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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/17249-h.zip b/17249-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c6055b5 --- /dev/null +++ b/17249-h.zip diff --git a/17249-h/17249-h.htm b/17249-h/17249-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e220e89 --- /dev/null +++ b/17249-h/17249-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7184 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Added Upon, by Nephi Anderson</title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .preface {margin-left:10%; text-align: left;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + hr.full { width: 100%; + margin-top: 0em; + margin-bottom: 0em; + border: solid black; + height: 5px; } + pre {font-size: 75%;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> +</head> +<body> +<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Added Upon, by Nephi Anderson</h1> +<pre> +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a href = "https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre> +<p>Title: Added Upon</p> +<p> A Story</p> +<p>Author: Nephi Anderson</p> +<p>Release Date: December 7, 2005 [eBook #17249]</p> +<p>Language: English</p> +<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p> +<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADDED UPON***</p> +<p> </p> +<h3>E-text prepared by Kevin Handy, Dave Macfarlane,<br /> + and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br /> + (https://www.pgdp.net/)</h3> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h1><b>ADDED UPON</b></h1> + +<h4>A Story</h4> + +<h2>BY NEPHI ANDERSON</h2> + + +<div class='center'>Author of "The Castle Builder," "A Daughter of the North," "John St. John," "Romance of a Missionary," etc.</div> + +<br /> + + +<div class="center">"<i>And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon;<br /> +... and they who keep their second estate <br /> +shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever</i>."</div> +<br /><br /> +<div class='center'>NINTH EDITION</div><br /> +<br /> +<div class='center'> +The Deseret News Press<br /> +Salt Lake City, Utah<br /><br /> +Copyright 1898<br /> +By NEPHI ANDERSON.<br /> + +Copyright 1912<br /> +By NEPHI ANDERSON.<br /> +<br /> +All Rights Reserved.<br /> +</div> +<br /><br /> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3>PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.</h3> + + +<div class="preface"><p>A religion, to be worth while, must give satisfactory answers to the +great questions of life: What am I? Whence came I? What is the object of +this life? and what is my destiny? True, we walk by faith, and not by +sight, but yet the eye of faith must have some light by which to see. +Added Upon is an effort to give in brief an outline of "the scheme of +things," "the ways of God to men" as taught by the Gospel of Christ and +believed in by the Latter-day Saints; and to justify and praise these +ways, by a glance along the Great Plan, from a point in the distant past +to a point in the future—not so far away, it is to be hoped.</p> + +<p>On subjects where little of a definite character is revealed, the story, +of necessity, could not go into great detail. It is suggestive only; but +it is hoped that the mind of the reader, illumined by the Spirit of the +Lord, will be able to fill in all the details that the heart may desire, +to wander at will in the garden of the Lord, and dwell in peace in the +mansions of the Father.</p> + +<p>Many have told me that when they read Added Upon, it seemed to have been +written directly to them. My greatest reward is to know that the little +story has touched a sympathetic chord in the hearts of the Latter-day +Saints, and that it has brought to some aching hearts a little ray of +hope and consolation.</p> +<br /> +Nephi Anderson.<br /> +<br /> +Liverpool, November 5, 1904.<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><a name="PREFACE_TO_THE_FIFTH_AND_ENLARGED_EDITION" id="PREFACE_TO_THE_FIFTH_AND_ENLARGED_EDITION"></a><b>PREFACE TO THE FIFTH AND ENLARGED EDITION</b>.</h3> + + +<div class="preface"><p>This story of things past, things present, and things to come has been +before the Latter-day Saints for fourteen years. During this time, it +seems to have won for itself a place in their hearts and in their +literature. A reviewer of the book when it was first published said that +"so great and grand a subject merits a more elaborate treatment." Many +since then have said the story should be "added upon," and the present +enlarged edition is an attempt to meet in a small way these demands. The +truths restored to the earth through "Mormonism" are capable of +illimitable enlargement; and when we contemplate these glorious +teachings, we are led to exclaim with the poet:</p> +<br /> + +"Wide, and more wide, the kindling bosom swells,<br /> +As love inspires, and truth its wonders tells,<br /> +The soul enraptured tunes the sacred lyre,<br /> +And bids a worm of earth to heaven aspire,<br /> +'Mid solar systems numberless, to soar,<br /> +The death of love and science to explore."<br /> + + +<p><br /> +N.A.<br /> +Salt Lake City, Utah,<br /> +May, 1912.<br /> +</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PART_FIRST" id="PART_FIRST"></a>PART FIRST.</h2> + +<center> +<p>"The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of +old.</p> + +<p>"I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth +was.</p> + +<p>"When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no +fountains abounding with water.</p> + +<p>"Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought +forth:</p> + +<p>"While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest +part of the dust of the world.</p> + +<p>"When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon +the face of the depth:</p> + +<p>"When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the +fountains of the deep:</p> + +<p>"When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his +commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:</p> + +<p>"Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his +delight, rejoicing always before him."—<i>Prov. 8:22-30.</i></p> +</center> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="ADDED_UPON" id="ADDED_UPON"></a><b>ADDED UPON</b></h2> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Where was thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?... +When the morning stars sang together, and all the Sons +of God shouted for joy?"—<i>Job 38:4,7.</i></p></div> + +<p>The hosts of heaven—sons and daughters of God—were assembled. The many +voices mingling, rose and fell in one great murmur like the rising and +falling of waves about to sink to rest. Then all tumult ceased, and a +perfect silence reigned.