weaves his web of fiction1 filled with startling scenes and incidents1 with which to regale his readers1 finds the foundation of all that is most real1 startling and beautiful in his romance in the passing events of daily realistic life4 ,yet another instance will we relate to you of the earnestness1 depth of feeling1 intensity of power1 and persevering patience displayed by spirits in the pursuance of the work they have to perform for the benefit of mortals4 ,a terrible accident had happened in one of your large cities4 ,a factory boiler exploding had dealt destruction all around2 but by far the saddest result of the catastrophe might be seen in an upper room of a tenement house not far away4 ,a man1 once strong and active1 but now reduced to a mere skeleton1 lay breathing the hours away in misery and pain4 ,his spine had been seriously injured from the effects of the explosion1 rendering him a helpless1 hopeless invalid1 but not mercifully inflicting upon his body a fatal injury4 ,ah1 no6 ,doomed to live1 in agony and pain1 deprived of strength1 the days rolled by bringing no cheer to his soul save the blithesome presence1 at morn and evening1 of his cheery-faced young daughter1 who1 in her frail person1 alone stood between him and starvation4 ,this young girl of sixteen summers was employed in a cotton-mill1 where1 from morning till night1 she toiled for the small sum of four dollars per week1 out of which she was compelled to buy food for herself and parent1 pay the rent of their humble tenement1 and provide medicine for the invalid4 ,after this had been accomplished1 it would seem that nothing could remain for clothing1 and yet ,katy was always neatly clad in clean but coarse garments of her own manufacture4 ,time passed1 and our cheerful young friend found herself wearing out and breaking down under the burdens imposed upon her4 ,health gave way1 her strength became exhausted1 and at length a distressing cough set in1 which the dispensary doctor1 who attended her father1 declared to be the herald of incipient consumption4 ,it seemed that her work at the mill must be given up2 but if this was done1 what would become of her invalid father1 as well as of herself8 ,ah1 who could tell6 ,,unseen ,,helpers4 ,thus matters stood with those of whom we write at the commencement of our story4 ,katy still kept at her post1 in spite of pain and fatigue1 and despite the remonstrances of physician and others2 and it was found that she could accomplish as much labor1 and perform it as satisfactorily1 as the strongest and smartest hand in the place4 ,the cause of this amount of endurance on the part of a fragile girl1 whose every breath was fraught with pain1 was a mystery to all who knew her2 but not so to the angels4 ,they brought her the power1 day by day1 to accomplish her work to the satisfaction of all2 they magnetized her weary frame night after night1 thus holding the ravages of disease at bay1 even though they could not deliver her from suffering and pain4 ,the humblest of ,god's children have spirit friends and attendants1 as well as the highest and grandest2 spirits who watch over1 guide1 and direct those under their charge are with the poor and lowly as well as with the wealthy and great2 none are forsaken1 none forgotten1 all are cared for and blessed with angel ministrations4 ,in this case1 the spirit mother of ,katy brought strength and power to the girl1 aided by wise and good magnetic physicians of spirit life1 who loved to benefit the needy and soothe the suffering4 ,and the father1 upon his bed of pain1 was enabled to behold his daughter attending to his wants1 ministering to his necessities1 and caring for him in every loving way4 ,surely a sight to cause rejoicing among the angels1 who delight to behold good deeds and noble acts performed for others4 ,a ,,spirit',s ,,efforts ,,to ,,reach ,,her ,,father4 ,katy's father met with the disaster that had injured him for life at a factory1 or rather a mill1 owned by a corporation1 the president of which1 a stern1 overbearing man1 had but a few years before lost a lovely and only daughter of fourteen summers4 ,this beautiful spirit had long sought to influence her father1 in order to convince him of her continued existence1 but all in vain1 until now she had turned her attention to the needs and necessities of the lowly and suffering1 and had entered heart and soul into the work of relieving their distress4 ,for ten weeks following the accident the corporation of which we write paid the expenses of the suffering man2 but at the expiration of that time all help from that quarter ceased1 and1 as we have said1 there was no resource but ,katy's scanty earnings for the needs of the invalid and herself4 ,lucy1 the spirit daughter of the rich man at the head of the mill1 had become cognizant of these facts1 and1 being strongly attracted to ,katy1 sought in every possible way to lighten her burdens4 ,she now redoubled her efforts to reach and influence her father1 for she felt that something must be done for the relief of the young working girl and the suffering man4 ,as yet her efforts were uncrowned with success2 but still she continued them unceasingly1 for she felt that it was her mission to penetrate the crust of worldliness that had gathered around her father's spirit1 and to draw him upward toward the higher and the better life4 ,time passed4 ,in spite of all that attending spirits could do1 ,katy was surely breaking down under the wearing labor imposed upon her2 for the physical system could not withstand the strain brought to bear upon it4 ,one day she fainted at her work1 and it was a full hour before she was brought to her senses by the efforts of the frightened girls who clustered around her2 then1 weak and pallid1 she was taken home1 to be placed under the care of a physician who was in attendance upon her father4 ,this was a time of sore trial to the members of that little family2 but1 although they knew it not1 spirit helpers were working for their benefit4 ,two weeks had passed since the day that ,katy had left her work at the mill4 ,mr4 ,aiken1 the president1 was in the counting-room as the working girls filed in to receive their week's wages4 ,carefully he scrutinized each face at the little window until the last one had disappeared1 when he turned to the book-keeper and inquired for 8,morrow's girl10 whose ever-cheerful1 modest1 and smiling demeanor had often attracted his attention4 ,he was told that she had left the mill because of failing health1 and the matter was dropped for the time being4 ,but the spirits1 particularly gentle ,lucy ,aiken1 and anxious ,mrs4 ,morrow1 were determined that the obdurate heart of this dignified man of wealth should be softened1 and they were steadily working to accomplish their purpose4 ,weeks lengthened into months1 and still ,mr4 ,morrow languished upon his bed of pain1 and still ,katy drooped in her seat by the window where she sat striving to perform some needle-work which one of her mill companions had procured for her1 and which she persisted in doing1 despite the protest of the doctor whenever he came to visit his patients4 ,,the ,,last ,,penny ,,and ,,the ,,last ,,appeal4 ,many times did the work drop from the weary fingers of the sick girl1 while her frame shook with the spasmodic cough which seized upon her1 until at length this kind of work had to be laid aside1 and our young friend was obliged to remain idle altogether4 ,in a very short time1 every penny of the carefully-saved1 hard-earned little store of means was exhausted1 and cold and hunger settled upon the little household4 ,it was at this time that the dispensary physician1 ,dr4 ,jones1 determined to see ,mr4 ,aiken in behalf of his patients4 ,the doctor found ,mr4 ,aiken alone in his office1 and made his errand known at once4 ,he1 the kind physician1 related the fallen fortunes and present misery of ,mr4 ,morrow1 and his brave daughter ,katy1 to the stern-eyed man of wealth1 who listened to the recital in silence4 ,when he had concluded his story1 he said1 after waiting a moment in vain for word or comment from the millionaire3 8,and1 so1 ,mr4 ,aiken1 ,i have come to see what you can do for this man who met with the injury that has made him a hopeless1 helpless invalid while in your employ40 8,i do not see that ,i am called upon to do anything10 responded the man of means2 8the rule of the corporation is to pay all expenses of an injured employee for ten weeks after the accident4 ,this rule has been complied with in ,mr4 ,morrow's case1 ,i believe40 8,but1 ,mr4 ,aiken10 interrupted ,dr4 ,jones1 8consider the circumstances of this peculiar case1 for only a moment1 and ,i am sure your sense of justice will prompt you to do something more for this unfortunate man4 ,he was a steady1 faithful1 and conscientious workman1 always at his post1 ever discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity4 ,through no fault of his own1 an explosion occurred1 depriving this man of the use of his limbs1 and rendering him an invalid for life4 ,true1 the corporation paid his expenses for a time1 but health did not return to him1 and when that supply ceased1 his daughter1 a young girl1 nurse1 companion1 and housekeeper in one1 entered the mill1 and labored early and late until her health gave way1 and she1 too1 became an almost confirmed invalid ,i feel----0 ,,the ,,influence ,,of ,,the ,,spirit ,,begins ,,to ,,show ,,itself4 8,there1 doctor1 that will do10 interrupted the rich man1 8,i cannot listen longer1 as ,i have an engagement to meet in just five minutes4 ,here are ten dollars2 give them to ,mr4 ,morrow1 and perhaps--not positively1 mind you1 but possibly--,i may make it in my way to call upon him before many days40 ,the doctor took the money tendered him1 and retired from the presence of the great merchant with a sigh1 thinking to himself3 8,ah1 well1 it is true that #8corporations have no souls1' and it seems to me that the individuals who form these corporations have very little ones4 ,the pitiful sum he has given me will provide for the wants of my patients for a few days only1 and ,i must cast about in some other quarter for assistance4 ,i will again make application for their admittance to the hospital before the money is exhausted2 they will have to be separated1 but it cannot be avoided20 and so musing he passed on his way4 ,sweet1 gentle1 ,lucy ,aiken6 ,mild and benign spirit1 working for a father's enlightenment1 striving to elevate the soul of a beloved parent above the selfishness of worldly interests and personal grandeur6 ,she had no thought of allowing the matter to rest here1 and she lingered by the side of that parent1 filling his mind with thoughts of the suffering and destitute family whose circumstances had been so eloquently presented to him that day by his visitor1 ,dr4 ,jones1 and causing him to turn in spirit toward that humble home many times1 until at last1 8to get rid of the thing10 he murmured1 ,mr4 ,aiken ordered his carriage and was driven down to the humble neighborhood of ,morrow's tenement4 ,the injured man lay stretched upon his couch in a passing paroxysm of pain as the merchant entered4 ,by his side1 leaning back in an easy chair1 sat his daughter ,katy1 so pale1 wasted and wan in appearance that she seemed more like a wraith that would vanish away at a touch than a human being4 ,mr4 ,aiken was startled at the sight that met his gaze1--the suffering inmates1 the extreme destitution1 yet cleanly surroundings of that humble home1 spoke more eloquently to this man rolling in wealth1 and wrapped up in self-sufficiency1 than a hundred sermons on the poor could have done2 and1 strange to relate1 while questioning the pallid girl concerning her own and her father's condition1 his lower lip actually trembled with emotion4 ,,the ,,spirit ,,daughter',s ,,presence4 ,ah1 this was a place where spirits could gather and perform their work1 and ,lucy ,aiken came so near to ,katy ,morrow at this time that her presence quite overshadowed the features of the invalid1 and reflected its expression and influence upon them1 causing the face of the mortal girl to assume a striking likeness to the well-remembered features of the spirit1 the loved and loving daughter of ,mr4 ,aiken4 ,it was this sight that thrilled the visitor with emotion1 and caused his eyes to grow dim with unshed tears4 ,at that interview with the invalids--,mr4 ,morrow and his daughter ,kate--the proud heart of ,mr4 ,aiken became softened as it had never been before2 the time1 place and circumstances exerted a strange influence upon him1 for which he could not account1 and he left1 promising to send assistance1 and also to come again1 which promises were faithfully kept4 ,a strong and capable female nurse was engaged to attend the sufferers1 and arrangements were made with the proprietors of various stores to supply the family with whatever they required1 without stint or question4 ,mr4 ,aiken found himself unable to remain long away from that humble abode2 again and again was he to be seen in the home of ,mr4 ,morrow1 questioning the suffering man concerning his malady1 conversing with the invalid daughter in relation to her ailments1 or speaking words of cheer to both4 ,at each visit the likeness between ,katy ,morrow and the long-lost darling of his heart grew upon him4 ,ah1 little did he know that it was the presence of his angel child that caused the marvelous likeness1 and that at every visit of her father the spirit gained power to come closer and closer to him2 or1 indeed1 that it was herself1 dear ,lucy ,aiken1 who filled her parent's mind day after day with the desire to visit these humble but worthy people4 ,,happy ,,results ,,of ,,spirit ,,efforts4 ,in a little while1 under the generous treatment and kindly care bestowed upon them1 both invalids began to show signs of improvement in their condition1 and soon good ,dr4 ,jones--who still continued to visit them1 and who looked upon the visits and assistance of the proud capitalist with silent but approving amazement--declared that1 with the approach of early spring1 it would be advisable to remove them to some country place where they could enjoy the fresh air and mellow sunlight4 ,accordingly1 ,mr4 ,aiken took it upon himself to provide such a place4 ,a few miles from the great city there is a quiet1 peaceful village1 where the flowers bloom and birds make cheerful music through all the golden summer time4 ,it is a lovely spot1 where ,nature dons her fairest1 freshest robes in which to charm the eye and delight the senses of those weary travelers who linger there in order to gain strength and repose of mind and body4 ,in this pleasant spot1 ,mr4 ,aiken1 the man of wealth1 makes his summer home2 and it was here he determined to find a place for ,mr4 ,morrow and his daughter4 ,by this time1 ,mr4 ,aiken had enlisted the interest and sympathies of his wife in the case of the invalids1 and it was mainly through her exertions that a pretty cottage located on a quiet lane1 and partly shaded by the branches of a magnificent old elm1 was secured for their occupancy4 ,in due time our friends were removed to this pleasant retreat1 and it really seemed that the change was calculated to work a marvelous cure in the condition of both invalids1 so rapidly did they acquire strength in the genial atmosphere in which they now dwelt4 ,in a little time1 however1 it was seen that ,mr4 ,morrow's days in the form were numbered4 ,the spinal trouble from which he suffered became aggravated to an intense degree1 and all that could be done was to make his sufferings as light as possible by skillful treatment and care4 ,all that kindness could do was done4 ,mr4 ,aiken and his wife1 who had grown wonderfully attached to ,katy ,morrow1 spared no pains to make his last days peaceful and happy2 and when his mortal eyes closed upon the scenes of earthly life1 which they did in the latter part of ,august1 it was with a knowledge that kind friends and faithful hearts were ready to care for the orphan child he was to leave behind4 ,in the meantime1 ,miss ,katy was slowly but surely regaining health and strength in the glow of the new life which had come upon her4 ,skillfully nursed and attended by her physician and waiting woman1 petted back into health by the loving sympathy of ,mrs4 ,aiken and the thoughtful kindness of the merchant1 the roses began to show themselves once again on her cheeks1 her form and features became rounded out with new vigor1 until at length ,dr4 ,jones declared her to be no longer an invalid1 and said that he would now restore her name to the lists of the hearty and healthy ones of the land4 ,each day spirit ,lucy ,aiken visited ,katy ,morrow1 whom she had chosen for her medium1 and through her instrumentality was enabled to come into spiritual communion with her beloved parents1 although as yet they had no thought of such a thing4 ,already had the sweet spirit performed a wonderful work4 ,by the influence she exerted upon her father1 she had strengthened his higher nature and given it power to rise above the slough of worldliness1 self-interest and cold indifference to others1 in which it had been long submerged1 and had so sweetened and mellowed his spirit1 and caused it to blossom out in deeds of kindness and even loveliness1 that ,katy ,morrow expressed herself1 in contrite tones1 to her friend ,dr4 ,jones1 for 8ever daring to think of dear1 kind ,mr4 ,aiken as unkind and hard-hearted40 ,as for the good physician1 he was all wonder and amazement at the unaccountable change which had been wrought in the disposition of the wealthy merchant2 but he took good care not to express his opinion before others1 for he felt that here was something he could not understand4 ,nor was this the only labor accomplished by the sweet spirit4 ,hitherto1 ,mrs4 ,aiken had been a restless1 nervous1 easily-excited creature1--one who often declared nobody understood her since her dear ,lucy died1 and who had many times made her husband unhappy and uncomfortable by her forlorn repinings4 ,but since she had come into communication with ,kate ,morrow and her invalid father1 and had witnessed their patient endurance and fortitude under suffering1 as well as felt the influence exerted upon her being by the spirits gathered in their humble home1 this unhappy lady seemed to be a new creature4 ,she became calm and tranquil1 and in her care and solicitude for others forgot to remember self or to complain of her many trials4 ,thus did the work of the spirit spread1 until it included these two humans in its loving embrace2 the husband and wife seemed to understand each other once more4 ,in these days they grew together1 and1 from consulting each other over the case of their humble friends1 they began to counsel with each other over home affairs1 until at last they appeared to be once again one in perfect harmony of thought and intention4 ,it had been decided that1 after the death of ,mr4 ,morrow1 his daughter ,kate should enter the home of ,mrs4 ,aiken as companion and private maid to that lady1 a decision that was agreeable to all parties1 and which filled the mind of the dying man with content when he learned of it4 ,,angel ,,visits ,,not ,,few ,,nor ,,far ,,between ,three days had passed since the death of the worn-out body1 and it had just been consigned to the bosom of mother-earth1 there to rest forever4 ,katy ,morrow and her friends1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,aiken1 were seated in their private sitting-room4 ,the girl looked pale and exhausted from the effects of the trials of the last few days4 ,mrs4 ,aiken was just thinking of advising her to retire to rest1 and was looking at her for that purpose1 when she was startled at beholding a change steal over the face of the girl4 ,at first1 the lady thought ,kate had swooned2 but in a moment she was undeceived4 ,the face became transfigured and shone with an unearthly light1 assuming the cast of features and expression of a man's countenance4 ,slowly they developed1 until they appeared plain and unmistakable4 ,it was the well-known face of ,mr4 ,morrow1 whose mortal lineaments had but a few hours before been covered up from sight4 ,the lips moved1 and ,mr4 ,aiken1 whose attention had been directed to the scene by the frightened gestures of his wife1 and who had started forward1 caught these words3 8,i come to tell you ,i am happy2 all pain is removed2 tell ,kate ,i am with her mother now2 we bring our love1 our blessing2 we will care for her2 we bless you all40 ,in a moment the scene changed2 the features of the sleeping girl resumed their natural appearance1 but for an instant only4 ,before any word could be spoken by the astonished spectators1 they beheld a sight which electrified their souls1 and--as soon as they could comprehend it--filled them with the keenest rapture3 none other than the well-remembered face of their darling ,lucy1 whom they had long mourned as lost to them1 gazed upon them with an expression of the most angelic love and peace4 ,in a little while the spirit gained power to speak to her parents1 assuring them of her presence with them from the day of her physical decease1--of her endeavors to announce herself to them1 relating scenes in the spirit world1 and speaking of her home of light there4 ,thus did she continue until the shades of doubt1 perplexity1 and incredulity faded from the father's face1 until the sensation of terror vanished from the mother's heart1 when1 with a tender caress to both parents1 she bade them adieu4 ,you can imagine the rapture and happiness which dawned upon that household at this revelation of life and love from beyond the grave4 ,words fail to express the joy they felt2 it must be experienced to be fully appreciated4 ,in a little time it became almost a daily occurrence for ,kate ,morrow to be controlled by some dear spirit from whose lips the ,aikens received many lessons of instruction and benefit4 ,their darling child was enabled to explain the past1 and her efforts to reach them4 ,not only did this bright spirit1 and ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,morrow1 come with messages of love and advice1 but other dear ones also manifested their presence1 until it seemed that the gates of heaven were indeed opened and the angels thronging through4 ,no happier home is to be found anywhere than that of the ,aikens4 ,from the experiences of the past they have learned many lessons4 ,as benefactors to the needy and suffering they are widely known1 for they delight to use their wealth for good1 under the direction of their angel friends2 while ,katie ,morrow is looked upon by all as the favored daughter of a most happy and lovable couple4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,experiences ,,in ,,spirit ,,life4 ,in my investigations into the mode and manner of living beyond earth's portals1 and in my desire to gain knowledge of spiritual things1 ,i have visited many places1 witnessed various scenes1--some strange1 others familiar1--and have interviewed a number of spirits in regard to their own experiences4 ,a portion of the information thus acquired ,i propose to transcribe for my readers4 ,i do not think that mortal--even well-educated1 well-informed ,spiritualists--realize fully that all around them spirits live1 that the very atmosphere pressing around them is peopled by human1 conscious1 individualized beings1 each intent upon his or her own work1 purpose or mission1 be it good or be it evil4 ,while this is true1 it is also true that the spirit world has its localities1 its homes distinct from your homes1 its natural scenery1 and its places of interest2 its life is as real1 and its inhabitants pass through many and varied experiences1 even as do the denizens of the mundane sphere4 ,,the ,,various ,,classes ,,of ,,spirits ,,near ,,the ,,earth4 ,in passing1 let me simply state that those beings who people the world around you1 who dwell in earthly homes and pursue a labor in connection with material life1 are not all attracted to this locality of yours by the same conditions4 ,some of these spirits are bound to physical life because of the grossness of their under-natures2 their joy is found in pursuing carnal pleasures2 they have no desire to rise above the conditions of matter4 ,a portion of the spirits abiding here are held by the selfish affection of their mortal friends who cling to them1--if only in memory1--with a passionate sorrow and despair that will not let them rise above the earthly sphere2 and for a time such spirits remain in contact with material life1 because they yet lack the power to rise above its conditions4 ,others find their work and pass a large part of their existence here1 in connection with the physical1 in doing good1 ministering to the spiritual necessities as well as laboring for the alleviation of the physical wants and sorrows of suffering humanity4 ,and so you have a world within a world right here1 and a double life pulsating1 where you only perceive the manifestations of the external2 and those of you whose aspirations are holy1 whose desire is to be of use in the world1 who strive to do right1 attract the good spirits to your side2 they come to gain magnetic strength from your lives1 which enables them to resist the friction of material conditions while pursuing their labors for others1 and at the same time they impart a blessing of peace to your souls4 ,often do you entertain unawares pure and silent guests1 who watch you with their holy eyes and read your hearts with unerring precision4 ,and those of you whose aims are all personal and selfish1 whose motives are impure and unworthy1 who do not cultivate charity and kindly feeling toward others1 attract undeveloped1 unreliable spirits to your homes2 they come depleting you of vital and spiritual strength1 thus leaving you unarmed for the battles of life4 ,sowing discord in your hearts1 their presence is a curse to all4 ,where ill-harmony1 want of sympathy and distrust abound in families1 these selfish1 malicious spirits delight to throng1 and thither they flock1 by their presence to increase the unhappiness of the home of strife1 while at the same time fostering their own disposition to live a sensuous life4 ,and so it behooves each one of earth to look well to the personal life they live1 for upon its character depends not only their own happiness but also the well-being of many others4 ,,the ,,power ,,and ,,extent ,,of ,,personal ,,influence4 ,these things of which ,i speak ,i have learned through my experiences with spirits1 and they have opened up a vast field of inquiry concerning the influence which we as individuals1 embodied1 or disembodied1 exert upon one another1--a field that is yet to be explored thoroughly by the investigating spirit of man2 and when its problems are solved1 and its questions correctly answered1 ,i believe we shall understand many mysteries which now puzzle humanity1 and comprehend more fully the conditions pressing around and upon mankind4 ,and in this way1 and from these experiences1 we will learn to so regulate our individual lives that only the best influences will emanate from them1 and only the highest results flow from their midst4 ,it has interested me to perceive the lives led by spirits in the body2 for when ,i come in close contact with a mortal1 ,i can behold the interior workings of the spirit within1 and know whether its tendency is upward or downward2 for life is continuous everywhere1 and what its environments and conditions are to the mortal1 so are they of the same kind as those to the spirit1--apart from the body1--only differing in degree1 those of the untrammeled spirit perhaps being less limited1 intolerant1 and arbitrary4 ,and so spirits begin their vital experiences in the body and work out through them into the larger freedom1 the broader realities and wider expanse1 of the immortal world4 ,these truths are suggestive of thought to the studious mind1 and teach the lesson that you1 mortals1 are ,god's children now1--his spirits at the present as much as you ever will be2 and it is your bounden duty to brighten1 unfold1 and bless your spiritual life in the body as much as it will be to do so by-and-bye1 when you leave the tenement of clay for another home 8not made with hands40 ,,beulah1 ,a ,,spirit ,,missionary ,i wish to tell you1 my friends1 of a dear1 beautiful spirit who is a missionary of joy and peace1 a true ministering angel to many a sad and weary soul1--one whom ,i shall call ,beulah in speaking of her to you1 for she is really a beautiful1 blessed being4 ,this spirit lived in the mortal form to an advanced age1 but long since passed to the spirit world1 after an earthly life of varied experience1--one flecked here and there with sunbeams1 but also one that was thickly sown with tears2 for trouble1 privation1 and sorrow were often her portion4 ,to look upon this sainted being now1--her whole form illuminated with the interior light of a pure soul1 her features1 no longer care--worn and bearing the impress of weakness and age1 but beaming with the bloom of vigor and strength1 and showing only the traces of matured experience and thought1 radiant with benevolence and kindliness1--with the glance of a casual observer you would have no idea that this woman had suffered as few are called upon to suffer1 even in this mundane sphere2 and only the watchful1 experienced eye would detect the signet of firm endurance and quiet patience resting upon that noble countenance1 and realize that that signet had been won through sufferance of sorrow1 deep and stern4 ,yet so it was2 and it is this calm1 sweet1 even holy expression1 such as you might imagine martyrs wearing1 which imparts a loftiness of character to the features of this truly spiritual being4 ,with the early life of ,beulah we have nothing to do2 it is only of her spiritual experience and work that we wish to speak4 ,when this woman entered the spirit land1 laying down the casket of flesh with its weakness and weariness1 she did not find herself an exhausted being1 one lacking the vital force of activity1 the fire of energy or the potency of will2 for through all the struggles of her mortal career she never lost faith in the power and the goodness of ,god to evolve light from darkness1 strength from weakness1 and knowledge and wisdom from the bitter trials of existence ,she never faltered or fell fainting by the way1 but rather bravely struggled on in spite of disaster and care4 ,therefore1 hers was a brave1 strong spirit1 one that gathered power from the storms of adversity1 sweetness from affliction1 and knowledge from the lessons of life2 and when she had thrown off the useless body of clay1 she found her inner powers springing up renewed and quickened1 and ready to out-work themselves in useful labor for humanity4 ,it was my good fortune to become associated with this dear woman1--indeed1 she was one of the first to bring me strength and cheer in my new-found spirit home2 for she is one of my kin1 and when my heart grew faint within me for the old earthly life with parents and mortal friends1 as it sometimes would1 it was her words1 her tender1 brave1 hopeful ministrations that revived my drooping spirits1 and led me to learn something of the helpful1 active1 benevolent labor of her life in the spheres4 ,no tale of sorrow is ever poured into her ear without meeting with a responsive flood of sympathy and cheer that lightens the weary soul of its burden forthwith4 ,let ,beulah become aware of any soul in distress1 and she is constantly learning of such1 and she is ready to seek that suffering one2 and by the influence her presence imparts1 she succeeds in uplifting1 strengthening1 and benefiting him or her4 ,,beulah',s ,,self-,,sacrificing ,,beneficence4 ,i have watched carefully the work of this remarkable woman1 and have never known her to fail in imparting relief to any suffering one whom she sought to assist2 her indomitable1 yet tender1 loving spirit seems to know no such word as failure or defeat4 ,she wills to succeed in her work1 her whole soul is engaged in it2 with her it is truly a labor of love2 her own past experience has surcharged her heart with sympathy and affection for mankind2 she despises no one1 not even the vilest sinner2 she would not hesitate to go down into the depths of the darkest1 most offensive conditions to rescue a human being1 even though her pure hands and her beautiful garments were grievously besmirched thereby2 and she would succeed in her efforts for that human being's redemption1 for her unflinching bravery1 her untiring patience and unwavering gentleness1 would cause her to won the victory over all foes4 ,you can perhaps gain an idea from what ,i tell you of ,beulah of the usefulness1 nobility1 and grandeur of such lives as hers2 and just such lives are attained by all spirits who are firm1 enduring1 patient1 and unselfish4 ,those who grow strong through suffering1 even as the oak tree gains strength and vigor because of the blasts that shake its sturdy frame2 those whose spirits are mellowed1 sweetened1 and ripened1 despite the calamities that befall them in their journey through matter1 eventually become just such beautiful ministers of love and light1 of joy and gladness1 as this woman of whom ,i write today4 ,i have known ,beulah to leave her bright1 happy home in the supernal realm and immure herself in some dark1 unsightly1 and miserable place where a human being groveled in the haunts of wickedness1 sorrow1 or despair1 in order to bring the magnetic rays of light from her own pure presence and the soothing1 cheering influence of her beautiful sphere1 to bear upon that unhappy spirit for its own advancement2 and ,i have known her to absent herself from her nearest friends for months1 during which time she was engaged in ministering to the wretched and sad1 walking by their side1 dwelling in their midst1 never withdrawing her helpful influence from them until she had succeeded in elevating their spirits above the gross desires of carnal life1 or awakening within them emotions of peace and hope where before only despair and woe had reigned4 ,oh1 this one blessed spirit has accomplished great good in her own humble manner4 ,because of her ministrations alone1 hundreds of souls now blossom out in gladness and beauty1 which before were shadowed by desolation and the keenest pain4 ,,reformation ,,of ,,spirits ,,in ,,the ,,lower ,,spheres4 ,it is true that hundreds of evil-minded1 ignorant1 crude1 and unfolded spirits pass out of the body annually1 and it is also true that most of these unfortunate ones remain for a long time in the darkened condition which the effects of their earthly career have surrounded them with2 but while this is so1 it is sweet to know and realize that good and noble souls1 enlightened and developed spirits1 are making grand and unwearying efforts to elevate1 strengthen1 and educate those who come to the eternal world bowed down by moral weakness and spiritual infirmity4 ,these endeavors for the sake of others1 are not without avail1--on the contrary they are grandly successful2 and while we are constantly receiving new arrivals of such poor unfortunates in the spirit world who are in need of the ministrations of pure and good teachers and helpers1 we are as continuously finding other heretofore ill-disposed spirits arousing to the requirements of their being1 to the necessity of making an effort to rise above the darkness and slough of evil conditions1 and to a desire for a holier and a better life2 and ,i am glad to be able to report to you this grand truth4 ,daily are the angels of goodness called upon to rejoice over many sinners who1 repenting of their wrong-doing1 are determined to become worthy members of humanity4 ,therefore1 though largely peopled with undeveloped1 unholy human beings1 even the lowest spheres of the spiritual world are spheres of advancement1 wherein are provided facilities and opportunities1 i4e41 conditions for the growth of their inhabitants1 which conditions are seized upon as soon as the torpid minds centered there became sufficiently aroused under the stimulating1 supporting light brought to bear upon them by unselfish ministers of helpful goodness1 to become aware of their true position and the degradation of a human soul which it implies4 ,,illustrative ,,instance ,,of ,,the ,,reformation ,,of ,a ,,spirit4 ,some time since--years ago1 as mortals measure time--an individual came to the spirit world who presented a most deplorable and pitiable condition4 ,he had been one of those unfortunates who are reared in iniquity2 it would seem almost as though the doctrine of total depravity was demonstrated in his case4 ,his soul was stained with crime in its various degrees1 and at length his earthly career terminated upon the gallows1 in expiation of the life of a little innocent child he had ruthlessly destroyed4 ,it would be impossible for me to describe to you the tortures of misery through which this spirit has passed1 such suffering ,i can only faintly conceive of2 it must undoubtedly be experienced to be understood4 ,but this ,i am assured of3 the torments of a lake of literal fire and brimstone would be pleasant compared to this4 ,at first he seemed plunged in an abyss of apathy1 of squalid and stupid helplessness1 from which he would occasionally arouse only to curse humanity1 and send out a revengeful1 diabolical influence which1 from the intensity of its power1 as directed by the positive will of this evil-minded man against those who had accused him of wrong-doing and condemned him to his present condition1 sped like a ball of flame bearing destruction in its heart to the peace of mind1 happiness1 and prosperity of more than one who had testified against him4 ,it became the mission of ,beulah to operate upon the mind of this terrible creature1 and she set about the task without flinching4 ,for a long time he seemed impervious to her ministrations1 insensible of her presence and influence3 but she did not falter nor grow weary with her work4 ,finally the magnetism of her presence began to be felt1 and to arouse him from his terrible condition2 he began to perceive dimly that a bright and beautiful being was beside him4 ,this tended to frighten him1 and he struggled to get away2 but all in vain4 ,he tried to utter an oath1 but found himself powerless to do so4 ,there was an influence upon him which he could not understand2 a light seemed to stream in upon him from which he vainly tried to hide4 ,an illuminating light which radiated from ,beulah1 and which all pure1 exalted spirits bear1 had at last begun to penetrate the darkness of this man's soul2 all-searching in power1 it seemed to lay bare every recess of his being1 and he recoiled from the exposure4 ,he could not hide himself in darkness1 for all gloom had perished2 nothing remained but that1 to him1 terrible light which revealed to him his past life in all its deformity4 ,this was punishment of the direst kind1 and he writhed in torment4 ,in the clear light of ,beulah's magnetism he beheld the sweet face of the little one he had bodily destroyed gazing upon him with pitying1 gentle eyes4 ,the sight overpowered him1 he sought to shut it out1 but he could not do so2 still it haunted him1 and he could not escape it until it was withdrawn to give place to another1--one loving1 earnest1 kindly brooding over him like the face of an angel mother1--only1 alas6 this poor soul had no angel mother to guide it4 ,the being who had given him mortal birth still dwelt on earth a degraded1 besotted1 helpless creature4 ,the face he now beheld was the face of ,beulah4 ,the sweet1 benign expression of this face calmed and comforted the man2 he stretched out his hands to it in supplication1 and from that moment the evil in his nature was broken and subdued2 for1 dawning upon his soul came a faint realization of that life where holy ones1 such as this beautiful being1 reside1 and with it a desire1 not a hope1 not a belief1 but only a wish to be good1 entered his soul and pierced it through and through4 ,the experience through which this man passed1 which ,i have briefly and hastily sketched to you1 was one bitter and keen in intensity1 one not of moments but of years2 and all this time ,beulah had labored1 hoped and watched for the dawn of reason in his mind1 which came with the abandonment of evil thoughts and purposes1 and the adoption of that condition of mind which recognized the supremacy of goodness1 and desired to learn and know something of it4 ,,the ,,work ,,carried ,,to ,,completion4 ,but the work had now only commenced2 for if it was difficult before to cope with and over-power a mind reeking with evil thoughts and impure desires1 how distressing was it now to witness the struggles--almost hopeless as they were--of this spirit to get away from the remembrance of his past career4 ,how sad to behold him putting forth feeble efforts toward feeling kindly concerning others1 and to see him fall back despairingly1 with the thought that he could never associate with such as he6 ,how touching to witness his endeavors to cherish only pure desires and to banish evil from his mind1 even while the memory of past days haunted him with horror4 ,and yet1 every thought1 desire1 aspiration1 and effort for good which he made brought with it such a power to encourage and uphold his spirit that it became impossible for him to sink back into his former condition of degradation and iniquity2 and as time rolled on1 his struggles with self gradually grew fewer and easier1 until at length right triumphed and wrong was overcome4 ,through all this time1 ,beulah encouraged and supported him by her presence1 her magnetic power and her words of cheer2 and1 as experience after experience came to him1 his conditions brightened4 ,he was led out of the gloom1 out of the forests of unpleasant and inharmonious surroundings1 until at length no longer sandy wastes and rocky places were his home1 but fertile fields and blooming forests offered shelter and refreshment to his spirit4 ,and at last1 when her work with him was finished1 and she beheld him a soul redeemed from sin through suffering1 developed from ignorance by experience1 made even peaceful through his power and desire to assist others1 ,beulah brought to him the sweet spirit1 now grown a beautiful woman1 whom he had sent untimely into the spirit world1 to be his teacher1 helper1 and guide4 ,he could bear to look upon the sweet face now1 could humbly listen to the teachings of one so pure and good2 all wretchedness and misery which it was possible for him to experience had been passed1 and therefore he was prepared to accept the ministrations of this beautiful being in lieu of those of ,beulah1 whose duty called her elsewhere4 ,and thus1 harmony of life was restored to the broken soul2 the presence of the one he had injured only served to make him more humble in spirit1 self-sacrificing and benign1 charitable1 pitiful1 and tender to the erring and degraded wherever they were to be found4 ,beulah departed to her celestial home1 where a glad1 fond welcome awaited her2 but the soul she had blessed remained in his own spirit home1 not to grow idle or neglectful of others1 but to do unto those in need as he had been done by2 to impart strength1 courage1 and knowledge to his fellows while still continuing to advance in spiritual attainments himself4 ,you may wonder what connection the spirit brought to this man by ,beulah had with his work4 ,the child maiden was not with him all the time1 other good spirits were associated with him in his home and his work2 but whenever she felt that she could be of use to him1 this sweet spirit would come and lead him to whatever place she felt there was a lesson awaiting his spirit4 ,sometimes it would be to spots on earth where spirit help was required by suffering mortals2 sometimes to haunts in spirit life where a higher influence was required by struggling souls1 and sometimes to the homes of little children in the ,summer-land1 whose happy1 peaceful lives afforded a valuable lesson to the observing spirit4 ,from all these experiences he of whom ,i write gathered power1 strength1 and light to go on with his work4 ,,the ,,reformed ,,spirit ,,returns ,,to ,,earth ,,to ,,reform ,,others4 ,one instance of the good work accomplished by this same arisen1 reformed spirit ,i must relate to you4 ,it was after he had become strong in his manhood and powerful to resist and conquer evil4 ,he had for some time felt a desire to revisit the lower haunts of spirit life1 where he had once lived1 feeling that perhaps he might be able to help some unfortunate one as he had been aided during the past4 ,yielding to the impulse1 he found himself plunged in darkness1 but only for a moment2 for the light proceeding from his own person penetrated the gloom1 and enabled him to behold his surroundings clearly4 ,i cannot dwell upon his experiences here1 but must hasten on to tell you that the first spirit he encountered who was immersed in the darkness which a besotted1 sensual life on earth surrounds one with was his own mother1--the being who had given him a mortal birth4 ,here was work for our spirit1 indeed2 and he set about it right royally1 never faltering1 never growing disgusted or disheartened4 ,i cannot tell you of the almost infinite amount of care1 patience1 endeavor1 and affection our redeemed one exhausted on that selfish1 stupid1 and ignorant mother before he was rewarded by one answering gleam of love and the sight of one faint desire in her soul to be like him4 ,but at length he succeeded in his work1 from which he paused not until the redeeming power was fully and freely making its way through the soul of that woman1 and slowly but surely lifting her up to the level of the pure and good1--a sight over which angels and seraphs might weep with joy1--that of a once-hardened criminal1 though now a redeemed and honest man1 laboring unselfishly1 earnestly1 and constantly to elevate a wretched1 degraded1 and dishonest woman--his own mother--out of the bonds of darkness1 the haunts of sin1 a work that was finally accomplished1 and which brought gratitude1 joy1 and honor to many hearts4 ,this is no fancy sketch ,i have penned for you1 but a recital of what has actually occurred1 as related to me by an interested witness of the entire work from its beginning to its completion4 ,,first ,,sensations ,,upon ,,entering ,,spirit ,,life4 8,life6 ,hope6 ,immortality60 ,how these words thrill the spirit when it awakens from its dream of mortal existence1 and finds itself a conscious1 active1 arisen being in the natural1 tangible world of souls6 ,i have seen many new-comers to the spirit land1 and have watched with interest the various expressions of emotion sweep across their speaking faces when they discovered themselves to be not dead but alive1 and surrounded by scenes as natural as were any they ever beheld on earth4 ,some countenances sparkle with joy at the grand revealments of immortal life2 others exhibit signs of amazement or disappointment2 but all ultimately learn to wear a contented1 satisfied expression1 as though 7which is true7 they had arrived at home4 ,what is more beautiful to the tired1 sorrowing1 pain-worn spirit than the sight of a peaceful1 happy1 comfortable home waiting to give him welcome8 ,and over here in the ,summer-land are real1 true homes where love is to be found1 where peace abides1 and where a bright measure of contentment is held out to the weary and sad4 ,i have seen something of the stopping-places of crude-minded1 undeveloped spirits2 ,i have witnessed their surroundings and unpleasant conditions4 ,i have also visited the homes of the pure and good denizens of the spheres1 have beheld the beautiful emanations from their lives1 have noted their work and perceived the noble1 uplifting influence they have sent forth2 and ,i unhesitatingly declare that the good far outnumber the evil and impure1--that thousands of spirits are seeking to comfort1 soothe and bless others where tens endeavor to injure and debase their fellows4 ,thousands of spirits make the homes of the eternal world beautiful and sweet4 ,love seems to be unconfined and free in its expression 8,over ,there40 ,flowing forth spontaneously from the heart1 it reaches all kindred souls1 and enriches the lives of the giver and recipient alike4 ,how often ,i have seen a spirit doing something that will please and gratify another4 ,how frequently ,i have heard the remark3 8,i will do this because my friend will like it40 ,thoughtful for the comfort and pleasure of others1 good spirits have no opportunity1 time1 or desire for selfish purposes4 ,very often the work performed or planned is for the comfort and gratification of some dear one in the flesh1 who at the time has no idea that loved and loving angels are laboring in practical ways for their advancement4 ,,the ,,ultimate ,,reign ,,of ,,peace ,,and ,,happiness ,,on ,,earth4 ,there is1 in my opinion1 every hope for the race4 ,humanity will and must advance1 for thousands1 aye1 millions1 of ascended loved ones are laboring for the benefit of mankind4 ,when ,i travel from point to point with the rapidity of spiritual flight1 and behold everywhere ,i go--in each town1 city1 and encampment that ,i traverse--multitudes of angelic beings dwelling in homes of love1 all united and happy1 each one devoting his or her thought1 energy1 and time to the labor of devising and executing ways1 plans1 and means for the blessing and elevation of their fellow-beings1 ,i am led to rejoice in the certainty that some time1 and perhaps before many years1--for humanity is rapidly advancing in knowledge1 scientific lore1 and wisdom1--the condition of mankind will be one of happiness1 peace1 and true prosperity4 ,as the brilliant sun and the shining stars are above and far outnumber the clouds of earth's atmosphere1 so the radiant1 glowing forms and homes of bright1 exalted spirits are above and far outnumber the lower1 undeveloped beings whose habitations are crude1 dark1 and dreary2 and though the influence of those crude-minded spirits is exerted upon and felt by many of the inhabitants of earth1 even as the clouds and shadows of the skies produce their effect upon material life1 yet as the glorious light of heaven dispels all darkness and gloom1 so will the abiding influence of higher1 purer lives ultimately banish and counteract the effects of that baneful miasma that emanates from the lower spheres4 ,as coldness is turned to warmth and darkness becomes light1 under the rays of the sun1 so evil is turned to goodness and all error becomes swallowed up in divine truth1 under the inspiring influence of heavenly love1 that endureth forever4 ,therefore1 ,i feel that the future weal of humanity is assured1 and all that each one of us has to do is to follow the highest dictates of right our soul can conceive of1 and to feel that the angel world1 with its power and might1 is working for the cause of ,truth and ,justice1 and is laboring steadfastly and earnestly for the elevation of ,mankind4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,sanitariums ,,in ,,spirit ,,life4 ,i think it will be interesting to you to learn something of the sanitariums of spirit life1 where the grown people--those who while in the body were weak and struggling in spirit1 whose natures were but partially unfolded1 whose higher qualities of being were stunted or warped in growth1 and who1 through lack of opportunity1 power1 and favorable conditions generally were unable to grow in grace1 beauty1 and sweetness of spirit--gain health1 strength1 vigor1 and power4 ,those unfortunate ones who1 from whatever cause1 are unable during their sojourn on earth to put forth the purest attributes of the soul1 to become mentally strong and fearless1 to rise above the temptations of mortal life1 to resist the evil thoughts which assail them1 or who fail in any manner to grow in goodness and wisdom1 are spiritually sick1 and in need of tender and judicious treatment4 ,in the spiritual world there are sanitariums for such as these1 and when the spirit1 weak and feeble1 exhibits a desire to become strong and healthy1 and to be placed under conditions that will afford the means of growth1 unfoldment1 and of gaining power1 he or she may be conducted to one of these beautiful places1 where only life1 health1 enjoyment1 mental vigor1 and happiness can be obtained4 ,,localities ,,and ,,characteristics4 ,our places where health is sought and found are not great gloomy buildings where dozens of individuals live1 where perhaps no two of them are alike in temperament1 constitution1 and habits1 but where all must undergo the same amount and quality of discipline and treatment2 but they are large gardens1 beautifully laid out with beds of flowers1 banks of moss1 pebbly walks1 and groves of trees1 where birds sing and sparkling waters leap and play2 where the glad sunshine is felt by all1 and where life is untrammeled1 free and happy2 or in shady woods where nature invites man to partake of the quiet1 calm1 and tranquility of her forest nooks4 ,and ,i know of such bright homes of rest1 where the sparkling sea surges and beats upon shining sands1 and others that are built upon the mountain sides1 where the atmosphere is strong1 clear1 and bracing4 ,the houses are small1 light1 and airy1 furnished with deference to taste as well as utility2 they are at short distances from each other and separated by garden plots of flowers1 groves of trees1 etc41 as the particular section of country decides4 ,only one weak1 enfeebled1 diseased spirit dwells in each house at a time1 but he or she is an inmate of a home where two or more healthy1 happy1 industrious spirits reside2 these vigorous ones are the attendants and teachers of the patient1 and their presence1 care1 and example impart strength1 health1 and happiness to the one under their charge1 while at the same time he or she is learning those lessons of life of which they were deprived while on the earth1 but which are requisite to the upbuilding and outrounding of every intelligent1 progressive soul4 ,,methods ,,of ,,treatment4 ,the natural scenery of these places enters largely into the system of treatment as an active agent1 and exerts a powerful influence upon the weak and suffering spirit4 ,for instance1 the soul that is irritable1 peevish1 dissatisfied with itself1 requires a soothing1 calm1 and gentle influence4 ,she is brought to one of the great garden sanitariums1 and taken in charge by a family of tender1 sympathetic beings1 who delight to care for her4 ,the harmonious influence of her new home1 the sight of blooming flowers1 waving trees1 and rippling waters1 the sound of gentle human voices1 of singing birds1 and of the soothing1 elevating1 enchanting music which her kind attendants evoke from their melodious instruments for her1 produce a tranquilizing effect upon her entire being1 and she gradually grows restful1 contented1 and at peace1 thus bringing her highest nature into proper condition for its unfoldment in spiritual power1 and its