</p> + +<p>"Listen," said one to another by his side, "Father's will is heard."</p> + +<p>A voice thrilled the multitude. It was clear as a crystal bell, and so +distinct that every ear heard, so sweet, and so full of music that every +heart within its range beat with delight.</p> + +<p>"And now, children of God," were the words, "ye have arrived at a point +in this stage of your development where a change must needs take place. +Living, as ye have, all this time in the presence of God, and under the +control of the agencies which here exist, ye have grown from children in +knowledge to your present condition. God is pleased with you—the most +of you, and many of you have shown yourselves to be spirits of power, +whom He will make His future rulers. Ye have been taught many of the +laws of light and life, whereby the universe is created and controlled. +True, ye have not all advanced alike, or along the same lines. Some have +delighted more in the harmonies of music, while others have studied the +beauties of God's surrounding works. Each hath found pleasure and profit +in something; but there is one line of knowledge that is closed to you +all. In your present spiritual state, ye have not come in contact with +the grosser materials of existence. Your experiences have been wholly +within the compass of spiritual life, and there is a whole world of +matter, about which ye know nothing. All things have their opposites. Ye +have partly a conception of good and evil, but the many branches into +which these two principles sub-divide, cannot be understood by you. +Again, ye all have had the hope given you that at some time ye would +have the opportunity to become like unto your parents, even to attain to +a body of flesh and bones, a tabernacle with which ye may pass on to +perfection, and inherit that which God inherits. If, then, ye ever +become creators and rulers, ye must first become acquainted with the +existence of properties, laws, and organization of matter other than +that which surround you in this estate.</p> + +<p>"To be over all things, ye must have passed through all things, and have +had experience with them. It is now the Father's pleasure to grant you +this. Ye who continue steadfast, shall be added upon, and be permitted +to enter the second estate; and if ye abide in that, ye shall be further +increased and enlarged and be worthy of the third estate, where glory +shall be added upon your heads forever and ever.</p> + +<p>"Even now, out in space, rolls another world—with no definite form, and +void; but God's Spirit is there, moving upon it, and organizing the +elements. In time, it will be a fit abode for you."</p> + +<p>The voice ceased. Majesty stood looking out upon the silent multitude. +Then glad hearts could contain no more, and the children of God gave a +great shout of joy. Songs of praise and gladness came from the mighty +throng, and its music echoed through the realms of heaven!</p> + +<p>Then silence fell once more. The Voice was heard again:</p> + +<p>"Now, how, and upon what principles will your salvation, exaltation, and +eternal glory be brought about? It has been decided in the councils of +eternity, and I will tell you.</p> + +<p>"When the earth is prepared, two will be sent to begin the work of +begetting bodies for you. It needs be that a law be given these first +parents. This law will be broken, thus bringing sin into the new world. +Transgression is followed by punishment; and thus ye, when ye are born +into the world, will come in contact with misery, pain, suffering, and +death. Ye will have a field for the exercise of justice and mercy, love +and hatred. Ye will suffer, but your suffering will be the furnace +through which ye will be tested. Ye will die, and your bodies will +return to the earth again. Surrounded by earthly influences, ye will +sin. Then, how can ye return to the Father's presence, and regain your +tabernacles? Hear the plan:</p> + +<p>"One must be sent to the earth with power over death. He will be the +Son, the only begotten in the flesh. He must be sinless, yet bear the +sins of the world. Being slain, He will satisfy the eternal law of +justice. He will go before and bring to pass the resurrection from the +dead. He will give unto you another law, obeying which, will free you +from your personal sins, and set you again on the way of eternal life. +Thus will your agency still be yours, that ye may act in all things as +ye will."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>A faint murmur ran through the assembly.</p> + +<p>Then spoke the Father: "Whom shall I send?"</p> + +<p>One arose, like unto the Father—a majestic form, meek, yet noble—the +Son; and thus he spoke:</p> + +<p>"Father, here am I, send me. Thy will be done, and the glory be thine +forever."</p> + +<p>Then another arose. Erect and proud he stood. His eyes flashed, his lip +curled in scorn. Bold in his bearing, brilliant and influential, +Lucifer, the Son of the Morning, spoke:</p> + +<p>"Behold I, send me. I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, +that not one soul shall be lost; and surely I will do it; wherefore, +give me thine honor."</p> + +<p>Then spoke one as with authority:</p> + +<p>"Lucifer, thy plan would destroy the agency of man—his most priceless +gift. It would take away his means of eternal advancement. Your offer +cannot be accepted."</p> + +<p>The Father looked out over the vast throng; then clearly the words rang +out:</p> + +<p>"I will send the first!"</p> + +<p>But the haughty spirit yielded not. His countenance became fiercer in +its anger, and as he strode from the assembly, many followed after him.</p> + +<p>Then went the news abroad throughout heaven of the council and the +Father's proposed plan; of Christ's offer, and Lucifer's rebellious +actions. The whole celestial realm was agitated, and contention and +strife began to wage among the children of God.</p> + +<p>Returning from the council chamber of the celestial glance through the +paths of the surrounding gardens, came two sons of God. Apparently, the +late events had affected them greatly. The assembly had dispersed, and, +save now and then a fleeting figure, they were alone. They were engaged +in earnest conversation.</p> + +<p>"But, Brother Sardus," said one, "how can you look at it in that light? +Lucifer was surely in the wrong. And then, how haughty and overbearing +he was."</p> + +<p>"I cannot agree with you, Homan. We have a right to think and to act as +we please, and I consider Lucifer in the right. Think of this +magnificent offer, to bring back in glory to Father's presence, every +one of His children, and that, too, without condition on their part."