advancement in the acquirement of knowledge4 ,fruits form the staple of her diet1 and thus removed from all that is coarse of the earth1 earthly1 crude1 and sensual1 her spirit grows in strength and beauty1 until she1 too1 becomes permeated with true vitality1 becomes perfectly healthy1 and is ready to take upon herself the duties of a teacher1 nurse1 and physician1 and to attend some poor soul that is ill4 ,another patient may require the healthful atmosphere and the partial solitude of some forest glen2 if so1 such a home1 with loving attendants1 pleasing surroundings1 and delicate nourishment is provided for her4 ,another is drooping1 easily discouraged1 cannot resist any condition that at the time presses upon him1 easily becomes a prey to the positive encroachment of temptation4 ,he is taken to a pleasant home by the sea shore1 where the sight of the great blue waves rushing in toward the land1 or flowing out to the further side1 and the sound of surging billows and singing winds1 stimulates him with new strength1 courage1 and vigorous endeavor to grow upward from an unhealthy1 darkened condition4 ,he1 too1 has spirit guardians and teachers1 whose duty it is to arouse within him that interior self-reliance that enables the soul to conquer all difficulties and to rise above all obstacles that are to be encountered4 ,in his home1 and in every home provided for the weak and suffering1 and all around them1 are to be found only the most beautiful works of nature and of art4 ,only those sights and sounds that appeal to the highest1 loftiest nature of man1 are to be seen and heard therein2 and thus conditions are afforded that enable strength1 health1 mental vigor and spiritual power to supersede and eradicate ill health1 mental paucity1 moral weakness1 and sensual proclivities4 ,,music ,,as ,a ,,means ,,of ,,recuperation4 ,the cultivation of the human voice in singing is one of the means of advancement for the spirit4 ,it is also very effective in its results in the sanitariums of spirit life1 producing a marvelous effect upon the weary and feeble ones4 ,music and singing are employed as curative agents in the treatment of diseased or enfeebled souls1 and with marked results4 ,you will find that every lover of good music and singing can at times become receptive to angelic influence4 ,it is a sacred work in the higher life to awaken this love of music in the minds of the afflicted ones2 for this once accomplished1 the higher influences can impart their magnetism to those in distress4 ,hence1 many of our greatest musicians and sweetest singers may at times be found in the home of some invalid spirit1 exercising his or her divine gifts with rare power for the especial benefit of the ailing one4 ,music1 so elevating1 cheering1 soul-inspiring in power1 lifts the spirit above the conditions that favor ill health into an atmosphere where only vigor and mental vitality abound4 ,,restoration ,,of ,,the ,,mentally ,,diseased4 ,we have homes where those spirits who were considered insane in the body may find rest1 repose1 and strength4 ,having been unable to express themselves understandingly or to manifest their desires clearly through the poor1 unbalanced brains which belonged to their earthly forms1 their spirits are weak1 feeble1 not unfolded1 and they require that treatment which will restore tone1 power1 and energy to their wasted forces4 ,and so homes1 guides1 teachers1 and every attention are provided for them4 ,flowers1 birds1 music1 and kind faces surround them4 ,they are not restricted nor confined1 but are allowed liberty1 though under the careful1 yet tender1 surveillance of their friends4 ,no medicine but sunshine and air is given them2 no unkind treatment is resorted to4 ,in the pure and genial atmosphere of their spirit homes1 and under the gentle influence of their surroundings1 they gain a perfect mental equipoise1 become strong in spirit and attain a knowledge of life in all its various grades and departments of unfoldment4 ,thus need no one of earth1 who has friends weak and suffering in body or mind1 or who are undeveloped in spiritual health1 strength1 and power1 fear that these unpleasant conditions will long continue with them after they have passed from the mortal4 ,the tendency of human life is upward and on2 the spirit world affords conditions and opportunities1 facilities and advantages1 for its growth and progress4 ,no soul can advance in wisdom and happiness that is weak and enfeebled from any cause whatever2 therefore1 the first work to be done is to remove the weakness and misery by subduing them with strength and power and friends and homes2 and all that is requisite for the upbuilding of a beautiful spirit is provided for the unhappy one4 ,no prison cells1 no hospital wards1 no massive walls where the mentally diseased languish in pain1 are to be found in the spirit world2 but as ,god's sunshine1 and air1 his flowers and singing birds1 are free to all1 they are there provided for the welfare and pleasure of any and every soul1 and have proved to be the means of restoring to life1 health1 and happiness many poor1 pain-stricken1 suffering human beings4 ,my experiences in the spirit world have taught me that all crime1 all unkindness of feeling1 all selfishness1 all misery of men1 are diseases which need to be eradicated from the human system1 and if they cannot become obliterated here1 the time will surely come in the spiritual world when they will be eliminated4 ,these unpleasant and unfortunate conditions of which ,i write are the correspondence of the physical ailments with which man is assailed1 and ,i believe the time will come when they will be recognized by mortals as diseases1 and proper measures taken to repress and overcome them4 ,,improved ,,medical ,,treatment ,,on ,,earth4 ,as all things have their origin in the spiritual1 and as ideas of practical import are given to mortals through and from the silent yet potential inspiration of the spirit1 ,i believe the time will come when individuals on earth will be impressed and imbued with ideas of medical treatment1 and the establishing of sanitariums similar to those which already exist in the beyond1 when the public mind will become exercised on the subject of the proper treatment and care of the sick and suffering of both body and spirit1 and when a new thought will be agitated concerning its duty toward the morally weak and low4 ,then your hospitals will not be huge edifices1 but small habitations with only one invalid in each1 so that no impure and unhealthy magnetism from another diseased body shall be absorbed by its occupant4 ,light1 air1 water1 music1 and flowers will take the place of drugs and powders1 and cheerful1 ready attendance be freely given4 ,so with your homes of refuge1 your places of confinement for criminals2 those now of walls of stone will give way to light and airy dwellings1 gardens of beauty will surround them2 music and flowers1 books and papers1 congenial1 active employment1 and the cheerful companionship of healthy1 kind-hearted teachers1 will supersede whip and thong1 and supply to the mental nature that bracing tone so much required1 and under your present system of discipline1 so seldom obtained1 these will awaken retrospection in the mind of the diseased1 and bring a desire for amendment1 thus beginning that radical cure which will in time be firmly established in every sin-sick soul4 ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,sanitariums ,,of ,,spirit ,,life4 ,i will tell you of a beautiful scene ,i have recently witnessed in one of the sanitariums of spirit life4 ,picture to yourselves an immense garden1 spread with a closely-cropped carpet of the freshest1 greenest1 and most velvety grass you can conceive adorned with parterres of fragrant1 bright-colored flowers4 ,the trees are tall1 stately1 and graceful1 and their foliage glistens as though sprinkled with dew2 rippling streams of water make rhythmic music pleasant to the ear4 ,the sky is cloudless1 and the sun shines mildly down upon the placid scene4 ,the atmosphere is of a peculiar golden tint that clothes every object in a mantle of beauty4 ,birds with musical throats and bright plumage flit from flower to flower undisturbed by those human beings who are walking the grounds1 or seated in various parts of the garden4 ,small1 white1 cosey-looking dwellings1 simple and neat1 are scattered here and there1 while in the center of this immense park a stately1 white temple uprears its shining dome4 ,this place is a sanitarium or home where weary women1 as well as neglected children1 from the earth sphere are brought to receive protection1 care1 and instruction from the pure mother souls who abide in this lovely spot4 ,the teachers and nurses of this glowing plane are of a truly spirituelle character2 their lives are spent in seeking to guide1 influence1 and encourage unfortunate spirits to find a higher and better life than that they have hitherto known1 and in endeavors for self-improvement4 ,here teachers and preceptors are educated and directed through a course of experience that will prepare them to guide and guard those young souls who come to the spirit world with no natural guardian or parent to care for them4 ,love is the ruling power in this community1 and no unkind1 unsympathetic thought finds its way hither4 ,,interesting ,,incident3 ,a ,,mother ,,finds ,,her ,,child4 ,but the incident which ,i propose to relate to you was so beautiful ,i feel that ,i must tell you of it now while it is fresh in my mind3 a beautiful young female spirit1 a true teacher1 a natural mother-soul1 whose entire being is illuminated with the light of benevolence and love1 had brought to her charming little cottage in the delightful garden a young child1 one who had recently passed to the higher life1 with no kind hand to close its mortal eyes or to drop tender caresses upon the marble brow1--one of the waifs of society1 cast out by mankind1 and permitted to ignobly perish from the earth4 ,this child was brought to the bright ,summer-land1 and tenderly cared for by guardian angels2 all the good within its nature was encouraged to unfold and blossom out2 all the attributes of ill1 the conditions of carnal life transmitted to it by others1 were fading for want of nourishment and attention4 ,the work of cultivating and beautifying an immortal soul1 as was this little one1 under the direction of a sweet1 self-denying1 loving spirit1 is delightful to contemplate2 but the most thrilling incident in this special instance1 and one which came under my immediate observation1 was this3-- ,one day there came to this garden of delight a poor1 sin-stained1 weary woman1--one who1 through all the misery heaped upon her by the conditions of vice and crime1 still kept the love-light for her child burning in her soul4 ,she had been an inhabitant of the spirit world three years1 but1 because of the crudities of physical conditions still clinging to her spirit1 had been held down to the earthly sphere4 ,now1 she had been found by a benevolent spirit1 and conducted to the blooming paradise of which ,i write4 ,sad1 disheartened1 despairing1 nothing could rouse her from her condition of unhappiness4 ,the tender encouragements of benevolent beings1 the beautiful objects and sweet sounds around her1 the gentle ministrations of kindly spirits1 seemed to have no effect upon her state of apathy4 ,at last it was suggested that she be taken to the grove1 where the children were busy with their innocent sports2 and accordingly the unfortunate woman was conducted to a green and shady spot where a company of little spirits1 under the care of their teachers and guides1 were engaged in pleasant pursuits4 ,the eyes of the unhappy spirit for the first time lighted up with a gleam of pleasure as they fell upon the children1 and her conductor noted the sign with a joyous heart4 ,suddenly the woman screamed1 sprang forward1 and clasped one of the little ones to her breast4 ,it was the little waif who not long since had been brought hither4 8,my child6 my child6 my darling child60 exclaimed the spirit1 as tears of joy rained down her pallid face1 8have ,i found you at last6 have ,i found you60 ,it was a scene to make angels weep1 and tears of sympathy stood in the eyes of more than one of that celestial company4 ,it transpired that the poor1 suffering woman was the mother of that little child2 that1 at the time the child had attained the age of three years1 the mother met with an accident that hurled her spirit from the body1 and from that time to the present moment she had been roaming in darkness1 seeking for the child she had lost4 ,the little one was allowed to accompany her teacher and her new-found mother to a pleasant1 quiet retreat where1 under the spell of her darling's presence1 and the kindly care of ministering attendants1 her spirit is rapidly arising above the clouds of sorrow1 degradation and woe1 and emerging into the light of happiness and peace1--is unfolding its higher powers to such a degree that we feel certain1 in a very little while1 she will herself become a helper1 teacher1 and beneficent spirit to those who travel in darkness and woe4 ,the beautiful white temple that uprears its shining dome in the center of that delightful garden of which ,i have spoken is a massive structure1 elegant in appearance1 and marvelous in construction4 ,no description of mine could do it justice2 it must be seen in order to receive all the admiration which it merits4 ,dedicated to the ,arts1 it is itself a master-piece of art1 and stands a fitting testimonial to the wonderful design and skill of the artists who planned and executed it in all its details4 ,the material of which this pile is composed is like alabaster1 snowy white1 but so nearly transparent that1 when the sun's rays strike directly upon it1 it glows with all the colors of the rainbow1 and presents a brilliant appearance4 ,delicate carvings of vines and flowers1 birds and insects1 are traced upon its corner walls1 showing evidences of the work of a master-hand4 ,within are spacious halls dedicated to the ,muses1 each of which is used as an instruction hall1 where knowledge of the particular art to which it is consecrated is imparted and received4 ,the halls of ,music1 of ,painting1 of ,sculpture1 of ,poesy1 of designing and tracing1 are to be found here1 presided over by master-artists1 who pay especial attention to their pupils1 believing that it is better to inspire or to assist in cultivating the powers of another than to create any piece of artistic work themselves4 ,,cultivation ,,of ,,inherent ,,talents4 ,to this temple are brought the children1 in order to ascertain whether or not they have any taste1 talent1 or genius for practicing any of the fine arts4 ,here1 where all is beautiful1 whether of sight or sound1 appealing alike to the harmonious instinct and the love of the beautiful within the soul1 any especial gift that the child may have in the direction of music1 poesy1 etc41 speedily shows itself1 and he or she is taken in charge by some competent teacher who bends all his or her energies in the direction of drawing out or unfolding the talents of the pupil4 ,a child who manifests a passion for music1 but takes no interest in drawing or painting1 is allowed to devote his time to the cultivation of his musical powers1 and is not required to waste energy and patience over the vain task of trying to learn the rules of perspective1 light and shade1 and coloring4 ,one who exhibits a taste for carving and molding1 but cares little for music1 is not obliged to throw away time over the distasteful labor of practicing with voice and instrument1 but is assisted to unfold the natural powers of his soul4 ,another is attracted to painting1 but has no desire to attempt to carve a statue2 another is exercised over the rhymes and metric measures of poetry1 but has no gift in the other departments of art4 ,these are encouraged and taught how to develop their ,god-given powers1 and are not requested to attempt any labor for which they have no taste4 ,children who are found to exhibit no taste for1 or attraction toward1 any of the arts1 but to have a gift for the outworking of and desire to study other branches of knowledge1 are permitted to follow the guidance of their tastes or deeper natures1 and are not expected to spend time over the study of those artistic rules for which they have no attraction4 ,therefore1 you will at once perceive that the work of each spirit is that for which they are naturally adapted2 it becomes congenial to them1 consequently is agreeable4 ,they love to pursue it1 and bring forth the best possible results from it4 ,there are many temples of art in the spirit world1 as there are many schools1 academies1 colleges of learning1 etc4 ,education is the great power that is to uplift and bless humanity1 and in the higher life the best forms of enlightenment are afforded freely unto all4 ,the beautiful white temple in the great garden1 where the neglected1 cast-off children from earth are taken to be cared for1 opens its glowing portals to those little ones who1 had they remained in the bodily form1 would have had no advantages of education or for spiritual unfoldment4 ,many of these exhibit a marked inclination toward the development of artistic powers1 and under the favorable conditions afforded them begin early to show signs of talent to an astonishing degree4 ,encouraged to learn1 stimulated to emulation by advice1 example1 and assistance1 they readily follow the teachings of their instructors1 and in a surprisingly brief space of time--considering all the circumstances of their early life--their efforts to accomplish something are crowned with success4 ,thus1 under proper conditions1 all the spiritual attributes and faculties of an immortal soul may become unfolded1 displaying a degree of refinement1 beauty1 culture1 and power of which humanity at present but little dreams4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,surroundings ,,and ,,conditions ,,of ,,spirits4 ,mortals sometimes wonder if there is cold and frost1 snow and ice1 in the spirit world2 and spirits1 in making their statements concerning the surroundings and conditions in that land1 do so according to their own experience1 which is sometimes greatly varied and diversified4 ,speaking for myself1 ,i have never witnessed any severe storm1 nor been affected by either extreme of cold or heat1 since passing to the 8other life40 ,the atmosphere in which ,i dwell is mild and genial1 rather of an exhilarating than of a depressing nature1 because of the preponderance of the electrical current4 ,while inhaling the air of my spirit home ,i always feel strong and full of vitality4 ,work is there like play1 so easily is it taken up and pursued1 and the mere act of breathing is an exquisite pleasure4 ,life is full of gladness1 because no external condition presses heavily upon the bodily frame4 ,our clothing is adapted to the wants and purposes of the body2 our food assimilates with the system1 and provides nutriment for every part4 ,and so1 being blest with good health1 pleasant surroundings1 and an abundance of labor1 we cannot be otherwise than cheerful and happy4 ,where ,i reside1 we are never visited by storm and tempest2 the face of nature is daily bathed in a soft1 delicious mist that descends from the snowy clouds above1 moistening the trees and flowers and wrapping everything in a semi-transparent veil through which the rosy light of day glows with a bewitching hue4 ,this mist only remains long enough to give the world around a plenteous bath1 and then disappears before the presence of the ever-genial yet to us never too-fervid sun4 ,,reasons ,,for ,,different ,,views ,,of ,,spirit ,,surroundings4 ,i have visited other localities of the spirit world1 whose inhabitants have complained of intense cold2 and though ,i was not affected by any uncomfortable sensation1 yet ,i have seen them shiver and shake as though smitten by an ague fit4 ,the landscape to these unhappy ones appeared to be cold1 lifeless1 and barren1 as though the dreariness of ,december days had settled upon it2 but to me the scene was more promising and life-like1 for ,i was not surrounded by the same conditions of mind and body as were those who dwelt in these haunts of woe4 ,i have known certain spirits to manifest themselves to mortals with the declaration that their homes in the spirit world had been visited by terrible storms and whirlwinds1 and that the shock of those tempests had been almost too much for them to endure4 ,this was very true2 but those spirits did not realize or know that they had never entered the spiritual world1 but that1 through the earthly nature of their own magnetic attraction1 they had gravitated to some condition of earthly life1--had attached themselves to crude-minded spirits yet in the flesh1 and had encountered earthly storms and whirlwinds that had swept wildly over the terrestrial world4 ,other spirits have testified to mortals that their homes are dark1 dreary1 rugged1 and bleak4 ,such beings dwell very near the physical life4 ,they have never explored the realms of spirit2 their desires are all of a carnal character2 the very persons who attract them to their earthly haunts are of a rough1 uncouth1 and undeveloped nature4 ,therefore1 they come in contact with no refinement1 no culture1 and no beauty2 their lives are barren indeed1 and not until they desire to receive1 understand1 and acknowledge the truths that missionary spirits are ready to reveal to their comprehension will they emerge from their unhappy condition4 8,none are so blind as those who will not see20 and the arrogant1 self-sufficient1 and self-opinionated spirit prefers to wander in darkness1 and to stumble on over a rough and thorny road1 rather than to acknowledge his short-sightedness and admit a desire to be guided aright4 ,only suffering1 keen and severe1 will bring to such the experience required to produce a better and sweeter nature4 ,beautiful homes1 lovely associations1 and the fondest and most endearing of ties1 all of which will be found to be real1 tangible1 and enduring1 await every spirit in the supernal world2 yet those who are not aspirational in character1 who are not ready to spurn the selfish propensities that belong to the animal nature1 to lay aside all considerations of personal grandeur1 glory1 and aggrandizement1 will not be able to perceive1 appreciate1 or enjoy those 8homes not made with hands1 eternal in the heavens40 ,oh1 how earnestly we should all strive to cultivate a pure1 noble1 and unselfish character6 ,how we should endeavor to uplift1 guide1 and instruct the poor1 benighted spirits who know not the true meaning of existence6 ,those of you1 ,o mortals1 who have opened your hearts and homes to the presence of spirits1 who devote a part of your time to the good work of receiving the poor1 ignorant1 and uncultured who come to you through mediumistic sources1 are performing a grand mission in life2 you are co-operating with exalted intelligences in accomplishing a noble work4 ,speak not harshly to the erring1 either of mortal or spirit life4 ,let your words be full of kindness1 admonition1 and instruction1 and let your lives be living examples of the love and truth you expound4 ,thus you will accomplish a great and lasting good for the benefit of others and the glory of the angel world4 ,a word of kindness1 a gentle clasp of the hand1 the gift of a single flower tendered to an erring spirit1 accompanied by a little instructive1 loving advice1 may be the means of setting a benighted soul forward upon the upward road which leadeth to light and joy1 and peace everlasting4 ,this is a work that all may do2 let us1 spirits and mortals1 co-operate to the grand end of elevating the lowly4 ,,earthly ,,conditions ,,that ,,retard ,,spiritual ,,progress4 ,i have seen spirits whose earthly condition was one of prosperity and grandeur1--those in whom a sense of worldly ambition and aggrandizement overcame every other consideration in their minds2 whose hearts became haughty and arrogant2 whose lives grew morbidly selfish beneath the desire for personal gratification and the greed of gain4 ,primarily1 their motives for action were laudable2 but as they grew in worldly influence1 power1 and grandeur1 the stifling atmosphere of this condition effectually pressed out all emotions and aspirations higher than those for earthly affluence1 authority1 and ambition4 ,i find the conditions of such spirits to be most unattractive yet pitiable4 ,deprived of their power and influence1 unable to wield that authority which once belonged to them1 powerless to attract the homage and laudation of the world in which they formerly lived and moved1 longing for the things of material life which they cannot grasp with satisfaction1 unfamiliar with things1 conditions1 and customs of spiritual life1 they are restless and unhappy indeed4 ,the things for which these beings crave belong to the material plane alone1 and they are constantly attracted back to this sphere of life4 ,but they have not the authority and power they once possessed4 ,coming in contact with the very individuals who once fawned upon and bowed down to them1 these spirits are yet unable to make any impression upon their minds4 ,the invisible ones speak what they believe to be loud words of authority and dignity2 but they are unheeded1 even unheard1 by the mortal to whom they are addressed4 ,even should the spirits succeed in expressing their identity and in giving utterance to their thoughts through the lips of a trance medium1 they will remain as unnoticed by those for whom they are intended as is the faint flutterings of a leaflet blown hither and thither by the autumn wind1 even if they are not scoffed at or scorned by those individuals who once were wont to bow down in servile awe before a scrap of paper bearing the name that is given by the returning spirit4 ,imagine the unhappy1 restless condition of such a spirit1 and you will understand something of that peculiar1 self-tormenting state which in former times was typified to mankind as a lake of fire and brimstone4 ,,worldly ,,success ,,often ,a ,,misfortune4 ,picture to yourselves a man who has been full of energy and power1 successful in every undertaking1 prosperous in business1 influential in his walks of life1--one recognized for great executive ability and dispatch1 bowed down and even toadied to by a multitude2 one having a large class of human beings in his employ and under his dominion1 to whom he is the autocrat upon all questions pertaining to their comfort1 even existence itself4 ,the note of this individual is recognized and accepted on all sides2 his lightest word is law1 and he has only to speak to be immediately obeyed4 ,a man wielding such authority1 and delighting in it1 is always ambitious and arrogant2 he is held in fear by those under his charge1 who endeavor to cajole him into some degree of mercy even while secretly despising him4 ,this power1 grandeur1 prosperity1 and worldly influence has been gained by the potency of a domineering1 masterful will2 but at the expense of the interior nature1 which is stripped of all adornments and barren of those fruitful conditions necessary to the happiness and peace of spirits4 ,such a man passes from the body4 ,with the temple of clay he is shorn of all his power1 grandeur1 influence1 and wealth2 for such as he had were of the earth1 temporal in their character and perishable4 ,but the qualities of his mind are still his2 the energy of his nature has not departed1 the positive will-force does not desert him2 he remains ambitious still4 ,he does not become an imbecile or an idiot1 therefore he is capable of realizing all that he has lost2 but he has not yet learned that those things were unworthy an immortal soul1 and that there is something of inestimable value to the spirit that may yet be acquired4 ,he is in the condition that a strong1 passionate man on earth would be in who had lost all that was dearest to him4 ,at times1 he is violent in the expression of his emotions1 again he sinks into the apathy of despair2 frequently he returns to earth1 seeking to command attention1 and to force obedience to his behests1 and occasionally he endeavors to burst asunder the conditions that surround him4 ,ask such a spirit as this of the beauties of the immortal life1 and he will declare there are none1--that nature there is sterile and barren1 that only damp clouds and fogs are to be seen1 that rugged rocks and stones compose the roads1 that the dwellings are uncomfortable and confining1 and that the inhabitants are uncongenial and inhospitable4 ,the truth is1 this person is so enwrapped in the murky atmosphere of his own being1 so chilled by the restless1 combatant elements of his own mind1 so torn by conflicting emotions1 that he cannot see beyond the shadowy outline of his own selfish nature2 and whatever object or person comes into the line of his vision becomes colored or darkened by the greyness of his own life1 and presents an appearance corresponding to the conditions by which he is confined4 ,,earthly ,,conditions ,,continued ,,in ,,spirit ,,life4 ,there are many such beings in that immortal life--men and women--who have not yet outgrown the conditions belonging to the physical existence4 ,the intensity of the will-force with these persons is so powerful when applied in any direction that it is difficult to detach it from the object in view1 and to direct it to and through other channels of expression4 ,hence the positive1 ambitious1 energetic man of the world1 who pursues his own business and pleasure1 regardless of the rights and privileges of others1 remains the same grasping1 exacting individual after passing out of the body4 ,men and women1 once of fashion and wealth1 autocratic and haughty in their demeanor1--some of them rulers and sovereigns over multitudes1--have remained in a sphere of unhappiness for many years4 ,wrapping the pride of their selfishness around them1 they have dwelt in a condition of cold and darkness1 the chill and shadows of which were but emanations from their own lives1 until at last they have grown weary and have stretched their hands upward in search of light and warmth4 ,finally1 when such individuals do feel the necessity of turning from the old life1--which necessity comes to them after a long siege of battling against opposing forces1 vainly striving to be recognized and obeyed1 making futile attempts to gain power and dominion over others1 and at last obliged to recognize their own impotency and utter littleness1--they begin to perceive the grandeur of spiritual labor1 and to acknowledge and respond to the efforts made by ministering1 industrious spirits to teach and bless them4 ,thoughts of the old life on earth fade before the presentation of ideas concerning the future life to be attained by the spirit4 ,selfish propensities and desires gradually pale before the new light of soul endeavor that dawns upon the suffering spirits2 and sometimes aided by sympathetic mortals1 to whom they are attracted1 and always benefited by the assistance of wise1 loving1 and truthful spirits1 these erring ones gradually emerge from their unhappy state into a condition of peace and joy4 ,ask them then of the life in the spirit world1 and they will pronounce it beautiful1 illuminated with a glorious light that never becomes wholly quenched2 the land they inhabit they will tell you is real and natural1 its roads paved with shining blocks1 smooth and even to the feet1 and fringed with blooming flowers2 its homes comfortable1 elegant1 and commodious1 and its inhabitants harmonious1 gentle1 hospitable1 and friendly4 ,they now see with the clear vision of the soul2 no mists obscure their sight1 no preconceived opinions and prejudices bias their statements4 ,they dwell in the spirit world1 and not amid the murky confines of sensual life4 ,,an ,,illustration4 ,i will briefly relate a little episode recently coming under my observation1 which will illustrate my subject more clearly to you4 ,my beloved father was recently in the presence of a spiritual medium1--a lovely1 saint-like1 elderly woman1 whose life and aspirations cannot fail to attract beneficent workers of both lives to her sphere4 ,this medium was entranced by a spirit who appeared very much distressed1 and who said that there was a gulf between him and a condition of happy peace that he could not bridge4 ,after bemoaning his unpleasant position1 he expressed an earnest desire to free himself from it4 ,my father felt his entire soul going out in sympathy to this suffering fellow-being1 and with words of encouragement1 hope1 and cheer1 which were also replete with instruction1 he addressed the spirit1 who1 in a little while1 raised his head1 and with an expression of gladness and triumph1 exclaimed3 8,i see the bridge2 ,i may now pass over safely40 ,after this spirit had departed1 my father was addressed by one of our beneficent1 working spirits1 who explained that the unhappy being was none other than he who had been known to the world as ,baron ,rothschild1--that in early life he had concentrated his energy and power to the work of accumulating great wealth for a laudable purpose1 that of expending it in restoring ,jerusalem--the home of his race--to its pristine glory and splendor for the benefit of his unhappy people2 but as wealth and power and glory rolled in upon him1 ambition grew within his soul4 ,finding himself exalted because of his influence1 bowed down to and fawned upon by the ,gentiles who had despised his race1 the desire grew upon him to wield an influence among mankind that no power could break2 and the primal intention to bless his people by restoring them to their rightful home1 if he should be successful in life1 faded away before the growing determination to bring the haughty ,gentile to his feet in supplication for his assistance in the control of the monetary interests of the world4 ,thus this man lived1 flourished1 and died2 but in passing to the spirit world he could take none of his grandeur1 power1 wealth1 or influence with him4 ,these were not of the spiritual1 but belonged to the material life4 ,unhappy and restless1 expending his energy in striving to regain his former prestige1 he lived1 until1 growing weary of vain contention and striving1 he turned from the earthly side to ascertain the prospect toward the spiritual4 ,he could perceive the light and the homes of happy spirits1 but knew not how to reach them4 ,in this condition he was brought by wise spirits to my father1 whose tender sympathy1 perceived and felt by the unfortunate one1 awakened a new condition of mind1 aroused a new train of thought and aspiration in his soul1 which bridged over the chasm and gave him power to reach the happier state where contented1 useful beings dwell4 ,oh1 the power of sympathy6 ,mortals1 you understand it not6 ,when truly felt and expressed1 it flows toward the soul of its recipient in waves of light1 which become tangible to the suffering one1 and form a bridge over which he may pass to a condition of happiness and peace4 ,,external ,,surroundings ,,produced ,,by ,,mental ,,conditions4 ,to those minds who are materialistic in their tendency1 whose thought is concerned with the affairs of the mundane sphere1 and who do not recognize any other force in existence so potent1 powerful1 and vigorous in its operations as mere organic law which depends upon matter alone for its power1 the idea that the mental condition of an individual can become so active as to influence his external surroundings and determine the shape1 form1 appearance1 and character of the objective life in which he dwells1 will be presented as only the wild dream of some visionist1 or the vapid speculation of an enthusiast4 ,but ,i do not bring my statements of spirit life and its conditions to the notice of such material minds2 for ,i know that they who can find nothing above and beyond matter to study and investigate1 who understand nothing of that subtle power permeating all material life which is pure spirit1 who cannot comprehend the higher laws of the universe whenever they transcend in any degree the operations of those laws that are concerned alone with the external1 visible1 mundane world1 will not be able to grasp the vital truth that is recognized and accepted by all deeply studious and spiritualized beings1--that spirit alone is the real power1 the substantial part of man1 the abiding life that projects its image outward upon the exterior form1 affects the condition of the individual1 beautifies or mars his surroundings1 and controls his state of mind2 while matter is but the external expression1 the outer covering1 form1 or projection of this potent1 governing force4 ,,materialistic ,,scientists ,,in ,,spirit ,,life4 ,i have seen spirits whose earthly condition was one of grandeur1 whose mortal life was one of study1 experimentalism1 achievement1 and triumph1--scientists who gave their entire thought1 time1 and attention to the investigation of certain laws1 elements1 and forces of the physical world1 and who made grand and important discoveries in the domain of ,nature4 ,their demonstrations of scientific law have been of value to mankind2 their achievements and the practical results of their discoveries and studies have benefited humanity4 ,but certain ones of this learned body did not believe in the existence of any force or power outside of organic law1--would not accept the thought that any manifestation of human or divine intelligence1 skill and wisdom1 could possibly be made aside from matter1 and declined to investigate any department of life outside of that particular field of scientific inquiry that chained their attention4 ,anything savoring of occult law1 or denoting the existence of subtle forces in the universe1 that physical science could not explain1 they scoffed at as unworthy their thought and investigation4 ,the condition of such spirits as these in the spiritual world is not an envious one4 ,for a time they are unaware that they have left the material body4 ,dependent upon gross matter for their thought1 study1 labor1 and research1 they do not gravitate above the earth1 and for awhile they continue their investigations and experiments in the laboratories of their former earthly associates4 ,but the laws they pursue fail to explain to them the causes of existence1 or of the variation and mutability of form1 the origin of mind1 or the source of power4 ,the facts presented before them from time to time cannot be reconciled with the theories they have entertained4 ,important links in the chain of scientific evidence concerning the nature of things they fain would forge1 as they are wanting here and there4 ,these learned 787 spirits1 with all their splendid endowments of mental ability1 erudition1 and conservative thought1 become restless1 dissatisfied1 and unhappy4 ,when they discover that they are not dependent upon a mortal body for their existence1 they are amazed1 and even annoyed1 to find their preconceived opinions and conclusions concerning earthly matter refuted by the one great fact of continued conscious life after the dissolution of the physical form2 and they do not feel prepared to accept the spiritual life that opens before them4 ,ask such a being of the beauty and peace of the higher life1 and he would declare to you his inability to find such conditions1--that to him all appeared confusion1 disorder1 fleeting1 and unsubstantial4 ,the reason of this is clear to a thinking mind4 ,the spirit who has hitherto held the utmost confidence in his own mental powers and ready discernment2 who has believed his own position on any subject incontrovertible2 who has thought his opinions and conclusions to be unquestionable1 and who has been accustomed to lay down his propositions and theories with the secret feeling that they must demand attention and an early acceptance from all others1 suddenly becomes aware that he has been treading on dangerous ground1 that those things1 ideas1 and conclusions that he thought so weighty and undeniable are but fabrications of his own mind2 that he has followed false lights1 because he has recognized but a small portion of the universe and believed it to be the whole1 and has understood the operations of but a few of its laws1 and thought they were the great network of all force and power4 ,no wonder that this being cannot see clearly before him2 that his surroundings appear chaotic and disorderly1 and that the ground seems slipping from beneath his feet4 ,his mental condition determines the character of his external state1 and he perceives naught but the reflection of the conflicting emotions that surge through his being4 ,,the ,,dawning ,,of ,,spiritual ,,light4 ,after a time the mists will cease to obscure his vision2 possessing an intelligent mind1 he will begin to reason and reflect upon this state of things1 and desire to reach the truth concerning them4 ,then he will perceive that1 though much of the work he thought he had performed must be taken up and remodeled1 that many of the opinions he held were unsound1 and the platform of theory he occupied untenable2 yet he has obtained a sufficiency of solid fact2 has discovered truth1 derived knowledge1 and accomplished labor enough to form a new foundation upon which to build a structure that will remain enduring for all time4 ,then the shadows will clear away2 the spirit will gaze around him and behold smiling order and harmonious design4 ,the new life will present an appearance of peace1 plenty1 and thrift to his sight4 ,he will then inform you that the higher life is one of beauty1 happiness1 and power1 filled with pleasant homes1 contented people1 and active employments4 ,the conditions belonging to the crude1 undeveloped state of his being have been overcome by the spiritual part1 and he is now enabled to behold the spirit world in its true likeness and imagery4 ,before this change can take place in the surroundings and interior life of the spirit1 he must outgrow the arrogant pride in his own powers that has hitherto possessed him2 he must be ready to doff the teacher's gown1 and to don the pupil's cap1--be eager to become the patient scholar1 and to forego the pleasure of propounding his personal opinions to other minds2 must1 in brief1 become a child of humility1 recognize his shortcomings1 his mistakes and failures1 and be willing to repair them4 ,there is no necessity for him to lose sight of his former achievements1 or of the good work he has wrought out for mankind2 the memory of his labors may be retained to inspire him on to greater exertions for the future1 but not allowed to magnify itself to such proportions as to influence the mind with pride and vain-glory4 ,,the ,,liberal-,,minded ,,scientist4 ,i have also witnessed the spiritual condition1 which1 in my experience1 always determines the surroundings of the individual in the spirit world1 of the man of science1 or of general learning1 who1 when in the body1 was willing to consider other opinions than his own1 was tolerant of other people1 and ready to adopt any practical suggestion emanating from the mind of another1 whose attitude toward spiritual things was respectful1 even if it were not reverential4 ,such a personage may find himself astonished at the revelations of immortal life1 but they do not annoy him2 they rather gladden his soul1 for they open before him opportunities for study1 investigation1 and spiritual growth that he has felt the need of1 but could not hitherto grasp their supply4 ,he is eager to at once begin a new line of scholarship1 and to ask the assistance of those masters of science and philosophy who for ages have been acquiring knowledge and wisdom in the schools of the higher life4 ,such a spirit is willing to sit at the feet of his teachers1 and to follow their instructions4 ,he listens humbly to the suggestions that are made to him1 follows the line of argument presented1 and pays attention to the explanations1 experiments1 and researches his instructors open before him4 ,thus he comes into sympathy with the wise ones around him1 and can readily comprehend their labor and its vast results4 ,in a little time such a spirit becomes qualified to follow his labor and pursue his studies unaided2 he grasps a comprehension of the laws that govern them1 and can experiment in any particular department of scientific inquiry he desires1 certain that his researches cannot fail to yield him a good return4 ,by-and-bye he will be competent to return to earth and seek out some organism1 some mind similar in construction to his own1 through whom he can transmit his ideas and a knowledge of his discoveries and inventions for the benefit of struggling mortals4 ,it may be that his instrument will be unaware of the presence of a spirit moving and directing him1 would even scout such a thought were it presented before him2 but such non-recognition does not lessen the efforts of the earnest spirit4 ,he is bent upon expressing the results of his labors1 or manifesting some spiritual truth to ignorant humanity1 and he will not falter nor be turned aside from his mission4 ,or1 this intelligence may come in contact with some mortal who has great mental ability as yet undeveloped1 with an embryotic genius whose gifts need stimulating1 whose constructive powers are grand1 but have not become aroused to vigorous action4 ,the spirit will exert his influence1 will concentrate his magnetic force upon such an individual2 will visit him in moments of quiet or in hours of bodily repose1 and impress him what works to read1 what line of study to pursue1 what form of employment to practice1 what habits to cultivate1 and what method of life to follow2 all of which will be calculated to stimulate1 unfold1 and invigorate the innate powers of his mind4 ,gradually1 the invisible1 yet powerful1 guide will perceive the development of those wonderful abilities that he knows belong to his charge2 he will see them throw out little tendrils and grow stronger and stronger2 his magnetic and energizing influence operating upon that mind is doing for its powers what the genial sunshine and refreshing showers do for the blossoms of the plant upon which they fall1 drawing them out to a beautiful1 healthful1 and vigorous unfoldment2 and by-and-bye the world will become aware that it has a man of genius or a woman of transcendent power in its midst4 ,at that supreme moment of achievement or triumph the delight of the mortal whose abilities are thus given outward expression in some enduring form will be nothing to the satisfaction of the intelligent spirit who has aided the work of development1 and by his superior power stimulated the mental growth of his charge4 ,can you not comprehend what a grand1 unselfish labor his has been1 and appreciate in some degree the difficulties he has encountered and overcome1 the blessed results he has achieved8 ,,contrasted ,,causes ,,and ,,effects4 ,the difference between a spirit of this class and the one mentioned previously is simply in the condition of mind4 ,both were equally learned1 scholarly1 cultivated1 brilliant1 and useful when in the body2 but where one was dogmatic in assumption1 intolerant in opinion1 autocratic in assertion1 and materialistic in belief1 the other was considerate of others1 paid deference to the honest opinion of his fellows1 was respectful in his attitude toward all mankind1 and sought earnestly for the greatest measure of light to be obtained1 even though it should lead him away from his own position and toward that of others4 ,consequently1 the one was many years in reaching the condition and elevated spiritual position which the other readily found upon entering spirit life2 and while the first was obliged to pass through painful experiences before he could throw aside his lordly manner1 air of assumption1 and offensive arrogance1 the latter1 having none of these burdens clinging to his garments1 was enabled immediately to take up the studies of life1 and pursue them to their grand revealment4 ,ask this last intelligence as to his surroundings in heaven1 and he would define them as beautiful1 congenial1 and productive of great happiness to the spirit4 ,his associates he would describe as happy1 harmonious1 and agreeable2 his home as filled with luxurious adornments and beautiful forms2 the landscape as fair1 sweet1 and charming1 and life itself grand and glorious4 ,,the ,,simply ,,intellectual4 ,i have seen the condition of spirits who1 when inhabitants of the earth1 were very erudite and intellectual1 but who were so closely engaged in the pursuit of material knowledge that they paid no attention to the cultivation of their spiritual powers4 ,these individuals possessed splendid powers of mind1 for their mental abilities were finely unfolded4 ,their powers of imagery were great1 and many were the word-pictures of beauty they were instrumental in placing before the public eye4 ,but as they did not recognize the existence of spiritual powers1 did not seek to unfold within themselves the attributes that belong to spirit1 nor endeavor to learn of their inner natures1 they were not prepared to perceive and enjoy the true glories of the spiritual world4 ,the condition of such beings for some time after they have passed from the earthly form is one of dissatisfaction2 for to them the immortal life presents but cold and barren forms1 destitute of the glow and vigor of life-like activity4 ,splendid statues and fine pictures may adorn their homes1 for such forms are the expression of the intellectual and artistic taste of their possessors2 but these objects lack the expression and softened effects of fine coloring and appearance of life that alone can make them the productions of really great minds4 ,only mere mechanical work has created them2 they are but the objective forms of ideas1 destitute of the spirit that should have been breathed into them1 to make of each a model of beauty and of expressive force4 ,the homes of these learned individuals1 though furnished and adorned with luxurious belongings1 present a cold1 inhospitable appearance to the truly spiritual being2 for their inmates are haughty1 proud1 dissatisfied with life1 and forever longing for something more in the line of personal grandeur than what is theirs2 and their mental condition reflects itself so strongly upon their exterior surroundings as to cause it to strike a chill to the heart of any aspirational or devotional being who might approach them4 ,,cheerlessness ,,of ,a ,,want ,,of ,,spirituality4 ,imagine yourselves in a vast hall1 from which all rays of sunlight or warmth are excluded4 ,imagine this apartment lined with gorgeous pictures of material life that are remarkable only for their excess of brilliant color1 and the magnitude and variety of the forms they represent2 each nook and recess filled with statues of men1 women1 and animals1--white1 cold1 stiff1 stern1 and lifeless in appearance2 the entire building cheerless and chilly1 with no appearance of life1 activity1 or warmth4 ,think what it would be to your spirit to be condemned to continuously wander over this vast hall1 gazing upon the unattractive paintings1 and moving in and out among the lifeless statues1 cold and unpleasant to the touch4 ,such a life as you would thus lead corresponds to the existence of those spirits of whom ,i write4 ,on earth they were only intellectual1 sthetic animals1 for their love of the beautiful was developed only on the material side1 and the spiritual part of life was neglected4 ,here1 they are surrounded by the embodiments of their mental and artistic tastes2 but as these are mere forms1 and are not imbued with one spiritual idea1 they appear cold1 unconscious1 and dead to the beholder4 ,continuously wandering amid the senseless1 barren forms of their own mind creations1 unable to behold anything lovely and meritorious in the productions of others who are more spiritual than themselves1 these individuals are like those who live in the frozen regions of the ,north1 stunted in appearance and unable to understand and appreciate the life apart from and beyond their own narrow circle4 ,true1 the awakening period will come to all such when they shall become aware of their false position in the spirit world1 and learn that there is active duty and noble endeavor beyond them1 through which they will gain happiness and a sense of genial1 vigorous life2 and they will eventually turn to the more exalted realms of immortal life1 in order to gain a spiritual education that will unfold their soul powers1 and cultivate the true sense of beauty and the highest intellectual abilities their spirits are capable of expressing4 ,then their condition will be one of warmth1 vigor1 and activity2 their surroundings1 while beautiful in form and expression1 will partake of glorified life1 and their homes appear bright1 attractive1 and hospitable to those who enter within their walls4 ,,blending ,,of ,,the ,,spiritual ,,and ,,intellectual4 ,i have seen spirits who were intellectual and lovers of beauty on earth1 who were also spiritual in their aspirations1 proclivities1 and tendencies1--whose tastes were delicate1 and whose habits were very refined4 ,the productions of such minds1 whether of a literary or artistic nature1 appealed ever to the sense of the beautiful1 the love of the good1 and to the highest conception of purity in the hearts of those for whom they were created4 ,the conditions in the higher life of such souls are glorious4 ,in spirit they are active1 ever working for the general good of humanity1 seeking to perfect their own powers of mind in order to give them a more beautiful and complete expression for the delight or elevation of others4 ,ready to receive instruction from the more advanced minds around them1 they are constantly gaining a richer experience and a greater unfoldment of their powers4 ,aspirational in nature and loving in spirit1 these beings send forth a congenial1 helpful influence that attracts the good and wise to their side4 ,their homes are bright1 cheerful1 and attractive2 a delicious warmth pervades their households1 for they are made radiant by the divine light of love which never grows dim4 ,the surroundings of such celestials are like a beautiful and immense garden1 where the choicest and sweetest of flowers bloom1 the clearest of waters flow1 the most beautiful of birds warble melodious songs of praise1 the whitest and daintiest sculptured forms are to be seen1 where the stateliest of trees uprear their plumy heads1 the balmiest of zephyrs blow1 the richest and most delicious fruits are to be found1 and where all things continuously allure one to the enjoyment of the finest1 most glorious forms of sentient1 active1 genial life4 ,who would not rather roam through such a fairy-land of sweets than be compelled to wander in that gloomy1 cheerless hall of senseless stone and vapid1 unsatisfactory paintings mentioned above4 ,the difference between the two classes of intellectual and sthetic spirits