</p> + +<p>"There! He, and you with him, talk about your rights to think and act as +you please. Have you not that right? Have you not used it freely in +refusing to listen to Father's counsel? Do not I exercise it in that I +listen and agree with Him? But let me tell you, brother, what your +reasoning will lead to."</p> + +<p>"I know it—but go on."</p> + +<p>"No, you do not; you do not seem to understand."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you will explain," said the other haughtily.</p> + +<p>"Brother, be not angry. It is because of my love for you that I speak +thus. It is evident that we, in that future world of experience and +trial, will retain our agencies to choose between the opposites that +will be presented to us. Without that privilege, we should cease to be +intelligences, and become as inanimate things. How could we be proved +without this power? How could we make any progress without it?"</p> + +<p>"I grant it all."</p> + +<p>"Then, what would Lucifer do? He would save you from the dangers of the +world, whether you would or not. He would take away any need of volition +or choice on our part. Do what we would, sink as deep into sin as we +could, he would save us notwithstanding, without a trial, without a +purging process, with all our sins upon us; and in this condition we are +expected to go on to perfection, and become kings and priests unto God +our Father, exercising power and dominion over our fellow creatures. +Think of it! Evil would reign triumphant. Celestial order would be +changed to chaos."</p> + +<p>The other said not a word. He could not answer his brother's array of +arguments.</p> + +<p>"Dear brother," continued Homan, "never before have I received such +sorrow as when I saw you follow that rebellious Son of Morning. +Henceforth quit his company. I fear for him and his followers."</p> + +<p>"But he has such power over me, Homan. His eloquence seems to hold me, +and his arguments certainly convince me. But I must go—and brother, +come with me to the assembly which we are to hold. Many will be there +from far and near. Will you come?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot promise you, Sardus. Perhaps I may call and see what is said +and done."</p> + +<p>Then they parted.</p> + +<p>Homan went to the gathering of which Sardus had spoken, and as had been +intimated, he met many strange faces. Everywhere in the conversation, +serious topics seemed to be uppermost. The singing was not as usual. The +music, though always sweet, was sadder than ever before, and a discord +seemed to have crept into the even flow of life's sweet strain. Homan +had no desire to talk. He wandered from group to group with a smile for +all. Sardus was in a heated discussion with some kindred spirits; but +Homan did not join them. Under the beautiful spread of the trees and by +the fountains, sat and walked companies of sons and daughters of God. +Ah, they were fair to look upon, and Homan wondered at the creations of +the Father. No two were alike, yet all bore an impress of the Creator, +and each had an individual beauty of his own.</p> + +<p>Strolling into an arbor of vines, Homan, did not observe the fair +daughter seated there until he turned to leave; and then he saw her. She +seemed absorbed in thought, and her eyes rested on the shiftings +throngs.</p> + +<p>"A sweet face, and a strange one," thought he, as he went up to her and +spoke:</p> + +<p>"Sister, what are you thinking about?"</p> + +<p>She turned and looked at him, and then a pleased smile overspread her +face.</p> + +<p>"Shall I tell you?"</p> + +<p>"Do, I beg of you. May I sit here?" He seated himself opposite.</p> + +<p>"Yes, brother, sit. My thoughts had such a strange ending that I will +tell you what they were. I have been sitting here looking at these many +faces, both new and old, and studying their varied beauties; but none +seems to me to answer for my ideal. So I have been taking a little from +each face, putting all together to form another. I had just completed +the composition, and was looking admiringly at the new form when you +came and—and—"</p> + +<p>"Drove away your picture. That I should not have done."</p> + +<p>"No; it was not exactly that. It is so odd." She hesitated and turned +away her head. Then she looked up into his face again and said: "My +dream face seemed to blend with yours."</p> + +<p>They looked at each other strangely.</p> + +<p>"Do you often make dream pictures?" asked he.</p> + +<p>"Yes, of late; but I sometimes think I should not."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because of them any great events that are taking place around us daily +which need our careful thought and consideration. I have been trying to +comprehend this great plan of our Father's in regards to us. I have +asked Mother many questions, and she has explained, but I cannot fully +understand—only, it all seems so wonderful, and our Father is so good +and great and wise;—but how could He be otherwise, having Himself come +up through the school of the eternities?"</p> + +<p>Her words were music to Homan's ear. Her voice was soft and sweet.</p> + +<p>"Yet it is very strange. To think that we shall forget all we know, and +that our memories will fail to recall this world at all."</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is all strange to us, but it cannot be otherwise. You see, if +we knew all about what we really are and what our past has been, mortal +experiences would not be the test or the school that Father intends it +to be."</p> + +<p>"That is true; but think of being shut out, even in our thoughts, from +this world. And then, I hear that down on earth there will be much sin +and misery, and a power to tempt and lead astray. O, if we can but +resist it, dear brother. What will this power be, do you know?"</p> + +<p>"I have only my thoughts about it. I know nothing for a certainty; but +fear not, something will prompt us to the right, and we have this hope +that Father's Spirit will not forsake us. And above all, our Elder +Brother has been accepted as an offering for all the sins we may do. He +will come to us in purity, and with power to loose the bands of death. +He will bring to us Father's law whereby we may overcome the world and +its sin."</p> + +<p>"You said the bands of death. What is death?"</p> + +<p>"Death is simply the losing of our earthly tabernacles for a time. We +shall be separated from them, but the promise is that our Elder Brother +will be given power to raise them up again. With them again united, we +shall become even as our parents are now, eternal, perfected, +celestialized beings."