is this3 the one has developed a taste for beautiful forms and intellectual pursuits merely to satisfy its own material nature and for its own personal glorification and aggrandizement1 and while catering to the external has ignored the vital or spiritual part of its being4 ,the other class has cultivated its sense of beauty and educated its intellect in order to instruct and elevate others2 has produced literary and artistic work for the purpose of appealing to the inner and higher natures of humanity2 has sought and found the love-element within its own being1 and has thrown it out as a quickening power to others2 has endeavored to cultivate the spiritual attributes of its being1 and to bring them into conscious harmony with the outward forces of nature4 ,therefore1 while the condition of one class in spirit life is inharmonious and unsatisfactory to itself and others1 that of the other is beautiful1 blissful1 and congenial to all4 ,,happiness ,,derivable ,,only ,,from ,,within4 ,observation and experience have taught me that in the spirit world1 as in earthly life1 individuals vary in disposition1 constitution1 and characteristics4 ,what is of the greatest interest to one person possesses no charm whatever for another2 and that particular employment one being is adapted to pursue may be totally unsuited for another4 ,happiness among spirits is not drawn from external sources1 but finds its central power within the soul1 from whence it radiates outward1 and clothes every objective form with beauty and every external pleasure with a splendor peculiar to itself1 which in turn becomes reflected back upon the heart1 and increases the enjoyment of the individual4 ,never was there a truer declaration than that attributed to the gentle ,nazarene3 8,the kingdom of heaven is within you20 and it is as true today as it could possibly have been eighteen or twenty centuries ago4 ,unless the soul is at peace with itself and all others1--is not envious of the good another may possess1 lives in a sphere of purity and kindly feeling1 and desires only to do right1--he or she cannot experience true happiness1 which essentially in itself constitutes heaven4 ,but when an individual has attained that superior condition of mind consequent upon the possession of such lovely attributes1 he or she has indeed arrived at the heavenly state of existence1 and cannot be otherwise than happy4 ,,the ,,human ,,nature ,,of ,,spirits4 ,humanity appears to be the same everywhere1 and in every grade of unfoldment4 ,many mortals seem to think that spirits--those who have passed through the material transition called death--must be somewhat different from themselves4 ,this1 however1 is not absolutely the case4 ,spirits are human beings1 nothing more1 many of them very imperfect at that1 though many others are pure-minded1 progressive1 and exalted individuals1 yet essentially human in every attribute and tendency4 ,and why not8 ,what is more beautiful1 more intelligent1 more powerful1 and more noble than humanity8 ,nothing but divinity itself4 ,perverted human nature is deplorable1 and to be pitied while condemned2 but unfolding1 advancing human nature is to be admired and emulated1 for it is steadily arising toward divinity4 ,mankind ever has been1 and at present is1 subjected to various grades of development2 we find man low down in advancement1 almost brutal in the exhibition of his nature1 but by degrees ascending from the immoral and degraded to the good and the better1 we come to man purified1 unfolded in spiritual refinements1 exalted even to the heights of angelhood1 but a human being still4 ,these varying conditions1 incident to the life and experience of humanity1 are just as vivid and operative in the spirit world as on earth2 hence we have on that plane of existence the pure and the lowly1 the exalted and the humble1 the wise and the ignorant1 the happy as well as the miserable4 ,the conditions of peace1 satisfaction1 and enjoyment in the spirit world do not depend upon the possession of outward grandeur1 external power1 and wealth1 or a love of display1 as they too often do on earth1 though those who are happiest and most free from care in the higher life are the richest in spiritual possessions1 and their surroundings show a refined and cultivated taste1 accompanied by the means and ability for gratifying this love of the beautiful4 ,there is no inconsistency in this statement1 because1 as ,i have before explained1 the external conditions and surrounding of spirits are but the expression and reflection of the mental or soul condition within the being1 and must appear beautiful1 sweet1 and delicate1 or the reverse1 according to the mental and moral status of the individual4 ,,right ,,and ,,wrong ,,states ,,of ,,contentment4 ,progressive spirits are contented with their existence and its surroundings sufficiently to enjoy and appreciate all the good and lovely things that are theirs1 but not enough to prevent them from reaching upward for more light1 instruction1 and soul-exaltation4 ,they are deeply grateful for life and its powers of unfoldment1 but they ever desire to move steadily on in the acquirement of wisdom and the accomplishment of good works4 ,undeveloped spirits are prone to exhibit an indifference to their condition which may be mistaken for contentment1 and which discloses a kind of inertia which prevents its possessor from attempting to rise into a healthier and happier state of being4 ,this is1 unfortunately1 too often the trouble with those who need assistance1 and is the chief obstacle good spirits have to contend with in their efforts to benefit those unhappy souls4 ,not until these miserable beings manifest a desire to better their own condition can the ministering spirits who endeavor to assist them be of any service2 but when this wish to rise exerts itself in an attempt to reach upward1 the degraded being is encircled by the magnetic influence of that human yet divine love which emanates from the wise and beneficent ones around him1 upon which1 through the impelling force of his inner desire and exertion1 he rises to superior heights and more pleasing conditions4 ,from degree to degree of unfoldment1 from grade to grade of promotion in the great school of life1 humanity is ever passing4 ,pressing on toward the goal where all lovely attributes blend1 and approaching the sphere of ,perfected ,being1 each one will1 in ,god's own time1 through experience and discipline1 outgrow all imperfect traits1 all unholy tendencies1 and become1 through the operations of nature's grandest law1 progress1 what all are intended to be1--noble1 manly1 purified1 and perfected human beings4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,our ,,co-,,operative ,,societies4 ,i have told my friends something of the work of the spirits who labor for the good of humanity1 and have described some of the conditions that surround human beings--embodied and disembodied--which make or mar their happiness1 elevate or depress their spirits4 ,as on earth1 so in the spirit world1 various organizations and societies exist for the suppression of vice and evil1 the propagation of virtue and truth1 the diffusion of knowledge and the banishment of ignorance1 the protection of society1 and the general elevation of mankind4 ,many of your most philanthropic schemes1 your greatest benevolent institutions1 your grandest methods of benefiting humanity1 your purest organizations1 and your noblest societies for the good of man1 are outgrowths from similar labors and establishments that have long flourished in the spirit world4 ,wise and exalted spirits unite in working for the blessing of their fellow-beings2 they devise ways and means1 and work continuously to enlighten human minds upon the laws of life4 ,it has always been the desire of these spirits to bring a comprehension of their work to mortals1 and to enlist kindred souls on earth in like labors4 ,whenever they have found mortals sufficiently susceptible to holy influences1 and possessed with souls beating in sympathy for suffering humanity1 they have worked upon their sensibilities until they have become quickened under the angelic power operating upon them1 and have responded to the thought of the attending spirits4 ,what is the result8 ,philanthropic schemes are started1 agitated1 and discussed2 earnest men and noble women associate together to evolve plans for the benefit of the lowly1 weak1 and suffering2 a new influx of spiritual power is brought to them1 which they imbibe into their lives1 all unconsciously to themselves1 and very soon some useful1 benevolent work is in progress1 corresponding to a similar beneficent labor in the higher life4 ,,earthly ,,reforms ,,originate ,,in ,,spirit ,,life4 ,in this way good works are conceived and elaborated on earth4 ,i do not mean to say that mortals are unable to project and perform any philanthropic enterprise for themselves1 and that your self-sacrificing1 earnest men and women are made so entirely by the influence of others who are unseen2 but ,i do affirm that all good spirits are working in the direction of human reform1 and to benefit humanity2 that many of these intelligences have thus labored for many centuries2 that their sympathies and tender pity for the unfortunate condition of a large portion of mankind bring them into close contact with the earth1 and that1 when they perceive a mortal who is alike sympathetic1 pitiful1 and desirous of doing good with themselves1 they are attracted to such a being1 and by the magnetic influence and quickening energy they shed upon him1 they stimulate his powers1 multiply his resources1 and inspire him to express his holy desires and good wishes in outward1 practical form4 ,thus1 noble institutions are established on earth for the enlightenment1 education1 and elevation of our race2 grand labors for the suppression of vice and the promotion of virtue are pursued1 and these are types1 counterparts1 and representations of like institutions and good works in the spirit world4 ,whatever is good1 reformatory1 or beneficent in its nature1 whatever is progressive and an aid to human unfoldment1 is abiding1 for it is of the spirit4 ,whatever is debasing1 selfish in character1 and downward in tendency1 is transient2 it belongs to the material1 and cannot survive the encroachments of the higher law4 ,therefore1 all good works have their inception in the spirit1 and gain their first growth in the land of souls4 ,after a time1 when conditions are made favorable for their appearance1 they become expressed through physical life1 and are productive of lasting results for the welfare of humanity4 ,the spirit kingdoms that are inhabited by intelligences who have advanced to a state of happiness commensurate to the lesson of truth1 wisdom1 and self-abnegation they have learned2 who know that life is only truly employed by those who labor for the benefit of others2 who are pure-minded1 and work in love for those more unfortunate than themselves1 may be said to consist of one grand co-operative society1 the various members of which are so united in sympathy and purpose that all work together as one person for the amelioration of human sorrow and suffering4 ,this society has1 however1 its various duties to perform1 and these duties may be assigned to different bodies of intelligences1 so that a number of smaller organizations or bands are formed1 all having their particular labors to perform1 and all working to the one grand end of educating mankind4 ,that you may more fully understand the work of these spiritual societies1 and the results1 vast and important in their nature1 continually flowing from them1 ,i will endeavor to unfold before you a description of the labors1 uses1 and intentions of a few of them4 ,i know that the earthly language ,i am obliged to employ is very inadequate to express things belonging to the spirit1 where life is rich in signs and symbols1 and where ideas are multiplied beyond the power of mortals to express2 yet1 if ,i but give you a faint conception of these things1 you will gain some knowledge of life in the spheres1 and be the better prepared to experience it yourselves when you pass up higher4 ,,divisions ,,of ,,spirit ,,mission ,,of ,,labor4 ,a large number of spirits have banded together for the purpose of disseminating the light of truth and a practical knowledge of real life among the ignorant and unenlightened of both worlds4 ,in order to utilize their powers and to employ their energies more effectively1 the large band of workers is subdivided into a number of smaller societies1 or unions1 each of which has a special duty to perform4 ,thus1 one of these organizations finds its particular mission among the lowly and undeveloped individuals of earthly life2 and it is the duty of its members to use their influence to its utmost extent for the elevation of those misguided1 untutored individuals with whom they come in contact4 ,while much may be accomplished by the good spirits from time to time by operating directly upon the hearts and minds of the unfortunate ones1 and implanting within them a desire to advance in the attainment of knowledge and goodness1 yet their greatest means of labor is to exert an influence upon the denizens of earth who are educated1 cultured1 and refined1 and awaken within them a determination to agitate the subject of human needs and requirements1 until1 through the power and persistency they bring to bear upon such questions1 a widespread public sentiment is created in favor of them that will force society to recognize their claims1 and to seek some method for their proper adjustment4 ,thus has every reform that has resulted in benefit to the human race received its impetus on earth from bands of spirits whose special work has been in that direction4 ,in this way the question of a universal and free education has been aroused1 agitated1 and started upon the road to a practical and successful solution in this country4 ,thus the abolition of human slavery in the ,american nation received its first great power to accomplish its vast results from the spirit world4 ,thus the subject of temperance was brought home to the attention and thought of thinking1 humanitarian minds by a band of invisible intelligences from the higher life1 who have pledged themselves to relax not their efforts until they behold every mortal regarding intemperance as an evil habit to be devoutly shunned and resisted4 ,,woman ,,suffrage4 ,thus1 the question of universal liberty has been aroused in the minds of the thinkers of every nation1--a subject that will not down at any bidding1 but one that will continue to arise until all countries are thrown open in a hospitable welcome to all people1 and until all rights and privileges become free and equal to each one4 ,as an outgrowth of this idea comes the question of ,woman ,suffrage1 which makes its demands with the laws of justice and reason on its side1 and which will continue to appear before mankind until its claims and requests are recognized and granted2 for this matter--so vital to all classes of society1 and so essential to the true advancement of the race--is under the supervision of a co-operative society in the heavens1 whose members are enlisted in the labor of guiding it on to a grand and successful result4 ,,the ,,indians4 ,growing out of the question of human freedom also appears the problem of how are the native ,americans of this country--the ,indians--to be protected and cared for8 ,and the bands of spirits who are looking after this matter declare that nothing short of exact justice towards the red man can answer their demands in this quarter4 ,and sooner or later this great question must be settled by the government of the ,united ,states granting the privileges of education1 industrial and intellectual1 of establishing homes1 of holding property1 and the rights of citizenship to all honest and respectable ,indians2 for they 7the spirits7 will continue to exert their influence and power upon the inhabitants of this country until the people arouse in their might1 and demand justice for the too-long outraged red man4 ,,peace ,,arbitration4 ,the subject of national and sectional warfare is also under the attention of a large organization of spirits1 who are working to establish a system of ,peace ,arbitration on earth1 under the quiet and harmonious regulation of which all national or other difficulties relating to the interests of the people may be wisely adjusted2 and there is no doubt in my mind but that their efforts will be crowned with success4 ,,heredity4 ,there are many other branches of reform relating to human interests that are looked after by wise spirits who are laboring for the advancement of mankind1 and one especially1 and an important theme1 is that which comes under the title of ,heredity1 and which concerns more vitally1 perhaps1 than does anything else the health1 happiness1 and prosperity of the coming races4 ,much thought and observation long since taught a large class of thinking spirits what a few mortals are but just beginning to learn1 viz41 that unless man attends to the offspring he rears by providing them with the very best pre-natal conditions for growth and development1 it will be almost useless for him to attempt to reform them of gross habits and impure tendencies after they have entered upon the arena of mortal existence and strife4 ,not until humanity is educated concerning the laws of its being1 and understands that whatever trait or characteristic is unduly developed in the individual1 whatever taint of bodily or moral disease is allowed to fester in his system1 will surely transmit its evil results to his children1 and that it is his duty to so study his constitution and habits1 and to so regulate his daily life1 that he will be able to entail upon his offspring only those traits of character1 or those elements of physical health1 that will produce the most beautiful and satisfactory results2 not until then will the coming generations show a proper development of physical and moral power that will regenerate and redeem the world from misery4 ,the laws of ,heredity1 or ,transmission1 work in two directions1 and while they declare 8the sins of the fathers shall be visited upon the children10 they also maintain that the virtues and lovely attributes of the parents shall descend to their offspring with added power4 ,therefore1 wise spirits are working for the dissemination of this great truth among mortals1 and they are constantly bringing in a new influx of thought and the desire to agitate the subject to those few minds on earth who are ready to receive this knowledge1 and who have the courage to express their convictions for the enlightenment of the many4 ,,an ,,organization ,,of ,,spirits ,,for ,,the ,,elevation ,,of ,,earth',s ,,inhabitants4 ,we have a society in the spirit world whose members are all pledged to the work assigned them4 ,the tasks set before them by the wise and exalted spirits whose abilities1 intelligence1 beneficent purposes and practices1 as well as spiritual experiences1 qualify them for their positions as guides1 directors1 and councilors are not always pleasant and agreeable to the members1 and yet1 knowing that these tasks are designed to work out some lasting blessing for others1 they falter not1 but attend faithfully to the accomplishment of what proves to be a divinely-appointed mission4 ,the labors of this society are varied1 but all tend in the one direction1--that of purifying and educating humanity4 ,one or more of its members may be directed to visit some den of iniquity on earth1 and by a holy and uplifting influence seek to draw away and benefit some unhappy1 miserable spirit who lingers there1 and also to exert a magnetic power upon some degraded mortal until he or she becomes disgusted with an unholy life1 and feels a desire to abandon it for a better4 ,this is not as pleasing and beautiful a task to the spirits who engage in it as is the mission of others of the same band who are delegated to watch over and care for little children whose lives are innocent1 and whose conditions are refining2 but they know that in their field of labor is the promise of good results1 and they apply themselves faithfully to the performance of their duty4 ,great good is accomplished in this way4 ,in every crowd of undeveloped and immoral beings who cling close to the lowest haunts of human life on earth the wise beneficent spirits are sure to find at least one mortal and one spirit who have become satiated with the indulgence of their animal natures1 disgusted with their lives of wrong-doing and sin1 and anxious to begin a holier life4 ,thus1 these angel missionaries find fruitful soil in which to plant their good seed1 and1 after many trials1 and the exercise of great patience1 they have the satisfaction of finding their efforts rewarded with success1 and of knowing that they have been the means of guiding more than one immortal soul toward the life of peace and happiness that belongs to all1 but which can only be attained by manly efforts to reach it1--a life of endeavor and of self-renunciation so far as the gratification of personal pride1 passion1 or ambition is concerned4 ,the society of spirits of which ,i write is large and extensive1 and embraces a great number of intelligences who work in connection not only with this country but also with those of the entire world4 ,wherever there is a human being to be uplifted1 instructed1 and blest2 wherever there is an immortal soul to be redeemed from error1 they are to be found4 ,the mission of these spirit people is to do good2 their labors are confined to no race1 color1 or nation1 but are extended to all humanity4 ,it would be impossible for me to enumerate the various methods they adopt for the accomplishment of their work1 or the divers duties and labors that engage their attention2 but they are earnest1 zealous1 and faithful to duty1 and under their benign influence the lowly are exalted and the weak receive strength4 ,co-operation is a grand incentive to labor2 it also bringeth strength and courage to those who are united by its shining bands4 ,it is the creator of harmony1 sympathy1 and fraternity of feeling in the hearts of all whom it reaches4 ,under its beautiful and effective ministrations1 humanity is destined to grow and unfold its highest powers and attributes until universal love and tenderness bloom in all hearts1 and every soul1 of every race and clime1 becomes united in a heavenly band of brotherhood and sisterhood4 ,,care ,,and ,,protection ,,of ,,mediums4 ,one of our extensive co-operative societies is composed of young ladies whose duties are to study the laws governing mediumship1 as well as to gain an understanding of those electric forces operating between spirit and matter1 of which certain spirits take advantage in manifesting their presence to mortals4 ,realizing the grievous error concerning immortal life in which the larger portion of mankind is plunged1 and wishing to do all in their power to demonstrate the truth to humanity1 so that doubt may give way to certainty1 fear to confidence1 ignorance to knowledge1 and all hearts made glad with the soul-cheering conviction that there is no death1 but that life is eternal1 these spirits have joined together for the purpose of working in harmony for the promotion of spiritual truth upon the earth4 ,singly1 in pairs1 or in groups1 the young people of this society visit the various mediums of earth to supply them with magnetic power and spiritual strength4 ,they draw around each of those sensitive instruments an ethereal garment woven from the elements of their 7the spirits'7 own lives1 which1 like a mantle of light1 protects the mediums from the poisonous arrows of persecution1 scorn1 and envy hurled against them by malicious or distrustful minds1 and guards them in their labor of love for the angels4 ,spirits are well aware that thoughts are tangible things that can be both seen and felt1 and can wound or heal the sensitive souls to whom they are directed1 according to their blighting or beneficent character4 ,thus1 when one is envious or in any manner hostile in feeling to another1 the thoughts which he directs toward that person1 charged as they are with the virile magnetism the exercise of hatred or any other passion engenders1 strike upon the spirit of him to whom they are directed with stinging effect4 ,if the individual of whom this person happens to think unkindly or severely is one susceptible to spiritual and other influences1--kept in a negative condition because of the frequent control of his organism by spirits1--he will keenly sense the silent shafts of thought hurled against him1 and suffer in consequence4 ,many mediums experience mental and physical pain1 as well as debility of power1 frequently when they are unaware of the cause2 while at the very time some person1 who is antagonistic to them and their work1 is thinking unkindly of them1 thus producing a disastrous effect upon the life of the sensitive subject of their thoughts4 ,therefore1 the work of the band of spirits here alluded to is a highly important one1 for the magnetic sympathy and love of these pure-minded1 earnest1 and tender young beings produce a tranquilizing1 soothing effect upon the lives of the mediums whom they approach1 which is very beneficial to them4 ,and though each medium has a band of attending spirits1 composed of males and females1 many of whom are powerful to guard and care for the susceptible instrument under their charge1 yet they are ever glad to be assisted in the performance of their arduous duties of demonstrating immortal truth to mortals1 and at the same time warding off unpleasant and dangerous conditions from their mediums1 by the spirits of whom ,i write4 ,just here allow me to remark that as unkind and malicious thoughts of another will wound and annoy that person1 so gentle1 loving1 and kindly thoughts concerning a friend will reach the individual to whom they are directed with an influence refreshing and sweet1 and carry blessing upon their way4 ,how important1 then1 that we should all endeavor to cultivate kindly feelings in our hearts for our fellows1 that our influence may result in good for humanity4 ,,development ,,of ,,new ,,mediums4 ,while the society of spirits here mentioned have much to do in exerting a cheerful influence over mediums in order to keep them in condition for their work1 this does not comprise the extent of their labors4 ,to spread the truth1 and to be able to enlighten humanity at large upon the great question of immortal life1 new mediums must be developed and brought into the field of spiritual labor4 ,the spirit world has need of more instruments2 and the members of our society find a work in visiting earth's people1 and seeking mediumistic persons whose powers can be unfolded for the use of spirit helpers and the service of humanity4 ,this task is pursued with zeal and earnestness1 and many mortals are thus discovered and magnetically operated upon whose powers are developing for the work of the future4 ,while certain individuals in middle and advanced life are becoming mediums1 many young people are developing1 in the privacy of home life1 medial powers that are to be utilized by the spirits for the furtherance of their grand work4 ,and the bands of young spirits from our co-operative society are determined that they will do all in their power to make this labor a mighty success4 8,,our ,,co-,,operative ,,society40 ,some three summers ago1 a small company of ,spiritualists visiting from the ,west1 while assembled in an upper room of one of the largest hotels in ,boston1 was addressed by 8,betsey10 the spirit-messenger of ,mrs4 ,j4 ,c4 ,jackson1 one of ,cincinnati's most popular and active mediums1 upon the subject of co-operation4 ,at that time1 the sprightly and entertaining control of ,mrs4 ,jackson proposed that those present should form themselves into a society for the purpose of uniting their efforts in seeking to benefit and bless humanity4 ,it was suggested that this organization be called 8,our ,co-operative ,society10 and known as an offshoot from1 or a branch of1 the ,co-operative ,societies of the ,spirit ,world4 ,its members were not to be pledged to secrecy as to its forms and conditions1 for their doings were to be such as would bear the inspection of the world2 their labors might be extended in any direction1 provided they pointed to the one result1--that of blessing some human being1 mortal or spirit1 and could be performed together or separately1 as circumstances at the time demanded4 ,it was further urged that no initiation fee1 quarterly or other payment be collected from its members1 for its doors were to be opened free to everyone who had a desire at heart to be of use in the world4 ,the regulations of this society were to be such that all could conform to them in spirit as well as to the letter1 for they only required earnest hearts and willing hands to do the work4 ,the duties of the members who should join this band would be such as all could perform4 ,the brother who possessed material wealth would be expected to use a portion of his means in assisting the needy1 or in other beneficent ways1 as an opportunity for doing so arose before him4 ,those who could give but a mite for the furtherance of some good work1 and who gave it with a cheerful spirit1 would perform their share of the society's labor just as truly as the man or woman of ample means who contributed largely4 ,those who had no money to bestow in charity1 but who could speak a comforting word to the distressed1 would be welcomed to the band2 while those who1 when the occasion arose1 could perform some helpful hand-service in aid of others would be called associates and helpers4 ,in short1 the duty of members would be to become useful to others1 and to exert their energies to benefit their fellow-beings4 ,no matter in what direction or under what circumstances they found a human creature in need of any service they could render1--whether of a material or spiritual nature1--they must exercise their power1 and perform that work4 ,the life that now is may be beautified and made to extend its influence into the higher existence1 and in blessing mortals by our helpful assistance1 we also benefit and uplift the weary spirits who return to earthly conditions seeking release from their sufferings1 while a benison of light and peace reflects from our good works upon the lovely evangels who are returning to mortal life to associate and co-operate with those who choose to join such a society as the one under consideration4 8,betsey0 further stated to her group of interested listeners that no special place or regular time of meeting would be chosen for 8,our ,co-operative ,society10 but that its members could perform their work wherever they might be1 and that all the world had the privilege of considering themselves associative workers of the ,union if they chose to do so2 while if true charity1 kindly feeling and helpful service were cultivated and conscientiously exercised by each one1 no report of their doings or progress would be needed4 ,the angels would know1 understand1 and approve4 ,,what ,,constitutes ,,membership4 ,we are all brothers and sisters1 children of one ,father and ,mother1 members of one great family1 and it is time we endeavored to strengthen the bonds of fraternity between each other4 ,let us do this to make our fellows happier or their lot easier to bear4 ,to call up a smile to a weary face1 to make a heart sing with joy1 to cause others to grow thankful for the amenities and blessings of life1 is a noble work2 and mortals who strive to do these things1 wherever they are1 or under whatsoever conditions they may labor1 are members of 8,our ,co-operative ,society10 originated and established in the spirit world and revealed to mortals for their approval4 ,thus was the question of the formation of a co-operative society on earth1 similar in its principles1 objects and purposes1 and to be as far-reaching in its results as the same organizations in the spiritual world1 first mooted and approved by 8,betsey10 the control of ,mrs4 ,jackson1 to a few friends in the city of ,boston2 but at the time nothing was accomplished in the way of forming a union1 or of adopting the practical suggestions of that worthy and clear-sighted spirit4 ,after the return of the party to their homes in ,cincinnati1 a spiritual seance was formed1 which now convenes at the residence of ,mrs4 ,dr4 ,jackson on the ,saturday evenings of each week4 ,upon these occasions it is the privilege of my father's sister--a beautiful spirit who is truly a minister of peace1 hope1 and love to many weary souls--to regularly control ,mrs4 ,j41 through whose organism she is enabled to give many instructive and important lessons that result in great good to her hearers4 ,in frequenting the circles of her loved and ever faithful medium1 my aunt ,sarah has become familiar with its regular attendants1 and so understands in a measure their spiritual capacities1 powers1 and aspirations2 and at one time1 taking up the idea of 8,our ,co-operative ,society10 as out-lined by 8,betsey0 upon an earlier occasion1 she so clearly elaborated it to the understanding of the mortal friends that they expressed themselves in utter harmony with its design1 and intimated they were ready to unite with the spiritual world in its labors of love for humanity4 ,,its ,,plans1 ,,purposes1 ,,and ,,influence4 ,thus 8,our ,co-operative ,society0 has been inaugurated1 and its members are in earnest4 ,they desire and intend to do good whenever and wherever they can1 and to try and make the world better for having lived4 ,not only the ,cincinnati friends belong to this ,union1 but individuals in ,boston and elsewhere are aware of its existence1 and join in its labors1 declaring themselves members1 and signifying their intention to perform their share of its good works2 while hundreds of spirits are in sympathy with the movement1 and are the unseen associates who are guiding it on to a glorious result4 ,already has the power and influence of 8,our ,co-operative ,society0 spread in many directions1 and the magnitude of its future usefulness and prosperity no man can predict4 ,the grand1 moral1 spiritual teachings enunciated by celestial visitants through the instrumentality of ,mrs4 ,jackson at her ,saturday seances are productive of the best results1 and are an important element in the work and growth of the society4 ,all such meetings1 where the truths taught are wisely and lovingly given1 and are thankfully received by earnest minds who endeavor to incorporate them into their daily lives1 are places where the true principles of union are to be found1 and where harmony of action reveal the existence of 8,our ,co-operative ,society40 ,allow me here to invite all my readers to join our association1 and to become helpers in the work of blessing mankind4 ,they have no need to send in their names2 all they have to do is to resolve to do good wherever they can1 and to set about it at once1 and they will be recognized by the angels as co-workers and friends4 ,,part ,,second4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,introductory4--,,spirit ,,may4 ,this1 the second part of our volume1 will contain the writings of a beautiful young spirit whose literary labors through her medium1 ,miss ,m4 ,t4 ,shelhamer1 have been adapted to the taste of children and young people2 though ample testimony has been received from a number of persons of mature age that these simply-worded and easily-understood poems and narratives of spirit children1 and of child-life in the spheres1 are replete with interest1 instruction1 and enjoyment for 8children of a larger growth0 than those for whom they were originally designed4 ,mary ,g4 ,kinsey is a younger sister of ,kate ,a4 ,kinsey--spirit ,violet--whose descriptions of life and labor in the spirit world have been given on the preceding pages4 ,she passed to spirit life ,june #bg1 #ahfb1 at the tender age of four months and one day1 and consequently has gained her knowledge and experience of life in the spirit world4 ,in the early summer of #ahgi1 spirit ,violet informed her medium that her sister ,mary was a teacher of little children in the ,summer-land2 that she dearly loved the young and lovely buds of humanity1 and found her chief enjoyment in ministering to their needs1 and in catering to their pleasure2 and announced her1 ,mary's1 intention of opening a children's department in the columns of the ,voice of ,angels1 through which she would talk to the children of earth1--singing them simple rhymes1 or relating incidents and anecdotes of the children of the spirit world4 ,shortly after this1 ,mary appeared to the medium for the purpose of putting this plan into execution1 inditing through the organism of ,miss ,shelhamer her first contribution to a ,children's ,department for the ,voice under the signature of 8,spirit ,may10 which nom de plume she has ever since employed2 and from that time to the present1 this sweet young spirit has assiduously labored to present to mortal children something fresh and bright from the tablets of her mind--either in poetry or prose--that would be at once interesting and instructive4 ,at first1 spirit ,may's productions were given in the form of verse for the ready comprehension of her young readers2 but later1 she successfully attempted the description of how children live in the ,summer-land1 with accounts of their labors1 studies1 and recreations4 ,as this work is published for the purpose of informing mortals concerning real life in the spirit world1 that portion of it which spirit ,may has contributed will consist principally of her recitals of the work1 doings1 and surroundings of spirit children4 ,the succeeding four chapters of this work treat upon these themes exclusively4 ,below we give a little brochure written by spirit ,may1 entitled1 8,the ,council of the ,flowers10 followed by a few selections from her poetic contributions to the ,voice of ,angels1 with which it is thought best to finish this chapter4 ,,the ,,council ,,of ,,the ,,flowers4 ,the soft1 glistening raindrops of ,april fell over the tired earth1 that had been held by wintry cold and storm for many long months4 ,the bright golden sunbeams and the sweet1 fragrant breezes of ,may swept over the fields and woods and lanes1 calling their flowers forth to enjoy the beautiful springtime of gladness and mirth4 ,myriads of blossoms1 white and yellow1 red and purple and blue1 sprang up from their nests of dainty green grasses and leaves1 to swing in the passing breeze and shake the perfume from their petals with which to scent the balmy air4 ,roses and lilies1 violets and daisies1 pinks and cowslips1 and a thousand other flowers made the hedges and gardens and meadows and forests appear gay and beautiful and very sweet4 ,june came and went1 followed by ,july and ,august1 with their burning splendor of sunlight and heat4 ,many of the flowers bloomed in sweetness for a little while1 and then dropped their leaves and died to earthly things1 and passed away to the heaven where flowers bloom forever4 ,others1 fragrant and fresh and fair1 came to take their places1 and so the whole world was sweet until the autumn came4 ,down1 down1 dropped the leaves from the trees1 whirling along through the air1 no longer wearing their summer hue of green1 but bearing the marks of age in the dull1 brown appearance which had come to them4 ,the autumn time had come1 and the oldest flowers began to shake their heads and whisper to each other that it was time for them to be gone1 and that the winter must not find them here below4 ,a great wind from the east1 that had been listening to these remarks1 caught up the words1 and rushing over hill and dale1 and wood and field1 shrieked them into the ears of all the flowers that lingered there1 causing them to draw their petals together and shiver in alarm4 ,then the wise old flowers said3 8,let us call a council1 and discuss the propriety of leaving earth before the snow-king comes40 ,and so they gathered together all who could come1 and concluded that they had lived quite long enough in this world1 and it was time for them to take their flight to the great ,paradise of flowers1 where in one great garden they should live and bloom1 and enjoy the sunlight and the dew forever4 ,and then a great red rose1 the last of its kind1 shook its fragrant petals and sweetly said3 8,oh1 kind west wind1 we have decided to leave this world for our beautiful home above4 ,please to carry this message to our friends and relations all over the land4 ,wherever you find a flower1 no matter how humble it may be1 or what its color1 whisper into its ear these words3 ,be ready when the west wind comes again to take your flight from earth2 all your friends and kindred will join you in your journey to the ,summer-land2 their mission is ended here below2 their new life will be taken up in company with their sweet friends of spring and summer1 who have passed on before them4 ,there is joyful reunion for all the flowers4 ,here they shall bloom no more4 ,when the winter flies1 new flowers and other blooms will shed their perfume here1 but you and your friends will blossom in the eternal world1 where no wintry cold nor frost will ever come40 ,and the genial west wind bore the message of the grand old rose far and wide1 and whispered it to every flower1 and the flowers bowed in silence while he spake2 but when he had passed along1 they shook off their useless petals and prepared for their journey as they sweetly sang3 8,we are going home1 we are going home2 good-bye1 old world1 good-bye40 ,and when the west wind came again1 he found them ready1 and he gathered them all up in his arms and bore them away to the happy ,summer-land4 ,the north wind came with a biting blast1 but he found no trembling leaf or shrinking flower2 they had all departed with their friend1 the west wind1 to remain forever in that land of sunlight1 where the south wind sings to them of the peace and beauty of their heavenly home4 ,,for ,,the ,,little ,,ones4 ,all day long the leafy branches ,of the stately maple tree ,waved their banners in the breezes ,bold and fearless1 strong and free2 ,all day long the golden sunshine ,bathed the pretty flowers in light1 ,as they peeped above the grasses ,and revealed their faces bright4 ,all day long a merry songster ,warbled in the leafy tree1 ,waking all the air with music1 ,thrilling all the hours with glee2 ,for he held a happy secret ',neath his crimson mottled coat1 ,cause of all the liquid gladness ,bubbling from his downy throat4 ,let me tell to you the secret-- ,in a dainty1 pretty nest1 ,hid among the leafy branches1 ,there were cuddled down to rest ,little tiny1 cunning birdlings1 ,three in number--do you see8 ,this was why the merry songster ,warbled in his happy glee4 ,all day long the birdies wondered ,what this strange1 bright world could be1 ,while their gentle-hearted mother ,hushed them with her tender 8,wee20 ,and the happy1 singing father ,brought them goodies fresh to eat1 ,as he told them famous stories ,of the flowers pure and sweet4 ,what a happy1 joyous summer ,came to bless the maple tree ,as the birdies grew in beauty1 ,strength and vigor1 full and free2 ,and they filled the earth with music1 ,charmed the sunshine1 woke the flowers1 ,as they brought a peaceful blessing ,to the golden-hearted hours4 ,,who ,,can ,,tell8 ,which is the prettiest flower ,growing in field or dell8 ,think of it1 little children1 ,see if your tongues can tell4 ,is it the white-fringed daisy1 ,bright with its heart of gold8 ,is it the fragrant snowdrop1 ,peeping above the mold8 ,which is the prettiest flower ,blooming in woody glade8 ,is it the lowly violet1 ,seeking the cooling shade8 ,is it the sweet field-lily1 ,lifting her shining head8 ,or is it the perfumed wild rose1 ,on the clearest dewdrops fed8 ,which is the prettiest flower ,growing in meadow green8-- ,the buttercup so yellow1 ,with gay and dashing mien8 ,is it the dandelion1 ,so like a star of gold8 ,or is it the tiger-lily1 ,with manner bright and bold8 ,oh1 who can tell1 my children1 ,the prettiest flower of all1 ,from lily fair and stately ,to violet so small8 ,for each is bright and glowing1 ,and fills with native grace1 ,from early seed to blowing1 ,its own appointed place4 ,,work4 ,work6 work6 work6 ',tis better to work than play-- ',tis better to do some little good ,as we travel from day to day2 ',tis better to help some needy one ,than to idle our time away4 ,work that is done with zeal ,is never too hard to do1 ,work that is full of use ,will bring only strength to you2 ,work that will bless some weary soul ,is filled with a purpose true4 ,oh1 children1 large or small1 ,give happy smiles1 not tears1 ,give pleasant looks and loving words ,through all the coming years ,to those who come to you in pain1 ,bowed down by doubts and fears4 ,give of the best you have ,to brighten life below1 ,to all who come within your reach ,as on your way you go2 ,be gentle1 patient1 true1 and kind1 ,a friend to all in woe4 ,the angels give you joy1 ,and guard you with their love1 ,they watch you with their tender care ,where'er your footsteps rove2 ,they guide you o'er the shining way ,that leads to ,heaven above4 ,,to ,,my ,,sister ,,genevieve4 ,i know a little maiden1 ,so pure and sweet and fair1 ,there's roses in her smiling face ,and sunbeams in her hair2 ,her voice is soft and pleasant1 ,and rings with notes of love2 ,her eyes are bright as starry gems ,that shine in heaven above4 ,this happy little maiden ,possesses jewels bright1 ,with mines of wealth and splendor1 ,aflame with brilliant light2 ,the wealth of priceless tenderness ,affection's soul imparts1 ,the gems of love and kindness ,that shine from parent hearts4 ,her path is strewn with blossoms ,of kindly smiles and words1 ,that break in sweetest music1 ,like songs of summer birds1 ,from those who dwell about her-- ,dear brothers1 sister1 true-- ,and crown her life with gladness ,more sweet than morning dew4 ,oh1 gentle little maiden1 ,the angels love you well1 ,and bless your life with holier joy ,than human tongue can tell2 ,they whisper to your spirit ,in accents pure and clear1 8,be gentle1 pure1 and loving1 ,for ,god has placed you here ,to bless the souls of mortals1 ,and fill their hearts with love1 ,to lead them o'er the starry heights ,to holier worlds above3 ,he gives you words of kindness ,to scatter as you go ,along the way that leads to heaven ,from earthly fields below40 ,,grandma',s ,,pet4 ,what a charming1 nice old lady ,sits in yonder easy-chair1 ,where the straying sunbeams wander ,o'er her locks of snow-white hair6 ,do you know that she is grandma ,to these little children three1 ,who are playing by the doorway ,in such merry1 laughing glee8 ,there is roguish little ,harry1 ,with his eyes as black as sloes1 ,flashing1 leaping1 snapping1 dancing1 ,and a sweet face like a rose2 ,there is laughing ,sue1 whose tresses ,are as bright as shining gold-- ,happy ,sue1 whose life is joyous1 ,for she is but ten years old4 ,here is little1 timid ,bessie1 ,quietest of all the three1 ,fair as any snow-white lily ,and as sweet as she can be2 ,with her ringlets brown and shining ,falling o'er her smiling face1 ,bessie is a pretty picture ,as she moves with gentle grace4 ,now1 of all these little children1 ,which does grandma love the best8 ,listen to her quiet answer3 8,if you put me to the test1 ,i am sure ,i cannot tell you1 ,for each one is dear to me3 ,harry is my pride and pleasure1 ,and ,i love his boyish glee3 ,sue is wild and sometimes reckless1 ,and she does not always mind ,what her gentle mother tells her-- ,to such faults ,i am not blind2 ,but ,i know that she is thoughtless1 ,and these faults will be outgrown2 ,susie is my darling madcap1 ,and no brighter child ,i've known4 ,bessie is a precious baby1 ,and for her ,i often fret ,if she's from my side an hour-- ,so perhaps she is my pet3 ,but ,i love them all--the darlings-- ,and ,i pray the ,holy ,one ,to preserve them pure and spotless1 ,till their life on earth is done40 ,,two ,,birdies4 ,down in a cool and mossy glen ,two little birdies sing1 ,one hath a flaming crimson breast1 ,and one a speckled wing2 ,they chirp and talk and sing away1 ,as birdies often do1 ,and fill the sunny air of day ,with music sweet and true4 ,they have a cunning little nest1 ,safe hidden in a tree1 ,where four wee birdlings snugly rest ,in happiness and glee2 ,and not a shadow flits across ,the sunshine of their way1 ,and so they sit and sing in joy ,through all the summer day4 ,when ,master ,robin brings his food ,to ,mrs4 ,jenny ,wren1 ,a cheerful flutter ripples through ,the pleasant1 mossy glen2 ,the wee1 small birdlings open wide ,their tiny mouths for more1 ,as careful ,jenny feeds them well ,from out her ample store4 ,oh1 children1 when you go and play ,within the mossy glen1 ,look carefully for ,robin ,red1 ,and ,mrs4 ,jenny ,wren2 ,and as they sit and chirp to you ,of all their tender joy1 ,resolve to never harm a bird ,nor any nest destroy4 ,,evening4 ,when the day has gone to sleep1 ,and the shades of night appear1 ,all along the evening sky ,twinkling stars are shining clear2 ,then the restless1 weary birds ,cuddle in their downy nest1 ,undisturbed by doubt or fear1 ,for our ,father gives them rest4 ,as the golden stars appear ,in the sky of crystal blue1 ,and the flowerets seek repose1 ,bathed in heaven's pearly dew2 ,when the breezes cease to blow1 ,in their wandering1 willful way1 ,when the waters quiet grow1 ,and the leaflets cease to play2 ,all are folded down to rest1 ,nature gives each one repose ,till the morning-star appears1 ,and the gates of day unclose2 ,and with flowers1 birds1 and bees ,little children fall asleep1 ,safely in the arms of love1 ,that eternal vigils keep4 ,when the evening stars appear1 ,little forms in robes of white1 ,kneeling by their mother's knee1 ,pray to ,him who rules the night2 ,and their gentle prayers ascend ,on the wings of faith and love1 ,to the angels who attend ,little children up above4 ,from the heavens where angels dwell1 ,from the earth and air and sky1 ,from the parent heart below1 ,from the ,father's love on high1 ,comes a blessing pure and sweet1 ,all aglow with holy care1 ,for the children who repeat1 ,lispingly1 their evening prayer4 ,,the ,,awakening ,,of ,,the ,,flowers4 ,out in the sunshine1 far out in the lanes1 ,up on the hillsides1 and over the plains1 ,springing to life in each meadow and glen1 ,filling the forests with sweetness again-- ,see how the flowers come trooping in glee1 ,decking the woodlands1 adorning each tree1 ,climbing the mountain side1 thronging the dell1 ,weaving o'er all things a magical spell4 ,all through the long frosty winter they slept1 ,nature above them her kind vigils kept2 ,snugly tucked into their beds soft and warm1 ,every sweet flower was safe from all storm4 ,spring1 with her musical voice1 is now heard ,calling3 8,good morning10 to flower and bird2 ,singing3 8,awaken1 my darlings1 't is time1 ,winter has gone to some far-distant clime4 ,come from the valley and hillside and glen1-- ,birdlings now list for your footsteps again1 ,violet6 ,may ,flower6 ,snowdrop6 my dears1 ,rouse and give welcome when robin appears4 ,summer is coming with sunshine and song1 ,life will be happiness all the day long4 ,haste6 from your slumbers now brightly arouse1 ,shake out your garments and garland your brows60 ,swift at the sound of their loved leader's call1 ,leaped up the flowers by hillside and wall2 ,over the meadows and forests they wove ,treasures of beauty2 each woodland and grove ,rang with the musical anthems of birds1 ,nature's rich music unwedded to words2 ,while summer found earth so enchanting and sweet1 ,she thought nothing lacking to make it complete4 ,,baby ,,nellie4 ,cunning little baby ,nellie1 ,with her laughing1 sweet blue eyes1 ,gazing on the world around her ,in a wondering1 deep surprise1 ,as if asking in amazement1 ,what do all these strange things mean8 ,ne'er before such giant people1 ,or such places has she seen4 ,for you see1 my little children1 ,baby ,nell has lately come ,from some far-off sunny ,elf-land1 ,to make this her future home3 ,and so many things around her ,seem so hard to understand1 ,for such people and their doings ,are not known in ,baby-land4 ,now she catches at the sunbeam ,gleaming on the snowy floor1 ,then she coos in smiling wonder ,at the vines around the door2 ,and the little1 spotted kitten ,is a source of great delight ,to our charming baby ,nellie1-- ,winsome baby1 sweet and bright4 ,through her tiny lips so rosy ,peeps one tooth as white as milk1 ,and her sunny1 golden tresses ,are as soft as finest silk2 ,with her dimpled hands and fingers1 ,and her little pink-white toes1 ,she is just the fairest creature1 ,sweet and pure as any rose4 ,oh1 she is our little darling1 ,sent to us by ,god above1 ,as a token of his goodness1 ,as a symbol of his love2 ,and we prize our tiny treasure1 ,for an angel sure must dwell1 ,undefiled and pure and spotless1 ,in the form of baby ,nell4 ,a ,,happy ,,new ,,year4 ,new ,year has come6 ,new ,year has come6 ,oh1 children sweet and dear1 ,and from our pleasant spirit home ,we've seen its face appear2 ',tis fresh and clear1 and full of smiles1 ,and beaming o'er with mirth1 ',tis bright with charming little wiles1 ,to please old ,mother-,earth4 ,i know its happy hours dawn ,in sunbeams sweet and mild1 ,that bring a story1 or a song1 ,to every laughing child2 ,i know its hands are full of love ,for children sweet and dear1 ,it comes in gladness from above1 ,this gentle1 bright ,new ,year4 ,oh1 it is full of work and play1 ,to share with little boys ,and little girls1 it comes your way1 ,to bring you pleasant joys2 ,and when you deeds of kindness show ,to others whom you meet1 ,its hours with happiness will glow ,all pure and rich and sweet4 ,new ,year has come6 ,new ,year has come6 ,oh1 meet it children1 dear1 ,with shouts of welcome to your home-- ,this happy1 glad ,new ,year6 ,oh1 smile upon it with your love1 ,and make its life more sweet-- ,it is an angel from above ,to guide your little feet6 ,,snow ,,drops4 ,beneath the coverlet of snow1 ,two little flowers learn to grow2 ,their cheeks are pale and white and fair1 ,their lips are sweet as summer air4 ,at first they shiver in the cold1 ,then grow more fearless1 calm and bold1 ,to push aside the snowy sheet ,and lift their faces pure and sweet4 ,one to the other gently speaks1 ,as ,march winds blanch her tender cheeks3 8,dear sister1 it is cold today1 ,but yet ,i think we here may stay2 ,the earth is bleak1 and dark and chill1 ,all other flowers are sleeping still1 ,but we'll remain awhile to sing ,in token of the coming spring40 ,the sister softly makes reply3 8,we'll bloom together1 you and ,i1 ,and send our choicest perfume out ,to gladden mortals round about2 ,i'm sure they must be weary now ,of winter's dismal1 icy brow1 ,and longing for the breath of flowers1 ,so we will stay and offer ours40 ,and so the dainty blossoms braved ,the snow and sleet1 and only craved ,a tiny place to fill with bloom1 ,and scatter forth their rich perfume2 ,and many hearts that yearned for spring1 ,and all the beauties she would bring1 ,gave blessing to the little flowers1 ,as heralds of her fragrant hours4 ,,an ,,evening ,,song4 ,rest1 rest sweet hours of the day1 ,your moments1 filled with toil and play1 ,have wandered far since morning's sun1 ,but now their journeyings are done2 ,rest1 precious hours1 bright and fair1 ,let no rude touch of pain and care ,disturb your well-earned calm repose1 ,the world its friendship to you owes4 ,hail6 peaceful hours of the night ,attended by yon stars so bright1 ,you come with quiet steps to earth1 ,and silent tones of woe or mirth2 ,we give you welcome1 for you bring ,the balm of sleep upon your wing1 ,with which to touch our weary eyes ,until all sense of weakness flies4 ,oh1 we are little children small1 ,and yet we love the hours all1-- ,those of the bright and shining day ,that fly in happiness away2 ,and those that wander through the night ,to give us visions of delight1 ,and show us in each pleasant dream ,the world where heavenly mansions gleam4 ,,children4 ,everywhere we hear the voices ,of the children1 glad and free1 ,shouting1 chatting1 laughing1 talking1 ,ringing out in merry glee2 ,everywhere we hear the patter ,of their busy little feet1 ,romping over hills and meadows1 ,rushing through the city street4 ,everywhere we see the faces ,of those little girls and boys1 ,who1 in spite of care and trial1 ,are their parents' sweetest joys2 ,boys and girls that in the future ,will be men and women too1 ,rulers of the sunny nation1 ,bright and active1 grand and true4 ,little children1 as you wander ,in your happy1 careless moods1 ,through the snowy streets of winter1 ,or the pleasant summer woods2 ,as you feel that in the future1 ,when to manhood you have grown1 ,you will seek for truth and wisdom1 ,seek to gain them for your own4 ,little children1 pray remember ,that the love that holds you fast1 ,burning in your parents' bosoms1 ,will endure until the last2 ,seek to pay it back in kindness1 ,gentle smiles and loving words1 ,which will echo in their hearing ,sweeter than the songs of birds4 ,little children1 live in blessing ,others with a word or smile1 ,and the angel friends above you ,will protect you all the while2 ,live by love and gentle kindness1 ,then the world will better grow1 ,and rejoice that little people ,such as you may dwell below4 ,,snow ,,flakes4 ,softly falls the spotless snow1-- ,flakes are flying everywhere1 ,like as many white-winged birds ,speeding through the silent air2 ,down and down to earth they come1 ,full of mercy1 full of love1 ,sent upon their mission forth1 ,by our ,father-,god above4 ,how they weave a garment bright1 ,as they come in thick'ning crowds2 ,weave a garment soft and light1 ,white and fleecy as the clouds4 ,over all the fields it spreads1 ,tucking all the flowers in1 ,hushing them to sleep in beds1 ,far removed from earthly din4 ,thick and fast the snow-flakes fly1 ,giving every girl and boy1 ,as they watch them flutter by1 ,glimpses of delight and joy4 ,how they cover all the earth1 ,brown and gloomy1 up from sight2 ,how they deck each leafless tree ,with a garment fresh and white6 ,oh1 we love the downy snow1 ',tis a messenger of love1 ,sent to grace the world below ,by our ,god who reigns above2 ,sent to keep the flowers warm ,till the wintry storms are o'er1 ,and to gladden youthful hearts ,with their beauty evermore4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,a ,,story ,,for ,,the ,,children4 ,in the outskirts of a large city1 a little way out in the cool and pleasant country1 there stands a little one-story house1 which was once painted a light yellow1 but which time and storm have turned to a dull1 brown color4 ,a little plot of ground attached1 shaded by one noble oak tree1 seemed turned into a perfect fairy bower of red and gold and green and purple1 when summer suns shone down upon its beds of blooming four-o'clocks1 correopsis1 and larkspurs1 in their setting of dainty foliage4 ,all day long1 the birds warbled or twittered to each other in the tree-top1 where a nest of young robins was safely hidden from the prying eyes of too curious school-boys4 ,such stores of wonderful seeds1 buds1 and flowers did these birds know of at a no-distant place2 such cherries and berries1 which they could enjoy to their hearts' content1 after carefully providing for their half-famished young6 ,but of all the delightful spots these joyful birds had visited1 not one seemed so suitable for their home as the plumy tops of this old oak tree1 which cast its genial shade over the little old brown house1 and here a nest was built1--five little1 spotted eggs were carefully covered up by the mother-bird1 which by-and-bye burst open and disclosed five little hungry bills1 wide apart1 gasping for food4 ,what a happy summer was this6 ,father ,robin bustling about1 looking very important1 bringing a dainty worm or toothsome berry to feed his children upon1 or perching upon the topmost bough of the tree1 and filling the air with the music of his joyful songs2 while the dainty1 careful mother1 prudent ,mrs4 ,jenny1 anxiously watched her little ones1 lest some harm should come to them1 or talked to them in her quaint bird-fashion1 with now and then a little chirp of encouragement1 when one would attempt to try its wings for a tiny flight amid the leaves4 ,but ,i have something to tell you about the inmates of the little old brown house1 which contained two tiny rooms1 a kitchen and a bed-room4 ,the floors of these rooms were always white and shining2 pretty pink curtains hung at the windows1 a few chairs1 a table and a little stove were in the outer room2 while the inner apartment contained a neat1 white bed1 a stand1 and one chair4 ,but two persons lived in this little home1--a pale1 delicate woman1 who was stitching her life away by constant sewing 7for she made cheap clothing for a firm in the big city71--and a little girl about six years old4 ,this little girl had bright blue eyes1 and brown1 curling hair2 her name was ,fannie1 and she lived here alone with her dear mamma4 ,fannie's papa had been in the spirit world for three years1 and her mamma was obliged to do the sewing in order to earn bread and shelter for herself and little one4 ,little ,fannie used to help her dear mamma by threading needles1 sewing tags on the work1--tags are tickets with the number of the garment written on them1--and picking up the litter on the floor4 ,fannie ,davis was a very happy little girl2 she had but few toys1 and these were old1 nearly worn-out playthings1 which had seen better days2 but she loved to play in the little garden1 and watch the flowers1 pulling out old weeds and picking the flower-seeds as they ripened4 ,she would listen to the birds for hours1 and talk to them in her childish way4 ,they were her companions1 for she had no playmates1 and it was a happy summer for this little girl when the robins built their nest in the old tree4 ,but1 alas1 a terrible storm of wind and rain came one night1 and brought disaster to the birdies' home4 ,the nest became detached from its fastenings and fell1 catching upon a lower branch of the tree4 ,the old birds were not harmed1 but two of their young ones were killed1 and another was lying on the ground with a broken wing4 ,in this condition little ,fannie found them in the morning1 when the storm had disappeared and the sun was shining bright4 ,poor little thing1 how she cried as she buried the two tiny birds in the garden1 and placed a handful of her choicest flowers upon their grave4 ,the little wounded bird she carried into the house1 her mother tied up its broken wing with a cotton string1 and fed it with bread-crumbs4 ,fannie made a little1 soft nest for the bird from some pieces of old linen1 and kept it until it was strong and well1 when she let it go again out into the bright world to find its parents1 its two brother birdies1 and its nest repaired and straightened in the old tree4 ,but something really wonderful--so it appeared to the little girl--happened4 ,while the poor little bird had remained a wounded prisoner under ,fannie's care1 it had become very tame and would eat its food from her hand1 and now that it had grown strong and well1 the little girl felt sad at losing her friend2 for she felt that she could no longer keep him and pet and feed him as she once did4 ,but ,i think little birds are grateful creatures2 they do not forget a kindness4 ,in the warm summer weather ,mrs4 ,davis always left the window open at night1 that fresh air might enter her dwelling2 and you may judge of ,fannie's delight to find her little bird entering the house every morning4 ,he would perch upon her shoulder1 eat seeds or crumbs from her mouth and hand1 and chirp and warble his little songs to her in an ecstasy of glee4 ,every morning regularly did this occur2 the bird would enter the open window1 remain about half an hour to delight his benefactress1 and then soar away to his home on the tree-top1 or to other pleasant places in the neighborhood4 ,one bright1 pleasant day in ,august1 as little ,fannie sat playing with her flowers and pebbles in the garden1 she espied the face of a little boy1 framed in by a mass of sunny-brown hair1 and half covered--as if from shyness--with a white straw hat1 bound with a bright blue ribbon1 upon the other side of the fence4 ,the stranger was peeping at her with sparkling1 roguish brown eyes1 and seemed half inclined to speak4 ,springing from the ground1 ,fannie opened the gate and called3 8,would you like to come in here and see my flowers1 little boy80 ,the stranger smiled and advanced1 and in a few minutes was chatting with our little girl as though he had always known her4 ,he told her his name was ,franklin ,hedge1 that he lived in a beautiful1 large1 white house ever so far away1--the 8ever so far0 was about two miles farther into the country1--that he had a dear mamma1 and a splendid papa1 with big1 black whiskers2 that he had no brothers and sisters1 but he guessed ,god was going to bring him a little sister soon1 cause he had asked for one so many times2 that he had horses and carriages and playthings1 8and the biggest garden1 with all kinds of flowers growing in it40 ,he was out riding with his teacher today1 and his teacher had let him play outside while she went into a house to see a sick friend2 it was only a little ways off1 and he had strayed this way while waiting for her4 ,to all this ,fannie listened with breathless delight2 she had never seen such wonderful things as this little boy said he owned2 he looked so cool and pretty in his spotless white suit1 and seemed so kind1 so different from the boys she had seen throwing stones1 that he seemed like an angel from another world4 ,for an hour these two children chatted and played in the garden2 ,fannie showing ,frankie how to make necklaces of flowers and stems1 and ,frankie initiating ,fannie into some of the mysteries of boyish games4 ,once1 ,mrs4 ,davis called to know who ,fannie was playing with1 but the little girl satisfied her mother about that1 and returned to her new friend1 bringing a glass of fresh milk which he drank with much enjoyment4 ,but all pleasant things seem to have an end on earth1 and pretty soon these friends were called upon to part4 ,a carriage1 drawn by a sleek white horse1 and driven by a lady1 appeared coming up the road4 ,frankie recognized his teacher1 who was looking anxiously up and down the road1 and kissing ,fannie ,davis good-bye1 ran out to meet her2 he was lifted into the carriage1 and in a few moments whirled from sight4 ,for many long weeks after this day1 ,fannie talked constantly of her little friend ,frankie1 and wondered when he would come to see her again2 but the weeks deepened into months1 the flowers drooped their heads and withered away1 leaving only dry1 brown seeds1 which the little girl carefully gathered and laid away2 the leaves drifted from the old oak tree1 leaving the branches brown and bare2 the robin's nest was deserted1 for all the birds had flown away to a sunnier1 warmer clime1 to spend the winter2 and still ,frankie did not come4 ,fannie could not play out in the garden now1 except for a little while on the sunniest days2 she missed the morning greeting of her little pet robin sadly1 but she liked to think of him as happy in some warmer place1 and to look forward to the coming spring1 when he would return to the old tree4 ,mrs4 ,davis had been growing paler and thinner all summer2 a bad cough frequently racked her frame1 and distressing pains in the side gave her great uneasiness4 ,it was now a difficult task to carry her work to and fro to the shop in the city2 yet she felt it must be done1 and there was no one to do it but herself4 ,upon the scanty proceeds of her toil depended the existence of herself and little one4 ,for herself she did not mind so much2 but for her little girl she was all anxiety4 ,a kind-hearted doctor1 who lived in the vicinity of the little old brown house1 called in occasionally1 leaving some dark mixture in a bottle1 which the patient woman took with the hope of gaining strength2 but the days and weeks flew by1 bringing but little relief4 ,winter was almost at hand2 ,mrs4 ,davis had been unable to provide for its approach1 and she knew not what to do4 ,at last she had been forced to give up her work4 ,she had but a little wood1 flour1 and meal in the house2 the snow came drifting down1 at first very slowly1 but soon increased in rapidity1 until at last the ground was covered with a carpet so pure and spotless and clear that even angel feet might tread upon it2 yet bitterly cold and uncomfortable to the poor1 bare1 suffering feet of those mortals who are without clothing and fire4 ,down1 down came the feathery snow2 darkness fell upon the silent house2 little ,fannie crept to her mother's side beneath the bed-covering1 and was clasped in her tender arms4 ,sweet sleep visited the child2 but none came to bless the weary eyes of the dying mother2 for now the poor woman knew the truth1--her hours on earth were numbered4 ,oh1 how she prayed for the good doctor to come and visit her2 but he was far away by the side of another sick and suffering one1 and knew not of her desire4 ,only one thought possessed the mind of the sleepless woman1--the future welfare of her little girl4 ,if she could be satisfied of this1 she would be content to pass to the spirit world1 where she knew her dear husband was waiting to welcome her4 ,the storm passed with the night2 the morning sun shone upon the snow-covered home of our friends1 and streamed in upon a little group gathered around the bed of ,mrs4 ,davis3 little ,fannie weeping pitifully1 and clinging to the cold1 lifeless hand of that form that had once contained the spirit of her mother2 the good1 kind doctor1 whom ,i have spoken of1 and a beautiful lady robed in mourning garments1 with a face as pale as the face of the dead4 ,mrs4 ,davis had passed away peacefully1 for the doctor had assured her that her little one should be taken care of4 ,he was now preparing to leave1 to send some one to look after the house1 and prepare for the funeral service of the departed4 ,you will remember the little boy1 ,frankie ,hedge1 who spent a pleasant hour in the garden of the little brown house1 one sunny summer day1 in company with little ,fannie4 ,well1 ,frankie had not forgotten his little playmate of an hour2 many times would he speak of her to his mamma and papa1 and they had promised him that when he returned from the sea-side1 where he was going with them for a few weeks1 he should again see the little girl he had taken such a liking to4 ,but1 alas1 ,frankie ,hedge1 who went to the sea-side a strong and happy boy of eight years1 returned at the end of six weeks a pale and helpless invalid4 ,frequent bathing in the ocean spray1 and remaining in the water too long at a time1 weakened his constitution to such a degree that when a chill seized him one cloudy morning1 while splashing about with his companions in the water1 it was with the utmost difficulty he was brought to land in a senseless condition4 ,from that time he weakened and pined away2 all that human love or physician's skill could do was done1 but without avail2 and now1 when the ,december winds howled about the splendid residence of his father1 he lay panting and moaning1 his face as white as the snowy pillows upon which it rested1 and his eyes grown large and sorrowful1 seeking rest and strength from the gentle face of his mother1 who bent above him4 ,often1 in his hours of illness1 had he spoken to his parents of little ,fannie ,davis1 telling of the many fine times he meant to have with her when he got well2 but now he knew he should never get stronger in this world1 and so it was that on this cold ,december evening1 when the snow was flying thick and fast without1 and the gentle1 subdued light of the sick chamber fell upon the costly furniture1 the rosy curtains1 the silver ornaments of the mantel1 lighting them up with a mellow glow1 and shining upon the pallid faces of the anxious parents1 ,frankie entreated his mother to go for ,fannie ,davis1 and bring her to him4 ,kind ,dr4 ,may1 who was in attendance1 said he knew the little girl and her poor1 sick mamma1 and he would go for her himself4 ,but this would not do2 nothing would pacify the sick child until his mother promised that in the morning she would go in the sleigh with the good doctor1 find ,fannie1 and bring her to ,frankie's side4 8,oh1 ,i am so glad1 mamma10 said the child2 8there is a nice1 tall man here1 and he is so glad too4 ,i saw him that day in the garden where ,fannie lives2 he told me he was ,fannie's father4 ,he says pretty soon ,fannie will have no mamma on earth4 ,do bring her here1 mamma1 and perhaps when she has no mamma1 and you have no little boy1 she will be your little girl1 and stay with you forever2 'cause ,i will be will be with the angels2 but ,i will come to see you sometimes40 ,after this the child fell asleep1 and in the morning1 when the sun was shining on the freshly-fallen snow1 ,mrs4 ,hedge was taken in the doctor's sleigh to the home of ,fannie ,davis2 and that is how they found the dying woman and the weeping child4 ,kind1 gentle ,mrs4 ,hedge found it impossible to persuade little ,fannie to leave her mother's side2 so after the spirit of the suffering woman had passed peacefully away1 she was obliged to return to her home1 leaving the little girl in charge of a good woman whom the doctor had found to remain with and care for her1 until after the funeral of the body of ,mrs4 ,davis2 for it is only the body1 dear children1 that has to be laid away from sight2 the real person lives1 and is not cold and senseless2 but if he or she has been good1 happiness is theirs1 and they find a beautiful1 sweet home in company with their dear friends4 ,mrs4 ,davis had met her dear husband and parents1 and found a bright home awaiting her1 but she had not forsaken nor forgotten her little girl1 who was left on the earth seemingly alone4 ,frankie ,hedge expressed no feeling of disappointment when his mother returned without ,fannie4 8,i knew she wouldn't come10 said he to her as she entered the room1 after removing her rich cloak and furs4 8,i told papa she wouldn't come4 ,i saw her papa again a few moments ago1 and there was a lady with him with such a sweet1 pretty face4 ,it made me think of you1 mamma1 it looked so kind and good1 and then ,i knew ,fannie's mamma was dead and that was her40 ,mrs4 ,hedge kissed her little boy1 and said she thought ,fannie would come by-and-bye1 after the funeral of her mother's body4 8,oh1 yes1 she will come1 mamma2 her papa told me so1 and ,i can wait1 because ,i'm not going to leave you for some time yet4 ,i saw dear grandma last night1 and she kissed me and said3 #8,not till the ,march winds blow1 my lamb1 will we be ready to take you to our spirit home4'0 ,the eyes of the listening parents filled with tears2 they knew their darling was traveling fast to the ,summer-land1 yet they did not grieve as some people grieve when their loved ones pass away2 for they knew he could come back to them4 ,they did not think he was dreaming1 as the doctor did1 when he talked of seeing ,fannie's papa and his own grandma1 because they knew the angels are ever around striving to make their presence known to their friends4 ,in three days ,fannie ,davis was brought to the home of ,frankie ,hedge4 ,poor little thing6 how her eyes lighted up at the sight of the little boy waiting anxiously to receive her4 ,what an affectionate meeting was this6 ,you would have thought it a meeting between a long-lost brother and sister2 but the angels knew and understood4 ,both children had changed since that long past summer day when they met and parted4 ,for while ,frankie had grown pale and wan from pain and weakness1 ,fannie had lost her rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes from long confinement and grief from the illness and death of her mother4 ,nothing would satisfy ,frankie ,hedge now but a promise that ,fannie should stay with him while he remained in the body1 and this desire was granted4 ,sorrow of her own had filled the heart of ,mrs4 ,hedge with pity and sympathy1 which soon grew into love for the little orphan2 and ,mr4 ,hedge1 who declared ,fannie looked very much like a little sister of his who passed away many years ago1 took her into his heart at once4 ,a little room1 opening off the hall where ,frankie's chamber was situated1 was fitted up for little ,fannie4 ,a beautiful carpet of blue ground1 with white lilies strewn upon it1 covered the floor2 a tiny bed of spotless linen and lace1 pretty furniture of blue and white1 a few pretty pictures upon the pink-tinted walls1 and blue and white curtains at the window1 completed the furnishing of the room4 ,this apartment was a continued charm to our little girl4 ,never in her life had she beheld anything so beautiful1 and she would sometimes hold her breath and pinch her arm1 to see if she was not dreaming4 ,mrs4 ,hedge had undertaken also to clothe the child1 not in somber garments of black1 but in dainty dresses of creamy white cashmere1 which filled her spirit with delight1 and made her wish for her mamma to come back and see her4 ,the two children were constant companions now during the day1 save when ,fannie was absent at her meals1 or taken out for an airing by ,frankie's governess4 ,dr4 ,may declared ,frankie very much improved since ,fannie came1 and ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,hedge began to hope that health and strength would soon return to him4 ,what famous times the children had together6 ,frankie possessed numerous toys and picture-books1 which were a source of never-failing delight to the little girl2 besides1 he would tell her of the places where he had been1 and things he had seen1 until her little eyes would grow round with wonder and pleasure4 ,but best of all would she love to listen to him1 as he told of the visits of her mamma and papa1 and his own grandmamma to his bedside1 and what they said to him2 and she would wish1 oh1 so much1 that she could see and hear them too1 and it made her very happy to learn that her mamma and papa were happy in a sweet home1 and they came back every day to ,frankie1 to send their love to their little girl4 ,so time sped rapidly away1 and it was soon the first of ,february4 ,the clear1 white frost covered the ground1 which shone in the beautiful sunlight of morning1 or the glittering moonlight of evening1 like countless sparks of brilliant light4 ,all was fair1 calm1 and serene4 ,within doors it was the same2 not a breath of discord1 not a ripple of inharmony came to disturb the quiet peace of that little household4 ,a beautiful cabinet-organ stood in the recess of ,frankie's room1 and sometimes1 when the twilight fell1 the little boy would ask his mamma not to have the gas lighted1 but to play on the organ2 and as the quiet shadows of early evening fell1 the good lady would play softly and sweetly to the listening ears of the delighted children4 ,at this hour the presence of the angels became visible to ,frankie1 and he would talk with them1 as though they were in the body4 ,one evening1 about the middle of the month1 ,mrs4 ,hedge sat in a large easy-chair1 holding her little boy in her lap2 he had been very restless and uneasy all day1 and to soothe him into quiet his mother had taken him in her arms4 ,little ,fannie sat a short distance from them1 her soft1 blue eyes fixed in a dreamy gaze4 ,mr4 ,hedge had just come in1 and stood looking sadly down upon his suffering child4 ,suddenly1 ,fannie arose1 passed to the organ1 seated herself upon the stool1 and began running her fingers over the keys1 producing a soft1 sweet melody4 ,presently she began to sing a beautiful song1 still playing an accompaniment to the words4 ,frankie's parents were astonished beyond measure1 even while delighted at this wonderful performance of the little girl1 who had never played a note upon any musical instrument in her life2 but the little boy himself viewed the scene with calmness and pleasure4 ,afterward1 he told them all that he had seen a beautiful lady touch ,fannie by the hand1 lead her to the organ1 and guide her fingers over the keys4 ,the song which ,fannie sang ,mrs4 ,hedge recognized as a favorite air of a very dear sister of hers1 who had long since passed to the spirit world1 and by the description her little boy gave of the lady he saw at ,fannie's side1 she was convinced that it was really her sister1 come back to sing to her once again4 ,every evening after this would the sweet spirit come1 take control of the little girl1 and sing and play to her delighted listeners2 ,frankie never failing to see and speak to her1 as well as other spirits present1 and to convey to his parents the messages of love and consolation they would bring4 ,it seemed as though heaven had indeed come down to that sick chamber1 and that angels dwelt within the home4 ,these were sad but happy days for ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,hedge4 ,they now knew that nothing--not even their great love--could keep their little boy in the body2 his strength was failing fast1 but his spirit powers were gaining so rapidly that he could see the angels at any time4 ,many a sacred hour did the parents spend in communion with their spirit friends through the powers of these two children brought so strangely together2 and even while they sorrowed to part with their darling1 they rejoiced to know that he would be happy in the spirit world1 where they would some day join him1 and that while they remained on earth he would return to comfort and bless them4 ,frankie himself was perfectly calm and happy in all but one thing2 he was troubled and perplexed about his little friend ,fannie2 it was strange how these children had become attached to each other4 ,fannie1 who had always been an active little girl1 would sit upon the side of the bed for hours at a time1 holding ,frankie's hand1 and talk or sing to him until he fell asleep1 or it was time for her to leave him for her food or walk4 ,as yet1 the little boy had not mentioned his trouble to anyone3 but at length1 as the end drew near1 he resolved to do so4 ,it was evening1 the curtains were drawn1 and the mellow light shone through the gas-globes4 ,the children had kissed each other 8good night10 and ,fannie had retired to her rest4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,hedge were sitting with their sick boy2 the nurse and physician had retired1 and all was quiet throughout the house4 8,mamma and papa10 said the child1 8there is one thing ,i want so much1 so much2 ,i am going to leave you very soon now2 grandma told me this morning she would soon come for me2 but ,i want you to promise me something before ,i go40 8,what is it1 my darling80 asked his mother1 as she kissed his pale brow4 8,i want you to keep ,fannie always with you1 and let her be your little girl4 ,she will be your comfort4 ,the spirits want this1 too2 ,i think they sent me to her last summer1 and they brought her to us4 ,please1 mamma and papa1 say she may always stay here with you40 8,yes1 dear10 answered the father1 8your mamma and ,i decided this some time ago4 ,we can never part with the little one willingly4 ,she is too precious to us1 and she has been too dear to our little boy for us to let her go from us40 ,a smile of joy flashed over the child's features2 he was at rest now2 nothing else could disturb him1 for he was near the gates of the ,summer-land4 ,his little friend was to be cared for2 that was all he could desire4 ,with a loving kiss and grateful glance to his dear parents1 he sank into a sweet and dreamless sleep4 ,the ,march winds came and whistled around the old1 stately house2 the white snow still lay upon the ground4 ,it had been an unusually cold winter2 many poor souls had felt the biting blast2 but little ,fannie ,davis1 cared for by loving friends and guardian spirits1 had been mercifully protected from all want and suffering4 ,it was twilight1--the angel's hour in that home of wealth and splendor4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,hedge1 good doctor ,may1 the gentle old nurse1 and little ,fannie ,davis were gathered around the couch of the child whose mortal life was fast ebbing away4 ,but there was a far larger company gathered in that silent room1--angelic beings came to take the loved one home1 and these the eyes of the child watched with solemn delight4 ,calmly1 sweetly1 gently1 his soul passed out from the body1 to be met by loving welcome1 and borne to the blooming bowers of ,summer-land1 where all is beauty1 gladness1 and joy4 ,tender hands robed the little form of clay in garments of spotless white1 adorned it with rare and fragrant flowers1 and with many caresses and tears1 consigned it to its last resting-place4 ,but the little boy1 ,frankie1 now glad and strong and free1 still lived in a beautiful home1 from which he could return to those he loved4 ,three days after the burial of the body1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,hedge were seated together1 conversing sadly of the late events4 ,little ,fannie1 who was present1 seemed to pay no attention to their conversation2 the poor child had grown strangely silent and sad of late1 for she missed her little companion more than tongue can tell4 ,suddenly her form straightened1 her eyes brightened1 and a smile spread over her features4 8,oh1 ,frankie1 ,frankie10 she exclaimed2 8he is here--see6 see6 ,how good and bright he looks60 ,in a moment her eyes closed1 her features changed1 and passing to the side of the sofa1 where the elder parties were seated1 she embraced them fondly1 and in ,frankie's well-known tones addressed them1 telling of his pleasure1 his beautiful home1 how well and strong he had grown2 telling of the dear ones with him1 and expressing his delight at the opportunity of returning to his dear1 dear parents4 ,what a happy hour was this6--their dear one returning to speak to them4 ,tears of joy fell from their eyes1 and the sorrowing parents were lead to rejoice in the goodness and mercy of our ,father in ,heaven4 ,often after this was the scene repeated2 almost daily1 ,frankie would return1 and control little ,fannie to speak to his father and mother2 many times he appeared to the little girl1 and the children would play together1 as though both were in the form2 so that loneliness and sorrow vanished from the hearts of all1 and it indeed seemed that their dear one had never died4 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,hedge never had cause to regret adopting ,fannie ,davis2 she was the light and life of their household1 through whom the angels came and ministered to weary hearts4 ,many a life has been comforted1 many a home brightened by the messages of love1 hope1 and cheer1 given through her organism by good spirits4 ,she is now a young lady1--sweet1 gentle1 and lovable1--whose purest happiness comes to her life when she is comforting the sad1 and assisting the needy4 ,spirit ,frankie1 with her own dear father and mother1 and many other angels1 guard and guide her on in her useful mission of helpfulness and love4 ,thus1 you may see1 dear children1 how the angels ever care for those in need4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,the ,,children ,,of ,,the ,,summer-,,land4 ,i think the dear little boys and girls in earth life would like to know something about the children who live in the bright ,summer-land2 and so ,i am going to tell them about the little ones ,i have seen in that sweet country1 and the pretty places where they live4 ,first1 my little friends1 ,i will tell you of the beautiful place which we call ,lily-,vale4 ,it is a pretty spot where flowers bloom all the time1 and where birds sing and carol in their merry way to please the children who live and go to school there4 ,a large lake of clear water is in the center of ,lily-,vale2 all around its shores great trees grow1 and their huge branches1 trimmed with glossy green leaves1 throw a pleasant shade upon the water1 so that it looks like a large1 green1 shining jewel4 ,little white boats1 some of them in the shape of swans1 and others fashioned in the form of various shells1 ride upon the lake1 and it is the delight of the scholars who dwell here to be allowed1 as they often are1 to sail in these tiny 8floats10 as we call them1 under the care of their teacher or guardian friend4 ,they gather together in parties upon the lake shore1 a guide and two children entering each boat1 and shoot off across the water to enjoy the calm breeze and delicious1 gliding motion of the skiffs1 and at the same time to learn lessons concerning the nature1 qualities1 and uses of water1 and the laws of motion as connected with the flow of waves4 ,the manner of learning about these things is different in the ,summer-land than on earth1 and ,i fear my little mortal friends would not understand did ,i attempt to explain it4 ,well1 sometimes there may be seen from twenty to thirty floats1 each containing three persons1--a teacher and two children1--upon the bosom of the lake4 ,today the parties may be content to just move quietly along upon the water1 and tomorrow they may rapidly glide to some distant part of ,lily-,vale1 there to enjoy a picnic ramble1 perhaps1 in ,maple ,grove or ,woody ,glen1--two favorite places of resort for the scholars1--and to gather information concerning botany and the other branches of natural history4 ,i am sure my little readers would like to sail upon the lake of which ,i write1 and to make one of the happy1 joyous party of children who never quarrel1 but are always gentle1 affectionate1 and deferential to their teachers and one another4 ,but ,i must tell you something more of the valley called ,lily-,vale1 named thus because its very fine1 velvet-like grass1 or sward1 is dotted with fragrant1 beautiful lilies4 ,these sweet flowers are the delight of the children1 and the pride of the teachers' hearts1 and they make the place one great bower of fragrance and beauty4 ,tall and massive trees uprear their heads in this place1 scattered apart1 and in groves1 and beneath their luxuriant shade scholar and teacher alike spend many a happy hour with lesson and task4 ,other flowers beside the lily also grow here1 and the little ones are never wearied in tending to them1 or watching their growth from day to day4 ,the sun shines brightly upon all things2 and when the plants or flowers or trees need moisture1 the showers come1--not in great1 heavy raindrops1 but in fine sheets of silvery spray1 which moisten all things without drenching them1 and through which may be seen a mild1 yellow light which comes from the sun above the fleecy clouds4 ,in the distance--for ,lily-,vale is not a small place--may be seen great towering mountains1 encircling the valley2 their shining heads1 which glow in the sunlight with purple and rosy hues1 looking like radiant guides watching over the little folks below them1 are fair to gaze upon1 and many a lesson of firmness1 fidelity1 and truth do the children learn from the sight of those faithful sentinels of ,lily-,vale4 ,and now1 my little friends1 you wish to know how the children live in this pretty spot4 ,well1 they live very much as you do in your earthly homes1 only many of them do not live with their mammas and papas--because perhaps the parents are on earth1 or have gone away and forgotten their little ones1 or for some other reason--but reside with their teachers or guides1 who are always kind1 loving1 and attentive to the little people under their charge4 ,in this sweet place there are a number of little white houses1 some smaller than others1--because the number of inmates of some are less than of others1--and in these houses the children live4 ,these houses1 or 8,rhonas10 are all round like pavilions1 and have entrances on every side2 the windows open like doors from floor to ceiling1 and are generally open wide4 ,the columns1 or posts1 of the 8,rhonas0 are entwined with growing vines1 which throw out their purple1 pink1 golden1 or scarlet blossoms to catch the gentle breeze4 ,the insides of the houses are furnished prettily but simply1 and all look neat1 tasteful1 and sweet1 just as little children's homes always should2 for the surroundings of a child have a great deal to do with forming its character and disposition1 as well as with developing its tastes4 ,books1 pictures1 music1 and everything beautiful1 are to be found in the little homes of ,lily-,vale1 and all who dwell there live in harmony with one another2 the children are obedient and affectionate toward the teachers1 who in turn are respectful1 loving1 and tender toward their pupils4 ,the older scholars assist in training and caring for the younger1 and all are happy in this ,summer-land home4 ,teachers in the spirit world do not have charge of so many children as tutors do on earth4 ,no teacher has more than seven pupils under her charge1 and many have only one or two2 for they believe that by having but a few scholars they can better attend to the training of mind and body than they could if they had many to look after1 as in that case some portion of the training would be sure to be neglected4 ,sometimes the pupils of each teacher learn their lessons in their homes1 but often they may be seen in the open air1 under the trees1 in the groves1 by the lakeside1 or elsewhere1 busily employed over their studies and gaining practical knowledge from the various objects around them4 ,but there is a beautiful and grand building in ,lily-,vale1 called 8,the ,temple of ,art10 which ,i must tell you of2 for it is so spacious and lofty1 and fashioned of such a shining white1 almost transparent1 substance that it can be seen from a far distance1 and excites the wonder as well as admiration of all who gaze upon it4 ,this beautiful building has no side-walls1 but is open all around1 its roof being supported by heavy columns of white1 shining stone4 ,its ceiling is carved and tinted to resemble the blue sky2 its floor is of many-colored stones1 laid in circles2 in the center1 a large fountain of silvery white constantly sends forth fan-like shapes of perfumed spray2 all around the interior of the temple are soft-cushioned seats1 but at the farther end is a raised platform1 where the ,masters of ,art sit when they come to instruct the children4 ,at regular intervals of time1 the children of ,lily-,vale gather in this temple to receive instruction in music1 painting1 sculpture1 or some other art1 for all the children do not learn the same thing4 ,some love music and acquire a ready knowledge of it1 but do not easily learn the art of painting2 others care nothing for music1 but are eager to learn how to paint1 or carve1 or do something else2 and as each one is not obliged to study those things for which he or she has no taste1 but is allowed to gain a knowledge of that which they desire to know1 ,lily-,vale is full of bright and apt scholars1 who are a credit to themselves and to their instructors4 ,when the scholars or classes for any particular study convene in the ,art ,temple1 they are addressed by some great and good person who gave special attention to that study when on earth1 understands it thoroughly1 and now delights to teach the children something of his knowledge1 and assist in drawing out the powers within them1 better than he does to compose a choral1 paint a picture1 carve a statue1 or sing a poem of his own2 and the little ones listen attentively1 retaining the information they receive in their minds1 which later on they seek to work out in experiments for themselves4 ,the exhibitions of paintings and statues sometimes made in this temple are very grand2 the concerts heard sometimes are very sweet and beautiful1 and the music that rings out from this place is more delightful than anything you can ever hear on earth4 ,and so here1 in this charming spot1 little children live1 and grow1 and thrive4 ,they play and work1 live happily together1 grow in goodness and stature day by day1 and learn to be truthful and earnest in their lives1 in their studies and occupations1 that they may be noble1 honest1 earnest men and women by-and-bye4 ,there is a beautiful spot in the ,summer-land which ,i shall call ,crystal-,lake4 ,this resort is not like ,lily-,vale1 for it is smaller1 more shallow1 and in other respects quite different4 ,crystal-,lake is surrounded by banks of moss1 green and cool1 which afford soft-cushioned seats to the little children who come to play and frolic4 ,in every direction trees uplift their branches toward the blue sky1 flowers bloom and birds sing1 making the place beautiful and gay and very sweet4 ,but ,i must tell you1 dear children of earth1 of one peculiarity of ,crystal-,lake1 and that is this3 the waters of that clear and sparkling basin are never still1 but are continuously ruffled by the breezes that pass over them2 and as the tiny waves move softly to and fro1 they produce low1 singing tones1 like the tinkling of silver bells1 which are very sweet and musical1 and the constant delight of all who listen to them4 ,this peculiarity of ,crystal-,lake has earned for it the name of 8,chiming ,waves10 the sound which the waters make being much like what the chime of a cluster of small silver bells would be4 ,the surface of this lake is so clear1 and its bed so near1 that the latter glistens in the bright sunshine with many colors1 and presents the appearance of a floor sparkling with precious gems of every hue1 rendering it a beautiful sight to gaze upon4 ,under the trees which surround ,crystal-,lake1 and in the open spaces between them1 are to be found all manner of appliances for the exercise of the children who daily gather here2 swings and bells1 swinging clubs and rebounding balls2 8rial glides10 which are a kind of balloon or air-car1 and many other things which the children of earth know nothing of1 all for the amusement and development of the children2 for in spirit life all amusement is combined with utility1 and all recreation so planned as to assist in the development of the body as well as the expansion of the mind4 ,the waters of ,crystal-,lake are used mostly for bathing purposes for the children1 who love to glide through them and enjoy the delicious coolness while listening to the songs of the waves2 and a pretty sight may be daily seen in this place when numbers of tiny children1 none of them more than ten years of age1 are sporting in the water and filling the rose-tinted air with the music of their shouts and laughter4 ,crystal-,lake and its vicinity is what we call a large sanitarium1--that is1 a place where health may be found1 where no one can be sick and weak4 ,all who live here in the little white houses1 that are numerous1 never know what it is to be feeble1 but are strong1 active1 and happy2 for perfect health brings enjoyment with it4 ,there are a great many of these beautiful sanitariums in the spirit world1 and they are not all for the children2 many of them are for grown people1 who require care4 ,but these we will not now visit1 as our work is entirely with the little children of the ,summer-land4 ,i suppose1 my dears1 you have seen some little children on earth who are sick and feeble1 and who are never strong and well2 and perhaps you have heard that these poor suffering darlings have passed from earth1 and their bodies been buried away from sight4 ,well1 it is just such children as those suffering ones who are taken to the pleasant sanitariums1 like that of ,crystal-,lake1 in the ,summer-land1 and there1 in those beautiful places1 they grow well and strong and happy1 and are never sick nor miserable any more4 ,perhaps their papas and mammas on earth were very poor1 and the little ones were not provided with anything bright and pretty when in the body2 then they are very happy and joyous when they find themselves in this sweet home1 and are able to appreciate and enjoy all its beauties4 ,indeed1 no matter how poor1 or in what lowly circumstances the little sick children have lived on earth1 they are all just as tenderly cared for and loved1 and provided with just as beautiful surroundings as though they had been the petted children of very wealthy parents1 and their little hearts soon learn to respond in love2 for there are no distinctions among the children of the sweet ,summer-land1--all are equally cared for4 ,perhaps1 my dears1 you have heard of little children on the earth who have been neglected by everyone1 and obliged to wander around the world by themselves1 unloved and uncared for4 ,sometimes such children die and are taken to the spirit world4 ,they are little pallid1 tired things1 who need to be strengthened and made happy2 and they are placed in the bright sanitariums1 given plenty of fresh air and pure sunlight1 their limbs are bathed in the clear water1 they are allowed to play and romp and sing2 they use the various contrivances for amusement and exercise1 and in a little while present an appearance of perfect health and happiness4 ,the kindest of mother-nurses are in these places1 who love and pet the little ones under their care to their heart's content4 ,they never have to give the children medicine1 for it is not known nor required here4 ,they never have to punish them1 for there is so much love and kindness here it is a pleasure1 and it is very easy1 for the children to be always gentle and good4 ,those sanitariums1 like ,crystal-,lake1 which is a great garden of flowers and trees and birds1 with a charming musical basin of water in its center1 where everything is sweet and beautiful1 and where it is delightful to live and enjoy the freedom of real existence1 are the only kind of children's hospitals ,i have ever heard of in the ,summer-land2 and they are the brightest1 healthiest1 most enchanting spots ,i have ever visited4 ,the children who live there are real children1--natural1 artless1 innocent1 happy1 and free4 ,happy ,valley is the name of another beautiful place in the ,summer-land1 where children live4 ,as its name implies1 it is a valley2 for great green hills surround and hedge it in1 and it lies like a bright and sparkling jewel within the sweet embrace of those wooded heights which may be seen from its every point of view4 ,the hills around the valley are covered with groves of shady trees1 the green foliage of which gives a restful1 cool1 and inviting sight to the eye that gazes upon them4 ,the inhabitants1 especially the little folks1 take great delight in climbing those hills and holding their school sessions1 meetings1 picnics1 and social gatherings1 upon their summits4 ,the valley is fully as pretty in appearance as any place ,i have before written of1 and indeed those who dwell there have never before known such a charming spot4 ,bright and fragrant flowers gem the soft1 green grass2 shrubs and thickets of red and yellow1 white and pink1 roses are abundant2 creeping vines1 with green leaves and long1 finger-like spikes of purple or crimson flowers1 twine around the walls of every home1 and all things are sweet and pure2 streams of water gush out here and there2 natural fountains send out jets of clear and sparkling water2 birds sing joyously in the trees1 and hop fearlessly in and out of the houses2 so tame are they that they will perch upon the finger of any little boy or girl who calls to them1 and sing a song of cheer to the great delight of their mountain keepers4 ,happy ,valley is like a vast school-room filled with the bright and cheerful faces of little children1 with here and there an adult or grown person who is a kind1 loving1 and gentle teacher4 ,the lessons are always learned in the open air1 never inside the houses2 for much information is gained by the little ones from the natural scenery which they so frequently gaze upon4 ,the children of this place are very musical in their tastes1 and are given every opportunity and facility to cultivate their powers in this direction4 ,you have heard of a little instrument called the olian harp1 which1 when placed in an open window or anywhere where the wind will sweep across its strings1 gives forth a very sweet and plaintive melody4 ,well1 in ,happy ,valley every child who desires one--and who does not8--has an instrument very similar to that little harp1 which they place where the soft breezes can sweep across it1 thus evoking the most sweet and enchanting music1 not sad like the melody of the olian harps of earth1 but cheerful1 inspiring1 and very tuneful4 ,a stranger entering this valley1 and for the first time listening to the music drawn from a number of these little instruments--as he will be sure to do--will wonder if he has entered fairy-land1 and if it is the chiming and chanting of the fragrant flower-bells he hears1 so exquisite is the sound4 ,but no2 it is only the children's harps1 played upon by mystic fingers of the wind1 and teaching a lesson of cheer and hopefulness to the little ones4 ,the teachers take this method of instructing their pupils in the laws of vibration1 of harmony1 of melody1 and of rhythm1 while explaining to them by practical illustration the operating power in the breeze that causes it to have such a glorious effect upon the tiny instrument4 ,the little girl of whom ,i am going to tell you is only about eight years old4 ,she is a very quiet1 gentle child1 full of care and thoughtfulness for others4 ,her great pleasure is found in trying to make others happy4 ,i will not tell you how she looks2 but if you know of any good1 kind1 loving little girl who tries to help others1 to speak softly and pleasantly to them1 and to smile cheerfully when desired to do anything1 why1 you may think she looks like this little spirit girl whom ,i shall call ,flora--after the flowers4 ,flora came to the ,summer-land when about four years of age4 ,at first she felt very sad1 and would sit all day silent and sorrowful by the side of some stream1 or upon some grassy knoll1 and take no heed of the happy sports of the frolicsome children around her1 for you see she had left a dear mamma and papa and a sweet little baby-brother upon the earth1 and she felt that they missed her and wanted her back in their home4 ,but in a little while our ,flora became sprightly and cheerful1 for she found that she could return to her earthly home2 and at night1 when her dear parents and little brother were asleep1 she could talk to their spirits and even sing them songs 7for she had a very sweet voice71 and in the morning she would sometimes hear her mamma say3 8,it seemed last night as though ,i could hear my little girl singing to me1 and ,i do sometimes think she comes to baby1 he is so good1 and smiles and chirps so much1 just as he used to when she played with him40 ,and the papa would smile and say3 8,it does really seem as though there was an angel in the house2 ,i feel as though ,i am nearer heaven than ,i used to be40 ,so you see this little spirit girl was doing a great work in a quiet way1 by coming to her mamma and papa in a loving1 gentle manner1 and by brightening their lives with her cheerful1 sunny presence4 ,flora had a little harp1 such as ,i have told you of1 given to her1 and she would sometimes bring and place it in the doorway of her papa's home1 and the breeze or air-current would cause its strings to vibrate with sweet1 faint melody4 ,the little baby-brother would hear the celestial music1 and laugh1 crow1 and clap his hands1 while his mamma would lay down her sewing or pause in her work1 and strain her ears to listen to the strange1 sweet1 faint sounds that fell upon them4 ,well1 this continued for some time1 until ,flora's mamma became fully convinced that the sweet musical strains she so often heard were not the effects of an active imagination1 but that they were real and tangible2 and hearing of a spiritual medium not far away1 she determined to visit her to learn something if she could of those who are called dead4 ,i am not going to tell you about the spiritual experiences of ,flora's mamma1 only that she was so pleased with what she heard at the home of the medium whom she visited that she went again and again1 for at each call she made upon the spirits through the medium she received more and more information concerning her own dear ones in the spirit world1 and never failed to learn something of her little ,flora1 who always came with messages of love4 ,so you see1 dear children1 this little girl of ,happy ,valley accomplished the great work of bringing happiness1 comfort1 and peace to the sad heart of her mamma1 and1 later1 of bringing the grand knowledge of immortal life to that mamma1 and convincing her that her loved one who had died still lived and loved her1 and would come to her4 ,and all this was performed because the little girl desired to bless and help her mamma1 and so brought the little spirit-harp and caused the winds to play upon it in her earthly home4 ,our little spirit girl1 ,flora1 sometimes takes her harp into earthly homes where want or misery or pain are felt1 and in the quiet hours of night1 when the tired inmates are what you call asleep1 she plays and sings to them1 and their spirits1 which are not asleep1 though their bodies are wrapped in slumber1 listen to the sweet sounds and grow strong and happy2 for they gain power from the spirit sounds to go on in their weary life on earth4 ,these poor1 sad people do not in their waking hours remember that they heard such heavenly music and singing1 but they sometimes recollect that they had dreamed pleasant things1 and they often wonder why they feel so happy when they awake and so strong to go through with the toils of the day4 ,it is because they had been visited in their sleep by an angel child4 ,there is a large hospital in one of your cities where poor1 sick1 suffering people lie on beds of anguish4 ,men and women1 and