</p> + +<p>As they conversed, both faces shone with a soft, beautiful light. The +joy within was traced on their countenances, and for some time it was +too deep for words. Homan was drawn to this beautiful sister. All were +pleasing to his eye, but he was unusually attracted to one who took such +pleasure in talking about matters nearest his heart.</p> + +<p>"I must be going," said she.</p> + +<p>"May I go with you?"</p> + +<p>"Come."</p> + +<p>They wandered silently among the people, then out through the +surrounding gardens, listening to the music. Instinctively, they clung +to each other, nor bestowed more than a smile or a word on passing +brother or sister.</p> + +<p>"What do you think of Lucifer and his plan?" asked she.</p> + +<p>"The talented Son of the Morning is in danger of being cast out if he +persists in his course. As to his plan, it is this: 'If I cannot rule, I +will ruin.'"</p> + +<p>"And if he rule, it will still be ruin, it seems to me."</p> + +<p>"True; and he is gaining power over many."</p> + +<p>"Yes; he has talked with me. He is a bewitching person; but his +fascination has something strange about it which I do not like."</p> + +<p>"I am glad of that."</p> + +<p>She looked quickly at him, and then they gazed again into each other's +eyes.</p> + +<p>"By what name may I call you?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"My name is Delsa."</p> + +<p>"Will you tell me where you live? May I come and talk with you again? It +will give me much pleasure."</p> + +<p>"Which pleasure will be mutual," said she.</p> + +<p>They parted at the junction of two paths.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="II" id="II"></a>II.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"How art thou fallen from heaven, O, Lucifer, son of the +morning."—<i>Isaiah 14:12.</i></p></div> + + +<p>Never before in the experiences of the intelligences of heaven, had such +dire events been foreshadowed. A crisis was certainly at hand. Lucifer +was fast gaining influence among the spirits—and they had their agency +to follow whom they would. The revolting spirit had skill in argument; +and the light-minded, the discontented, and the rebellious were won +over.</p> + +<p>To be assured eternal glory and power without an effort on their part, +appealed to them as something to be desired. To be untrammeled with +laws, to be free to act at pleasure, without jeopardizing their future +welfare, certainly was an attractive proposition. The pleasures in the +body would be of a nature hitherto unknown. Why not be free to enjoy +them? Why this curb on the passions and desires? "Hail to Lucifer and +his plan! We will follow him. He is in the right."</p> + +<p>Many of the mighty and noble children of God arrayed themselves on the +side of Christ, their Elder Brother, and waged war against Lucifer's +pernicious doctrine. One of the foremost among them was Michael. He was +unceasing in his efforts to bring all under the authority of the Father. +The plan which had been proposed, and which had been accepted by the +majority, had been evolved from the wisdom of past eternities. It had +exalted worlds before. It had been proved wise and just. It was founded +on correct principles. By it only could the spiritual creation go on in +its evolution to greater and to higher things. It was the will of the +Father, to whom they all owed their existence as progressive, spiritual +organizations. To bow to Him was no humiliation. To honor and obey Him +was their duty. To follow the First Born, Him whom the Father had chosen +as mediator, was no more than a Father should request. Any other plan +would lead to confusion. Thus reasoned the followers of Christ.</p> + +<p>Then there were others, not valiant in either cause, who stood on +neutral ground. Without strength of character to come out boldly, they +aided neither the right nor the wrong. Weak-minded as they were, they +could not be trusted, nor could Lucifer win them over.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the earth, rolling in space, evolved from its chaotic state, +and in time became a fit abode for the higher creations of God.</p> + +<p>Then the crisis came. The edict went forth that for many of the sons and +daughters of God the first estate was about to end, and that the second +would be ushered in. Lucifer had now won over many of the hosts of +heaven. These had failed to keep their first estate. Now there would be +a separation.</p> + +<p>A council was convened, and the leading spirits were summoned. All +waited for the outcome in silent awe.</p> + +<p>Then came the decision, spoken with heavenly authority:</p> + +<p>"Ye valiant and loyal sons and daughters of God, blessed are ye for your +righteousness and your faithfulness to God and His cause. Your reward is +that ye shall be permitted to dwell on the new earth, and in tabernacles +of flesh continue in the eternal course of progress, as has been marked +out and explained to you."</p> + +<p>Then, to the still defiant forms of Lucifer and his adherents this was +said:</p> + +<p>"Lucifer, son of the morning, thou hast withdrawn from the Father many +of the children of heaven. They have their agency, and have chosen to +believe thy lies. They have fallen with thee from before the face of +God. Thus hast thou used the power given thee. Thou hast said in thy +heart, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.... I will be like +the Most High! Thou hast sought to usurp power, to take a kingdom that +does not belong to thee. God holds you all as in the hollow of His hand; +yet He has not restrained thine agency. He has been patient and +longsuffering with you. Rebellious children of heaven, the Father's +bosom heaves with sorrow for you; but justice claims its own—your +punishment is that you be cast out of heaven. Bodies of flesh and bones +ye shall not have; but ye shall wander without tabernacles over the face +of the earth. Ye shall be 'reserved in everlasting chains under darkness +unto the judgment of the great day.'"</p> + +<p>Thus went forth the decree of the Almighty, and with it the force of His +power. Lucifer and many of the hosts of heaven were cast down. The whole +realm was thrilled with the power of God. The celestial elements were +stirred to their depths. Heaven wept over the fallen spirits, and the +cry went out, "Lo, lo, he is fallen, even the Son of the Morning."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="III" id="III"></a>III.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"For thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."—<i>John +17:24.