sometimes little children1 are taken there to find relief from pain and fever1 or perhaps to die and go to the spirit world4 ,kind nurses and doctors do all they can for these sick people1 but1 ah1 they do not know how they are assisted by the little spirits who1 like ,flora1 take their tiny harps and play upon them1 or set them where the breeze can sweep over them1 thus invoking sweet sounds that are heard by the spirit ears of the sufferers1 and which lull their fevered fancies or soothe their burning pain4 ,i will tell you of one case where great good was accomplished by our little friend ,flora4 ,a strong man lay very ill in the hospital ward4 ,his brain seemed to be on fire1 for all the fever which had attacked his system had mounted there4 ,his suffering was intense1 his ravings were terrible to listen to2 he had been given up to die by the doctors1--that is1 they could do nothing to save his life4 ,dear little ,flora visited the side of this man constantly4 ,she had placed her spirit-harp above his cot1 and the faint breeze that was allowed to circulate around it was sufficient to cause a vibration of the strings of the instrument4 ,time passed2 the man grew worse and worse2 the physicians were compelled to minister opiates to him to ease his sufferings4 ,at length1 when he had succumbed to the power of the drug1 he sank away into a deep stupor2 but though his outer senses were numb1 his spirit-hearing was alive4 ,sounds from the spirit-harp fell upon his hearing1 perceiving which ,flora began to sing a soft1 sweet melody4 ,the man listened and grew calm and quiet4 ,the doctors watching his sleeping form1 dreaded its awakening2 but when the patient did arouse from his slumber1 it was with cooled brain and stilled pulse4 8,doctor10 he cried1 8,i have seen an angel2 ,i have heard her sing to me2 ,i shall get well60 ,the physician smiled at what he considered the fancy of a sick brain2 but the patient did recover his health and strength4 ,from the day when he first heard the spiritual music1 and listened to ,flora's singing1 he began to grow better1 until he was pronounced well by the doctors4 ,but he was a long time regaining his strength1 and every time he fell into slumber ,flora's harp would strike upon his hearing1 and very often he would hear the sound of her voice in song4 ,these moments always gave him power1 rested him1 brought him new strength1 and thus his spirit was enabled to overcome the weakness and pain of the body4 ,he recovered his health1 and became also a firm believer in the power of angels to relieve the sickness and sufferings of mortals4 ,in the same hospital where the sick man was cured of his fever1 through the power of ,flora and her harp1 many other suffering persons also have been blessed and aided in various ways by the same ministering power4 ,i will now tell you about a young woman who lay there wasting away with consumption4 ,this patient could not be restored to bodily health1 either by mortals or spirits2 nor was it desirable that she should be1 for life had been hard for her4 ,the world had been very cruel1 and she had suffered much4 ,the only hope for her happiness would be in passing away to the bright ,summer-land1 where she would find friends1 kindness1 and home4 ,but she did not know about these things as we do1 dear children1 and she did not want to 8die20 she did not want to leave the body1 for she dreaded the ,beyond4 ,well1 this woman--,i will call her ,lizzie--suffered agony of mind in thinking of death1 and little ,flora felt great compassion for her4 ,she sought in every way to influence the mind of ,lizzie with bright and happy thoughts4 ,she would sing to her1 place her harp where its music might possibly be heard1 and in many ways endeavor to bring comfort to the weary girl4 ,at length1 when ,lizzie had become so weak and pallid that it seemed as though the soul must part with the body1 her inner hearing was opened1 and the music of the tiny harp fell upon it4 ,she listened1--listened1 oh1 so intently4 ,soon a smile lighted up her wan features2 it was1 indeed1 heavenly music to her4 ,in a little while she heard a voice in sweet1 childish tones singing these words3-- 8,we are coming1 we are coming1 ,with our spirits filled with love1 ,to guide thy weary footsteps ,to our ,father's home above2 ,we are coming1 we are coming1 ,and the night will quickly fly1 ,there is rest and hope and comfort1 ,life and ,peace are drawing nigh40 ,the sick woman aroused with a start and looked so strangely at the nurse that the latter said3 8,what is the matter1 ,lizzie80 8,nothing is the matter10 replied ,lizzie2 8but ,i am so glad1 ,i feel so happy4 ,i am not afraid to die now1 ,god is good2 ,he will not destroy a poor girl like me who has had so much to bear4 ,i think he will take me to his home4 ,i have heard such sweet music1 such tender words6 ,god is good2 he will help me4 ,i am ready to go to him40 ,the next day ,lizzie died with a smile on her lips1 and as her soul passed out from the body she heard the sweet1 soft music of the harp1 and caught a glimpse of ,flora as she sang3-- 8,there is rest1 and hope and comfort1 ,life and ,peace are drawing nigh60 ,only one more story of ,flora and her harp have ,i time to tell you1 dear children1 and this is of a little boy who was very ill4 ,he1 too1 must pass away to the ,summer-land2 he was too weak and ill to recover bodily health4 ,his parents were wealthy1 and he was their only darling4 ,they felt as though they could not give him up4 ,to his luxurious home ,flora found her way frequently1 and the child had grown so spiritual that he could hear her sing1 and listen to the music evoked from her mystic harp4 ,many times he spoke to his dear parents of the sweet music and singing he heard1 and they sadly shook their heads2 for they felt that he was nearing the gateway of heaven4 ,however1 two days before the angel came to take him home1 his mother1 who was sitting by his side1 also heard the music and singing1 and her heart grew comforted as so many others had become before4 ,on the night that the little boy's spirit passed out to the higher life both the parents heard the wonderful music2 and it brought such peace to their souls they could no longer wish to keep their darling here to suffer pain1 but with a murmured prayer1 and without a rebellious thought1 they kissed his brow and gave his spirit up to the keeping of the angels4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,little ,,bertie ,,and ,,others4 ,in the beautiful ,summer-land where ,i live1 men and women who are always kind and good are the teachers of little children4 ,they once lived on earth1 and they loved children2 so now1 in the beautiful heavens1 they are teachers4 ,if you know any man or woman who loves children1 and is kind to them1 you may know these good people will some day be teachers and guides of little ones in another world4 ,you would like to know about the ,summer-land where ,i live4 ,it is like a large garden1 extending as far as you can see or travel2 beds of gay flowers bloom there and sweeten the air with their fragrance2 lakes and brooks and fountains splash and gurgle with crystal water2 there are groves of trees1 in the leafy branches of which birds sing and chirp all the day2 butterflies flit about from flower to flower1 and the golden sunlight falls in beauty over all4 ,in this vast garden we have our homes2 some are snug little white houses1 covered with flowering vines1 and shining out daintily from the glossy green2 others are stately habitations1 large and roomy1 and built of white or rose-colored or golden-hued stone4 ,here we live with those we love1 and we strive to be good and kind to all4 ,the kinder and gentler we are the more beautiful our homes appear1 and the sweeter grow the lovely blossoms about us1 because when anyone is good1 he sends out a bright1 shining light1 which influences and envelopes all that it reaches1 and beautifies it2 but if anyone is unkind1 he sends out a dark1 cloud-like vapor1 that blights and destroys the flowers1 and darkens his surroundings4 ,the little children meet in groups in this fair garden1 and1 tended by their kind teachers1 they learn their lessons and sing their little songs4 ,sometimes a new friend is brought to them1 some little one who has just left earth and is in need of kind friends and loving care1 and these children at once welcome the new-comer1 give her a share of what is theirs1 love her1 include her in their pleasures1 do not ask whether she was rich or poor1 and make her happy4 ,to this sweet place all who wish can come1 that is1 if they are gentle and kind2 but the light here is so brilliant that it would hurt the eyes that are often filled with anger4 ,some day1 when your bodies die1 you will come here1 if you wish to be taught1 if you are children1 or to be teachers if you are grown up4 ,a little girl came to us from earth a short time ago2 she was so white and quiet and gentle that we dressed her in white and called her ,lily4 ,she had never been to such a pretty place before2 her parents were poor and could not live in the country1 but were forced to dwell in a little narrow back street in the big city4 ,you can imagine her delight at finding herself in our ,summer-land1 where she could cull the beautiful flowers and hear the birds sing1 and play with them1 too1 all day1 if she wished4 7,the beautiful birds are very tame in our world2 they perch upon our shoulders and hands1 singing all the time2 they are not afraid1 and no one ever harms them47 ,for a while this little girl was very happy and contented2 she was such a mild1 gentle little thing that we all loved her at once4 ,soon ,i perceived that she grew more quiet1 white1 and sad1 and ,i found that she was grieving because she had all these sweet joys around her1 flowers1 birds1 fields1 friends1 a beautiful home and kind teachers1 while her mother1 and a little sister1 who was lame1 were obliged to live on earth in the little dark street1 with nothing beautiful to brighten their lives4 ,she wanted her mother1 she wanted ,nellie to share her new home1 or she wanted to go back and live with them4 ,then ,i showed her that though it was not yet time for her dear mother and sister to come to the ,summer-land1 yet she could go back to them1 and make them feel better and happier4 ,she was all delight at the thought4 ,plucking handfuls of the sweet flowers that grew around her1 with her pure face all ashine with love1 she asked me to take her back to her earthly home1 which ,i was glad to do4 ,we found her mother hard at work sewing1 and the little lame girl trying to help her4 ,we brought all our influence to bear upon the two1 but could not make them feel our presence4 ,leaving the flowers she had gathered1 spirit ,lily came away disappointed and sad4 ,but again and again she tried1 until at last1 little lame ,nellie began to see the flowers and the light which shone around her angel sister1 and finally she could see that sister herself1 converse with her1 and tell her wondering mother the many strange things told to her of the ,summer-land4 ,now our little ,lily is contented and happy1 anxious to learn in our spirit school1 for every day she returns to earth1 to teach her sister what she learns1 to show her the flowers and birds of heaven1 and to bless and comfort her mother with her presence and her love4 ,little ,bertie was a sweet little boy1 the only child his mother had2 his father had gone to dwell with the angels long ago1 and his dear mother was obliged to labor very hard for the support of herself and her little boy4 ,bertie and his dear mamma lived in a little white house1 that had a flower garden attached to it1 where the roses and pansies and sweet pinks grew and blossomed through all the long1 golden days of summer4 ,the little house stood just out of town1 not very far from the big stone house where the lady lived who supplied ,bertie's mother with sewing work4 ,little ,bertie was only seven years old1 but it was his delight to dig and plant in the garden1 to water the flowers1 and to keep the weeds from choking up the blossoming plants and shrubs2 and while engaged in this work1 he would chirp and whistle to the dear little birds who came to watch him1 and to sing him sweet songs1 as they swung merrily upon the branches of the one cherry-tree that the garden contained4 ,one day1 as little ,bertie was working away and singing a childish song1 a tiny shadow fell across his path1 and looking up he saw a little girl1 about five years old1 standing beside him1 and gazing wistfully at a bunch of red roses he held in his hand1 which he had just gathered for his mother4 ,the little stranger had evidently strayed through the open gate2 her pale face was very thin and wan1 her large blue eyes appeared as though they were only used to looking on disagreeable scenes2 but now they were lighted up with pleasure at the sight of the beautiful flowers6 ,her clothing was poor and worn1 and her whole appearance betokened want and suffering4 ,little ,bertie's curiosity1 as well as sympathy1 was aroused2 he plied the child with questions1 but1 alas1 she could not answer1 for she was dumb4 ,this she made him understand by signs1 also that she had come a long way and was tired2 she stretched out her hands toward the blooming flowers1 as though they could give her rest4 ,crowding her hands full of flowers1 ,bertie led the little wanderer in to his mother1 who soon made her more comfortable1 by bathing her heated body in cool water1 and by feeding her with a bowl of fresh milk and bread4 ,that night the little dumb girl slept in a nice1 soft bed with ,bertie's mother4 ,the next day ,bertie's mother tried to find out the home of the little girl1 and for many days after1 but all in vain4 ,the angels had led her to that pretty home1 and the angels intended she should stay4 ,her former home had been one of misery and want2 her own mother was an angel in heaven1 and her father had neglected and beaten her4 ,bertie was greatly delighted with his little sister1 as he called the stranger2 and soon the two children learned to love each other very dearly4 ,bertie and his mother were soon able to understand the signs the little girl made1 and there was no difficulty in knowing her wants4 ,they called her ,daisy2 and the two children were to be seen daily among the flowers1 which both fondly loved4 ,bertie's mother had to work harder than ever now1 as she had another little mouth to feed1 and another little body to clothe2 but she did not fret1 for she loved the little girl1 who gave so much pleasure to her ,bertie4 ,sometimes1 when the children were tired with work and play1 and had become quiet1 or at the twilight hour1 when the flowers and birds were going to rest1 little ,daisy would creep to the feet of ,bertie's mamma1 and1 fixing her gaze upon the far-away blue sky1 would put up her little hands with a look as though she heard sweet sounds1 and saw beautiful sights4 ,and so she did2 for the angels came very close to this little girl1 and sometimes1 when they brought her flowers from the ,summer-land1 she would see them and hear the sweet songs they sang4 ,the winter began to approach2 summer faded away1 and little ,bertie was very ill4 ,the angels wanted him in their beautiful home1 and one night1 just before the snowy ,christmas time1 he drew his mamma's face down to his and kissed it1 put his arms around her neck1 and whispered3 8,i am going1 mamma2 papa says so4 ,i see him2 he says ,daisy will be your child now2 the angels brought her here for you2 and he says ,i can come to you again40 ,and so he passed away to the pure spirit world1 where all is light and joy4 ,his mamma wept over the cold1 white body of her little boy1 from which his sweet spirit had forever fled2 but little ,daisy only smiled as she gazed upon the tiny form1 robed in its snowy raiment2 for she had seen the spirit of her little playmate as it passed out from the earthly form and was clasped in the arms of its angel father1 and she knew that ,bertie had gone to live in that beautiful1 wonderful land of sunshine and flowers1 which she sometimes visited in her dreams4 ,and how was it with our little ,bertie8 ,oh1 he was glad to come to our bright ,summer-land and play with the birds1 which sang so sweetly to him1 as they perched upon his hand2 for in the spirit world the little birds have no fear2 we do not confine them in cages1 but they live in the shrubs and among the flowers1 and they are so tame they will come to us when we call them1 and alighting on hand or shoulder will delight us with their melodious songs4 ,bertie's father lives not far away from the sweet spot which to me is home in the spirit world2 and so it happened that the little boy was brought to me to learn of the many beautiful things in the ,summer-land1 and to join with other little people under my charge in gaining a knowledge of life and its duties4 ,and what a dear1 sweet little fellow he is2 always happy and contented1 ever ready to part with the most beautiful flower or bird he possesses1 if it will enhance the pleasure of some one else2 always anxious to return to earth and bear messages from spirits to those who long to hear from their friends4 ,we all love him for his goodness and truth4 ,it was about two weeks after ,bertie's flight to the ,summer-land2 the snow lay thick and white around the earthly home of his mother2 it had been a hard day of toil and pain for that poor woman1 for she was obliged to labor1 even while a severe cold1 which had seized upon her1 seemed to tear her lungs with merciless fingers2 and now in the twilight hour1 with little ,daisy sitting at her feet1 the tears fell thick and fast from her weary eyes as she thought only of that little snow-covered grave in the lonely church-yard4 ,suddenly1 a mellow1 tender light1 like the last soft gleam of sunset1 streamed into the quiet room2 but the sun had long since set behind the clouds1 and there was no moon4 ,the mother never stirred1 but lay back in her chair1 her gaze riveted upon the face of the little dumb girl1 across which the strange light fell1 lighting it up with untold beauty4 ,the eyes of the child were fixed on vacancy1 as though she saw something beyond the sight of mortals1 as she truly did2 for little ,bertie1 hearing the gentle fall of his mother's tears1 even in his spirit home1 came lovingly back with hands filled with spirit flowers1 and it was his form that little ,daisy saw in the gleam of that mellow light which the angels brought to the cottage home4 ,gliding up to the side of the little girl1 ,bertie filled her hands with the flowers1 and then and there1 in the brief space of a moment1 the lonely1 tired woman saw a sight she never forgot1--the form and features of a little boy1 her little boy1 her ,bertie1 bending over the quiet form of little ,daisy1 crowding her hands with the most beautiful flowers she had ever beheld4 ,at the same instant1 a breath of perfume swept across her senses1 and she distinctly heard the words uttered1 in the well-known tones of her little boy3 8,for mamma40 ,daisy1 the child who was both deaf and dumb to earthly things1 heard the angelic whisper also1 and as a flash of joy lighted up her features1 she stretched out her handful of flowers to the startled woman4 ,at the instant1 all sight and sound vanished1 leaving only the darkened room as before2 but what had come to the child8 ,seizing a slate and pencil from the floor1 where she had left them when tired of tracing lines upon the slate an hour before1 little ,daisy wrote in a clear1 bold hand3 8,dear ,mary1 fear not2 the angels guard and guide you2 your dear ones are not dead2 they live in a bright home1 where they wait for you2 they can return and bless2 through this little child we can make our presence known2 we bring to you our love4--,,henry40 ,henry was the name of ,bertie's father1 and ,mary that of his mother4 ,what did it mean8 ,surely it must be true4 ,little ,daisy could not print her own name1 and this was ,henry's handwriting4 ,thus the good woman thought2 but though somewhat frightened and anxious1 her heart grew comforted2 a feeling of deep peace fell upon her spirit1 and she ceased to mourn4 ,as for little ,bertie1 he was wild with delight4 ,he had manifested his presence to his mother2 she could no longer fear that he was lost to her2 for had she not seen him with her own eyes4 ,a happier little boy did not dwell in the ,summer-land4 ,but ,bertie's mother has never seen him in that way again1 though he returns daily with his offering of choice flowers4 ,however1 little ,daisy always beholds him1 and she is enabled to tell his mother1 by signs1 when he is at her side4 ,the slate and pencil are kept constantly at hand1 and often1 in the twilight hour1 a strong influence comes over the little girl1 and she is made to write loving messages in the bold hand of ,bertie's father1 or in the printed letters of ,bertie himself4 ,and the mother's heart is comforted4 ,she knows her dear ones live and love her1 and that she will meet them again4 ,daisy has proved a gift of untold value to that lonely woman1 for which she is deeply grateful2 while in his spirit home1 ,bertie works happily in helping others1 and learning all he can for himself4 ,nor is this all3 wealthy1 kind people have taken an interest in ,daisy1 and in co-operation with the angels are educating her1 that she may become an accomplished woman4 ,spirit children learn most rapidly by coming back to earth1 bearing messages to mortals2 they also grow beautiful and strong in so doing4 ,knowledge increases with them1 and they become wise and experienced in a little while4 ,they earn their lovely homes2 all the bright1 beautiful things they have are theirs1 because they have worked for them1 and they know how to enjoy them thoroughly4 ,now1 my dear children1 if in these pages ,i have written or should write any word or sentence that you do not understand1 please to ask your kind parents or some good friend to explain it to you2 because in talking of the work of spirits1 ,i may not always employ the language which is easily comprehended by such little folks as you4 ,but ,i promise you to write as simply as ,i can1 that you may read and understand for yourselves4 ,sometimes the spirit children come to earthly homes where little children in the body dwell1 and try to bring them--the mortal children--good hearts and pleasant lives4 ,messenger spirits bear messages of love to the little folks on earth1 and plant a desire to be kind1 loving1 and gentle in the breasts of those who linger here4 ,i know of a home on earth where three little children live with their mamma1 who is a poor woman4 ,there is a little boy in the ,summer-land who is a cousin to these children1 and very often he comes from his home in 8,golden ,nest0 to play with his cousins2 and every time he is with them they grow so gentle1 kind1 and loving toward each other that their mamma loves to watch them2 and she feels very happy1 even though she does have to work so very hard4 ,these little folks do not know that the spirit boy is with them1 enjoying their games1 and at the same time filling their hearts with bright thoughts and the desire to be good to each other4 ,little ,charley1 from ,golden ,nest1 cannot bring his cousins costly toys or rich food1 but he can do what is much better1 and that is he can make them happy by his sunny presence4 ,with him comes the sunshine1 the fragrance of flowers1 and the music of birds1--all from the ,summer-land4 ,the little earthly children cannot see the light1 smell the perfume1 or hear the birdies sing2 but they feel all these things1 and their hearts become bright1 fragrant1 and sweet in consequence4 ,so ,charley is a messenger bird who carries joy and gladness everywhere1 and the poor woman takes comfort in the gladness of her darlings1 wondering how they happen to be so cheerful1 but feeling thankful that their hearts are so bright4 ,little does she know that an angel from the ,summer-land is in her home1 casting a ray of heavenly light over each one4 ,now1 little children1 perhaps you may be favored by the company of some little playmate from the ,summer-land2 and if you will only be kind and loving to each other1 ,i am sure you will feel the gladness which the messenger spirits bring to your lives4 ,i know a little child who lives in the ,summer-land whose name is ,helen4 ,she passed away from the body when a little babe1 but as that was years ago she is now quite a good-sized girl4 ,helen is a great worker for others2 she is not at all selfish1 but is never so happy as when she has succeeded in making others feel glad4 ,she is quite a traveler1 too1 and journeys from place to place bearing messages of cheer1 and seeking out the lonely1 sad-hearted spirits1 in order to give them comfort and peace4 ,i have heard of this spirit working in various cities on earth1 and have been told that she has consoled many mortals who were bowed down in sorrow1 by telling them of their dear little children or kind friends who sent their love to them from the spirit world4 ,helen is an angel1--that is1 she is truly a messenger spirit1 and everybody loves her for her gentle kindness and her loving ways4 ,not very long ago1 ,helen brought to our home in the ,summer-land a dear little boy whom she had just found4 ,he was a waif who had died to the earth a short time before1 and had no kind mother or good father to take care of him4 ,he had been taken in charge by a loving spirit1 but our ,helen had begged so hard to have him in her keeping that the gentle lady let the child go4 ,it seems the boy's mother lives in the body1 and that she is very unhappy over the death of her little one4 ,she has not been very good in her life1 and she thinks her child has been taken away from her by an angry ,god to punish her for doing wrong4 ,helen has found out that this woman is a medium1 and she thinks she will have power to take the little boy to her1 so that the mother may become aware of the presence of her child1 and be made a better woman thereby4 ,and this is the work that ,helen is at present trying to accomplish4 ,the little boy under her care is a bright1 loving little fellow1 and will1 ,i am sure1 grow to be a noble youth4 ,he repays the kindness lavished upon him with gratitude and affection4 ,all the best part of his nature is now growing1 and the good within him is coming up into outward life4 ,he has been taken to see his poor earth-bound mother1 and ,helen has succeeded in making her think that her boy may be permitted to come to her4 ,this thought started within her mind a new train of reflection2 and the woman feels that if his pure spirit can come to visit her1 she must try and live a better life4 ,she would not have her child see her do a wrong act1--anything that would make him unhappy1 or cause him to turn away from her2 and so she is trying very hard to do right and to be a better woman4 ,one night the woman saw her child in company with another of larger growth4 ,both beings looked so beautiful1 their faces shone so brightly1 and such a sweet smile lingered on their lips1 that a thrill of joy ran through her weary frame4 ,when she awoke and found1 as she thought1 that it was all a dream1 she wept bitterly2 but since that time the poor woman has not tasted a drop of liquor1 nor said a bad word1 nor done anything that was naughty1 because she feels that perhaps the angels are watching her actions4 ,and so this good work is going on1 and two children of the ,summer-land may have the honor of redeeming a human life from wrong-doing and sin4 99 99 99 99 99 ,this is the season of the year when the little people who dwell in happy homes on earth receive pretty presents from their kind parents1 or from each other4 ,the pleasant expressions3 8,i wish you a merry ,christmas10 and 8,i hope you will have a happy ,new ,year10 are heard on all sides2 and the little children of the ,summer-land feel so pleased at this1 because they like to see the earthly children joyous and glad4 ,at holiday times1 my little friends1 you are in a good condition to receive visits from the angels1 because you do not feel naughty1 nor are you unkind to each other1 but each one of you rejoices over the pretty gifts all have received1 and are willing to share your sweetmeats with your playmates and friends4 ,so the little angel children who come around you smile and feel glad that the bright ,christmas and golden ,new ,year come to earth to bless each home1 and to make the children happy4 ,just at this time of the year you will have beautiful dreams2 for when you are snugly tucked in your little beds1 and your tired eyelids have dropped in slumber1 our little messengers--spirits of the ,summer-land--have the power to take you away from earth up to their bright home1 where they show you all the lovely things that are to be found there2 then you have a joyous time until the morning light breaks into your room1 when you are conducted back to your bodies1 and awake refreshed2 and1 oh1 so glad because of all the pretty sights you thought you dreamed of1 but which you really did see in the ,summer-land4 ,some of our spirit messengers have been watching a dear little girl who lives in a big city on the earth4 ,they love to see her patient little face1 all bright with smiles1 watching her mamma to see if there is not something she can do to help her4 ,the mamma of this little girl1 whom we will call ,bessie1 is very poor1 and she has to work hard in order to buy food and clothing for herself and child4 ,bessie does not grumble and cry when her mamma has nothing but bread and molasses to give her for dinner1 but she eats her food with a brave smile as she says3 8,never mind1 mamma2 when ,i get to be a big woman ,i'll work hard1 and then we'll have 'tatoes every day40 ,the angels love to come to ,bessie1 because she is a very lovable child1 and they would rather visit her and sing their songs to make her slumber sweet than to enter the luxurious homes of wealth and gaze upon all the beautiful objects they contain4 ,last ,thanksgiving1 ,bessie had a couple of cookies and a big red apple to go with her bread2 these her kind mamma bought her as a treat4 ,christmas had almost come1 but the little girl did not look for any gift to come with it1 because1 she said3 8,santa ,claus can't find out everyone1 and so ,i guess he'll not come this way this year40 ,a band of spirit children determined among themselves to give ,bessie a good ,christmas2 so they went out here and there into the homes of the rich in the big city1 and tried to influence those who lived therein to do good unto others4 ,at last they found a little girl who wanted to make some one happy2 and so they kept putting thoughts into her head how to help others4 ,when she went out to play1 the spirit children would make her walk up and down before the old house where ,bessie lived1 and sometimes she saw the child gazing shyly at her from the window4 ,at last the idea popped into the head of ,sadie--the little girl whose parents were wealthy--that she 8would like to give that little bit of a thing0--meaning ,bessie--a good ,christmas2 so she told her mother what she wished to do1 and asked her assistance4 ,i cannot tell you all that was done2 but early ,christmas morning ,bessie's mamma was called to her door by a loud rap1 and there stood a colored man1 who bowed1 lifted a large basket into the room1 and disappeared4 ,a note attached to the basket read3 8,for the little girl and her mamma who live here1 with a merry ,christmas from ,santa ,claus40 ,oh1 the nice things to eat that were in that basket1 enough to last a number of days4 ,there were also a package of toys1 a pair of mittens1 and a bright plaid dress for ,bessie1 with a warm gray shawl for the mamma4 ,you may imagine ,bessie's joy when all these things were shown her4 ,she clapped her hands again and again1 while her good mother's heart was full of thankful praise to the unknown friend who had made her little one so happy4 ,sadie also enjoyed her ,christmas better than ever before2 for she not only felt the results of a good deed in her heart1 but also felt the sweet influence of approving angels surrounding her1 while the messenger spirits from the ,summer-land rejoiced with exceeding joy in the happiness of each one4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,golden ,,nest ,,and ,,other ,,places4 ,golden ,nest is another beautiful place in the ,summer-land where the dear little children have happy homes4 ,in this sweet1 delightful spot the birds flit about in the green branches of the stately trees1 and warble their songs of melody4 ,you would be surprised in watching the antics of these bright-plumaged little songsters to observe how they will dance and swing upon the shoulder or finger of a child1--always bold and fearless1 never timid or afraid4 ,their songs1 too1 rival the human tones of the children's voices and seem to be keeping up an harmonious accompaniment to the words the little people sing4 ,golden ,nest is like a great green nest flooded with sunshine2 it is circular in form1 and carpeted with the softest and brightest of grass and moss2 flowers grow in great profusion1 and their beauty and perfume yield an eternal pleasure to the senses of those who approach them4 ,little streams of clear water bubble and gurgle over smooth1 round1 white stones and glisten in the soft sunshine like ribbons of molten silver4 ,the atmosphere is balmy1 and it is a luxury to live out of doors in this enchanting place1 that is a golden nest for the troops of merry little human songsters that dwell together there in love and harmony4 ,but these little people have a great deal of work to do2 they find enjoyment1 pleasure1 and play in this labor1 because it gives them unbounded zest and vigor in life4 ,the children of ,golden ,nest are messenger spirits1 and they act as messengers between the people who live in the body and their friends in the great spirit world4 ,all the spirit messengers do not live in this pretty place1 for such beneficent1 that is good1 spirits are to be found in all parts of the ,summer-land2 but all the children who live in ,golden ,nest are such workers1--that is1 they bear messages from spirits to mortals1 bring down to earth bright thoughts and impress them on the minds of people here2 stamp the desire to be pure and good in the hearts of persons on earth1 and come from their beautiful homes to watch over1 care for1 and love little children in the body1 and1 by singing sweet songs in their ears at night1 give them happy dreams1 so that they will wish to be kind and loving to each other1 and obedient1 affectionate1 and respectful toward their parents4 ,so you see the children who live in ,golden ,nest have a great deal to do2 they are never idle1 never naughty1 never sad1 for though it pains them to see earthly children naughty or unhappy1 and to find mortal men and women ill and sorrowful1 yet they are too busy in trying to help the unfortunate ones of earth to attend to any sadness in their own hearts2 and so it will not remain1 but flies away before the great light of cheerfulness in which these little people dwell4 ,if ,i call the children of ,golden ,nest angels1 my dears1 you will know it is because they are messengers1 for the word angel means message-bearer1--8only this and nothing more40 ,but in these days we are taught to consider angels as pure1 beautiful1 and holy beings4 ,well1 the little boys and girls in ,golden ,nest are pure and holy1 because they do not think bad thoughts4 ,they love each other1 are anxious to be good1 try to help others to do right1 and are busy in working to benefit some one in some manner2 and they are beautiful1 for their faces are smiling and sweet1 their eyes shine with happiness1 and they seem to leave a trail of brightness wherever they go4 ,moreover1 they are really message-bearers2 so ,i think you will agree with me that they are really and truly angels4 ,a group of these little people were very earnestly engaged in conversation not long since1 and as ,i watched their faces glow with animation1 ,i became convinced that they were discussing some new plan for the benefit of mortals4 ,and so the events proved4 ,i will briefly tell you of this work which these angels are now doing3 a circle--that is1 a place where spirits come back to earth to manifest to mortals--has been opened by a family who are anxious not only to receive knowledge of immortal life for themselves1 but also are desirous to bring this truth unto the comprehension of others4 ,this family had parted with three beautiful little children who had some time since been taken to the ,summer-land4 ,so the father and mother opened their home and invited their friends--who had also laid the earthly forms of dear children away--to join with them in invoking the presence of their spirit friends4 ,well1 this group of little ones in ,golden ,nest ,i had seen talking so earnestly together were the children of these good people2 for having learned what their parents were about1 they were all excitement to have a share in the work from their side of life4 ,so it was determined that they--the little ones--should return to earth1 and for a time1 with the permission of their teachers or guardians1 take up their abode in the home where the circle was to meet2 for by doing this these angels were able to bring a strong spiritual power to the earthly home which would assist them in making themselves manifest to their parents and friends4 ,so they have left their beautiful ,golden ,nest1 and are now staying on the earth4 ,they have controlled a medium in the circle1 spoken their names1 and announced their presence to their delighted parents4 ,just as soon as they have given their earthly friends all the spiritual power that they can1 they will leave the mortal home1 to convey messages back and forth from mortals to spirits1 and from spirits to mortals4 ,the circle controlled and guarded by this band of children from ,golden ,nest is destined to be of great service4 ,already1 outsiders have been admitted1 unbelievers have received messages from their dear 8lost0 ones1 many hearts have been made happy1 and our sweet little message-bearers are working earnestly to develop their medium so that she can see the spirits who come to her1 and describe them to their anxious friends4 ,they bring her strength so that she can bear the trials of life1 and be happy in working for the angels4 ,it is necessary for them to live with the medium now1 so that she may constantly feel the pure1 uplifting influence of their child-like1 unselfish spirits1 and thus not grow weary of the work planned out for her by spirit teachers2 so they have gladly given up the beautiful sights and sounds of their beloved ,golden ,nest1 to take up their abode in a humble home on earth4 ,but in a little time1 when their work is done1 and spirits of all grades and powers will be able to manifest at the circle and bring messages of joy to weary hearts1 as well as to find strength and happiness for themselves1 these little angels will return to their ,summer-land home1 well pleased with the success of their noble work4 ,a little girl who lives in ,golden ,nest has been a message-bearer for seven years2 she passed from the body when less than a year old1 and was brought to her friends on earth by another little angel who wished to do them good4 ,when little ,jennie first controlled a medium1 she could only lisp baby names to her parents2 but by coming constantly she gained power to express herself more clearly4 ,when three years of age she became the messenger of a medium1 and from that time she has made herself known to mortals almost every day1 always bringing messages from some spirit to friends on earth1 bearing messages from people here to dear ones in spirit life1 or helping spirits to come themselves1 or else giving spiritual advice to mortals who are in need of it4 ,this little messenger has given over twenty-five hundred spirit messages to people on earth during the last seven years1 has assisted over nine hundred spirits to control her medium1 and speak or write for themselves1 and has brought gladness to many1 many hearts4 ,this is the work of one little girl who lives in ,golden ,nest4 ,do you think1 dear children1 that she has any time to be naughty or unhappy8 ,no1 indeed2 she is cheerful and kind1 ever ready to assist and bless anyone1 and always ready to do the work given to her to perform4 ,i will give you the words of a sweet little song that ,i have recently heard sung by some little people who live in ,golden ,nest4 ,i cannot bring to you the melody which accompanied the lines1 though ,i wish ,i could do so1 it was so very sweet and produced such a happy1 joyous feeling in my heart4 ,could you only listen to the songs the little angels sing in their homes of light1 ,i am sure you would never be naughty again2 for you would try to be gentle and kind1 so as to ever attract them to your side4 ,but1 dear children1 we all love you1 and will try to make you happy every day4 ,and now for the song1 which is entitled ,,heavenly ,,love4 ,joy6 joy6 ,the light of morning ,rolls in gladness on its way1 ,flooding all the world with glory ,on this happy1 peaceful day4 ,so the love of ,god our ,father ,bathes the universe in light2 ,reaching down through all the darkness1 ,it dispels the gloom of night4 ,joy6 joy6 ,the heavenly splendor ,of our ,father's tender power ,gladdens every weary spirit1 ,in its saddest1 loneliest hour4 ,by-and-bye the holy radiance ,shall illumine every life1 ,and each soul shall rise in triumph ,far above all pain and strife4 ,joy6 joy6 ,the love of angels ,softly flows from heaven to earth1 ,blessing with its matchless power ,all the ills of mortal birth1-- ,heavenly love that brings its bearer ,down with messages of peace ,to assuage the pains of mortals1 ,and to make their joys increase4 ,joy6 joy6 ,the light is spreading1 ,we may bask within its rays1 ,let us gather up its sunbeams ,while we chant our songs of praise4 ,let us bear the heavenly splendor ,of this deathless1 boundless love ,unto those who mourn in sorrow ,for their friends who dwell above2 ,let us bless the weary-hearted1 ,and enfold their lives with love6 ,we will now leave ,golden ,nest and its happy1 busy inmates1 and travel on a little further in our search for the children who dwell in the ,summer-land4 ,soon we reach ,rocky ,nook1 where a number of little folks live who are growing strong and beautiful under the healthful breezes that ever blow around that favored spot4 ,rocky ,nook is not a cold1 bleak1 barren place1 though1 as its name indicates1 there are plenty of rocks or stones to be found there4 ,these stones are round1 smooth1 and shining1 of varied colors and different sizes2 they are so clear and beautiful you can see the white sand shining through them1 and when the sunlight falls upon them they glow with all the colors of the rainbow1 and sparkle like precious gems4 ,rocky ,nook is really a beach1 composed of gleaming white sand and covered with these shining stones4 ,here also may be found delicate rose-tinted and snowy shells of different forms1 which are more beautiful than any shell you ever saw on earth4 ,the water is clear as crystal1 and when it is quiet reflects the blue sky and spotless clouds2 moss and anemones grow in the limpid depths that have the appearance of a great flower garden1 so beautiful is the vegetable growth therein4 ,sometimes the sea comes roaring to the shore in great foamy billows1 making a musical sound like the chiming of many bells1 that is very pleasant to hear4 ,little boats or shallops may be seen upon this shining water1 filled with groups of many children who love to float upon the bosom of the great deep4 ,these little ones are never afraid1 for there is nothing to fear4 ,should the boats be tipped over1 which1 however1 ,i think never occurs1 nothing more than a dip in the water would happen to their inmates1 as spirits cannot drown2 and the children often take their bath in this great basin1 sporting with the waves and laughing with great glee4 ,rocky ,nook extends its shiny length for some distance along the shore4 ,here and there we perceive little pavilions built of the shining stones1 each one laid with precision and skill4 ,some of these little temples are circular in form1 and others are of the octagon shape2 but all are beautiful in appearance4 ,these little buildings have been erected by the children who live here1 and serve as play-houses for them4 ,this work gives them a knowledge of architecture and design1 and will serve as models for something grander to be attempted by-and-bye4 ,in walking over the smooth stones1 which are not rugged to our feet1 we reach a great structure built of snow-white coral1 and are surprised to learn that here in the spirit world must exist those tiny creatures who form this strange1 perforated substance1 since the coral could not be there had there been no coral-builders to create it4 ,today ,i found a group of happy children who were laughing1 dancing1 and singing in great glee4 ,their hearts were merry and glad2 not a frown marred the beauty of their faces1 nor an ungentle word ruffled the silvery flow of speech and song that issued from their lips4 ,yet these little ones had known suffering1 pain1 and misery2 their earthly homes had been filled with poverty and cruelty2 many times they had felt the biting cold of winter1 and suffered for the want of something to eat4 ,their parents were poor and ignorant1 who neglected their children and could not properly care for them4 ,so the little ones pined away and 8died10--that is1 their little bodies perished1 but their spirits were taken to the ,summer-land and placed under the care of loving and tender women1 who ministered to their wants1 attended to them assiduously1 taught them lessons of love and truth1 until they have outgrown the unhappy condition which their earth life surrounded them with1 and are the joyous1 gentle children whom ,i today saw smiling and singing with glee4 ,these are the little folks who dwell in ,rocky ,nook4 ,here1 by the side of the clear and sparkling water1 they live in little houses built far back from the sands1 surrounded by groves of trees and beds of flowers4 ,they have the benefit of the clear and bracing air that blows across the bright waters1 and can also enjoy the shady retreats of the old trees that wave their branches a little way inland4 ,every day the children gather on the sands and study the composition of the rocks and shells and corals1 or sail in their 8floats10 or bathe in the cool1 refreshing sea4 ,they have erected the structure of coral of which ,i have spoken1 with great nicety and skill1 fitting piece by piece into each other with the utmost precision1 and have left it upon the sand as a shining beacon to their playmates and friends who dwell on ,sunny ,isle1 a beautiful spot across the water4 ,i suppose my little friends on earth know that when people are cramped by ignorance and poverty1 they have to bend all their energies in struggling to live1 and that the spiritual part of their natures1 not having opportunity to grow1 becomes dwarfed and stunted4 ,when the little folks who live in ,rocky ,nook first came to the ,summer-land1 they were pale and puny in appearance1 weak and languid2 but the bracing air of this beautiful sea-side home1 the enjoyments of its outdoor sports1 the loving care and instructions of its keepers1 the bewitching study of the lessons it has to teach1 soon tone up the entire system of the children brought here1 and they grow strong and active1 anxious to learn the lessons1 to help each other1 and to become smart and good men and women4 ,and thus it is the children who might have grown up on earth in an atmosphere of sin and evil1 becoming depraved men and women1 when taken to the ,summer-land are cared for and educated to be useful and honorable members of society4 ,the children of ,rocky ,nook have all the advantages of the highest instruction that life affords4 ,all branches of education are open to them1 and they advance rapidly in knowledge2 for1 like all spirits who are not confined to the earth1 they are quick to grasp and retain information1 their powers of perception and observation being very keen4 ,as these children grow in stature and wisdom1 and arrive at the stage of early manhood or womanhood1 they leave the homes and schools of ,rocky ,nook1 and enter into association with advanced spirits who have long labored in connection with good people on earth to lessen human ignorance1 and teach mortals how to live better lives4 ,their places at the beautiful sea-side resort are quickly filled by other waifs from earthly life1 who are carried there to receive instruction and growth1 and prepare themselves to become teachers and guides to ignorant and suffering ones of earth4 ,the little children who live in ,rocky ,nook seldom come back to earth4 ,the memory of their mortal life is unpleasant1 and they do not like to think of it2 but as they grow and become wise and good1 and learn of the sad condition of many poor people who live here1 they have a desire to help them4 ,then these bright spirits find their mission1 which is to lift up some lowly one1 to make strong some person who does wrong1 so that he or she can resist evil temptation4 ,they then prepare themselves for the work before them1 and when the time comes they leave their pleasant home by the water and seek the company of those spirits who are experienced in working for humanity1 by whom they are guided in their labor of benefiting mortals4 ,let me tell you something1 dear children1 that perhaps you have never heard4 ,you know1 ,i suppose1 that there are many little ones on earth who are growing up in ignorance and amid the dreadful conditions of extreme poverty and crime4 ,well1 the dark and immoral surroundings of their lives attract undeveloped spirits who have not outgrown their evil inclinations2 and such spirits live over again their lives of sin in connection with those who grow up amid such adverse conditions4 ,but1 while the unfortunate children are thus unpleasantly situated1 each is attended by a guardian angel or messenger of light1 who watches every opportunity to benefit and bless them1 and who will be with them until they emerge from sin and unhappiness to a condition of purity and peace1 even though it be not until they have passed from earth and lived many years in the spirit world4 ,such spirits as those who live in ,rocky ,nook are the guardian angels of the poor1 ignorant1 unclean1 and miserable children of earth2 their mission is to attend these unhappy creatures1 and to work in their behalf1 prompting a good thought or generous impulse in their hearts whenever conditions are favorable2 watching over and looking after them1 visiting the more fortunate ones of earth and influencing them to pity1 assist1 and teach their miserable fellow-beings4 ,thus they toil on1 attending their charge even though it live a life of error1 going with it to the spirit world and working upon its sensibilities1 until at last1 in some way1 it recognizes the presence of the good angels1 turns from the evil ones around it1 repents of the past1 seeks for light1 finds it1 and begins to labor for the good of others4 ,and so ,rocky ,nook is a school of preparation where teachers become qualified to minister to the needs of the lowliest of earth2 it is a beautiful spot1 and well worthy a place in the ,summer-land4 ,the labor that its inmates perform is destined to out-work grand results to humanity2 and when earth's favored children co-operate with them1 the victory over ignorance and evil will soon be won4 ,sunny ,isle is a beautiful island that is covered with the greenest of grass1 and spangled with the sweetest and prettiest of flowers4 ,the sun sheds its golden rays upon a number of cosy homes on this radiant island1 in which little children dwell together in harmony and love4 ,the houses on ,sunny ,isle are circular in form1 and composed of a white material which resembles the marble of earth1 only more transparent2 the roofs are supported by pillars1 around which flowering vines twine1 shedding their fragrance upon the balmy air4 ,the interiors of these homes are decorated with beautiful pictures and statuary1 and furnished with pretty yet simple furniture for comfort and convenience of the inmates4 ,on this island a number of little children live with their parents and teachers1 and pursue their studies from day to day4 ,these little ones once lived in earthly forms2 but the conditions of the material sphere were too severe for them to endure1 and so they drifted to the ,summer-land4 ,some of them are with their own parents1 who passed from earth before they did2 while the fathers and mothers of others are still inhabitants of the mortal sphere1 and do not know that their little ones are cared for1 taught1 and protected by loving guardians1 who are laboring for the good of others4 ,the children of ,sunny ,isle learn the first principles of knowledge2 they are laying the foundations of a liberal education1 and1 under the wise instruction of their tutors1 are receiving practical information concerning the origin1 uses1 and destiny of life4 ,here they develop their natural tastes and inclinations1 and early show what particular line of labor they are best adapted for4 ,the abilities of the child are encouraged to unfold1 and they are given opportunities for expression in outward form4 ,by-and-bye1 these little ones will have passed through their preparatory discipline on this island1 and be qualified to enter a higher department of training and of knowledge4 ,they will then leave this place for a home elsewhere1 perhaps in one of our large cities of spirit life1 or in some of the academic groves where learned teachers and masters of art and science give practical instruction in the various branches of education to their pupils4 ,then other little ones will be brought to ,sunny ,isle1 to take up the studies and advance in the direction of those who have preceded them4 ,but because the little people who live in this bright spot are studious and industrious1 you must not think they are unhappy1 for indeed they are the merriest1 healthiest set of little chatterers that you ever saw4 ,no late hours1 no severe lessons beyond their years and comprehension1 no ill-ventilated apartments1 and no food that will not assimilate with their systems1 tax their mental and bodily powers beyond endurance1 as is the trouble with so many young people of earth4 ,plenty of fresh sunlight1 air1 water1 fruits1 etc41 are supplied these spirit children2 lessons adapted to their understanding are explained to them1 and generally illustrated by objective experiments2 they are allowed to practice any kind of labor that they are interested in1 and thus get a practical information in relation to it4 ,their clothing is loose and comfortable1 and does not restrict their movements1 and all things are conducive to their health and happiness1 so that they cannot help being joyous and free4 ,sunny ,isle is often visited by the children of ,rocky ,nook1 which is not far across the sparkling water that laves the shining banks of this pretty spot1 and frequently a number of floats or shallops are seen cresting the dimpling waves1 filled with merry1 lighthearted little folks from one or the other of these places1 who are visiting each other4 ,air cars are also seen floating in the atmosphere1 bearing their precious burdens of happy1 fearless children from point to point of interest1 wherever may be their destination4 ,these young people can also glide through the atmosphere by their own will-power1 without being obliged to resort to conveyance of any kind4 ,this power of navigating the air by the force of will is natural to the spirit1 but cannot be acquired while encased in the mortal form1 because the physical body is too ponderous to be conveyed through the air without mechanical support4 ,spirits who live on earth but a few hours1 or months1 or even but two or three years1 are enabled to float in the manner of which ,i speak almost at once when they reach the ,summer-land2 but those who have remained on earth for some years have to become accustomed to this method of exerting their will sufficiently to glide through the atmosphere1 as the effort does not come readily to them2 they are timid and afraid1 and have to practice many times before they gain confidence to float any distance4 ,little mortal children1 when first born1 could swim easily if placed in water and allowed to use their limbs1 and if the practice was continued they would have no difficulty in navigating the water1 because swimming is natural to them2 but if they are kept out of the water for years1 they lose their natural ability for passing through it4 ,they grow timid and fearful1 and have to practice many times before they gain power to swim to any distance4 ,and that is just the way with the natural powers of the spirit1--they must be exercised to be of use4 ,sunny ,isle is one of a group of three islands2 the other two are in appearance similar to the first4 ,they are also inhabited by little children and their teachers4 ,the studies and pursuits are similar to those of which ,i have spoken4 ,these islands are called ,concordia and ,melodie4 ,they are homes of happy1 innocent1 and active little beings1 who are destined to perform great good for humanity4 ,the dwellers upon these three islands of the sea mingle freely together1 for they love each other4 ,when the children of these islands have studied a certain lesson1 or practiced a particular work for a little time1 they are permitted to change their attention to some other interesting labor1 or to find recreation in some pastime that is pleasant to them4 ,this is so that their minds and bodily powers will not become wearied1 and that their duties may not become distasteful to them4 ,these little folks are provided with all the appliances necessary for their health and enjoyment4 ,they have boats1 swings1 rial cars1 and other conveniences for their amusement4 ,musical instruments abound1 and many of the pupils are fine vocalists4 ,the children laugh1 shout1 romp1 plash in the water1 and act generally as do the children of earth when bent upon having a good time4 ,they never push nor injure each other in any way1 because the first lesson they learn in this school1 and one they never forget1 is gentleness to one another and love to all people4 ,wherever there are children in the ,summer-land1 no matter what the name of their home1--whether it be ,fairy ,nest or ,happy ,valley1 ,golden ,nest1 ,rocky ,nook1 or ,sunny ,isle1--will be found beautiful sights and sweet sounds2 for the expression of childhood is beauty1 and in heavenly life the little spirits are provided with the surroundings and conditions that harmonize with their own interior life4 ,the methods of instruction at the different homes may vary1 but all are calculated to perform their work well and faithfully4 ,every child in the ,summer-land is taught that labor is ennobling1 and all are anxious to learn some branch of employment4 ,they love to work1 for they know that true happiness is found in activity2 and as each is allowed to follow the especial pursuit which pleases him or her best1 and to choose what it shall be1 all are contented in their occupation4 ,the child on earth who is busy leaping1 running1 shouting1 using its limbs1 is happy1 while the little one who is obliged to remain quiet or be idle is sad1 discontented1 and miserable4 ,this shows that idleness is unnatural1 and that activity is the true condition of life4 ,in the ,summer-land1 the natural is always allowed to have free and full expression4 ,now1 my little friends1 if you do not understand what ,i tell you about these things1 please ask your kind mother or father to explain it to you2 for ,i wish you to gain a clear comprehension of the real1 natural1 and beautiful manner in which the children of the spirit world live1 study and amuse themselves1 so that you may think of them as busy little workers who are as alive and active as yourselves4 ,the occupations of these young residents of the higher life1 and also their studies1 are various2 but whatever each undertakes to learn to do is accomplished with earnestness and by diligence4 ,we have no dull scholars1 because all delight to study2 and we have no loitering idlers1 because each takes pleasure in practicing or experimenting in some line of labor for themselves4 ,our young folks are students of astronomy1 following the movements of planets and seeking for knowledge of the solar system1 or the grand universe of stars1 with eager interest2 of chemistry1 gaining information of the various elements and their combinations1 from day to day2 of the electrical forces in nature1 and the laws that control them2 and1 indeed1 we have with us pupils in every branch of science1 as well as philosophy1 who are charmed with their studies and take them up with commendable zeal4 ,we have also scholars pursuing the branches of education embraced by algebraic numbers1 geometry1 architecture1 form and design1 and other practical studies2 while many of our children1 when their minds are sufficiently matured1 adopt the study of medicine1 and enter the field of magnetism to follow their chosen pursuits2 for there are many sick and feeble mortals1 and many ill-formed spirits1 who require the care and assistance of magnetic doctors2 and here is a grand work for those who are adapted for it4 ,so you see1 my friends1 the lives of the children in the ,summer-land are busy1 useful1 and earnest4 ,these little ones have all the amusement and recreation they desire1 while they find an incentive to study or work in the joy they feel when they have mastered their lesson or accomplished their labor4 ,they have no time to quarrel or to be discontented1 and are always happy4 ,,part ,,third4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,john ,,critchley ,,prince4--,,his ,,experiences ,,in ,,the ,,spirit ,,world4 ,the chapters that follow contain a recital of the spiritual experiences of ,john ,critchley ,prince1 the poetical control of the medium1 which first appeared in the columns of the ,voice of ,angels1 and elicited warm expressions of commendation and approval from the pens of a number of writers4 ,the name of ,prince is well-known in ,england1 for his poems have long held a place in the affections of his countrymen2 but as he speaks of his earthly life and labors in the first portion of his narrative of experiences1 we will not anticipate what is there stated4 ,it may be well to mention how spirit ,prince happened to become attracted to ,miss ,shelhamer1 and to find in her organism elements that so assimilated with certain ones of his own as to render her a fitting instrument for the transmission of his thought to mortals1 and we will give the explanation in his own words1 as published in the ,voice of ,nov4 #a1 #ahgh3-- 8,i feel that ,i owe it to the public to explain my presence here1 and how ,i first happened to control this medium4 ,in early life1 comparatively speaking1 ,i met with the present chairman of the ,voice of ,angels circle1--an old friend1 ,mr4 ,robert ,anderson1 of ,morpeth1 ,england1--himself somewhat of a poet1 and one possessed of a mind competent to criticise1 admire1 or condemn the productions of poetical souls4 8,he became somewhat interested in me in those early days1 at ,ashton under-,lyne1 ,england1 and we formed a spiritual affinity that has survived physical separation1 and even death itself4 ,we lost sight of each other2 but after my first experiences in spirit life ,i determined to visit ,america4 ,by the law of spiritual affinity ,i was attracted to a 8circle0 held by this medium1 then a girl in her teens4 ,my old-time friend1 ,robert ,anderson1 who had long been a resident of ,boston1 and had become interested in the revealments of ,spiritualism1 discovering mediumistic qualities in his own being1 that enabled him to perceive and to converse with spirits1 was present at that circle4 ,the links of sympathy formerly binding us together immediately revealed themselves1 and ,i gave him spirit-greeting4 ,since that time1 some six years ago1 ,i have been a frequent visitor to this home1 meeting my old friend and holding social converse with him4 ,i do not always need to control the medium for that purpose1 for he is both clairvoyant and clairaudient1 and it sometimes pleases me to enter the sphere of his spiritual aura and converse with him in the ,lancashire dialect1 which seems to recall old associations to our minds40 ,mr4 ,prince refers above to the spirit-greeting he gave his friend ,mr4 ,anderson1 who had for many years held a devoted friendship for the parents of ,miss ,shelhamer1 the medium1 and who was ever a welcome visitor in their home1 upon his first appearance from the higher life4 ,this greeting was expressed in verse1 and appears below4 ,the recipient of this poetical tribute was highly gratified as well as astonished at the production1 for he recognized in its composition the well-remembered style of his old friend ,prince1 as well as quotations from a poem written by the spirit author in ,england many years before he passed from the body1 and which had never appeared in print in this country4 ,the poem thus delivered is entitled ,i ,,come ,,to ,,thee4 ,when evening shadows lightly fall1 ,and earth is wrapped in holy peace1 ,when over cottage roof and wall ,the sounds of toil and revel cease1 ,i come to thee4 ,when in the fair and cloudless skies ,the golden stars their vigils keep1 ,like countless hosts of angel eyes ,that guard the world while hushed in sleep1 ,i come to thee4 ,not when the roses climb the wall1 ,and sweetly scent the balmy breeze1 ,not when the joyous songs of birds ,make music through the leafy trees1 ,i come to thee2 ,when the earth is nobly ruled#e ,by winter's weird1 majestic reign1 8,when moonlit snow is on the roof1 ,and pictured frost is on the pane10#f ,i come to thee4 ,not when earth's fair and sunny morn ,hath bathed thee in its mellow glow1 ,but when upon thy honored head ,descends life's winter's driven snow1 ,i come to thee4 ,from fairy lands1 whose silvery gleams ,stream oft across thy earthly way1 ,where life more fair than pictured dreams ,glows with the light of perfect day1 ,i come to thee4 ,to speak of that eternal shore ,where gently beat the waves of time1 ,where zephyrs chant their sweet refrain1 ,and life is evermore sublime1 ,i come to thee4 ,to strew before thy weary feet ,the roses of eternal love2 ,to plant the lily bud of peace1 ,transplanted from the world above1 ,i come to thee4 ,from fairy lands beyond the tomb1 ,where flowers of truth forever bloom1 ,to guide thy soul through realms of love ,to fairer1 sunnier climes above1 ,i come to thee4 ,and when thy pilgrim feet have trod ,the starry road that leads to ,god1 ,when thou hast reached the shining strand ,and angels clasp thee by the hand1 ,i'll come to thee4 ,to greet thee once again with joy1 ,unmixed with sorrow's dark alloy1 ,to sing the songs of sweet accord1 ,to teach thee of the ,living ,word1 ,i'll come to thee4 ,footnote #e3 ,the poem was given in mid-winter4 ,footnote #f3 ,quotation from one of his early poems4 ,a few weeks after the production of the above the spirit author presented his friend with the following poetic effusion3-- ,,heart ,,treasures4 ,earth may yield her sordid treasures1-- ,purest silver1 gold1 and gems1-- ,fit to crown a kingly forehead ,with their royal diadems4 ,man may point to forms of beauty1 ,rarest works of skillful art1 ,but he cannot find the equal ,of the treasures of the heart4 ,oh1 the human heart is glowing ,with the gems of truth and love1 ,flashing in the radiant splendor ,of their coronal above2 ,flashing in their wondrous glory ,through the clouds of doubts and fears1 ,gems whose lights shall never tarnish ,in the mists of future years4 ,see the gold of pure affection1 ,twice refined and purified6 ,gaze on sympathy's white silver1 ,linked together1 side by side6 ,mark the shrine of honest ,friendship1 ,rarest work of heavenly art1 ,and compare thy earthly treasures ,with the treasures of the heart6 ,oh1 the human heart holds truly ,mines of beauty1--wealth untold1-- ,richer than earth's fairest jewels1 ,brighter than earth's shining gold2 ,glorious forms of smiling beauty ,fill each recess of the heart1 ,fairer than the sculptor's model ,that begems the world of art4 ,oh1 the heart itself's a jewel ,hid within these forms of clay1 ,flashing in its radiant splendor ,with the light of perfect day2 ,through the crust of human weakness1 ,through the slough of human shame1 ,burning with the light eternal ,of affection's sacred flame4 ,here this wondrous1 precious jewel ,i this evening bring to you1 ,shining with unfading luster ,burning steadfast1 calm1 and true2 ,set within the crown of glory ,of infinitude above1 ,whose eternal anthems ringing ,tell of ,friendship1 ,truth1 and ,love4 ,the spirit1 ,john ,critchley ,prince1 has inspired his medium with a great number of poems1 many of which have been published in the ,banner of ,light1 ,voice of ,angels1 and other spiritual and secular journals1 and he proposes to have them gathered into book-form1 to be published as a volume of poetic gems some time in the future4 ,the following1 selected from this mass of poems1 are given as specimens of the poetical work this spirit has accomplished in connection with his medium3-- 8,,and ,,he ,,will ,,make ,,it ,,plain40 ,the path of life seems dark and drear ,to mortals toiling on ,through heavy clouds of doubt and fear1 ,and mists of sin and wrong2 ,for through the shadows of despair ,we often seek in vain ,for light to pierce the tangled maze1 ,and make its meaning plain4 ,dear souls are groping in the dark1 ,and longing for the day1 ,who cannot see the lines of truth ,along life's beaten way2 ,and spirits1 hopeless and forlorn1 ,whose tear-drops fall like rain1 ,wait anxiously the coming time ,when ,he will make it plain4 ,we cannot find the tangled end1 ,so blindly do we seek2 ,we stumble o'er the rugged path1 ,with steps grown faint and weak2 ,we cannot make the crooked straight1 ,nor light the darkened road1 ,nor can we ease our aching hearts ,of all their weary load2 ,and so we totter on our way1 ,and cannot comprehend ,the meaning of ,life's mysteries1 ,and how each one shall end3 ,why hearts should ache and spirits bleed1 ,and faint beneath the rod1 ,till1 in their agony of need1 ,they cry to ,thee1 ,o ,god6 ,above the clouds that darkly lower ,the sun is shining bright4 ,and through the spirit's saddest hour ,the soul gains strength and might4 ,we may not find the comforter ,for all our woe or pain1 ,yet ,god is the interpreter1 8,and he will make it plain40 ,oh1 saddened hearts6 oh1 stricken souls6 ,who long for peace and rest1 ,the ,father's love about you rolls1 ,and that will make you blest6 ,infinitude can never err2 ,its mysteries he'll explain-- 8,god is ,his own interpreter1 ,and ,he will make it plain40 ,dear teachers of the 8,living ,word10 ,whose souls are bathed in light1 ,with every impulse nobly stirred ,to battle for the right1 ,to you belief can never err1 ,nor 8scan his works in vain10 ,for ,god is your interpreter1 ,and ,he hath made it plain4 ,o ,father1 ,god6 to thee we pray ,for strength to do ,thy will1 ,and as we journey on our way1 ,fulfill ,thy purpose still2 ,and through all weakness may we join ,the angels' sweet refrain-- 8,god is ,his own interpreter1 ,and ,he will make it plain40 ,,down ,,by ,,the ,,sea4 ,down by the sea1 the gleaming sands ,forever beckon to the waves1 ,the seagull flits along the shore ,or nestles in its rocky caves2 ,the billows chant their sweet refrain ,of life forever grand and free1 ,and deep-toned harmonies repeat ,their mystic rhythms to the sea4 ,down by the sea the morning breaks1 ,and all the eastern sky is bright ,with shining radiance that wakes ,the world in rapture to the sight2 ,and riding on to burning noon ,the golden sun in splendor beams ,upon the dimpling1 glistening waves1 ,half wrapt in soft1 delicious dreams4 ,down by the sea the western sky ,is all aglow with rosy light1 ,the fiery monarch sinks to rest ,enwrapped in fleecy garments bright2 ,and out upon the crystal waves ,the sunset's rainbowed1 tinted dyes ,reflect their glories to the soul1 ,and charm it with a glad surprise4 ,down by the sea--the glorious sea-- ,we watch the white-sailed vessels glide1 ,bearing their messages of cheer ,far out upon the silvery tide2 ,the shining waves caress the sand1 ,and softly lie upon its breast1 ,while all the happy peaceful sea ,bespeaks the calm of holy rest4 ,down by the sea there sometimes comes ,a mighty current strong and deep ,that sweeps along the rolling tide1 ,and wakes the waters from their sleep2 ,the great green waves with snowy crests ,come grandly rushing wild and free1 ,revealing depths of untold power1 ,down by the rolling1 matchless sea4 ,down by the sea the love of ,god ,we feel in every breath we draw1 ,we listen to ,his mighty tones ,in silent1 reverential awe2 ,the air is all alive with thoughts ,of ,him who rules both sea and land1 ,and holds the deeply-flowing tides ,within the hollow of ,his hand4 ,,coming ,,home4 ,drawing nearer to the portals ,of the angels' happy home1 ,lonely-hearted sighing mortals ,in their strength or weakness come ,now their white sails in the distance1 ,gleaming on ,life's open sea1 ,catch a breath from heavenly breezes ,richly scented1 warm and free4 ,heavy clouds have gathered o'er them1 ,storms and tempests sometimes fell1 ,driving every sail before them1 ,through the water's angry swell1 ,till again the morning's splendor ,bursts in triumph o'er each deck1 ,lighting up with touches tender ,every trace of storm and wreck4 ,seamed and patched1 and wearing traces ,of temptation's cruel power1 ,are the weary1 pallid faces ,of the voyagers this hour2 ,but a gleam of tender sweetness ,falls upon them as they glide ,nearer to the full completeness ,of their home beyond the tide2 ,on and on in stormy weather1 ,or when summer sunbeams fall1 ,till they enter port together ,at the quiet boatman's call4 ,raise the strain1 oh1 souls immortal1 ,in one chorus sweet and grand1 ,as ye gain the heavenly portal ,of fair ,eden's ,morning ,land6 ,spirit ,prince found that on certain occasions he could inspire his old friend ,anderson with the poetic fire that thrilled and characterized his own being4 ,the following poem is one that this intelligence delivered through the mediumship of that gentleman1 and is introduced here to show the evident kinship of the production with some of those delivered through the mediumship of ,miss ,shelhamer3-- ,a ,,friend',s ,,advice4 ,allow me1 my friend1 a friend's privilege ,to drop a few words in your ear3 ,you have lived a long time in the mortal1 ,and wrought foolish things1 ,i much fear2 ,but the summer of life is not ended1 ,and its fruits may be gathered1 you know1 ,by all who will act on this maxim3 ,water and weed as you go4 ,the field of this life is a broad one1 ,and much precious seed has been sown2 ,some of it's crushed by the wild weeds1 ,and some of it's covered with stone2 ,it needs all the care and attention ,that mortals can give it1 ,i know1 ,so take my advice1 and be careful ,to water and weed as you go4 ,the frost and the snow of the winter ,the sun's rays are melting away1 ,bringing a sight of the wildwood1 ,and the beautiful flowers of ,may2 ,teaching us all the importance ,to look to the seed that we sow1 ,and mind well the lesson ,i've told you3 ,water and weed as you go4 ,the spring will be here with its promise1 ,and speak from the green-covered sod1 ,in flowers that show by their splendor ,the manifold wisdom of ,god4 ,oh1 man1 heed the lesson they teach thee1-- ,that life from the ,father doth flow2 ,so make it as pure as the flowers1 ,and water and weed as you go4 ,the fruitage will come in its season1 ,a reward for your toil and your care2 ,then see that those in the shadow ,a part of your harvest shall share4 ,this is the voice of the spirit ,to brothers and sisters below3 8,be sure1 while you dwell in the mortal1 ,to water and weed as you go40 ,shortly after the physical decease of that grand man1 ,wm4 ,lloyd ,garrison1 ,john ,critchley ,prince wrote the following sketch1--through the instrumentality of his regular medium1--which was published in the ,voice of ,angels1 ,june #ae1 #ahgi1 and afterward copied into ,mind and ,matter3-- ,,the ,,welcome ,,angels ,,give4 ,i have recently had the good fortune to witness a scene1 the impressiveness and grandeur of which only those who are unencumbered by the corporeal body1 and who are all spirit1 all sense1 all perception1 can fully realize4 ,this scene was the spirit reception1 the angelic welcome given to one of life's noblest heroes1 one of the whitest1 grandest souls that has ever trod the pathway of mortal existence2 and though ,i cannot hope to convey to earth other than a faint portrayal of the scene1 yet ,i will attempt in this instance to give my readers some idea of the welcome angels give4 ,after more than the three-score years and ten of earthly existence and experience1 ,william ,lloyd ,garrison1 the friend of the oppressed1 the defender of right1 the champion of freedom1 calmly1 quietly1 and peacefully laid down the burden of mortality1 and rising1 grand1 majestic1 free1 a spirit filled with power1 passed into the realms of eternal light4 ,in company with a band of kindred spirits1 among whom ,i may mention my friend ,robert ,burns1 ,felicia ,hemans1 and ,elizabeth ,b4 ,browning1--noble souls all1 who had wept tears of sadness over the oppressed1 even while tuning their harps to sweeter melody for freedom's sake1--,i was privileged to witness a spirit reception given to this ascended hero2 not the greeting given by the nearest and dearest of the heart1 that was too sacred for even the eyes of sympathizing spirit friends1 who had no claim upon his love1 but the meeting of kindred souls1 who had trod the same paths of truth1 waded the same seas of opposition and danger1 and borne the same battle-flag of freedom on to victory4 ,not alone was the spirit of ,william ,lloyd ,garrison surrounded by departed friends of his own country2 not alone were his hands pressed by such moral heroes as ,washington1 ,adams1 ,lincoln1 ,andrew1 ,sumner1 and many more noble souls1 men and women of his own country2 but there were ,lafayette1 ,lamartine1 ,wilberforce1 ,wilcoxson1 ,george ,thompson1 ,harriet ,martineau1 and countless others1 assembled to give their brother greeting4 ,indeed1 all the great reformers of every age and clime1 whose souls now watch from the battlements of heaven the advancement of liberty and truth on earth1 and who still have a hand in shaping the events of interest to humanity1 were gathered to give our friend and the friend of every man--though the foe to all tyranny1 persecution1 and slavery--a perfect ovation1 expressed through love1 sympathy1 and blessings4 ,but the most beautiful was the sight of ,john ,brown1 brave old ,ossawottamie1 whose soul continues to march on1 and ,charles ,sumner1 whose spirit still toils for a recognition of the equality of all before the law1 seated at the feet of ,mr4 ,garrison1 and looking up to him as to some beloved teacher and guide4 ,confined by no limits1 unrestrained by the confines of walls and barriers2 out in the clear and pleasant sunshine1 fanned by the balmy breeze1 refreshed through every avenue of sense by the perfume of flowers1 the gleam of waters1 and the songs of birds1 the very poetry of expression1 the nectar of loving sympathy gushed from the fountain of each soul1 and formed a sea of light which glorified the soul of him who felt its genial1 life-imparting flow4 ,you who are in sympathy with great minds1 in harmony with all souls earnest for the emancipation of humanity from whatever enthralls and keeps it down1 can conceive faintly at best of the grandeur1 the beauty1 and the joy of such a meeting2 countless numbers of gifted1 noble souls assembled to give welcome1 and to pay tribute to one beloved apostle of truth4 ,no pen1 no tongue can do the subject justice4 ,outside of the circle of light formed by this celestial company1 awed by its brilliancy1 surprised by its glory1 debarred from enjoying its feast of soul communion because of the remorseless memories within them1 ,i observed a number of faces1 faces stamped with the signet of genius as well as intellect1 but bearing the impress of infidelity to truth2 faces belonging to gifted but ignoble spirits who1 when upon earth1 stood in high places and publicly denounced the spirits of liberty1 of toleration and justice4 ,today they are repenting for the life spent in ambitious desires4 ,but this is not all4 ,coming up from every direction1 together and in great numbers1 ,i observed spirits approaching1 from the tiny1 tottling child to the aged grandsire1 singing songs of welcome as they came1 the celestial melody of which echoed and re-echoed throughout the spheres1 producing a perfect flood of heavenly sweetness that thrilled the soul with ecstasy4 ,it was a song of gratitude1 a mighty pan of praise1 a universal strain of blessing for deliverance2 and as it gathered power and rolled on in musical splendor1 the sweetness of its tones1 the beauty of its expressions1 the grandeur of its inspiration clustered and fell in a cascade of divine harmony over and around the soul of him enthroned in our midst1 the object of our gathering1 the central glory of our galaxy1 ,wm4 ,lloyd ,garrison4 ,on1 on they came1 bearing branches of green and waving palms2 garlands of beautiful and odorous blossoms1 a profusion of snowy-white lilies1 and clusters of royal roses1 to strew before his spirit feet4 ,but sweeter than all other gifts1 and dearer far to him who beheld and received them1 were the smiles of affection1 the tears of gratitude1 the whispered blessings showered upon him by these new-comers1 the vanguard of this hero2 they who were once poor and depressed1 scorned1 uneducated1 and despised1 the slaves of tyranny1 and used as beasts of burden1 but who are now cultured1 honored1 free6--toilers for the redemption of souls from bondage4 ,first kneeling before their benefactor came the poor1 despised negroes1 with hands uplifted in blessing1 lips mute from the excess of emotion1 eyes eloquent with joy and gratitude4 ,not only those who had become free before the law while yet on earth1 but also those who had died in chains and beneath the lash1 came with benedictions for this man who had done so much for their race1 and to receive a blessing from his soul1 knowing it would impart to them strength1 inspiration1 and courage4 ,following these came hosts of others1 men1 women1 and children1 of every race and color1 those who had felt the hand of tyranny1 injustice1 and oppression in some one or more of its many shapes4 ,red and white1 the ,north ,american ,indian and the ,russian serf1 delicate women1 who had suffered in homes made unhappy by intemperance or by the cruelty of tyrannical brutality1--all came to bless this good man as their benefactor and friend2 and their presence brought a joy to his spirit no mortal can understand4 ,turning earthward1 we perceived great billows of golden light1 waves of roseate beauty1 clouds of azure and snowy brightness ascending1 until they enveloped our guest with their fragrant splendor1 irradiating his whole being with a new brilliancy1 a new loveliness of expression4 ,each wave of light that thus arose expressed to us from its peculiar hue and its own delicate aroma the emotion which it represented2 the golden hue symbolized truth and earnestness1 the roseate love and sympathy1 the azure fidelity and gratitude1 and the white purity and peace4 ,we perceived these auras mingling and blending together into beautiful harmony1 and flowing out from hearts encased in mortal1 who1 though saddened at the decease of ,mr4 ,garrison1 yet sent out after his ascended spirit love1 sympathy and blessings4 ,from the colored people assembled to pay their tribute of love and respect to his memory2 from the hearts of earnest women1 who speak in solemn sweetness of his helpfulness and cheer2 from the souls of good men and women everywhere1 who loved and honored him2 from the soul of that silver-tongued friend#g and orator who dares to stand forth and pay honest1 just1 and loving tribute as a fitting eulogy to his departed friend2 from the pure and loving heart of that peaceful poet soul#h who sings in rhymed sweetness the honor of his friend2--from all these ascended those emanations of light and beauty and fragrance4 ,musical with the silvery sweetness borne from the souls of friends on earth1 they bathed his spirit in a fount of eternal joy and blessing4 ,footnote #g3 ,wendel ,phillips4 ,footnote #h3 ,john ,g4 ,whittier4 ,what need of golden harps and streets of pearl8 ,he treads the flowery paths of spirit life1 not idle1 not basking in dreamless rest4 ,the energy of power1 the moving force of aspiration1 the impulse of desire are all his1 and already his soul is marching on in the ranks of those lofty ones whose mission is to toil on until man becomes uplifted into the sphere of universal ,love2 until all wrong shall flee1 tyranny die1 and liberty and knowledge dwell in the homes of all people4 ,press on1 noble soul6 ,the victor's palm is thine1 for thou hast witnessed the triumph of justice and right2 the crown of glory is thine1 for thy soul is crowned with the diadem of perfect ,love4 ,press on1 white-robed soul6 for the bright fruition that awaits thee6 ,the following chapters are devoted to a recital of the experiences of ,j4 ,c4 ,prince1 as narrated by himself1 and published in the ,voice of ,angels4 ,we have alluded to letters of approval and of interest concerning these experiences received by the editor of that paper from various quarters4 ,the following extract from a published letter of one of these correspondents is here given1 for the reason that it was penned by one intimately acquainted with ,mr4 ,prince in earthly life1 and familiar with the general style of his compositions3-- 8,,nephi1 ,,utah1 ,sept4 #f1 #ahgh4 ,to the ,editor of the ,voice of ,angels3 ,dear ,brother1--,i have felt like writing to you since you began to publish the spirit experiences of ,john ,critchley ,prince1 for ,i have been deeply interested in reading his statements as they appear in your paper4 ,i am from the same part of ,england where ,mr4 ,prince dwelt when in the body1 and was in #ahej a power-loom weaver in the ,west ,mills at ,ashton-under-,lyne1 where he then resided4 ,i always admired his poems1 and1 next to ,byron1 esteemed his poetry the grandest and best ,i had then read4 99 99 99 99 99 ,i recognize the mind of ,john ,critchley ,prince1 the ,lancashire poet1 in every line of his account of his earth life in your paper2 my wife also recognizes it1 she having attended select parties where he recited some of his best poems1 in ,duckenfield and ,ashton-under-,lyne1 and we read in surprise and astonishment his first contribution to the ,voice1 not expecting anything of the kind2 it was to us most interesting and agreeable4 ,we congratulate you upon the acquisition of so noble a soul to your staff of contributors1 and hope he will often give us his rich effusions through your paper4 ,your brother and well-wisher1 ,,thomas ,j4 ,,schofield40 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,my ,,life ,,and ,,experiences ,,on ,,earth4 ,my ,friends1--,bearing the fraternal greetings of not only myself but hosts of higher spirits1 whose pleasure and duty it is to mingle with you here1 and who strive to teach you wisdom and knowledge concerning the highest1 grandest phase of human existence1 that of the immortal soul1 ,i come laden with the experiences of a modicum of time passed in the super-mundane spheres1 and crave an opportunity of unfolding them before you1--not with a desire for earthly recognition or adulation1--but with the hope that ,i may be enabled to show humanity the reality of those conditions that we aggregate to ourselves while in mortal1 and their practical effects on the soul1 trusting that ,i may enlighten you somewhat as to real life1 and its mode of manifestation in the upper spheres2 for it is time that mortals should understand more of the life to which they are going4 ,it is now#i a period of seventy years since ,i1 ,john ,critchley ,prince1 was born upon the earthly plane1 at ,wigan1 ,lancashire1 ,england1 of poor1 hard-working1 honest parents4 ,my only schooling was given me at a ,baptist ,sunday school1 where ,i received a slight knowledge of reading and writing4 ,but as ,i read with avidity all sorts of books that happened to fall in my way1 ,i acquired a certain command of language1 and knowledge of composition1 that served in after years as a noble substitute for the education ,i was unable to procure1 and which ,i always craved4 ,at the early age of nine years ,i was obliged to labor for my living as a reed-maker for weavers1 at which ,i was kept busy for sixteen hours per day1 and my only opportunity for indulging in the luxury of reading was stolen from sleep4 ,footnote #i3 ,the above was written in the spring of #ahgh4 ,in #ahba ,i accompanied my father to ,manchester1 where we both obtained employment as machinists4 ,there1 for the first time1 ,i came across a copy of ,byron's works1 which ,i devoured with astonishing rapidity1 drinking in and retaining all the glory1 fire1 and beauty of those exquisite lines1 and their delicate imagery1 that made ,byron1 despite his faults1 one of nature's poets4 ,what a world of delight1 what a scene of enchantment was for the first time opened before me4 ,i seemed to breathe a new atmosphere1 one that thrilled my being to its very center2 and while reveling in the new fields of splendor ,i had found1 ,i forgot my poverty and toil2 my soul stood forth erect in its conscious dignity and pride1 feeling itself to be no longer a poor1 toiling slave1 but a creature of the universe1 with powers and capabilities of expansion and growth4 ,it was then ,i determined that some day ,i would sing my songs1 and give them forth to the world4 ,but my life went on in the old routine1 still toiling in the shop1 and dreaming my dreams all unknown to others1 until my father again changed his abode to ,hyde1 taking me with him4 ,there1 in the early flush of awakening manhood1 ere nineteen summers had passed over my head1 came to my waiting soul that most exquisite of all life's experiences1 8,love's young dream40 ,it came upon me like the first sweet dewy blush of early morn1 bathing my spirit in a flood-tide of ineffable glory1 and thrilling my heart with that ecstatic bliss that ,i think none but a poetic soul1 attuned in harmony with nature and her works1 and thus enabled to find happiness in spite of toil or sorrow1 can fully realize4 ,and here let me say that to this day1 returning as ,i do from the immortal shore1 ,i thank ,god for that experience of true1 heartfelt emotion4 ,it accompanied me through all my life like the melody of a happy song1 and thrilled my despairing soul with its sweetness4 ,it ran through my evil days of wrong-doing like a golden thread1 and with its sparkling light revealed to me the glory and honor1 the sweetness and purity1 of life that might have been mine4 ,it is useless for me to attempt to depict the image of my charmer to you4 ,to others1 she was only a neighbor's lassie1 good enough and pretty in her way1 but nothing uncommon4 ,to me she was all that was fair and canny1 and as beautiful and good as ,eve appeared to her ,adam1 in all her innocent purity of expression on that first awakening which we are told of in the beautiful allegory of old4 ,in #ahbg ,i was united to my dear one1 and we commenced life anew1 as happy as two birds2 and1 though from my poetic fancy and ardent temperament1 ,i was led to look for more happiness in a life of conjugal felicity than it is possible for mortals to attain1 yet1 upon the whole1 my domestic life was a blessing to my inner self1 and in its bowers ,i wove some of the sweetest garlands that graced my name4 ,poverty and toil1 with their train of evils1 still attended me1 and in #ahcj1 work being slack at home1 ,i went to ,picardy1 leaving my family of wife and three children4 ,the revolution had paralyzed trade in ,france1 and it was impossible to procure employment there2 consequently1 after experiencing much suffering1 ,i returned home only to find my family in a workhouse1 from whence ,i removed them to a ,manchester garret1 where we would have starved had it not been for the labors of my wife at power-loom weaving4 ,that was a time of misery4 ,at length ,i obtained temporary employment1 and our prospects began to brighten a little1 but through all my life a scarcity of remunerative work seemed to attend me like a fatality4 ,during my residence at ,manchester ,i began to contribute short poetic pieces to the local papers and periodicals1 which1 by the kindness of friends1 and those powerful in government affairs1 whose attention was first called to me by the perusal of my literary productions1 were issued in volumes from time to time4 ,the first of these1 8,hours with the ,muses10 was brought out in #ahdj1 and reached its third edition in two years4 ,the subsequent volumes were3 8,dreams and ,realities in ,verse10 #ahdg2 the 8,poetic ,rosary10 #ahef2 8,miscellaneous ,poems10 #ahfa1 and one more containing all my principal poems1 published the year of my death1 #ahff4 ,i have been accused of imitating the style of others1 but while ,i may have done so to some extent1 ,i think none of my critics will deny that the ideas expressed1 and the thoughts embodied1 together with the arrangement of language in my productions1 were entirely my own4 ,at the same time ,i was never satisfied with my efforts2 none of them reached my standard of excellence1 and they sometimes bore marks of my disappointment and dissatisfaction4 ,from the disappointments ,i had encountered in early manhood1 ,i was all too easily induced to hie away from my squalid attic home to the public-house1 where1 in the company of men who pretended to admire my 8genius10 and to court my society1 ,i would spend hours1 aye1 days1 away from home1 indulging in sin1 thereby seeking to drown the memory of disappointed ambition and blighted hopes4 ,and to this habit1 together with a certain unsteadiness of purpose that kept me from holding on to any employment for any length of time1 ,i am indebted for many of my early experiences in spirit life1 some account of which ,i hope to unfold before you1 that you may learn how a soul is plunged in darkness from the effects of deeds done in the body1 and also how it may progress through degradation and woe to scenes of happiness and peace1 if it only desires to do so4 ,i have been thus prolix concerning my mortal life that you may better understand my experiences in the spirit1 and though ,i may have seemed too personal1 it was unavoidable1 and ,i crave your kind indulgence4 ,it is impossible for me to convey to you any adequate conception of the ecstatic bliss ,i experienced in spirit when lifted above material bonds1 and basking in the realm of poetic fancy2 of the toil and sorrow of my physical existence1 or of my feeling of utter degradation and self-contempt when recovering from a debauch1 all of which ,i was compelled to outlive in spirit4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,my ,,life ,,and ,,experiences ,,in ,,the ,,spirit ,,world4 ,may #e1 #ahff1 ,i parted with my tenement of clay1 and was born into the world1 not only of primal causes1 but also that in which all effects of past living are made manifest4 ,mind and body were alike a wreck4 ,i had no great satisfaction for the past1 and but little hope for the future4 ,while passing out from the material ,i was dimly conscious of a crowd of beings pressing around me1--faces ,i had known long before1 but which ,i had not seen for years1 forms once familiar1 but which the passing scenes of life had blotted from memory2 men whom ,i had met in times past around the social board1 and amid scenes of convivial allurement1 where we had wasted the precious1 ,god-given moments in song or story1 unfruitful of any profitable result2 those of whose destiny ,i was ignorant1 and whom ,i supposed had forgotten me as ,i had ceased to remember them2 all were here1 recalling by their presence scenes and memories that ,i could wish to be dead and buried beyond possibility of resurrection4 ,all the events of my life passed before my inner vision like a panorama1 and ,i saw myself as others saw me1--the victim of wasted energies and an ill-spent life4 ,how keenly did ,i regret much that ,i had done1 and much more that ,i might have done1 but did not6 ,it was then and there1 while seemingly unconscious to mortal things1 ,i began to fully realize that omission is oftentimes as great a sin as commission1--that inactivity is as disastrous to the spirit as misplaced volition4 ,at this time1 ,i did not see the forms and faces of any of those ,i had loved1 and whom it might be supposed would be first at the death-bed of one so near to them4 ,these forms and phantoms that surrounded me were encompassed by a cloud of heavy vapor1 that entirely veiled the horizon from my sight4 ,i strove to turn from them1 but could not2 they hedged me in on every side1 and1 while they spake no word1 they seemed to mock me with their taunting looks and gestures4 ,this was my first spirit experience4 ,i have since learned that it consisted entirely of the reflection of past recollections upon my mind1 but it was extremely annoying and unpleasant4 ,my next experience was standing by myself1 outside of my physical body1 alone1 so far as ,i could see1 gazing down upon the old1 worn-out tenement1 that ,i had recently vacated4 ,i found myself clothed in a body precisely similar to the one ,i had left1 and not in much better condition1 apparently4 ,i was perplexed and bewildered2 for1 though spurning many of the old theologic notions of the ,hereafter1 this was certainly not the fulfillment of my conceptions of a future life4 ,i gazed around1 hoping to attract the attention of some one who could give me an explanation1 or in the expectation of meeting my boon companions2 but all in vain1--,i could see no one4 ,all was misty1 or rather in a smoky fog1 like the streets of ,london at midday1 though ,i have since been informed that ,i was not alone2 that there were loving1 helping spirits watching over me1 to assist me when possible1 but my mental condition prevented me from perceiving them2 and that the smoky vapor was an emanation from my own spirit1 and did not proceed from the state of the atmosphere4 ,while ruminating to myself1 as collectedly as my condition would allow1 ,i observed a party of individuals approach and take a view of my remains2 and what appeared very curious to me1 while they seemed very far away from me1 ,i could distinctly hear their remarks4 ,these parties were mortals1 still dwelling on earth1 drawn by a morbid kind of interest to take a final view of my body4 ,however1 ,i would they had stayed away1 for they did my spirit more harm than good4 8,poor devil10 said one1 8he's gone at last4 ,well1 he made a wreck of himself1 sure enough40 8,aye10 replied another2 8he might have done better1 but he would not2 and so he's gone4 ,i always knew how it would turn out40 8,with all his singing and dreaming10 remarked a third1 8he was no better than the rest of us4 ,the old one would show himself pretty often40 8,that's so10 chimed in the fourth2 8wilt thee look at him now1 lying there1 when he might have been alive and well1 like the rest of us6 ,well1 he's gone to his account now1 poor lad60 ,i waited to hear no more4 ,mind and brain were alike maddened by what ,i had heard4 ,it was all true enough2 but every word seemed like a scorpion's sting1 to pierce my soul4 ,who were these1 that they should condemn one who had not the power to defend himself8 ,were they free from the common taint of sin8 ,thus ,i questioned2 but unable to solve the mighty problems that seemed pressing down upon me1 ,i made one herculean effort1 and1 bursting the bonds that confined me to my useless body1 ,i rushed from the place1 away ,i knew not where1 ,i cared not2 only to get relief for my burning1 tortured soul4 ,and here allow1 if you please1 one digression4 ,let me warn you1 oh1 mortals1 to mind how you speak and think of those who have departed the mortal life4 ,let your thoughts and words be as charitable and kind as possible2 for by so doing you may furnish a beacon-light that will brighten their paths upward4 ,but if you speak ill of them1 if you hurl the stone of censure at departing spirits1 you may furnish the heavy weight that will drag them downward4 ,alas1 ,i did not understand the cure of sin-sick1 tortured souls2 and ,i sought that refuge that had been1 and was now again1 my curse1 but which ,i vainly thought would drown all recollection and bring relief4 ,i soon found myself in a well-known spot1 one of my former haunts--the back parlor1 just beyond the taproom--of a public-house4 ,i seated myself as naturally as ever1 and waited for some one to comply with my demand for liquor2 but while the bar-maid flitted about1 here and there1 and several times brushed against my person in passing1 she paid no attention to me whatever1 and ,i felt myself neglected indeed4 ,presently1 ,i observed1 entering the apartment1 one whom ,i had occasionally seen at that resort1 and who ,i understood to be a hard drinker4 ,he called for liquor1 and when it was brought1 raised the glass to his lips4 ,suddenly1 by a sort of fascination1 ,i was drawn to his side1 and while he poured the fiery liquid down his throat1 my whole being seemed to vibrate in sympathy1 and became saturated with the fumes of the liquor4 ,at every drop he tasted1 ,i seemed to quaff a corresponding one2 and ,i found ,i could indulge myself in that way to any extent4 ,i remained by his side1 drinking long and deep4 ,our potations lasted for hours4 ,oh1 the craving desire ,i had for that deadly fluid6 ,my deep delight and utter abandonment of self you cannot realize4 ,at last our potations ceased4 ,abused and outraged nature could bear no more1 and my companion sunk down in a complete state of insensibility4 ,then ,i strove to tear myself from him1 but all in vain2 ,i was held to his prostrate form by a cord as unyielding as bands of steel2 ,i could not free myself from the conditions ,i had brought upon me4 ,and here my retribution began2 for1 while the liquid we had drank together had drugged his senses1 and benumbed his faculties1 it had affected me in an entirely different way1 serving to arouse all my sensibilities1 fire my nervous system with flames of unquenchable desire1 and1 in fact1 to make me keenly alive to all my surroundings4 ,the least noise fell upon my hearing like the dismal knell of a lost soul2 the sound of a passing foot startled me like a peal of thunder2 and when the time-piece of the old clockhouse tolled the hour1 my whole being vibrated in unison4 ,i wanted to get away from everybody and everything ,i had known1--to be alone by myself where no one could find me1 where life and activity were unknown1 and where ,i could rest my burning brain4 ,alas1 ,i could not6 ,like one tied to a stake1 ,i was condemned to pass what seemed to me a century of time by the side of one with whom ,i had nothing in common1 save the craving of a perverted appetite4 ,i cannot convey to you an idea of the horror1 darkness1 and despair that rent my soul while thus bound to that form of besotted humanity4 ,the hours dragged1 until at last there came a gleam of relief4 ,boniface entered the apartment1 aroused my sleeping companion1 and sent him to the pump-room to bathe his head4 ,at the first plash of the water a thrill of exquisite delight passed over me2 a second and a third1 and the band that had held me snapped in twain1 and ,i was free4 ,never did weary captive rejoice at his deliverance more than did ,i at that moment4 ,i made no stay1 but hastened from the place1 and have never seen it nor its inmates since4 ,still drifting along1 my only aim and purpose being to gain some lonely1 retired spot1 where ,i might find rest and refreshment1 ,i soon found myself rising gradually from the ground1 and floating or sailing along1 above the heads of the people4 ,before long1 the city streets vanished from my sight1 and ,i seemed to be approaching a strange part of the country2 houses and warehouses disappeared1 sunny glades and shady nooks came into view2 forest trees1 clothed with garments of living green1 beneath which tiny flowerets nodded their spicy heads1 and scented the balmy air with their rich perfume4 ,away to the left ,i perceived the azure gleam of dimpling1 sparkling waters2 in the distance1 towered the lofty peaks of purple-crested mountains2 the sun shone brightly in the heavens1 while the atmosphere became melodious with the hum of insects and the chirping of birds4 ,no sound nor sight of human life could ,i perceive2 all was silent1 save the murmurings of nature1 which fell upon my tortured being like an anthem of peace4 8,surely10 said ,i to myself1 8this must be another country2 it is entirely different from any ,i have ever seen before2 the atmosphere wears that peculiar1 transparent haze seen only in the lands of a ,southern clime40 ,but ,i was too weary for further cognitions4 ,i seemed to drink in the charm and beauty of the scene without any volition of will or thought1 and to find comfort and rest in so doing4 ,at last1 ,i descried a perfect gem of a spot1 one that appeared formed for a fairy bower2 just beyond a leaping1 laughing streamlet of limpid water1 nestling quietly at the foot of a moss-covered1 arch-shaped rocky wall1 ,i beheld a tiny cove1 so beautiful that it seemed almost sacrilege to intrude therein4 ,emerald banks1 as beautiful as silk pile velvet1 starred with a profusion of creamy golden-eyed blossoms2 trailing vines like maiden-hair ferns creeping over the rocks2 shrubs of vivid green1 with scarlet bells1 swinging their perfumed censers upon the breeze2 sparkling sunbeams and cooling shadows1 constituted a place of repose that a monarch might enjoy4 ,and there1 amid the beauties of ,nature's works1 surrounded by the splendors of creation1 pointing to the wondrous power and beneficence of ,god1 ,i sank down upon the emerald sod2 and1 lulled by the peace and quiet of the place1 my fevered senses grew calm1 my pulses even1 the blood cooled in my veins1 and ,i fell into as complete a slumber as it is possible for a disembodied spirit to experience4 ,i was unconscious of the lapse of time1 yet ,i now know it was several days before ,i again awoke to a knowledge of my external surroundings4 ,i was still alone2 no human presence could ,i discern2 the flowers still bloomed1 the waters danced and gleamed1 the sun shone1 and all was as beautiful and as real as before4 ,it appeared to me ,i had reposed there but a few short hours4 ,i aroused myself1 and1 stepping down to the banks of the stream1 proceeded to lave my face and hands1 precisely as ,i would have done were ,i in the body4 ,the water refreshed me4 ,i seemed renewed with life and vigor2 but with the new strength there also came a remembrance of what ,i had been1 and what ,i had done1 and ,i sank down upon the mossy bed overwhelmed with the recollection of my folly and madness4 ,remorse had again entered my presence1 and my soul cowered down before it in bitter agony2 tears and sobs mingled together and shook my frame to its very center1 and ,i wrestled in spirit with the 8might have been10 which was as tangible to me as any objective form would be to mortals4 ,as the tempest within my spirit grew less1 ,i began to feel a holy presence approaching4 ,presently a low1 soft strain of exquisitely-modulated music fell upon my hearing2 so faint1 yet so sweet1 did it at first appear that it seemed to blend with and form a part of the music of the murmuring waters and rustling leaves4 ,gradually it swelled louder1 clearer1 and sweeter1 until it culminated in a burst of triumphant ecstasy1 that made the very grasses leap in unison4 ,my whole being was stilled2 a deep peace pervaded my system4 ,i was a man again1--a creature of ,god1 and one worthy to become a representative of his kingdom4 ,as these thoughts permeated my being1 causing it to grow calm and restful1 ,i felt what seemed to be a breath of cool1 invigorating air upon my temples1 thrilling my whole frame with an indescribable sensation of delight1 and1 on looking up1 ,i was amazed1 but not startled1 to observe the form of a venerable patriarch bending over me1 and manipulating my brow with the tips of his fingers4 ,his face was smooth and fair1 as though no carking care had ever left its impress thereon1 surmounted by a lofty brow1 gleaming with a might of intellect1 and crowned with a wealth of snowy1 silken hair4 ,a long1 massy beard1 lustrous with whiteness1 fell upon his breast4 ,he was clad in a long1 purple robe of silken stuff2 sandals of glistening brightness were upon his feet1 while in his hand he carried a staff that was remarkable for its brilliancy4 ,his features were luminous with the light of reflected love and benevolence2 a halo of radiance encircled his whole being1 which scintillated with sparks of light as he moved4 ,subsequently ,i learned that this halo was the aura flowing forth from his spiritual structure1 the brilliancy of which revealed the purity and beauty of his interior condition4 ,abashed and humbled before the majestic glory of this presence1 ,i hid my face from sight1 and cowered down as if for concealment4 8,fear not1 my son1 ,i have come to help and encourage thee2 thy mortal ways were rough and devious2 thy spiritual paths shall yet be ways of peace4 ,lift up thine head1 that thy soul may be annointed with the