</i></p></div> + + +<p>There was a calm in heaven like unto that of a summer morning after a +night of storm.</p> + +<p>Throughout the whole strife, the dark clouds of evil had been gathering. +In the fierce struggle, the spirits of heaven had been storm-tossed as +on two contending waves; but when Lucifer and his forces were cast out, +the atmosphere became purged of its uncleanness, and a sweet peace +brooded over all. Save for sorrow for the lost ones, nothing marred the +perfect joy of heaven. All now looked forward to the consummation of +that plan whereby they would become inhabitants of another world, fitted +for their school of experience in the flesh. All prepared themselves +with this end in view.</p> + +<p>None was more grateful to his Father than Homan. In the midst of the +strife, he had done what he could for what he thought was right. All his +influence had been used with the wavering ones, and many were those who +owed him a debt of gratitude. But his greatest reward was in the peace +which dwelt within him and the joy with which he was greeted by all who +knew him.</p> + +<p>Through it all, Homan's thoughts had often been with the fair sister +Delsa; and often he had sought her and talked with her. It pleased him +greatly to see the earnestness and energy with which she defended the +cause of the Father. He was drawn to her more than to the many others +who were equally valiant. As he thought of it, its strangeness occurred +to him. Why should it be so? He did not know. Delsa was fair; so were +all the daughters of God. She had attained to great intelligence; so had +thousands of others. Then wherein lay the secret of the power which drew +him to her?</p> + +<p>The vastness of the spiritual world held enough for study, research, and +for occupation. None needed to be idle, for there were duties to be +performed, as much here as in any other sphere of action. In the +Father's house are many mansions.</p> + +<p>In the one where Delsa lived, she and Homan sat in earnest conversation. +Through the opening leading to the garden appeared the stately form of +Sardus. Homan sprang to meet him and greeted him joyously:</p> + +<p>"Welcome, Brother Sardus, welcome!"</p> + +<p>Delsa arose.</p> + +<p>"This is Brother Sardus," said Homan, "and this is Sister Delsa."</p> + +<p>"Welcome, brother," said she. "Come and sit with us."</p> + +<p>"Sardus," continued Homan, "I thought you lost. I have not met you for a +long time. You remember our last conversation? Sardus, what joy to know +that you are on the safe side, that you did not fall with Lucifer—"</p> + +<p>"S—h, that name. Dear brother, he tempted me sorely, but I overcame +him."</p> + +<p>"But we are shortly to meet him on new ground," continued Homan. "As +seducing spirits, he and his followers will still fight against the +anointed Son. They will not yield. Not obtaining bodies themselves, they +will seek to operate through those of others."</p> + +<p>"Now we know how temptation and sin will come into the world," said +Delsa. "God grant that we may overcome these dangers again, as we once +have done."</p> + +<p>They conversed for some time; then Sardus departed to perform some duty.</p> + +<p>"I, too, must go," said Delsa. "A company of sisters is soon to leave +for earth, and I am going to say farewell to them."</p> + +<p>"Delsa, you do not go with them? You are not leaving me?"</p> + +<p>"No, Homan, my time is not yet."</p> + +<p>"May we not go together?—but there—that is as Father wills. He will +ordain for the best. There are nations yet to go to the earth, and we +shall have our allotted time and place."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>A group of persons was engaged in earnest conversation, when a messenger +approached. He raised his hand for silence, and then announced:</p> + +<p>"I come from the Father on an errand to you."</p> + +<p>The company gave him close attention, and he continued: "It is +pertaining to some of our brothers and sisters who have gone before us +into earth-life. I shall have to tell you about them so that you may +understand. A certain family of earth-children has fallen into evil +ways. Not being very strong for the truth before they left us, their +experiences in the other world have not made them stronger. This family, +it seems, has become rooted in false doctrine and wrong living, so that +those who come to them from us partake also of their error and unbelief +of the truth. As you know, kinship and environment are powerful agencies +in forming character, and it appears that none of the Father's children +have so far been able to withstand the tendency to wrong which is +exerted on all who come to this family."</p> + +<p>The messenger paused and looked around on the listening group. Then he +continued: "The Father bids me ask if any of you are willing to go in +earth-life to this family, become kin to those weak-hearted ones—for +their salvation."</p> + +<p>There was a long pause as if all were considering the proposition. The +messenger waited.</p> + +<p>"Brother," asked one, "is there not danger that he who goes on this +mission might himself come under the influence you speak of to such an +extent that he also would be lost to the good, and thus make a failure +of his mission?"</p> + +<p>"In the earth-life, as here," replied the messenger, "all have their +agency. It is, therefore, possible that those who take upon themselves +this mission—for there must be two, male and female—to give way to the +power of evil, and thus fail in their errand. But, consider this: the +Father has sent me to you. He knows you, your hearts, your faithfulness, +your strength. He knows whom He is asking to go into danger for the sake +of saving souls. Yes, friends, the Father knows, and this ought to be +enough for you."</p> + +<p>The listeners bowed their heads as if ashamed of the doubting, fearful +thought. Then in the stillness, one spoke as if to herself: "To be a +savior,—to share in the work of our Elder Brother! O, think of it!" +Then the speaker raised her head quickly. "May I go, may I?" she +questioned eagerly.</p> + +<p>"And I," "and I," came from others.</p> + +<p>"Sister, you will do for one," said the messenger to her who had first +spoken. "And now, we need a brother—yes, you, brother, will do." This +to one who was pressing forward, asking to be chosen.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," continued the messenger, as he smiled his pleasure on the +company, "I see that the Father knows you all."</p> + +<p>"But," faltered the sister who had been chosen, "what are we to do? May +we not know?"</p> + +<p>"Not wholly," was the reply. "Do you not remember what you have been +taught, that a veil is drawn over the eyes of all who enter mortality, +and the memory of this world is taken away; but this I may tell you, +that by the power of your spiritual insight and moral strength you will +be able to exert a correcting influence over your brothers and sisters +in the flesh, and especially over those of your kin. Then again, when +you hear the gospel of our Elder Brother preached, it will have a +familiar sound to you and you will receive it gladly. Then you will +become teachers to your households and a light unto your families. +Again, not only to those in the flesh will you minister. Many will have +passed from earth-life in ignorance of the gospel of salvation when you +come. These must have the saving ordinances of the gospel performed for +them, so that when they some time receive the truth, the necessary rites +will have been performed. This work, also, is a part of your mission—to +enter into the Temples of the Lord, male and female, each for his and +her kind, and do this work."</p> + +<p>A sister, pressing timidly forward near to him who had been chosen, took +his hand, and looked pleadingly into the face of the messenger. "May not +I, too, go?" she asked. "I believe I could help a little."</p> + +<p>The messenger smiled at her, seeing to whose hand she clung. "I think +so," he said; "but we shall see."</p> + +<p>"When do we go?" asked the brother.</p> + +<p>"Not yet. Abide the will of the Father,—and peace be with you all."</p> + +<p>He left them in awed silence. Then, presently, they began to speak to +each other of the wonderful things they had heard and the call that had +come to some of them.</p> + +<p>Times and seasons, nations and peoples had come and gone. Millions of +the sons and daughters of God had passed through the earthly school, and +had gone on to other fields of labor, some with honor, others with +dishonor. God's spiritual intelligences, in their innumerable gradations +were being allotted their times and places. The scheme of things +inaugurated by the Father was working out its legitimate results.</p> + +<p>Homan's time had come for him to leave his spiritual home. He was now to +take the step, which, though temporarily downward, would secure him a +footing by which to climb to greater heights. Delsa was still in her +first estate. So also was Sardus. They, with a company, were gathered to +bid Homan farewell, and thus they spoke:</p> + +<p>"We do not know," Homan was saying, "whether or not we shall meet on +the earth. Our places and callings may be far apart, and we may never +know or recognize each other until that day when we shall meet again in +the mansions of our Father."</p> + +<p>"I am thankful for one thing: I understand that a more opportune time in +which to fill our probation has never been known on the earth. The +Gospel exists there in its fulness, and the time of utter spiritual +darkness has gone. The race is strong and can give us sound bodies. Now, +if we are worthy, we shall, no doubt, secure a parentage that will give +us those powers of mind and body which are needed to successfully combat +the powers of evil."</p> + +<p>It was no new doctrine to them, but they loved to dwell upon the +glorious theme.</p> + +<p>"We have been taught that we shall get that position to which our +preparation here entitles us. Existence is eternal, and its various +stages grade naturally into one another, like the different departments +of a school."</p> + +<p>"Some have been ordained to certain positions of trust. Father knows us +all, and understands what we will do. Many of our mighty ones have +already gone, and many are yet with us awaiting Father's will."</p> + +<p>"I was once quite impatient. Everything seemed to pass so slowly, I +thought; but now I see in it the wisdom of the Father. What confusion +would result if too many went to the earth-life at once. The experience +of those who go before are for our better reception."</p> + +<p>"Sardus," said Homan, "I hear that you are taking great delight in +music."</p> + +<p>"That is expressing the truth mildly, dear Homan. Lately I can think of +nothing else."</p> + +<p>"What is your opinion of a person being so carried away with one +subject?" asked one.</p> + +<p>"I was going to say," answered Homan, "that I think there is danger in +it. Some I know who neglect every other duty except the cultivation of a +certain gift. I think we ought to grow into a perfectly rounded +character, cultivating all of Father's gifts to us, but not permitting +any of them to become an object of worship."</p> + +<p>"Remember, we take with us our various traits," said Delsa. "I think, +Homan, your view is correct. It is well enough to excel in one thing, +but that should not endanger our harmonious development."</p> + +<p>"I have noticed, Delsa, that you are quite an adept at depicting the +beautiful in Father's creations."</p> + +<p>"I?" she asked; "there is no danger of my becoming a genius in that +line. I do not care enough for it, though I do a little of it."</p> + +<p>Thus they conversed; then they sang songs. Tunes born of heavenly melody +thrilled them. After a time they separated, and Homan would have gone +his way alone, but Delsa touched him on the arm.</p> + +<p>"Homan, there is something I wish to tell you," she said. "May I walk +with you?"</p> + +<p>"Instead I will go with you," he replied.</p> + +<p>They went on together.</p> + +<p>"I, too, soon am going to earth," she said.</p> + +<p>"Is it true?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; Mother has informed me and I have been preparing for some time. +Dear Homan, I am so glad, still the strange uncertainty casts a peculiar +feeling over me. Oh, if we could but be classmates in the future +school."</p> + +<p>"Father may order it that way," he replied. "He knows our desires, and +if they are righteous and for our good He may see that they are +gratified. Do you go soon?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but not so soon as you. You will go before and prepare a welcome +for me. Then I will come." She smiled up into his face.</p> + +<p>"By faith we see afar," he replied.</p> + +<p>"Yes; we live by faith," she added.</p> + +<p>Hand in hand, they went. They spoke no more, but communed with each +other through a more subtle channel of silence. Celestial melodies rang +in their ears; the celestial landscape gladdened their eyes; the peace +of God, their Father, was in their hearts. They walked hand in hand for +the last time in this, their first estate.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PART_SECOND" id="PART_SECOND"></a>PART SECOND.