balm of healing40 ,i had heard no sound of voice1 and yet these were the thoughts that flowed into the interior sensorium of my mind1 as the mystic being continued to soothe my brow with his finger-tips4 ,i raised my head in questioning amaze1 and gazed upon him in wonder4 8,thee questions who and what ,i am10 again came the thoughts1 not spoken1 but impressed upon my mind2 8,i am one appointed to seek out and instruct souls like thine1 who are in need of assistance2 thee mayst call me #8,benja1 the ,missionary2' ,i am drawn to thee1 to point out the way of salvation1 and to give thee strength and encouragement2 thou hast fought the first battle and won the victory2 press on1 and thou shalt win the goal40 ,the thoughts1 and indeed the presence of the missionary1 sent a thrill of pleasure through my whole being4 ,hope spread her rosy pinions above me1 and ,i became strong1 as ,i thought1 for any conflict4 8,thou hast won thy first victory10 repeated the sage1 8but still other trials await thee2 self-abnegation and the renunciation of those appetites and passions that have in a measure swayed the spirit come not all at once4 ,reformation is a work of time4 ,therefore1 my son1 trust not too much to thine own strength1 but rather let thy soul's aspirations reach outward and upward toward heavenly things1 bearing with them a desire for assistance and guidance4 ,neither be cast down1 for eventually1 a noble existence will be thine4 ,look around thee upon these laughing meadows and leaping waters4 ,thou wouldst know in what locality thou art4 8,this is the valley of self-examination4 ,every soul in passing out from material life is borne to some spot connected with this place4 ,certain temperaments are taken to yonder mountains1 upon the lofty heights of which their souls are left to take a retrospective glance back upon their past lives1 their actions1 and motives1 and to commune silently with themselves concerning life and its duties2 others to that sheet of clear water you observe in the distance1 into which they are forced to plunge1 that they may be cleansed of the impurities that cling to their spirits4 8,poetic souls like thine are conveyed to this charming valley1 where1 in the contemplation of ,nature's works1 they find peace and strength to go on with the task of self-examination1 and the attaining of a desire to become worthy of better things40 ,the ideas flowing into my mind from the sage ceased1 and in a moment more ,i was again alone4 ,suddenly the desire seized me to plunge into the stream babbling at my feet4 ,i did so2 the sensation was to me that of bathing in a stream of warm1 perfumed water2 it seemed to penetrate through the pores of my skin1 invigorating my system to a wonderful degree4 ,i remained in the stream for a short time1 and upon emerging from the bath and surveying myself1 ,i found ,i had undergone a decided change4 ,my skin had become soft and fair2 the florid appearance had gone1 my hair had lost many of its silver threads1 and my limbs felt lithe and elastic4 ,my garments1 too1 were renovated1 having lost their thread-bare appearance1 and altogether ,i felt and acted like a new creature4 ,at the foot of a flowering shrub ,i perceived a polished staff1 which ,i appropriated1 and with it1 as a support1 ,i set off to explore the surrounding country4 ,i traveled leisurely2 every step of the way revealed new beauties to me1 the splendors of which it is impossible to describe1--shady groves1 wherein the dryads of old might have loved to wander2 sunny glades1 rich with their tapestried carpets of flower-gemmed verdure2 gushing streams and natural fountains bursting from the moss-covered rocks4 ,all that could delight the eye and enchant the senses was spread before me1 and ,i trudged on1 breathing in the beauty around with no thought of1 or desire for1 companionship4 ,by-and-bye ,i came to an evergreen hedge2 it was very long1 but after a time ,i came to a large opening through which ,i passed1 and found myself in an extensive garden1 the beauty of which ,i had never seen surpassed4 ,parterres of beautiful flowers lay spread out before me1 showing the cultivation of art1 and scenting the balmy air with their rich perfume4 ,marble basins received the sparkling water falling from numerous silvery fountains2 lofty trees waved their branches high in the air1 and cast a grateful shade2 here and there mossy banks invited to repose2 birds sang in the trees and amid blossoming shrubs4 ,away in the distance ,i saw the blue gleam of what appeared to me to be a vast lake1 upon the margin of which ,i could perceive a number of white-robed forms flitting to and fro2 the atmosphere was redolent with beauty and sweetness1 while above all the golden sun shone in the azure vault of heaven4 ,hitherto ,i had been in the natural country where no effort had been made to alter or improve ,nature's works2 but here were to be seen evidences of human art and skill1 brought in to cultivate and develop the natural into higher types of beauty4 ,i passed into one of the groves at my left1 and seated myself upon a rustic bench before a long table of stone1 upon which were spread fruits of every description1 some of which were unfamiliar to me4 ,above the table was suspended an inscription1 which read3 8,all are welcome2 partake and refresh thyself40 ,i needed no other bidding2 ,i was hungry and faint2 and never did viands or nectar taste better to the gods than did the fruit1 and the sparkling water which ,i drew from a fountain close by1 to my parched palate4 ,i rested awhile1 and then proceeded on4 ,as ,i approached the lake1 ,i suddenly found myself surrounded by a bevy of white-robed creatures1 all young and fair and beautiful to behold4 ,i contrasted my appearance with theirs1 and though ,i had congratulated myself on my own improvement not long before1 ,i now appeared dark and dust-worn by the side of these fresh young souls4 ,i sought to withdraw1 but this they would not permit2 for1 closing around me in a circle1 they intercepted all means of egress4 ,i stood with downcast eyes1 humbled and ashamed1 when one young maiden approached1 and laying her hand upon my shoulder1 said in tones1 the flute-like sweetness of which ,i shall never forget3 8,do you not know me8 ,i am one who was very dear to you2 ,i have lived in this beautiful spot so long1 waiting for you to come2 surely you must know me1 and will receive the love ,i have been keeping for you40 ,i raised my eyes and scanned those lovely features4 ,surely1 aye1 surely ,i recognized them2 more beautiful1 further developed1 and stamped with a lovelier grace and more charming expression than ,i had known2 yet the same winning smile1 the shining hair1 and sparkling eyes of my darling were before me1 in more than radiant splendor4 ,i could not speak2 it was too much6 ,oh1 had ,i known ,i should meet my loved one thus1 how ,i would have prepared myself to become fit to enter her celestial presence6 ,divining my thoughts1 the dear one twined her snowy arms around my neck1 and whispering1 8,i am so happy1 oh1 so happy to meet you60 laid her silken head upon my breast1 and all unworthy as ,i knew myself to be1 ,i clasped her in a tender1 loving1 soul-full embrace4 ,raising her head1 my dear one said3 8,these are my companions1 come to welcome you to the ,summer-land4 ,they all know of you1 and love you for what you are worth2 they have been with you when you have given forth the sweet expressions of the soul1 and they know what you are capable of becoming40 ,she led me to a mossy seat1 and the fair group1 ranging themselves around us1 began to sing a song of welcome1 the sweetness of which can never be surpassed4 ,i do not propose to draw these experiences out to great length1 therefore cannot tell you all that transpired in this lovely spot4 ,i was welcomed1 given a happy home for my abiding place1 but left free to wander wherever ,i would4 ,surrounded by loving faces1 and ministered to with tender care1 ,i sank into a state of dreamy bliss1 well suited to my peculiar temperament4 ,you may think ,i had passed through the temptations of life1 ,i had renounced its follies1 and repented of its mistakes4 ,but repentance is not a thing of a day or a month2 memory has written her score upon the tablets of the soul1 and if blotted and scarred1 it takes time and labor to efface their unsightliness4 ,i did not know this at the time1 but inactivity is the bane of life1 and the soul that is idle cannot go forward4 ,it was some time after ,i had entered this paradise1 and been welcomed by angels1 ,i was seated within the enclosure of a marble pavilion1 and dreamily gazing out upon the sunny slope1 when ,i became conscious of the presence of the missionary ,i had met in the valley1 who spoke these words and vanished3 8,my son1 life is earnest2 thou hast queried why thou canst not write the soul-stirring poems of the past4 ,it is because thou art inactive4 ,look about thee1 and see if there is nothing to do1 if not for thyself1 for some other in need4 ,wouldst thou become noble and grand8 ,then work for it4 ,in this world the harvest comes only to him who plants and tends the seed40 ,i was confounded and confused4 ,stung into activity1 ,i waited for no one1 but hastened from the place and from the wonderful garden4 ,i determined to do something1 to go somewhere2 but ,i knew not what course to pursue4 ,soon ,i felt a desire to return to earth and see what was going on there4 ,perhaps ,i could find something to do1 or some inspiration for poesy4 ,ah1 ,i knew not that ,i was still weak1 and unable to cope with temptation2 that ,i was again destined to fall into the mire4 ,but thus it was2 yet1 thank ,god1 for the last time6 ,of that ,i will inform you in my next chapter4 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,the ,,poet',s ,,council4 ,again ,i appeared to be drawn toward the earth4 ,recollections of old associations began to revive in my mind1 and ,i felt a desire to return1 and once more mingle with mortal life1 urged on by the thought that perchance ,i should there find something to do4 ,impelled onward by an inner impulse1 ,i soon found myself in the crowded streets of a vast city3 every thing looked familiar1 and when ,i espied the glittering cross of ,st4 ,paul's gleaming through the smoke and dust1 ,i knew that ,i was again in the heart of ,london4 ,nobody appeared to take any notice of me2 all were hurrying on1 intent upon their own affairs1 and ,i was as one virtually alone1 even in the crowded1 teeming mart of a vast metropolis4 ,i threaded my way leisurely along 7for since ,i had entered the material plane again the reckless impetuosity that sped me on had vanished71 pausing now and again to watch the tide of restless1 surging humanity1 as it flowed along1 with no definite aim or end in view1 when ,i was brought to a sudden stand-still1 by hearing my own name pronounced by one of two gentlemen just in front of me4 8,yes10 said he1 8we are going to hold a little social levee at the club tonight1 and to pay our tribute of respect to the memory of ,critchley ,prince4 ,poor fellow1 he was his own worst foe1 and he blotted his own career2 but the works he left1 and the songs he sung1 show his to have been a gifted1 sympathetic soul4 ,for that reason we have drawn up a set of resolutions1 and have determined to call our meeting together this evening1 in honor of the departed poet4 ,you had better make one of us40 ,the other gentleman replied that he would be with them1 if possible2 and ,i determined that ,i would also be there4 ,i recognized the first speaker as one of the most brilliant and noted literati of the day1 one who is even now a dweller on earth1 courted for his genius1 and loved and respected for his benevolent heart and sympathetic soul2 at that time he was about fifty years of age1 and full of life and energy4 ,i knew him to be a member of a certain literary club1 all the members of which were men of brilliant intellect1 not a few of whom were well-known in the literary world2 and it was this club-meeting that ,i had determined to visit1 partly out of curiosity to hear what might be said of myself1 and partly to witness the proceedings1 knowing full well that a feast of intellectual dainties awaited whoever should be fortunate enough to enter4 ,the two friends parted at a certain corner1 but ,i remained with the man of genius1 resolving that ,i would not leave him until he arrived at the evening gathering2 and ,i did not4 ,promptly at the hour appointed1 the company gathered in the parlors of the organization1 myself among the number4 ,i do not propose to reveal all that was said and done on the occasion4 ,the meeting was a most enjoyable one2 gems of thought1 original ideas1 brilliant repartee1 and flowery bon mots circulated freely from mind to mind2 in short1 the occasion was a feast of intellectual glory1 that could not fail to arouse the enthusiasm of any but the most stupefied spirits4 ,the eulogy and the encomiums paid to the memory of ,critchley ,prince were kind1 and well calculated1 coming as they did from the hearts of ,england's most gifted sons1 to awaken a feeling of pride and gratification in the heart of him of whom they were spoken4 ,but1 alas1 this banquet of ennobling thought and chaste1 exquisite expression1 which alone would have refreshed and invigorated the soul1 and at which even the angels of heaven might have been pleased to preside--this festal board--needs must have been polluted by the presence of costly wines1 and rich1 rare1 body-clogging viands4 ,aye1 it is true that there1 where no feast of a material nature was needed1 where1 indeed1 it would only serve to lower the time and place into a scene of sensual festivity1 the wine-cup passed from hand to hand1 brilliant toasts were given and repeated1 and ,i1 in company with others1 again tasted the perfumed draught that ever tends to degrade humanity4 ,it is true that ,i did not drug myself into insensibility1 neither did any one of that assembled company2 nor did ,i become so intensely alive in every sense and avenue of feeling as heretofore1 yet ,i partook of the fluid1 and again found that ,i was not strong enough to resist temptation and to overcome the evil habit4 ,i lingered at this enchanted spot for hours1 indeed1 until the assembly dispersed1 each member seeking his abode1 with brain fired by alcoholic stimulants1 and yet apparently none the worse for what he had taken4 ,highly pleased with my reception and entertainment1 ,i separated from my good friends1 and thinking ,i should like to take a walk1 wandered forth1 under the glorious orbs of early morn4 ,my brain was heated and all astir with phantom-like thoughts flitting through it4 ,i soon paused upon a bridge of the ,thames1 and at once a desire entered my mind to fling myself into the river's depths4 ,i wondered what effect such an act would have upon me2 ,i knew that ,i was a disembodied spirit1 and therefore could not destroy my existence2 still ,i did not know but ,i might experience some shock to my system1 like that felt by drowning mortality4 ,however1 ,i determined to take the leap1 which ,i did4 ,no sooner had ,i done so than1 instead of sinking under the water1 ,i found myself slowly rising4 ,i could not feel the water at all2 it seemed as though ,i were floating upward upon a cloud4 ,rising still higher and higher1 ,i at length found myself resting upon a strip of rocky1 barren land2 ,i knew that ,i was again beyond the bounds of earth1 but in what part of spirit life ,i was entirely ignorant2 all was dreary and desolate4 ,by this time ,i had recovered in a measure from the effects of the wine-bibbing1 and thought and memory again went bounding through my mind with startling intensity4 ,resting against a giant rock1 that reared its head far upward toward the murky sky1 ,i gave myself up to gloomy retrospection4 ,what good had ,i done1--what work accomplished8 ,nothing2 ,i had again fallen before the tempter2 ,i was weak and helpless1 powerless of will1 of no use to myself nor to my kind6 ,why1 oh1 why must ,i continue to drag out such a shameful existence8 ,thus ,i mused and mourned1 groaning deep in agony of spirit2 my remorse was genuine1 but ,i had not the power 7or rather ,i thought ,i had not7 to again rise after this my latest fall from self-respect4 ,the hot sun came out and glowed with a lurid light2 not a shrub or trace of vegetation were to be seen2 all was stony and barren1--no sign of life1 except far up1 perched on the crags1 there sat a bird of sable plumage1 that now and then flapped its wings1 and seemed to mutter and croak in mockery of my torment4 ,i remembered the 8,raven0 of the ,american poet1 and wondered if this too was a creation of my fevered brain1 and ,i was to be haunted henceforth with the presence of this ominous creature4 ,at last it flapped its wings and flew away1 and ,i sank into a kind of half-dreamless lethargy1 which lasted ,i know not how long2 but at length ,i was aroused by the touch of a cool hand upon my head1 to find the presence of my missionary guide1 8,benja40 8,come1 my son10 said he2 8thou hast done well2 thou needst have no fear4 ,thou art upon the heights of self-condemnation4 ,it is true thou hast a few more trials to bear ere thou canst enjoy the full glories of spiritual existence2 but all the steps thou hast taken were necessary to thy well-being2 they were what thou needed to bring thee to a full realization of the past4 ,arise and come with me1 that thou mayst obtain a glimpse of the realities of life1 a gleam of the glorious manifestation of power that awaits thee40 ,taking me by the hand1 the sainted spirit began to slowly rise1 drawing me upward with him4 ,away1 away1 over rugged heights and dreary wastes of land we sped until we neared the entrance of a valley more exquisite in beauty than any ,i had ever beheld4 ,strains of enchanting music issued from thence1 mingled with bursts of merry laughter1 and sounds of sweetest singing4 ,upon entering the valley1 we were saluted by the fragrant breath of beautiful flowers1 borne toward us upon the balmy breeze of morning2 birds carolled among the leafy branches of the trees1 or flitted about the sparkling sprays of gleaming water1 issuing from founts of alabaster purity2--all was calm and serene1 a picture of contentment and repose4 ,beautiful homes1 gleaming with singular whiteness1 and embowered with flowering vines of gorgeous beauty1 nestled low down in the heart of the valley4 ,there were no doors or windows to these houses1 but the sides were entirely open1 revealing the simple1 innocent home life of their inmates2 the roofs were supported by marble pillars1 around which the vines and tendrils clung with loving tenderness4 ,from these homes issued those sounds of joy and happiness we had heard ere entering the valley4 ,away in the distance1 on either side1 arose the majestic heights of purple-crested mountains2 while a beautiful river flashed and sparkled in the sunlight1 but a little way before us4 ,near the center of the vale ,i observed a massive dome1 of marvelous beauty1 rising from the midst of a grove of trees1 and toward this my guide continued to lead my bewildered spirit4 ,as we approached1 ,i found the building to be a vast and stupendous temple1 wrought with exceeding artistic skill and beauty1 the delicate carvings and fretwork of which ,i had never seen equalled4 ,the grounds surrounding this magnificent temple presented a scene of unsurpassing loveliness4 ,the green sward1 rich with velvet-like softness1 glowed and sparkled in the sunlight like a huge emerald of priceless value4 ,thickets of wild roses here and there shed their royal perfume upon the passing breeze2 vines and tendrils twined around the trunks of lofty trees1 through the branches of which flitted and carolled birds of brilliant plumage4 ,i followed my guide up a flight of marble steps1 and found myself in a spacious vestibule1 at the further end of which hung a heavy curtain of royal purple velvet4 ,the floor of this vestibule was tessellated with blocks of many-hued marble1 presenting a most beautiful appearance1 in the center of which arose a magnificent fountain of crystal whiteness1 most exquisitely sculptured and carved1 from which ascended sprays of cool and sparkling water4 8,water1 water everywhere60 ,through all my wanderings in the eternal world ,i have never been long absent from the sight of clear1 leaping1 sparkling water4 ,it is the life element of the spirit1 next to sunlight and air1 and it needs no additional fluid to make it agreeable and palatable4 ,through the open interstices of this entrance the perfumed air from without wandered1 diffusing a most refreshing breeze throughout the apartment4 ,to the left ,i observed what appeared to be an inclined plane1 the surface of which was as smooth as glass1 and as white as porcelain4 ,this glassy road led upward beyond the frescoed ceiling1 until it disappeared from sight4 ,i turned an inquiring look upon my companion1 who thus replied to my silent questioning3 8,thou art now1 my son1 standing within the walls of one of our temples dedicated to ,art4 ,this is the ,palace of ,delight1--the ,artists' ,home6 ,beyond yonder curtain is the ,hall of ,poesy1 where congregate souls so rounded out and perfected that they may express themselves in measure full and sweet2 their lives are breathing1 active poems of beauty and love4 ,yonder spiral stairway10 directing my attention to a stair-case glittering like burnished gold1 at my right1 8leads to the halls dedicated respectively to the gods of music1 painting1 and statuary1 where souls attuned in harmony with those divine expressions of creative energy gather to pour forth all the hidden richness and glory of their spiritual conceptions of life4 8,yonder crystal pathway leads to the grand temple of all1 where gather those poets1 artists1 sculptors1 musicians1 prophets1 and sages1 who are united in the bonds of sympathy and love1 to compare notes1 and to charm and enlighten each other with the productions of their individual minds4 ,thee will observe that it is up hill all the way1 extending beyond thy vision1 and that the road is slippery and seemingly impossible to climb1 typifying the pathway over which struggling genius is forced to go1 slipping here and there1 oftentimes stumbling1 until it plumes its wings for bolder flight1 and by determined effort and perseverance wins the goal4 8,the novitiate who first enters this temple dedicated to the ,muses would fain ascend yonder roadway1 but1 finds himself unable to do so2 for he must first visit each one of the halls of learning ere he attempts to enter the grand temple of ,art4 ,when he has done so1 he finds no need to crawl slowly up yonder plane1 but concentrating his will upon the desired spot1 by the power thus acquired1 mounts upward without fear1 and gains the goal4 8,but thou1 my son1 must now pass beyond yonder drapery2 there thou wilt find that for which thy soul is to be fitted4 ,thou wilt find kindred minds1 and sometime thy birth-right4 ,i must leave thee2 my work calls me away2 others will teach thee the lesson of life4 ,farewell1 and ,god bless thee40 ,the sage vanished1 and ,i was again alone4 ,curiosity and interest led me to approach and push aside the hanging velvet that obscured my sight4 ,i did so1 and beheld a vast apartment1 the roof of which1 fretted with lace-like tracings of golden hue1 was supported by richly-carved columns of finely-veined marble4 ,the floor was a mosaic of pearl and ivory1 formed into clusters of flowers4 ,at the farther end was a raised dais1 covered with a crimson1 satin-like fabric1 above which1 suspended from golden rods1 clouds of creamy1 fairy-like lace drooped and fluttered4 ,upon the dais was seated the stately form of a male spirit1 whose majestic-bearing1 noble brow1 and intelligent1 genial1 love-lit countenance attracted and held the admiration1 esteem1 and respect of the beholder4 ,upon either side was seated a personage1 mild and gentle of demeanor1 with the unmistakable mark of genius stamped upon his brow4 ,ranged around the dais in a semi-circle were a number of seats1 filled with occupants of both sexes1 all seemingly earnestly attentive to the master spirit of the hour4 ,the inmates of the hall were clothed in various costumes1 such as their fancy suggested2 but with such correctness of taste that all the colors and styles blended together in perfect harmony1 and in company with their surroundings made up a superb and radiant picture1 perfect in all its details4 ,i noticed a peculiar halo of mellow light emanating from and surrounding each member of this assembly1 graduating from a beautiful tint of yellow down to pearly whiteness1 lighting up the features with indescribable beauty4 ,these souls were enveloped in their own wealth of love1 sympathy1 and perceptive harmony4 ,i had but to gaze on the massive brow1 thoughtful1 speaking countenance1 and smiling eyes of that central figure when it flashed upon me1 that this was ,addison1--,addison the gifted1 noble and true1 whose works ,i had ever admired1 and which ,i considered beyond emulation4 ,the pale1 saint-like face upon the right ,i recognized as ,cowper1 the good4 ,at the left1 with flashing eye1 and impassioned features1 was ,byron1 but ,byron purged of the impurities and grossness of sensual life4 ,i gazed around1 and it dawned upon me who these people were4 ,i saw the calm1 pure features and love-lit eyes of ,felicia ,hemans1 of ,elizabeth ,b4 ,browning1 of ,letitia ,landon1 and others well-known to me from the melodious outpourings of their spirits4 ,there were ,dryden1 ,thompson1 and ,pope1--once little1 misshapen ,alexander ,pope1 now grown straight1 lithe1 and willowy with no discontent upon his features1 even sitting at the feet of ,addison1 absorbing the reflected light of that stately presence4 ,i could not understand what was going on4 ,i heard nothing but a low1 sweet1 rhythmic sound proceeding from the dais1 which was unintelligible to me1 though1 from the interested looks of those present it was evidently not so to them4 ,i had advanced no farther than to the inner side of the curtain1 for ,i dared not intrude upon that celestial company4 ,i again glanced at myself1 and as the contrast between my faded1 dust-worn1 shabby appearance and the fresh purity and sweetness of these harmonious souls flashed upon me1 together with the thought that1 had ,i done more and been more in the past1 ,i too might have been seated here with this angelic host1 in place of creeping in like an outcast and an alien1 ,i covered my face and fled from the apartment and the place4 ,i next found myself standing upon a sandy shore1 watching and listening to the roar of the surging waves as they came rolling in to my feet4 ,all was wild and tempestuous4 ,how ,i had come here ,i could not tell2 through what tortuous1 devious paths ,i had wandered ,i could not explain4 ,i felt that ,i had passed through a fiery furnace4 ,i was still scathed and smarting from the sting of accusing memory4 ,i felt a touch upon my shoulder1 and turning gazed into a pair of kindly1 sympathetic eyes1 the eyes of one whom ,i felt was to be my friend and brother2 of one whose name shall yet be sung throughout the length of ,old ,england2 one who passed from earth a few years before myself1 at the early age of thirty-two4 ,i gazed into the eyes of ,robert ,brough1 poet and friend4 ,instantly ,i knew ,i had met one who would assist and teach me what my spirit required4 8,i have come to help you10 he said1 grasping my hand in a hearty clasp2 8,i have long followed you1 ,i was at the ,poet's ,council1 and saw you enter4 ,noting your movements1 watching the expression of your countenance1 ,i understood your condition1 and when you rushed forth ,i followed1 feeling that ,i might be able to assist you4 ,i have since kept you in sight1 but owing to the clouds that enwrapped you1 ,i have been heretofore unable to make my presence known4 ,now that the force of your emotions is spent1 and you are beginning to grow calm and collected1 ,i come to offer you my assistance1 and to show you how to nobly retrieve the past1 and find perfect peace for your soul4 ,will you accept my aid80 ,i grasped the hand still holding my own1 and cried in a voice choked with emotion3 8,i will6 ,i will6 only show me the way1 and ,i will follow you80 8,to you10 continued my friend1 pointing to the surging billows before us1 8this scene is presented as a type of the desolate1 lonely shore1 and the warring billows of passion-haunted thoughts1 upon which man may recklessly wreck his whole existence2 but1 beyond the sandy waste1 and the ocean's depths1 there are calm waters1 and sweet1 smiling fields where we may find redemption1 and make that restitution necessary to peace of mind4 ,come with me and ,i will guide you to health and happiness4 ,concentrate your thought upon me1 and remain passive40 ,i did so1 and instantly ,i found my companion and self transported from the dreary shore to the same valley ,i had entered on my first visit to the immortal world4 8,you wonder at my mode of transportation10 said ,robert1 noting my surprise1 8but you will soon become used to it1 for it is the spirit's true mode of rapid traveling4 ,we have only to fix our will upon the place to which we wish to go1 and instantly space is annihilated1 and we are there4 ,when you have thrown off a few more of the conditions of your earth life1 you will be able to understand this law1 and many others2 and in order that you may do so1 ,i wish you to plunge into yonder mist arising before us40 ,but a few feet from us there ascended from the depths of a small lake a heavy bank of mist or vapor1 and1 in compliance with the request of my friend1 ,i plunged into this fog1 which1 upon my doing so1 seemed to penetrate every atom of my being4 ,when ,i emerged ,i seemed indeed to have been born again1 to have received a baptism that had washed away much that was heavy and gross in my system1 and ,i felt light as air1 and almost imponderable4 8,now you begin to feel something like a spirit10 said my friend1 seating himself upon a mossy bank1 and motioning me to a seat beside him2 8you are becoming regenerated2 look at yourself1 and you will perceive a change2 you can also see1 hear1 and feel clearer and better2 all your senses are awakened and quickened1 because the spirit is beginning to work free from the crudities of materiality40 ,it was indeed true2 my senses did seem to be intensified ten-fold2 distance lent no obstruction to my view2 my vision appeared to be unlimited4 ,i could perceive forms1 radiant in angelic beauty1 moving to and fro2 towns and cities gleaming white in the sunlight where before my sight was bounded by the horizon1 and ,i could see nothing but the limits of the beautiful valley1 and no human being but our two selves4 ,my hearing1 too1 was quickened2 for sweet1 harmonious sounds stole upon my ear1 where before ,i had heard nothing2 all my senses seemed to be trebly alive1 and awakened to activity2 my outer structure1 too1 had grown so clear and fair as to become almost transparent1 while my garments had assumed a purity of appearance ,i had never noticed before4 8,you will soon be able to enter into and enjoy all the true pleasures of existence10 resumed the poet4 8,i1 too1 have passed under experiences and trials similar to your own2 and though they were not induced by precisely the same cause1 yet they were sufficiently severe to lead me to sympathize with and give you strength40 ,he ceased1 and my soul became too full of gratitude for utterance1 perceiving which1 he said3 8,by-and-bye1 all these things will be explained to you1 and you will thank the good ,father for giving you these experiences1 by which to develop and strengthen your spirit4 ,but come1 ,i must show you your work4 ,remain passive1 and trust in me40 ,again ,i followed his bidding1 and in a moment more we were gliding along the streets of an earthly town4 ,again ,i was in the precincts of old ,england1 but material sights and sounds seemed farther away from me than ever before4 8,i am going to take you10 said my guide1 8to one who is noble and true to the stern duties of life2 one who1 in spite of trials and perplexities1 of trouble and care1 has remained faithful to the higher dictates of his inner spirit2 who1 reared in poverty1 has yet carved out a name for himself1 and by turning aside from the glittering allurements of life1 has endeared himself to many hearts1--a royal soul1 a kingly mind1 as yet in the physical body4 ,i bring you to him1 that from the example of his life1 and the strength of his soul1 you may learn your lesson1 and draw encouragement to go on and do likewise40 ,he ceased to speak1 and instantly we were in an apartment which ,i recognized as the room of a thinker1 a student1 and a poet4 ,there was but one occupant2 a slight figure1 bearing a lofty head and noble brow1 with an earnest1 intellectual cast of features4 ,he was busy perusing a book1 which1 from the intentness of his gaze1 ,i divined must have been a work requiring deep study4 ,how calm and peaceful was the atmosphere of that place6 ,the air was replete with quiet and rest4 8,i shall leave you here10 said my guide4 8,when we meet again1 you will be the worker1 and one who has found content and joy4 ,adieu40 ,he was gone2 and there1 in the quiet sanctuary of the poet's study1 in company with that loyal soul1 whose earnest thought was to elevate humanity2 in contemplation of his work1 and drawing strength and encouragement from his fidelity to truth1 and his desire to benefit mankind1 ,i became strong and enduring1 enabled to put away the enticing temptations of life1 to expand my powers under the light of spirit development2 and a desire was kindled in my soul that has never been quenched1--a desire to be of use1 to do good to others1 to assist the needy1 elevate the downtrodden1 and enlighten and instruct those sitting in darkness4 ,sitting in the companionship of that noble mind1 reading with him his works1 listening to his songs of beauty1 witnessing his dreams for the remission of human ills1 painted as they were on the sensorium of his soul1 in colors of gorgeous splendor2 breathing in the perfume of his holiest aspirations1 watching his struggles and triumphs1--,i became purified and purged of old crudities1 and went out from that presence with a determination to do something for humanity1 to be something in the great arena of life2 and from that determination ,i have never strayed4 ,born of this desire1--to do something for the good of humanity1--there came to my soul a new strength unlike anything ,i had known before2 and which enabled me to enter dens of vice in search of souls to aid without danger of contamination1 or of falling a victim to temptation4 ,of my work in this direction ,i shall speak in a future chapter2 but first ,i wish to tell you of a visit ,i have made to one of our brightest spirits2 one whose songs are known and sung the wide world over4 ,,chapter ,,xxiv4 ,a ,,visit ,,to ,,robert ,,burns4 ,i had long been pressed and impressed to pay a visit to the spirit home of ,robert ,burns1 ,scotland's favored child of song1 where he extends the thorough hospitality of a genial heart1 and where all kindred souls are welcomed with royal cordiality4 ,i had met ,burns upon many occasions since my entrance to the joys of spirit life4 ,i had seen him in the public convocations of poets1 had been with him at friendly gatherings where souls like his meet to enjoy the rich and varied productions of each other's minds2 ,i had seen him in hall and bower1 amid lofty and amid lowly scenes2 and finally ,i had received a visit from him in my own private domain4 ,but as yet ,i had never responded to his kindly1 urgent invitations1 nor to my own promptings1 to return the visit4 ,an opportunity at length presented itself for me to do so1 and accordingly1 with a friend1 who wished me to travel leisurely as mortals do1 and who accompanied me to point out the natural beauties and points of interest along our route1 ,i set out with a joyful spirit1 and anticipations of a rich treat1 to visit the spirit home of ,scotia's immortal bard4 ,i will not weary you by descriptions of our journey4 ,the time is coming when the localities and scenery of spirit life will be described to mortals by those who are fully competent to do so4 ,at present1 ,i will confine myself to the object of my journey1 namely1 the arrival at the spirit home of the poet4 ,my companion and myself journeyed along--he interesting me on the way1 by relating bits of history or incidents concerning places we passed1 together with anecdotes of the people and their customs--until we arrived at the entrance of a natural basin or valley1 that lay like a great emerald between two ranges of towering mountains4 ,upon the right1 the mighty pile reared its lofty head in solemn grandeur2 the morning shadows resting upon it1 only serving to deepen the impressiveness of its height and power4 ,its base of a dark brown hue supported the rugged pile1 which deepened in color as it arose1 until its apex presented the appearance of a gigantic amethyst1 glittering beneath the light of morning in an indescribable purple splendor4 ,upon the left arose a range of polished stone1 as white as sculptured marble1 which gleamed and glistened in the sunlight like a mountain of frost work4 ,its numerous crags and peaks shone like so many spears of frozen snow1 the rosy light resting upon its sparkling surface causing it to present an appearance at once marvelous and bewitching to the beholder4 ,in the hollow formed by these mountain ranges nestled the valley ,i have mentioned1 covered with a luxuriant growth of vegetation and verdure4 ,fields of ripening grain1 blooming gardens1 delighting the senses with their fragrance and beauty1 waving trees1 in all the glory of exuberant foliage1 were to be seen in every direction1 while the white cottages of the dwellers gleamed here and there1 and in their delightful locality bore every indication of home comfort4 ,the people whom we saw busy about their gardens1 or caught glimpses of between the open doorways of their houses1 appeared happy and contented2 their dress was simple1 and seemingly worn for comfort2 their countenances betokened peace and liberty4 ,songs of innocence and mirth arose upon the balmy air1 mingling with the tones of children's merry laughter4 ,in short1 here was an ,arcadia in real life1 such as any poet might be proud to dream of1 and to picture out to the delight of his fellow-men4 8,these10 said my friend1 8are the people who have gathered about ,robbie ,burns1 as a flock of sheep gather around a beloved shepherd2 or better1 as a group of children gather about a beloved and venerated father1 to listen to his advice1 and follow his counsel1 knowing it is for their good4 8,robert ,burns has made these people what they are4 ,they have come to spirit life one by one1 worn and weary from the cares of earth2 some of them even sin-sick and degraded from unnatural lives1 led while in the body4 ,he has gathered them together1 taught them self-reliance1 preached to them through the opening flower1 the running stream1 and the songs of birds4 ,he has taught them to forget their cares1 and to desire a nobler existence4 ,he has set them at work to cultivate their gardens and build themselves homes4 ,in doing this they have grown happy and found rest4 8,from him they have learned patience1 self-restraint1 and self-abnegation1 a belief in the divinity of every spirit1 and love for humanity4 8,some of these people1 worn and broken down1 came to him of themselves4 ,they had heard of ,burns while on earth1 had read his words of sympathy1 of love and tenderness1 knew that he had sinned and suffered1 and that with all he had faith in man4 ,through the great desire of their souls to see him1 they were drawn to his presence1 and his great1 kindly heart1 understanding their needs1 spoke to them words of cheer1 which gave relief and strength4 8,others he himself found by the wayside1 sunk in misery and degradation2 he held to them the helping hand1 kindled in their breasts contrition for wrong committed1 which brought a desire to do better and be better4 ,he found their loved and loving ones for them2 and all reverence him with love and blessing4 ,the children abiding here are little waifs cast off from earth1 who have known no tender care before their spirit birth2 here they are cared for and educated by those capable of giving instruction to opening minds40 ,a group of merry children1 laughing and shouting in glee1 dashed by us as my companion ceased speaking1 their faces radiant with joy and happiness4 ,we paused at the entrance of a magnificent garden1 whose limits extended far and wide4 ,the well-kept walks1 the superb parterres of blooming flowers1 the shrubs raising their graceful branches as if conscious of their beauty1 the grand old trees rearing their mighty heads1 and casting grateful shadows1 the pond at the further end1 gleaming and glittering in the sunlight1 rustic seats scattered here and there1 banks of velvet-like richness1 bright with their vivid hue of emerald green1 all betokened this place to be the property of one who loved ,nature1 and was a willing worker in beautifying and adorning her productions4 ,this immense garden was not enclosed from the public way1 except by a low hedge of evergreens1 whose tops were tufted with delicate1 creamy-hued1 fragrant blossoms1 reminding me forcibly of our own native hawthorn4 ,no gate barred the entrance way2 it was open to the free admittance of all4 ,at the farther end of the principal walk arose a plain1 unpretentious dwelling1 its white walls gleaming with an appearance of purity and peace4 ,so far had we come up the valley that this cottage appeared to us to rest at the base of the purple-crested mountain1 like a bird's nest securely fastened upon a rugged rock4 8,here10 said my guide1 8you have the home of ,robert ,burns4 ,i will now leave you to his care40 ,ere he could proceed1 a form issued from the open doorway of the house1 and hastened down the path to meet us4 ,that beaming countenance1 those kindly eyes1 and warm1 cordial hands extended to greet us2 that commanding1 yet unassuming figure1 clothed in simple1 rustic garb1 could belong to no man in ,god's universe but ,robert ,burns4 ,it needed no honeyed speech1 no formal words of greeting1 no conventionalities1 to tell us we were welcome2 the spirit of our host over flowed with hospitality1 and his soul beamed with all the fervor of his joy at meeting us4 ,oh1 the pleasure that enwrapped my being when ,i first entered the sanctuary of that good man's great heart1 and felt that we were congenial companions6 ,no constraint1 no conventional formalities with him2 all was freedom and perfect ease4 ,my guide pleaded necessities of business as an excuse for leaving me alone with my host1 and as we both preferred to roam in his great treasure-garden to entering the house1 and feeling refreshed and strong in spirit1 as though ,i had just partaken of food 7which was true1 as ,i had been feeding my soul all the way on the many delights ,i had encountered71 we turned down a by-path1 and ,i began to examine the rare plants and elegant shrubbery of the place1 my host displaying and explaining his treasures as we went4 8,i am surprised10 said ,i1 8at your wealth of luxuriant bloom1 and the beauty as well as the delicacy of the perfume of these plants2 they surpass everything ,i have yet seen2 you must give them a great deal of attention40 8,well1 lad10 replied my companion1 8it's not that so much4 ,i look after them every day1 of course1 give them water and just the right degree of light1 and trim and train them when there's muckle need2 but ,i think its adaptability to surroundings that makes 'em fine4 ,i love them1--every one1--and it's real pleasure to care for them20 and it was with unfeigned fondness that he bent over a rare stock of geraniums1 and lifted a magnificent bloom to my view4 ,we wandered along1 chatting about this shrub and that plant2 the proper treatment of this stock1 and the right degree of culture for that variety4 ,nature and time had made him a thorough floriculturist2 it was the spiritual refining of that love of ,nature1 manifested in the farmer-boy1 using the plough and spade1 and weaving songs of richest beauty over his work4 ,again we paused1 this time by the side of a parterre of the most beautiful garden-lilies ,i ever beheld4 ,the creamy1 cup-shaped blossoms1 which crowned the slender stems1 rose tall and straight from a low mass of deep1 dark1 and glossy leafage2 while the regal flowers1 with their tints of snowy richness1 flecked with tiny bars of golden hue1 emitted a fragrance of the most exquisite yet subtle of delicate odors4 ,there were dozens upon dozens of these royal blossoms1 filling the air with their rich perfume1 and inviting the honey-bee to visit them in his search for sweets4 ,as ,i paused to admire this magnificent group of beauties--mentally likening them to a bevy of pure-souled1 white-robed angels--and to drink in the full richness and glory of the scene spread out before me1 there came1 wafted upon the scent-laden air1 a strain of sweetest music1--such as ,i have often heard in spirit1 but which is never produced by any but highly-cultivated or advanced souls1--accompanied in this instance by a female voice in singing2 and such singing--so full of melody1 of expressive tenderness1 with a rich under-current of harmony--mortal tongue or pen is inadequate to describe4 ,i looked at my companion inquiringly4 ,said he3 8,it is my ,highland ,mary1 the sainted soul who passed on before me1 and who has made me what ,i am4 ,this patch of lilies is her especial pride4 ,i have named them for her1 and call them #8,the ,snaw ,mary4' ,we shall soon be with her1 and you will see her for yourself40 ,i was delighted at the prospect of meeting 8,highland ,mary10 which delight of course he perceived4 ,we moved on past beds of beautiful verdure and bloom of every hue1 and arrived at the lake1 a superb sheet of water1 clear as crystal1 and extending over a large area1 its margin laid with tiny1 white cobblestones1 presenting a neat1 pretty appearance4 ,a fairy-like boat was moored at a landing-place1 upon the side of which ,i observed painted a large1 thrifty-looking thistle4 ,a rustic bridge extended across the lake1 over which we passed4 ,at the farther side were a number of tiny arbors1 around and above which twined and clung flowering vines1 some of which were very familiar to me4 ,toward the nearest of these flower-wreathed pavilions my companion turned4 ,the sound of singing had ceased1 but through the swinging leaflets of the vines ,i could perceive the white drapery of female garments4 ,in a moment more we were in the presence of that sweet1 long-loved1 immortalized 8,highland ,mary20 and well might ,robert ,burns have mourned her loss1 and well might the poet soul have sung his sweetest song 8,to ,mary in ,heaven40 ,the features of this sainted maiden were almost transparent2 a halo of celestial beauty shone about her form as she moved2 her beautiful eyes emitted a radiance that must have been dazzling to those not fitted to enter her sphere of purity2 her bonny hair rippled down her back in waves of golden light4 ,the beauty of mind1 the purity of an innocent heart1 the tenderness of soul1 expressing itself in sympathy toward the weak and erring1 combined with traces of experience in human suffering1 manifested themselves in the chastened refinement of that lovely countenance1 and the sphere of purity surrounding that angelic being4 ,i stood before her abashed and humbled2 but a moment more1 the sweet voice of ,burns' ,mary bade me welcome1 and ,i was made to feel at home4 ,years of experience in the higher life had been of inestimable value to that maiden2 she had had the teaching of highly-developed spirits1 and the beauty1 brilliancy and grace of a cultured mind1 that was accustomed to deep thinking1 were plainly discernible in her remarks4 ,i was content to be a listener1 and to drink deeply of the living waters of truth that flowed from the gifted mind of my host1 and from the tender1 loving soul of his companion4 ,but our stay in the pavilion was short2 ,i would fain have lingered far longer1 but the lady1 8on hospitable thoughts intent10 after the fashion of woman everywhere1 seemed anxious that ,i should be conducted to the house and have refreshments4 ,my protestations were overruled1 and we accordingly started for the abode1--not by the way my host and ,i had come1 but on the outer side of the garden4 ,on our journey ,i made a new discovery3 ,mary had turned to me previously1 and said3 8,i would like you to see my aviary1 the place where ,i keep my pets2 in fact1 their shelterhouse20 and soon ,i understood to what she referred4 ,we were approaching a thicket of bushes2 ,i recognized furze1 gorse1 and hawthorn among them4 ,passing through this thicket1 we entered an extension of the garden1 still laid out in beds of beautiful flowers4 ,a grove of trees1 in the center of which a pretty fountain sent up its jets of crystal water1 arrested my attention1 and beyond that1 the sparkling roof of a large glass building4 ,the bushes and trees resounded with the melody issuing from the gaily-feathered throats of numerous songsters1 of every size and variety4 ,it was a bird kingdom upon a small scale4 ,as we entered1 the birds surrounded us1 alighting upon the heads and shoulders of my companions2 but while they flew close to and around me1 only one1 a tiny white warbler1 would alight upon my person4 ,this perched upon my shoulder1 and chirped and nodded as pert as possible4 ,we entered the glass building4 ,within were planted shrubs and trees1 some of them bearing fruit1 others seeds4 ,there were no cages1 but ,i observed numerous nests attached to the bushes and trees4 ,the floor was the natural earth2 the sun shone warmly1 and all was beautiful4 ,there were no doors1 but here and there entrance-ways1 always open for the convenience of the feathered denizens of the place1 who came and went of their pleasure4 ,a stream of water gushed from a rock1 and gurgled and plashed over a heap of stones4 ,this was the bird-house belonging to the estate1 and the especial pride of 8,highland ,mary40 ,we tarried a few moments1 and then continued our way to the house1 which we soon reached4 ,how different the scene6 ,a plain1 unpretentious1 white dwelling1 with no attempt at ornamentation1 the sun shining down upon it1 fully displaying all its simplicity4 ,within was the same2 neat and cheerful1 suggestive of comfort and repose1 but nothing finical1 nothing tawdry2 no glitter1 no display4 ,there was no covering to the cool1 white floors1 excepting here and there a rug or mat of green rushes4 ,the walls of the apartment into which ,i was ushered were draped with a snowy gossamer-like fabric2 the chairs round1 wide1 and comfortable1 the tables oval and plain4 ,here we were served with refreshments1--fruit of various kinds1 sweet cake formed of honey and the meat of nuts1 and sparkling water4 ,afterward ,i entered the sitting-room of spirit ,mary4 ,here the walls were draped with blue silken stuffs2 the furnishings were more elaborate and elegant than the other parts of the house1 and all arranged in exquisite taste4 ,my hostess entertained us with her tender1 soulful singing1 striking a harp-shaped instrument1 which sent forth a delicious accompaniment to the song4 ,in ,mary's apartment1 or boudoir1 ,i observed a pot of primroses in full bloom1 the yellow petals of the flowers recalling old familiar scenes of earth2 and the sight of these flowers recalled to me also that they were the only ones ,i had noticed within the dwelling4 ,this seemed singular to me2 with all that wealth of bloom and fragrance without1 it would only be natural to find every room adorned with slips and cuttings4 ,of course the drift of my thought was perceived4 ,burns smiled1 but ,mary enlightened me4 8,robbie will never pluck a flower10 said she1 8for his own use2 he does not think it right to bring them out of their native elements1 and deprive them of life on the stalk4 ,he thinks they are hurt when they are culled2 he also leaves them all out to be enjoyed by anyone who comes along2 but ,i have seen him often break the flowers for some wee lassie1 or poor laddie1 who luks at them wistfully4 ,he knows by that they had none too many flowers and pleasures on earth40 ,i looked at ,burns2 his kindly face lighted up with intelligence and spirit beauty2 every feature aglow with goodness1 and every member of his body filled with energy1 with suppressed power1 with concentrated activity1 now in abeyance1 but ready to spring forth for the well-being of another1--he who had risen above all earthly passions through his great love for and faith in humanity2 and ,i thought how characteristic of the man is this abode of peace and rest1--the home1 the shrine of his faith and love1--plain1 simple1 yet full of cheer and interest1--no glitter nor show1--like his own kindly heart1 unpretentious1 full of kindness1 overflowing with interest in ,god1 ,nature1 and man6 ,without1 all is beauty and fragrance2 yet the natural productions of life1 refined by care and cultivation1 typical of the rich1 the beautiful expressions of his poet soul1--refined through love1 cultured through sympathy1 manifested in sweetest heart songs1 exemplified in those peaceful homes ,i had seen1 whose inmates rise up and call him blessed6 ,characteristic of the soul is this1 who would cull a flower to give a poor heart cheer1 yet who will pluck none for his own use1 to deprive them of natural life1--who1 when he had inadvertently uprooted the tiny1 wayside flower with his plowshare1 immortalized the humble daisy with-- 8,thou bonny crimson-tipped flower1 ,thou'st met me in an evil hour1 ,for ,i mun crush amang the stower ,thy slender stem2 ,to spare thee now 'twere past my power1 ,thou bonny gem40 ,still the same good man1 gentle alike to 8mon and beastie10 tender to wayside flower and weed4 ,another apartment in the home of the people's bard is fitted up as a study or library4 ,here are collected volumes by the true poets and philosophers of all ages4 ,some are prototypes of what are or what have been on earth2 others are the outward productions of minds1 grand and glorious in their brilliancy of thought1 radiant with exquisite imagery1 glowing with descriptive genius1 or sweet and pathetic appeals to the tenderest emotions of the soul1 through their simple1 home-like1 heartfelt tales of life and love1 and which have never been heard by mortals4 ,but you must not for a moment suppose ,robert ,burns to be dependent upon books for intellectual enjoyment1 or for the attainment of knowledge4 ,the soul is limitless in its resources1 boundless in its capacity for expansion1 and that spirit who earnestly desires to gain knowledge1 finds a power developing within the mind which enables him or her to comprehend the fields of learning continually opening before the vision2 while facilities and opportunities are afforded by which an honest seeker may grasp the truth as it appears before him4 ,could you but faintly realize the scope of the spirit1 its perfect freedom1 its power and right to travel where it listeth1 you would understand that in the higher life we have but to earnestly desire to be in the presence of any great soul1 in order to gain pleasure and profit from the gems of love1 beauty1 and wisdom which fall upon receptive minds from those great repositories of thought1 and1 lo1 we are there1 drinking in great and mighty truths from those who are above us in grandeur of thought1 beauty of expression1 and sweetness of spirit4 ,robert ,burns is by no means confined to his books2 but1 as he informed me1 though his brightest thoughts are drawn from the life of ,nature1 or the hearts of humanity1 he loves to gather about him all the expressions of the sweet1 soulful1 noblest ideals which others have produced4 ,much1 that by force of circumstances1 he was deprived of on earth is his now2 all that will tend to ennoble and elevate his soul1 which was denied him here1 he finds on the other shore4 ,why he does not ornament his home with those adornments that denote rank and wealth to the external eye is because his soul loathed the arrogance1 and learned to despise the superciliousness which he found in the hearts1 often stamped on the faces and shown in the mien1 of many wealthy aristocratic personages he met with while on earth4 ,he is ,nature's child to the core of his being1 and no glittering pageantry will adorn his heart and home2 as well attempt to gild the rose1 and paint the lily1 to add to their beauty4 ,together1 he and ,i went forth into the smiling valley4 ,a low burn wended its way beneath the shade of waving trees1 close down to the mountain base2 thither we directed our steps1 for he wished to show me1 with a sort of fatherly pride1 the great plumy bunches of purple heather tufting the sides of the gigantic hills4 ,a tiny child1 paddling in the dark waters of the burn1 her snowy feet gleaming pearly white amid the shadows thrown by the green branches of the trees1 her brown locks hanging in a profusion of luxuriant curls over her dimpled shoulders1 and half veiling the azure blue eye and damask cheek1 arrested our attention and formed as pretty a picture as one can well imagine2 and the poet soul of my companion1 drinking in the beauty of the scene1 felt all the sweetness of life rushing over him1 as he broke out in his quaint ,scotch fashion3-- ,thou winsome1 weesome1 smiling creature1 ,half formed of human1 half of nature1 ,thy soul gleams through thy every feature1 ,this gladsome day2 ,while life itself becomes thy teacher-- ,thou prattling fay6 ,thy e'en1 as blue as simmer skies1 ,reflect the joys of paradise1 ,an' glisten wi' their sweet surprise1 ,that knows no guile2 ,while angel praises o'er thee rise1 ,an' bless the while4 ,thy bonnie tresses veil thy face ,wi' such a winsome1 modest grace1 ,my spirit fain wad leave its place ,an' clasp thee close ,in ane sweet1 fervent pure embrace1 ,like some rare rose4 ,thy snawy feet1 like twa fair pearls1 ,gleam brightly 'neath the wave that whirls2 ,the water o'er them softly purls2 ,god lo'es thee best1 ,an' keeps thee 'mang the sweetest girls ,that ,heaven has blest4 ,in conveying a pure stream of crystal fluid through a muddy pipe1 the liquid loses much of its clearness1 and gathers sediment from the channel through which it passes4 ,so1 in striving to convey to your understanding a type of the outgushings of a noble spirit1 it loses much of its transparency and becomes unsettled through the medium of earthly expression1 and perchance distorted by the crude materiality it is sometimes obliged to pass through4 ,therefore1 you are to take this as a symbol only of what ,i had the good fortune to enjoy4 ,i learned in our rambles that the inhabitants of this smiling valley were not all the countrymen and women of ,robert ,burns2 neither were they1 when on earth1 all of one belief or religion4 ,they were of every race and clime4 ,some had been fierce denouncers of the truth2 some earnest defenders of old theologic ideas and doctrines2 others had had no religion1 no faith either in ,god or man4 ,but it was plain that all had suffered1 had been weary1 repentant1 lonely1 heart-sick1 and home-sick2 and all had found a home1 rest1 action for their pent-up energies1 development for their repressed powers1 love1 enjoyment1 and peace beneath the ministrations of this good man and his gentle companion4 ,i met with some of these happy people2 conversed with them1 after the manner of spirits1 read the interior conditions of their souls1 and found them all pure1 loving1 simple1 intelligent1 respecting man1 adorning the divine in humanity1 and recognizing ,god as the author of life1 whose spirit was found in everything4 ,how their spirits sent forth a halo of light1 which1 springing from their unbounded love and veneration for ,robert ,burns1 settled about him like an atmosphere of glory6 ,well did ,i think highly of the good this man had accomplished2 of the beauty of his life-work1 of the grandeur of his spirit1 which1 rising above adversity1 rejecting the tempter1 had outwrought by his example1 by his endeavors1 such a noble result as this1--the emancipation of souls from bondage4 ,how many1 few could tell2 for his efforts have been unlimited1 and the results of his labors are not confined to this valley1 but are scattered far and wide in spirit life and on earth4 ,what need has ,robert ,burns to return to earth and sing his songs through the lips of media8 ,he does so rarely2 and why8 ,his spirit of love1 of faith in ,god1 of hope for human progress is so broad1 so free and untrammeled1 that it breathes itself out in a benediction of good over all humanity4 ,it is manifested wherever a soul prays to be of use to itself and others2 it inspires the weak with strength1 and blesses the erring with a determination to redeem past errors2 it is felt on earth and in spirit life1 purifying1 elevating1 and regenerating4 ,is not this the loftiest poem1 the sweetest song1 the grandest tale that bard or prophet ever could have dreamed8 ,is it not the outworking1 in lines of living glory1 of the most sublime yet soulful pan of praise to ,god that spirit can conceive8 ,is it not the breathing1 soul-quickening1 revivifying poem of life that is outwrought from the inspirations and aspirations of a gifted1 struggling soul once in mortal1 and which is the perfect culmination of all that has been dreamed of by that soul1 manifesting itself in the fruition of a work of beauty1 glory1 and grandeur1--not of mechanical art1 but of natural1 quickened1 sentient life8 ,could the mortal denouncers of ,robert ,burns witness his noble triumph of spirit over matter1 his defeat of all sensual life1 his wonderful efforts for the good of others1 and his glorious soul1 radiant with the light of truth1 they would bow before him in abject poverty of spirit4 ,one of a band of noble workers1 his spirit flows out in love and forgiveness to all his foes1 and in blessing to all humanity4 ,even in spirit life this soul remembers and loves his native home and haunts on earth4 ,the rugged rocks and darkling streams1 the gowan-gemmed sod1 and heather-crowned hills of ,scotland1 are dear to him still4 ,we were seated upon a mossy bank1 enjoying the loveliness of the scene1--the gleaming valley1 dotted with its blooming gardens and snowy-white habitations2 the crystal stream murmuring at our feet2 the birds chirping in the branches2 the lofty mountains uprearing their crests but a little way before us2 with the glorious sun1 throwing a flood of golden splendor over all4 ,environed with these conditions1 ,i could perceive the thoughts of my companion reverting to earthly scenes1 and presently1 with bosom heaving1 and his great dark eyes glowing with the intensity of his emotions1 he broke forth3-- ,fair are thy smiling fields of green1 oh1 vale1 ,and sweet the flowers that gem thy emerald sod2 ,thy zephyrs bring a spice in every gale1 ,and man and nature here commune with ,god4 ,thy crystal waters flow in melody1 ,thy birds make music through the waving trees2 ,thy mountains1 rising in their majesty1 ,survey in grandeur all thy harmonies4 ,but fair and sweet as thou1 my spirit home1 ,to this fond1 loving1 clinging heart of mine1 ,are ,scotia's fields1 where once ,i loved to roam1 ,and pluck the gowan and the eglantine4 ,thy brooks are clear1 but ,scotia's burns are bonnie1 ,where once ,i paddled through the simmer day2 ,thy birds recall the times1 not few but monny1 ,i've heard the mavis chant her tuneful lay4 ,and though thy mountains rise in mystic glory1 ,they are not fairer to my spirit sight ,than ,scotia's grim old crags and peaks so hoary1 ,that brought my boyhood soul such dear delight4 ,aye1 ,scotia's lands to me are sweet and canny1 ,as in the days ,i roamed her meadows fine1 ,wi' loving frien'1 or gleesome1 prattling bairnie-- ,those sweet1 rare blessings of the auld lang syne4 ,as a ray of light1 in passing through a pane of glass1 may become broken or refracted1 or as a straight staff placed in a vessel of water may present a misshapen appearance to the beholder1 so in attempting to present to you the straight1 symmetrical lines of thought1 the golden rays of light1 emanating from a poet's soul1 they become broken and distorted in their passage through matter2 but by these refracted rays you may be able to gain a faint comprehension of the glory of the soul in which they originated4 ,and thus we passed our time1 with great profit to myself2 for1 from the companionship of my friend1 ,i gained a knowledge of the true beauty of the natural life of the spirit1 and a larger conception of the grandeur of individualized life1 when fulfilling its proper mission and expanding to its full capacity1 even while drinking in the beauty of my surroundings1 the harmony of the scene1 quaffing the crystal drops or inspiring thought which filled the soul of my companion1 and imbibing of that deep peace and gladness that imbued his entire being4 ,in attempting to portray to you a tithe of the pleasure and profit that my spirit gained from this visit to ,robert ,burns ,i have sought to give you an idea of the home and occupation of ,scotland's immortalized son1 whose songs and poems have enriched the literature of earth1 and gladdened the hearts of countless beings here and in the immortal world2 but in doing so ,i have deeply realized that it is impossible for spirits to convey to mortals an adequate conception of life in the soul world as it really is4 ,i am aware that ,i have said nothing in regard to the nearest relatives and friends of the poet1--his brave1 honest parents1 those to whom he ever pays filial respect1 and those also who receive fraternal sympathy and regard1--his noble sons1 that sweet1 gentle daughter1 the pet and blessing of his heart1 whose early loss he mourned until his death2 and last1 but by no means least1 his faithful1 forgiving ,jean1 his counselor and guide to the end4 ,though ,i have not mentioned these1 it is not that they are remote or separated from our poet4 ,they are with him1 as a cluster of stars gather around one brilliant1 far-reaching center2 and upon him they bestow that true spirit love and sympathy which he reciprocates in kind4 ,but ,i have dwelt longest upon his connection with the beautiful ideal of his early life2 for in her is centered the power to draw forth the noblest and purest aspirations of his soul4 ,as a beacon-light1 a radiant star1 her undefiled spirit1 overflowing with the love that has blest and enriched his being1 has ever led him onward and upward over the ruts and pitfalls of sensual life until he has reached the heights of self-conquest and self-respect4 ,in every sense1 ,mary ,campbell has been the savior and sustainer of ,robert ,burns4 ,,chapter ,,xxv4 ,,my ,,spiritual ,,work ,it would ill become me to speak of my own efforts4 ,there is so much to be done that the individual work of one alone is necessarily small2 but if we strive to do good1 with a will and a desire to benefit others1 we cannot fail to be of use2 and that you may know how it is a spirit labors in conjunction with mortals1 ,i will briefly speak of my method of work1 and give you a few instances of what ,i have done or have striven to do4 ,i remember one circumstance well4 ,at a gambling house in a large ,english city1 ,i encountered a lad1 about eighteen years of age1 whom ,i could see had been enticed there by the alluring visions of a fortune to be made1 pictured to him by those well versed in the secrets of sinful practices4 ,he was a pale1 delicate youth1 with an intellectual cast of countenance1 a well-bred air1 and one evidently worthy of better things4 ,i was attracted to him as he sat at the table1 his whole mind concentrated upon the game he was playing4 ,suddenly1 he pushed back his chair1 rubbed his brow in a bewildered manner1 and muttering3 8,lost1 everything lost2 ,i counted on this chance to retrieve my luck1 but it is no use1 everything is against me20 he seized his hat and fled from the place4 ,i followed him1 not knowing what he might do1 and wishing to serve him if in my power4 ,it was to his room that we went1 the attic floor of a dingy lodging-house in an obscure quarter of the city4 ,i found that he was a student1 striving to pay his way by literary labor1 while gaining an education4 ,his parents were poor1 hard-working people1 living back in the country1 who had done all they could to assist their son4 ,flinging himself upon his humble bed1 the youth gave himself up to dismal thoughts1 the tenor of which was that he wished he was dead4 ,his money was all gone1 nothing left of all he had possessed but his books2 remunerative employment he found impossible to procure1 and he knew not how to gain the means of livelihood4 ,he could not apply to his friends2 indeed1 he would not have them know his situation for the world1 and nothing remained but to put himself out of the way as soon as possible4 ,in vain did ,i strive to turn his thoughts in another direction2 in vain ,i pictured to his mind the horror and anguish of his friends1 when they should learn what he had done4 ,he was in no condition to be impressed by any influence that ,i could bring to bear upon him4 ,again he started up and left the house1 ,i still accompanying him4 ,he entered a small drug-store upon the corner1 and1 nodding nonchalantly to a young lad about his own age behind the counter1 said3 8,ned1 ,i wish you'd trust me for a few pennies' worth of arsenic2 the rats are becoming such a bore up in my attic that ,i must do something1 especially as the landlady pays no attention to my complaints40 8,all right10 responded the clerk1 taking a bottle of white powder from the shelf1 and proceeding to do up a small package from its contents4 8,but you must be very careful of it4 ,i suppose you know how to use it80 8,yes1 thanks2 ,i'll settle as soon as ,i can10 replied the youth1 and1 taking the parcel1 he hurried from the shop4 ,i knew not what to do4 ,i did not like to see that youth throw himself away in the manner he thought of doing2 but how could ,i prevent it8 ,in a moment more1 a doctor's chaise drove up to the druggist's door1 and a portly1 good-natured looking gentleman1 of about five-and-forty years of age1 alighted and entered the shop4 8,ned10 said he1 8prepare a bottle of cough-mixture from this recipe10 handing him the prescription1 8and send it with a box of soothing powders to ,mrs4 ,simms4 ,she's very bad40 8,all right1 sir10 replied the clerk2 8but look here a minute4 ,harold ,h41 who lives at ,no4 #h1 was here a minute ago for arsenic4 ,he said it was to kill rats4 ,i let him have it1 but some how or other just now ,i feel nervous about it40 ,upon the doctor's entrance1 ,i saw in an instant he was the one to be influenced in the right direction1 and it was ,i who had produced the uneasiness in the clerk's mind1 and impressed him to speak4 8,ah10 said the doctor1 8,i'll stop and see about this2 and do you1 ,master ,ned1 have a care how you sell poisonous articles to whoever comes for them40 ,he hurried from the store over to ,no4 #h1 entered1 and without ceremony passed up to the attic of the wouldbe suicide4 ,i of course followed4 ,we found the youth engaged in writing a letter1 the package of poison close to his hand4 ,it is needless for me to recount all that passed in that interview4 ,suffice it to say1 that1 by a few welldirected inquiries1 that good man managed to learn the condition of the lad1 and what had been its cause4 ,he then proceeded to talk to him earnestly and firmly1 yet kindly1 of the sin he contemplated1 of the agony of his mother upon hearing of the deed1 and the anguish he would cause to all he loved4 ,the young man broke down1 wept bitterly1 and promised he would live to be a better man4 ,the physician furnished him with means sufficient for present necessities1 promised him he would interest some of his influential friends in his behalf1 and1 when he left1 carried the poison with him4 ,the man kept his word1 and through his influence ,harold ,h4 was placed in better circumstances1 assisted in his efforts to gain an education1 and lives today an ornament and useful member of society1 and the pride of his parents and friends4 ,more than once ,i have visited liquor saloons1 hoping to draw some poor wretch away from the curse of rum and its allurements4 ,i have not always succeeded1 but at times have been more successful4 ,on one of these occasions1 a man in the prime of life1 who was drinking copiously1 and rapidly making himself worse than a beast1 arrested my attention1 but ,i could make no impression upon him4 ,while making the effort1 a street musician began playing a dancing tune4 ,the musician1 a young and delicate boy1 accompanied by a still younger female child1 who was the dancer1 was one whom ,i could impress1 which ,i did by making him cease the dancing tune1 and begin that sweet1 pathetic air of ,payne's 8,home1 ,sweet ,home40 ,the little maid stopped her dancing1 looked puzzled for a moment1 when1 catching the inspiration of the moment1 she broke out in bird-like tones of sweetness1 and sang the words of the song4 ,i watched the effect upon the drinker4 ,at first he did not seem to hear1 but gradually a listening expression stole over his features1 and at last his head sank upon his hands4 ,now was my time4 ,i whispered to him of his mother1 of his dear old childhood home1 of his wife and child waiting anxiously for him even now1 and of the dear one who had died and was calling to him from her heavenly abode4 ,he1 of course1 never knew but what they were his own thoughts awakened by that tune4 ,in part they were1 but their power was intensified by spirit presence and aid4 ,his spirit child was close by my side1 anxious that her father should be drawn away from that place4 ,from her ,i learned of her mother and invalid sister1 who were living1 and of whom ,i whispered in his ear4 ,the music ceased1 and1 rising1 the drinker passed from the place1 unheeding the call of the barkeeper to 8stop and take another drink40 ,i followed him home1 saw his wife and lame daughter1 and learned from the state of their minds that he had resisted all their pleadings to remain from the rum-shop1 and had even raised his hand threateningly to his child4 ,he said nothing that night1 but went quietly to bed4 ,in the morning ,i was there4 ,softened and humbled in mind1 the man sat looking out of the window4 ,i went to his daughter1 influenced her to call her father and talk to him1 as she had never done before4 ,it was the voice of the spirit calling to him to look up higher1 to pray for a strength to resist temptation1 and to strive to live a better life4 ,amid tears of contrition he promised2 by the bedside of his invalid child that man took the pledge1 and so far it has been kept1 and his family are content1 while his spirit child is happy4 ,on another occasion ,i was at a home1 drawn there by a spirit who solicited my assistance for her brother1 who was addicted to drink4 ,he1 too1 had a wife and family of little ones4 ,at the time of my visit1 he was possessed with an insane desire for liquor4 ,i heard him promise his wife he would take none1 but ,i had no faith in his word4 ,he went out4 ,i influenced his little girl to follow him4 ,she was a child of about eight years of age1 and evidently stood in great fear of her father4 ,we followed him1 saw him enter a liquor saloon4 ,i tried to induce her to enter1 but she was afraid4 8,i'd like to follow pa10 she said1 8but ,i don't dare2 he'd beat me40 ,still ,i urged1 and at last1 gathering firmness from the spirit world1 she boldly entered the saloon1 and addressed the barkeeper1 who was mixing a drink for her father1 thus3 8,don't you give my father anything to drink1 mister2 it makes him crazy and sick1 and everything is awful bad at home1 and mother cries all the time40 ,she was greeted with a loud laugh by the bystanders1 but taking no heed1 she seized her father's hand1 saying3 8,come1 father1 don't stay here2 let's take a walk40 8,yes1 yes1 little girl1 let's take a walk2 this is no place for you10 he answered1 and1 winking to the barkeeper1 and whispering3 8,i'll be back soon10 he suffered the child to lead him away4 ,i impressed the child to lead her father toward the water4 ,the evening breeze was blowing cool and refreshing4 8,father10 said the child1 8doesn't ,god see us now80 ,the man was evidently startled1 but answered3 8,yes1 ,i suppose he does1 if there is any ,god40 8,oh1 of course there's a ,god10 pursued the child4 8,don't the minister say so1 and didn't grandma use to pray to him8 ,grandma's an angel now4 ,do you 'spose she saw us in that horrid place1 papa80 8,good heavens1 ,i hope not10 answered the man4 8,come1 you'd better go home40 8,no1 let's stay here a little while2 it's cool here10 went on the child4 ,her timidity vanished4 8,i guess grandma did see us1 'cause angels can go everywhere1 you know4 ,i don't believe she liked to see us there4 ,i hope she'll ask ,god to keep you from going there any more1 'cause it makes mamma cry all the time40 8,cry all the time1 does she80 muttered the man4 8,well1 you must go home now40 ,the cool breeze had lessened the fire in the man's veins2 the child's prattle had driven the present thought of liquor away4 ,subdued and humbled1 he led her home1 and went out no more that night4 ,in the morning his employer called for him to go to work1 and he had no opportunity to visit the saloon4 ,during the day ,i influenced one of those royal souls yet encased in flesh1 who go about doing good1 to visit that home1 where he learned the state of affairs4 ,he called again at tea-time1 saw the father and husband1 and1 by interesting himself in his pleasures and pursuits1 won his heart1 and induced the man to go with him to a temperance lecture4 ,this was the beginning4 ,before the winter had set in1 that man had signed the pledge1 and was a member of a temperance organization4 ,true1 the victory was not easily won4 ,there were many battles to fight with his appetite2 and had it not been for noble souls in mortal who stood by him1 we could have done but little2 as it was1 the rum fiend was conquered4 ,this is one method of my spirit work1--allying myself with spirits1 in the body and out1 whose souls are zealously engaged in laboring for humanity4 ,more has been accomplished than ,i care to tell2 but very little has been done compared to what there is to do1 and ,i am still laboring in co-operation with others1 for the good time that is to come to all mankind4 ,the above are only illustrations of one branch of my efforts to assist those in darkness4 ,my labors have not all been expended in one direction1 but ,i have endeavored to obey the commands laid upon me to go out and give the people light4 ,in my travels ,i have come across mortals possessing1 to a large degree1 mediumistic power1 which only needed to be awakened into life and activity to be of use to mankind4 ,often these parties were surrounded by conditions very unfavorable to the development of mediumship4 ,in such cases ,i have endeavored to supply1 in part1 the favorable conditions from the spirit life1 and have succeeded in unfolding powers that have proved a source of comfort to others4 ,to illustrate3 a number of years ago ,i was led to visit a spirit circle1 the medium of which ,i found possessing rare powers and abilities1 but which sadly needed culture4 ,she was a young maiden1 the child of poor parents1 who were alike ignorant of the laws of mediumship1 and the conditions necessary to their unfoldment4 ,of course1 the manifestations of spirit presence were crude and variable2 but finding ,i could assimilate my powers with those of that medium1 ,i determined to take her in charge for awhile1 and see if ,i could not stimulate her spirit forces sufficiently to assist them into healthy growth and action4 ,i did so1 all unknown to herself and others1 and1 by directing her mind in a certain channel1 succeeded in my task4 ,i selected certain works for her perusal1--philosophical1 moral1 poetical1--and impressed her to read them2 awakened in her mind a desire to write compositions and rhymes2 influenced her to attend lectures and sermons1 delivered by the loftiest intellects of the time1 brought to her home parties who could assist her in the pursuit of knowledge2 and thus1 in spite of adverse conditions1 she steadily advanced1 until today she stands far ahead of her family in literary attainments1 and is read and listened to with respect by many intelligent1 thinking minds4 ,the case of that medium presents a striking instance of what spirits can do in educating mortals1 and in teaching them immortal truths1 which they in turn must give forth to the multitude4 ,many times have ,i given my songs to the world through the lips of mortals4 ,sometimes they appeared crude and ill-expressed1 limited1 and warped by the undeveloped channels through which they flowed2 but even then ,i rejoiced to know that they could bear comfort and hope to the sorrowing or the sinning souls they were destined to reach4 ,at other times1 my productions have caught a richness of expression1 a beautiful and harmonious blending of sentiment and rhythm1 from the depths of the mediumistic souls through whom they came that sent them ringing through the hearts of those who read or listened1 until they seemed uplifted into the clear air of heaven4 ,but my greatest joy has been in assisting the inner powers of others to grow and expand1 leading them in their cravings for knowledge1 and aiding their faltering steps up the rugged heights of life1 in search of truth and right4 ,when ,i find a soul who delights to take a sentiment and to express it clearly in rhyme1 ,i encourage that spirit1 no matter how crude or uncertain its efforts may be1 for ,i perceive that the spirit is putting forth its powers1 that1 like the feelers of a plant1 it is groping around to find a support that will bear it in its growth2 and that1 if it receives the strength and prop it needs1 it will develop into a thing of blossoming beauty4 ,but ,i do not encourage these souls to put forth their first feeble expressions to the world any more than ,i would advise the florist to place a tiny1 fragile slip of plant-life out in the full glare of a summer day4 ,i watch them1 and1 by directing their thoughts into proper channels1 and influencing them what to read in order to expand their minds1 sometimes succeed in raising a rare stock1 that favors the world with an abundance of rich and fragrant blossoms4 ,thousands of spirits are engaged in such work1 in divers directions1 and in multiplied ways2 for they recognize the fact that to have the spirit world peopled by a race of noble1 thoughtful1 moral1 and intellectual souls1 we must refine and educate those who are still on earth1--educate them in a knowledge of life and its laws1 an understanding of the soul and its requirements1 and an appreciation of truth and its unfoldments2 and to do this we are teaching and directing those sensitive1 intuitive souls who can catch the inspirations of the spheres1 and sending them forth as teachers to the masses4 ,in my wanderings to and fro as a spirit1 ,i have become a cosmopolite1--a citizen of the world1--claiming my home wherever ,i may be of use to humanity4 ,but my efforts for the amelioration of suffering have not been confined to material life alone4 ,i have met many distressed spirits who passed from the body1 scarred and scathed by sin and passion1 and who1 in consequence1 have been plunged in mental darkness2 to them ,i have sought to bring hope and encouragement4 ,the world beyond is thronged with those unhappy souls1 and1 though we cannot save them1 as each one must work out his own salvation1 yet we can aid and teach them to find the better way1 and encourage them to persevere in their efforts to atone for the past by doing right4 ,in my anxiety and eagerness to atone for my own past folly by helping others1 ,i had taken no heed of the lapse of time1 my whole soul having been wrapped in my work4 ,i was at a seance in ,london one night1 and had succeeded in gaining partial possession of a youth whom ,i wished to develop as a medium4 ,while in this condition1 unable to make my presence known1 one of the party remarked3 8,we ought to have an exceptionably good seance tonight1 as it is the last one of the year2 tomorrow brings us #ahgb40 ,the words brought to me a vision of ,new ,years' ,eves spent in the past1 and with it a longing for the sight of dear and familiar faces4 ,i began to grow home-sick and weary4 ,five years previous ,i passed from the body1 and most of the intervening time ,i had spent among strangers4 ,with this thought in my mind ,i found myself losing control of my subject1 and in a moment ,i was away from material things1 and out in the realm of spirit4 ,long before ,i had learned to travel by an effort of will as spirits do1 and ,i could now upon desiring to be in any place instantly be there4 ,time and distance have no power over the ascended soul1 and it can travel with the velocity of thought4 ,in a moment ,i found myself in the magnificent garden ,i had before visited4 ,all was blooming in richness and beauty4 ,i entered the stately portals of a superb mansion1 in the center of which a group of spirits were gathered in social converse4 ,judge of my delight in recognizing all who were dearest to me1--parents1 kindred1 and friends4 ,as ,i entered ,i heard my mother say3 8,all day ,i have been calling ,critchley4 ,i am sure he must come1 we all want him so much2 he is doing a good work1--bless the lad1--but ,i would like to meet him here40 ,my soul leaped forth in response to these words4 ,i was immediately seen and recognized4 ,it is impossible to describe the bliss and rapture of that meeting4 ,none but those who have experienced can understand the like4 ,the welcome more than recompensed me for past pain and sorrow4 ,it brought an infinite peace and calm that the world can never take away4 ,i remained with my friends for a time1 but not idle2 ,i had learned that true joy cannot reach the soul that is inert4 ,action is the law of life4 ,there was much for me to learn of spirit life and its laws1 and ,i set myself to work to acquire knowledge1 not forgetting to return frequently to earth to see if there was anything to do1 nor neglecting to minister to the unfortunate spirits ,i met4 ,at the present writing ,i have learned but little in comparison with what there is to attain1 but with active powers1 trained for work and study1 assisted by wise1 beneficent teachers1 and surrounded by loving souls1 it would be strange1 indeed1 if a spirit's course should not be upward and onward toward the realms of infinite light and truth4 ,engaged in the work ,i had chosen1 ,i had no time for regrets4 ,retrospection became no longer a scourge1 but a guide1 which1 by showing me wherein ,i had erred1 pointed out the true way to amendment2 and in striving to gain knowledge of the higher1 better way of living1--the way of the spirit1 bound to no avenue of sensual life1 but seeking the intellectual haunts of wisdom and truth1--,i found peace of mind1 and1 in seeking to bring happiness to others1 ,i became truly happy myself4 ,again ,i stood in the ,temple of ,art2 again ,i found myself in the ,poet's ,chamber1 but no longer an outcast and an alien4 ,indeed1 ,i was greeted as one whose coming was expected1 and welcomed with a warm cordiality and royal fervor that was very refreshing to my soul4 ,the same kingly company was assembled1 but augmented by a number of other souls1 rich with their freight of poetic imagery4 ,the assembly was not composed entirely of my own countrymen and women1 as heretofore2 for among that mighty throng could be seen the smiling1 open1 intelligent faces of ,thomas ,moore1 the sweet singer of the ,emerald ,isle1 and ,robert ,burns1 he who found his best inspiration amid the rugged heights and heather-crowned hills of ,scotia's land4 ,many others were present1 whom ,i failed to recognize1 clad in the flowing robes and purple vestments of the ,roman period1 or in the classic garments of ancient ,greece4 ,but ,england's delegation was a large one1 numbering those of every century and age3 ,pope and ,spenser1 ,johnson1 ,cowley1 and ,butler1 ,dryden1 ,gay1 ,thomson1 and ,young1--not the sad1 melancholy1 pensive ,edward ,young of earth1 but the radiant1 calm1 contented ,edward ,young of spirit life2 gentle ,henry ,kirke ,white1 liberty-loving ,thomas ,campbell1 and stouthearted1 staunch1 and true ,walter ,scott1 who1 though not ,english born1 yet seemed very near to me4 ,addison1 whom ,i had mentioned as occupying the seat of honor before1 now sat low at the feet of him who occupied the position of the ,master of ,ceremonies1 and whom ,i recognized as the true1 loyal1 long-suffering1 yet monarch-crowned soul1 ,milton4 ,at his right was to be seen the lofty brow1 and bold1 fearless1 speaking countenance of ,william ,shakespeare2 while1 at the left1 ,dryden seemed to be acting as assistant or secretary4 ,in my experience of spirit power and possibilities1 ,i had learned to understand and interpret the waves of thought flowing from soul to soul2 therefore ,i was at no loss to understand the purport and purposes of this convention4 ,it was a gathering of kindred souls1 met to communicate the loftiest thoughts and sweetest aspirations to each other1 thus dispensing the bountiful gifts of the spirit to all who would partake4 ,i cannot describe to you the rich1 ennobling thoughts1 clothed in their draperies of sweetest imagery1 which flowed from the soul of him who presided1 into ours1 the recipients'2 nor the grandeur and sublimity of the ideas with which he threaded1 like brands of shimmering pearls1 the network of his discourse4 ,but all was grand and glorious1 beyond the power of mortals to conceive4 ,at the close of his remarks1 the company clustered into knots1 discussing the discourse1 comparing experiences1 or revealing to each other the secret depths of their poetic souls1 from which were to be drawn lines1 glowing with the beauty and fragrance of harmonious lives4 ,it was then ,i discovered that every soul that is attuned into harmony with the inner life1 that dwells in sympathy with the ,divine ,mind1 as manifested in his outer creations of will1 in his natural expressions of love and beauty1 is in itself a poem of rare delicacy and power2 a living1 breathing1 animated poem1 thrilled with the magic power of thought1 and stamped with the eternal glory of individualized liberty2 that every poetic soul is itself the production of the ,infinite ,mind1 that must make itself heard in lines of glowing1 inspiring thought along the pathway of human toil and suffering1 and cannot fail to arouse the hidden energies and sleeping possibilities of power of those it comes in rapport with4 ,it was then ,i was made supremely blest by being taken by the hand by such souls as ,cowper1 ,byron1--my boyhood's ideal1--,burns1 ,scott1 ,campbell1 ,moore1 ,mrs4 ,browning1 ,felicia ,hemans1 and others1 and welcomed to this haunt of the beautiful and the good4 ,and ,i cannot convey to you my exquisite sense of pleasures when my hand was again grasped by that of my helper and friend1 ,robert ,b4 ,brough1 and ,i was enabled to bless him for the avenues of tranquility and peace he had opened out to me4 ,but ,i must not linger here1 although sweet and pleasant to me are these reminiscences of actual life in the spheres4 ,leaving the ,poets' ,chamber1 ,i visited in turn the ,musicians' ,gallery1 the ,sculptors' ,hall1 and the ,artists' ,studio4 ,it is impossible for mortal hands to pen a description of what is to be seen and heard in them4 ,words fail1 and language grows cold and unmeaning before the splendid achievements of the upper world4 ,imagine1 if you can1 all the sweetest sounds your soul has ever heard or dreamed of1 blended into one harmonious whole1 swelling louder1 clearer1 and sweeter1 or melting away into the far-off distance1 like the gentle fading of a glorious sunset1 absorbed by a finer and more ethereal beauty of azure brightness1 and you will have a faint conception of the music and the singing of the spheres4 ,imagine1 if you can1 all the most graceful1 beautifully-molded1 perfectly-formed and rounded1 exquisitely carved and delicately-sculptured forms of statuary1 of which you have ever heard or read grouped together1 forming a class of the rarest workmanship and art that human skill and genius can chisel from the marble block1 and you have a slight idea of the superb expression of the sculptor's soul which is perfected in the immortal world4 ,dream1 if you can1 of the most magnificent scenery the world affords1 the most royal landscapes1 the most superb water views1 and you may be able to just approach in thought an idea of the productions of the artist's soul that line the walls of the artists' studio in spirit life4 ,recollect all the sweet1 the beautiful1 and the various expressions of the human countenance1--the fire1 the vigor1 and sparkling triumph of the eye1 the restless energy or quiet repose of the limbs1 the smiling1 speaking expression of the lips1--and you can faintly conceive the models and patterns that spirit artists and sculptors seek to emulate4 ,and have they succeeded8 ,to a certain extent1 decidedly1 yes4 ,enter a hall of statuary1 and in the marble beauties1 grouped together there1 you find the expression of peace1 hope1 or joy depicted with marvelous fidelity2 you observe the contour of the limbs as perfect as in life1 and all seemingly permeated with that indescribable something that gives them the appearance of having the power to move1 act1 and walk off at will4 ,upon entering the artists' studio1 at the farther end of which is suspended a magnificent landscape painting1 you would1 at first sight1 believe yourself to be gazing upon a scene of natural life and beauty4 ,the lights and shadows seem to be continually shifting1 the trees to be waving their branches1 and the streamlet running along in murmuring gladness4 ,the clouds appear to be settling slowly down upon the distant mountains1 while it distinctly seems to you that the cattle1 grazing in the meadows1 are moving lazily along1 half wearied out by the incessant buzzing of the hovering insects4 ,so it is with the music of the upper life4 ,it approaches as near the harmonious1 perfect blending of the various parts of the human voice as can be imagined2 and the utterances of the poets partake of the life of the giver1 and are animated with true fire and vigor1 which is of itself a part of that ,eternal ,voice that is the author and sustainer of all life and being4 ,but these spirit artists are by no means satisfied with what they have produced2 they see something grander1 more beautiful1 sublime1 and perfect1 which they are striving to attain4 ,their ideal is as yet unexpressed2 but1 with the perfect development of the soul and its possibilities1 all that is ever dreamed of must find expression in the outworkings of the spirit4 ,but ,i have found that1 with all its striving to emulate and express the workings of ,nature1 in its perfect form1 that the soul of the true artist1 poet1 and songster finds its keenest delight in stamping its poems1 paintings1 and songs upon the receptive human mind that is ready to receive2 that the true poet breathes his fiery inspirations upon the slumbering soul1 awakening it to life and activity1 bringing to it an enjoyment and appreciation of the beauties of the inner life1 and of the splendors of natural creation2 that the true artist paints in glowing colors on the sensitive souls of mortals a beautiful landscape of the higher life1 which arouses those souls to a realizing sense of the beautiful1 and develops within them an ideal1 for which they will ever strive2 that the true musician and singer sends his sweet strains echoing through the souls of mortals1 developing their sweetest1 noblest powers1 to bless and enrich the musical world2 and that the true sculptor finds his delight in molding and carving out the possibilities of those he can approach1 of chiseling and chipping away all that is detrimental to the spirit's growth1 and bringing forth to light an angel of power and beauty from the rough1 unpolished mass of individuality4 ,in short1 that the workers of the higher life do not find enjoyment in bringing their own productions to earth1 but their highest blessing and privilege is in being able to impress1 work upon1 and guide the hidden1 inner powers of souls in mortal forms until they develop the beauty and glory within them1 and awaken their spirits to an understanding of beautiful life1 an appreciation of the good and true1 and a knowledge of the possibility of the power that is theirs4 ,not alone were my visits confined to the ,temple of ,art2 although attracted to that place by the laws of sympathy and association1 yet my desire to gain knowledge and a comprehension of truth led me1 in company with other inquiring minds1 to visit the ,spiritual ,congress1 and to pay marked attention to the learned and honorable body there assembled1 and busily employed in devising various schemes for the enlightenment1 amelioration1 and welfare of humanity2 to visit the ,wisdom ,circles1 and receive enlightenment upon the laws governing life and its unfoldments2 and to visit our medical colleges and learn of the true method1 not of curing disease1 but of preventing sickness and preserving health4 ,and ,i tell you that humanity on earth have yet to learn more of medical and legal jurisprudence than has ever been dreamed of by mortals4 ,but ,i must draw this narrative to a close4 ,i might go on multiplying my experiences almost ad infinitum had ,i the time and space2 but such has not been my object in coming4 ,i have endeavored to show you how a spirit1 weighed down by its consciousness of misspent days and misapplied powers and energies1 bowed down by its load of past wrong-doing and follies1 darkened by its work neglected1 and duties unfulfilled1 may be able1 by the desire of his own soul1 and the aid and sympathy of others1 to rise out of his darkened condition into the light1 to work his salvation from sin and his way to righteousness4 ,but it was no easy task4 ,i have not given you an account of all the fiery temptations that assailed me in my search for the better life1 or the bitter struggles my soul passed through ere it became the master4 ,through devious ways and tortuous paths the soul must pass that has done wrong to itself and others2 but if it is in earnest in its desire to become better1 if it craves strength and aid from the higher powers1 if it reaches its aspirations out toward the better1 purer1 grander life of the spirit1 be sure that it must and will succeed4 ,i can dimly perceive that away down in the distant future humanity is to broaden and develop into the perfect type of angelhood2 that the divinest attributes of the soul are yet to govern and control the body2 and ignorance1 darkness1 and crime flee before the dawning light of knowledge and wisdom2 and that human life is to become illuminated with the glory of universal love and harmony4 ,i can believe that the 8good time coming10 8the year of jubilee10 8the millennium10 so long foretold by prophet and seer1 so often mentioned in song and story1 the poet's dream and the idealist's fancy1 is yet to dawn upon the awakened world2 when man1 become strong through the educators of love and sympathy1 made wise by the acquirement of knowledge1 and the recognition of truth1 shall look upon all humans as his brothers and sisters1 shall learn that war is a crime against the human family1 and tyranny1 injustice1 and oppression sins against the ,holy ,ghost4 ,then shall mankind fraternize1 and nations sit down in universal peace4 ,i believe that the human form is yet to bear the stamp and impress of all that is lovely and divine4 ,i was with a friend at a convocation of spirits1 where were gathered together a large throng of refined1 intelligent beings1 each one marked with a beauty all his or her own1 and ,i amused myself by comparing the different individuals with the beautiful forms in nature which they reminded me of1 and the resemblance--so to speak--was so apparent that ,i called my friend's attention to it by remarking3 8,did you ever observe that there is a certain resemblance between humanity and the forms of ,nature8 ,for instance1 yonder lady1 with her pure1 white face1 daintily-carved features1 and lithe1 willowy form1 reminds me of nothing but a stately garden-lily1 shimmering with whiteness2 and that laughing1 rosy-cheeked sprite beside her1 with her rounded form and well-developed features1 is very like the royal blush-rose of summer40 8,very true10 replied my friend2 8and over there you note the speaker2 does not his massive frame1 well-proportioned limbs1 lofty brow1 and shining features remind you of some mighty bowlder1 uprearing its head with a consciousness of might and grandeur80 8,he does1 indeed2 the shadow of a great rock in a weary land2 and just beside him rests one whose tall1 straight form1 beneficent looks1 and air of protectiveness calls to mind the forest tree with its ample provision of kindly shade and shelter40 ,and so we went on1 drawing our comparisons1--one1 with her calm1 benignant smile1 and a wealth of love and sympathy welling up from her nature1 and expressing itself in the depths of her shining eyes1 we likened to the smiling1 open sea1 overflowing with its wealth1 and watering and refreshing the earth4 ,another1 who was bubbling over with a superabundance of merriment and joy1 we likened to the laughing1 gurgling streamlet that overleaps all bounds1 and speeds merrily along its way4 ,one1 of majestic form1 replete with vital force1 with a look of concentrated determination in his face1 and an expression of energetic power impressed upon him1 reminded us of the ocean1 mighty in its majesty and power4 ,one shone like the sun1 another sparkled like a sunbeam2 one brought an air of refreshing coolness with her1 another glowed and glimmered like the autumn days4 8,the fact of it is10 said my friend1 8all that there is good and beautiful in nature is personified and individualized1 so to speak1 in the higher types of humanity4 ,all the richness and splendor of creation culminate their grandest expressions in the human form2 and when spirituality has ripened and developed the soul1 its outer tenement will become so harmonized with the natural life of creation1 so blended with the external manifestations of ,god1 that it will become permeated with ,his life1 and will reflect all the beauty and fragrance1 all the grace and symmetry1 of ,his works4 ,do you understand80 ,i did1 but ,i know not that ,i make it plain to mortals2 suffice it to say1 that ,i believe the day is coming when each soul shall have grown so in harmony with the laws of life that it will reflect upon its outward form only the beautiful and the good4 ,i had not long returned to spirit life ere ,i again met my former friend and teacher1 8,benja1 the missionary40 ,the sage was engaged in his usual employment of aiding souls in need4 ,the pleasure of our meeting was mutual1 but cannot be expressed by mortal pen2 it was of the soul1 true and fervent1 and shone in the speaking eye and upon the trembling lip4 ,since that time ,i have often sought the company of the sage1 and always with profit to myself4 ,he has been an invaluable guide to me in my search for knowledge1 and has lifted my spirit into a pure atmosphere4 ,spirit life is full of such workers1 and by their efforts1 combined with the desires of sin-sick souls to become better1 we look for the redemption of the human race from error4 ,and now1 good friends1 you1 unto whom ,i have revealed a few of the most vitalizing experiences of my spiritual life1 ,i feel that ,i must draw these papers to a close1 and1 taking each one of you spiritually by the hand1 bid you go on with your efforts in self-culture and advancement2 and ,god speed you forward in your work for your own souls and for humanity4 ,again ,i say1 it is impossible for me to convey to you anything more than a mere outline of the inner experience of the spirit2 each one of you must undergo the process for yourselves ere you can realize how intense in thought and feeling1 and how thoroughly quickened into life1 are all the sensations of spiritual existence4 ,in fact1 spirit is all thought1 all sense1 and it is as impossible to escape from ourselves1 and the consequences of our lives1 as it is to exist without the ordinary mode of respiration4 ,hence1 let me entreat you to endeavor constantly and earnestly to so live that only the reflection of a pure life shall cast itself over your spirit2 that only the recollection of good accomplished and evil resisted shall visit your soul when you have attained the immortal heights of the other world4 ,but1 ere ,i close1 ,i feel that ,i must say a word in regard to the cause that lies nearest my heart4 ,interested as ,i am1 and must be1 in all movements of reform1 all methods of advancement calculated to ameliorate the condition of humanity1 and eager as ,i am to see the race moving along upon a higher1 purer1 more spiritualized plane of life1 yet my soul's best endeavors must be employed in the temperance cause4 ,as one who has sinned and suffered1 as one who has experienced the agony and the vicissitudes of intemperance1 ,i feel it my duty to hang out a warning flag to others that shall be a signal of danger to those who look that way4 ,sad1 aye1 too1 too sad it is that1 while women weep and children wail because of the misery entailed upon them1 spirit life is crowded with souls that have passed out from earth with the taint of intemperance defiling their persons and dragging them downward4 ,no wonder1 then1 that the angels weep in pity2 no wonder that noble souls come thronging back1 pleading with you to seek for good1 to resist evil1 and to uplift your head above the haunts of wrong and wickedness4 ,how long1 aye1 how long shall this state of things continue to exist8 ,when shall the morning dawn that shall usher in a new day1 a day of universal temperance and purity on earth8 ,when shall the darkness break1 and a new era of light1 of knowledge and wisdom1 come flooding in upon us8 ,not until man shall study the laws of his own being1 and1 so studying1 learn to live in harmony with those laws4 ,not until every man and every woman becomes a physiologist1 understanding the structure and composition of his or her own organism1 and learning of that wisdom which says3 8,partake of nothing but what assimilates with the component parts of your body1 or satisfies the natural demands of nature40 ,not until men and women study the law of heredity1 of transmission1 which teaches that whatever trait of character1 whatever peculiarity of disposition1 whatever fatal appetite or habit the parents possess1 is transmitted to their offspring1 either in a modified or aggravated degree1 and is sure to crop out somewhere and at some time in one form or another4 ,not until humanity1 learning these truths1 live up to them in obedience to all their requirements will the day of universal happiness1 peace1 and purity dawn upon earth4 ,i am rejoiced to find that a public sentiment is being created in regard to this subject1--a public sentiment that is felt throughout the length and breadth of nations1--a sentiment in favor of suppressing the manufacture and sale of alcoholic liquors1 and of seeking to elevate and promote the cause of temperance1 at all times and in all places4 ,it has crept into the churches1 and now the clergy dare utter sentiments in its favor2 it makes itself heard in the street1 and upon the rostrum2 it enters our legislative halls1 and demands a hearing2 and it has formed organizations1 the power and influence of which are felt everywhere4 ,so much for the cause of temperance2 and1 encouraged by public sentiment1 it must and shall prosper1 and eventually triumph4 ,a public sentiment in its favor must continue to grow until the manufacture and sale of alcohol as a beverage will be universally admitted to be a crime against humanity2 no man who cares for the opinion of his fellows 7and what man does not87 dare to engage in the business1 and intemperance be so generally looked upon as an evil that no man will or woman will raise the wine-cup to his or her lips4 ,that time must come1 and may ,god and angels hasten the day4 ,now1 a few closing words to those unfortunates who are addicted to the habit of intemperance3 my whole soul goes out to you in sympathy1 and1 were it possible1 ,i would lift you all upon a platform of mental strength and moral integrity4 ,i do not condemn1 ,i pity2 ,i dare not censure1 ,i sympathize4 ,from my own experience ,i know the road you have to travel1 and1 if ,i could1 ,i would enfold you in that divine strength that would enable you to crush the serpent under your feet4 ,let me implore you1 out of the deep compassion of my soul1 to endeavor1 with all your determined will-power and firmness1 to throw off the fatal habit that binds you2 to become free beings1 slaves of no appetite nor passion2 to crush them down and assert your manhood4 ,thus1 with the love and aid of the angels1 you will become pure1 and worthy of their companionship4 ,go on1 and heaven bless you in your efforts for selfredemption4 ,and now1 good friends1 adieu4 ,may the angels of love and harmony1 of purity and peace1 abide with you always1 fitting your lives for a habitation of light1 and an experience of joy in the spirit world4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,transcriber',s ,,notes #a4 ,silently corrected obvious typographical errors and variations in spelling4 #b4 ,retained archaic1 non-standard1 and uncertain spellings as printed4 #c4 ,enclosed italics font in underscores4