</h2> + + +<br /><center> +"Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting;<br /> +The soul that rises with us, our life's star,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hath had elsewhere its setting,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">And cometh from afar.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Not in entire forgetfulness</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And not in utter nakedness,</span><br /> +But trailing clouds of glory do we come<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">From God who is our home."</span><br /> + + +<span style="margin-left: 10em;">—<i>Wordsworth.</i></span></center> +<br /> +<br /><center> +"Two shall be born the whole wide world apart,<br /> +And speak in different tongues and have no thought<br /> +Each of the other's being, and no heed;<br /> +And these o'er unknown seas and unknown lands<br /> +Shall cross, escaping wreck, defying death;<br /> +And all unconsciously shape every act<br /> +And bend each wandering step to this one end—<br /> +That, one day, out of darkness they shall meet<br /> +And read life's meaning in each other's eyes."<br /> + + +<span style="margin-left: 10em;">—<i>Susan Marr Spalding.</i></span></center> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="pt2I" id="pt2I"></a>I.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Even a child is known by his doings."—<i>Prov. 20:11.</i></p></div> + + +<p>How it did rain! For two long months the sky had been one unchangeable +color of blue; but now the dark clouds hung low and touched the horizon +at every point dropping their long-accumulated water on the thirsty +barrens, soaking the dried-up fields and meadows. The earth was thirsty, +and the sky had at last taken pity. It rained all day. The water-ditches +along the streets of the village ran thick and black. The house-wife's +tubs and buckets under the dripping eaves were overrunning. The dust was +washed from the long rows of trees which lined the streets.</p> + +<p>It rained steadily all over the valley. The creek which came from the +mountains, and which distributed its waters to the town and adjacent +farm-lands, was unusually muddy. Up in the canyon, just above the town, +it seemed to leap over the rocks with unwonted fury, dashing its brown +waters into white foam. The town below, the farms and gardens of the +whole valley, depended for their existence on that small river. Through +the long, hot summer its waters had been distributed into streams and +sub-streams like the branches of a great tree, and had carried the +life-giving element to the growing vegetation in the valley; but now it +was master no more. The rain was pouring down on places which the river +could not reach. No wonder the river seemed angry at such usurpation.</p> + +<p>About two miles from town, upon the high bench-land which lay above the +waters in the river, stood a hut. It was built of unhewn logs, and had a +mud roof. Stretches of sagebrush desert reached in every direction from +it. A few acres of cleared land lay near by, its yellow stubble drinking +in the rain. A horse stood under a shed. A pile of sagebrush with ax and +chopping block lay in the yard.</p> + +<p>Evening came on and still it rained. A woman often appeared at the door +of the hut, and a pale, anxious face peered out into the twilight. She +looked out over the bench-land and then up to the mountains. Through the +clouds which hung around their summits, she could see the peaks being +covered with snow. She looked at the sky, then again along the plain. +She went in, closed the door, and filled the stove from the brush-wood +in the box. A little girl was sitting in the corner by the stove, with +her feet resting on the hearth.</p> + +<p>"I thought I heard old Reddy's bell," she said, looking up to her +mother.</p> + +<p>"No; I heard nothing. Poor boy, he must be wet through."</p> + +<p>The mud roof was leaking, and pans and buckets were placed here and +there to catch the water. The bed had been moved a number of times to +find a dry spot, but at last two milk pans and a pail had to be placed +on it. Drip, drip, rang the tins—and it still rained.</p> + +<p>The mother went again to the door. The clang of cow-bells greeted her, +and in a few minutes, a boy drove two cows into the shed. The mother +held the door open while he came stamping into the house. He was a boy +of about fifteen, wearing a big straw hat pressed down over his brown +hair, a shabby coat, blue overalls with a rend up one leg, ragged shoes, +but no stockings. He was wet to the skin, and a pool of water soon +accumulated on the floor where he paused for an instant.</p> + +<p>"Rupert, you're wet through. How long you have been! You must get your +clothes off," anxiously exclaimed his mother.</p> + +<p>"Phew!" said he, "that's a whoopin' big rain. Say, mother, if we'd only +had this two months ago, now, on our dry farm, wouldn't we have raised a +crop though."</p> + +<p>"You must get your clothes off, Rupert."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's nothin'. I must milk first; and say, I guess the mud's +washed off the roof by the looks of things. I guess I'll fix it."</p> + +<p>"Never mind now, you're so wet."</p> + +<p>"Well, I can't get any wetter, and I'll work and keep warm. It won't do +to have the water comin' in like this—look here, there's a mud puddle +right on Sis's back, an' she don't know it."</p> + +<p>He laughed and went out. It was quite dark, but the rain had nearly +ceased. With his wheel-barrow and shovel he went to a ravine close by +and obtained a load of clay, which he easily threw up on the roof of the +low "lean-to"; then he climbed up and patched the holes. A half hour's +work and it was done.</p> + +<p>"And now I'll milk while I'm at it," he said; which he did.</p> + +<p>"I've kept your supper warm," said his mother, as she busied with the +table. "It's turned quite cold. Why did you stay so long today?"</p> + +<p>Rupert had changed his wet clothes, and the family was sitting around +the table eating mush and milk. A small lamp threw a cheery light over +the bare table and its few dishes, over the faces of mother, boy, and +girl. It revealed the bed, moved back into its usual corner, shone on +the cupboard with its red paint nearly worn off, and dimly lighted the +few pictures hanging on the rough whitewashed wall.</p> + +<p>It was a poor home, but the lamplight revealed no discontent in the +faces around the table. True, the mother's was a little pinched and +careworn, which gave the yet beautiful face a sharp expression; but the +other two countenances shone with health and happiness. The girl was +enjoying her supper, the bright sagebrush fire, and the story book by +the side of her bowl, all at the same time. She dipped, alternately, +into her bowl and into her book.</p> + +<p>The boy was the man of that family. He had combed his hair well back, +and his bright, honest face gleamed in the light. He was big and strong, +hardened by constant toil, matured beyond his years by the +responsibility which had been placed upon him since his father's death, +now four years ago. In answer to his mother's inquiries, Rupert +explained:</p> + +<p>"You see, the cows had strayed up Dry Holler, an' I had an awful time a +findin' them. I couldn't hear any bell, neither. Dry Holler creek is +just boomin', an' there's a big lake up there now. The water has washed +out a hole in the bank and has gone into Dry Basin, an' it's backed up +there till now it's a lake as big as Brown's pond. As I stood and looked +at the running water an' the pond, somethin' came into my +head—somethin' I heard down town last summer. An' mother, <i>we</i> must do +it!"</p> + +<p>The boy was glowing with some exciting thought. His mother looked at him +while his sister neglected both book and bowl.</p> + +<p>"Do what, Rupert?"</p> + +<p>"Why, we must have Dry Basin, an' I'll make a reservoir out of it, an' +we'll have water in the summer for our land, an' it'll be just the +thing. With a little work the creek can be turned into the Basin +which'll fill up during the winter an' spring. There's a low place which +we'll have to bank up, an' the thing's done. The ditch'll be the biggest +job, but I think we can get some help on that—but we must have the land +up in Dry Holler now before someone else thinks of it an' settles on it. +Mother, I was just wonderin' why someone hasn't thought of this before."</p> + +<p>The mother was taken by surprise. She sat and looked wonderingly at the +boy as he talked. The idea was new to her, but now she thought of it, it +seemed perfectly feasible. Work was the only thing needed; but could she +and her boy do it?</p> + +<p>Five years ago when Mr. Ames had moved upon the bench, he had been +promised that the new canal should come high enough to bring water to +his land; but a new survey had been made which had left his farm far +above the irrigation limit. Mr. Ames had died before he could move his +family; and they had been compelled to remain in their temporary hut +these four long, hard years. Rupert had tried to farm without water. A +little wheat and alfalfa had been raised, which helped the little family +to live without actual suffering.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>That evening, mother and son talked late into the night. Nina listened +until her eyes closed in sleep. The rain had ceased altogether, and the +moon, hurrying through the breaking clouds, shone in at the little +curtained window. Prayers were said, and then they retired. Peaceful +sleep reigned within. Without, the moonlight illumined the mountains, +shining on the caps of pearly whiteness which they had donned for the +night.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="pt2II" id="pt2II"></a>II.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread; but +he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding."—<i>Prov. 12:11.</i></p></div> + + +<p>Widow Ames had homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of government +land in Dry Hollow. That was a subject for a two days' gossip in the +town. There was speculation about what she wanted with a dry ravine in +the hills, and many shook their heads in condemnation. However, it set +some to thinking and moved one man, at least, to action. Jed Bolton, +the same day that he heard of it, rode up into the hills above town. +Sure enough, there was a rough shanty nearly finished; some furrows had +been plowed, and every indication of settlement was present. Mr. Bolton +bit his lip and used language which, if it did not grate on his own +ears, could not on the only other listener, his horse.</p> + +<p>Rupert was on the roof of his shanty, and Mr. Bolton greeted him as he +rode up.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Rupe, what're ye doin'?"</p> + +<p>"Just finishin' my house. It looks like more rain, an' I must have the +roof good an' tight."</p> + +<p>"You're not goin' to live here?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, part of the time."</p> + +<p>"What's that for?"</p> + +<p>"To secure our claim. Mother's homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres +of this land."</p> + +<p>"What in the world are you goin' to do with it?"</p> + +<p>"We'll farm some of it, of course, an' we'll find some use for another +part after awhile, I guess."</p> + +<p>Then Mr. Bolton changed his tactics. He tried to discourage the boy by +telling him that it was railroad land, and even if it wasn't, his own +adjacent claim took it all in anyway; Rupert did not scare, but said, "I +guess not," as he went on quietly fitting and pounding.</p> + +<p>The man had to give it up. "That Ames kid" had gotten the best of him.</p> + +<p>This was four years ago, and wonderful changes had taken place since +then. Rupert had begun work on his reservoir the spring after they had +taken possession. He had a most beautiful site for one; and when the +melting winter snows and spring rains filled Dry Hollow creek, most of +it was turned into the Basin. It slowly spread out, filled the deep +ravines, and crept up to Rupert's embankment. Then he turned the stream +back into its natural channel again. Many came to look at the wonder. +Some of his neighbor "dry-benchers" offered to join him and help him for +a share in the water. The reservoir could be greatly enlarged, and the +canal leading from it around the side-hills to the bench had yet to be +dug; so Rupert and his mother accepted the offers of help and the work +went on rapidly. The next year Dry Bench had water. New ground was +broken and cleared. Trees were set out. There was new life on the farm, +and new hopes within the hearts of Widow Ames and her children.</p> + +<p>Dry Bench farm had undergone a change. A neat frame house stood in front +of the log hut, which had been boarded and painted to match the newer +part. A barn filled with hay and containing horses and cows stood at a +proper distance back. A granary and a corn-crib were near. The new +county road now extended along the fronting of the Ames place, and a +neat fence separated the garden from the public highway. On the left was +the orchard, a beautiful sight. Standing in long, symmetrical rows were +peaches, apples, pears, and a dozen other varieties of fruit, now just +beginning to bear. At the rear, stretching nearly to the mountains, were +the grain and alfalfa fields. Neighboring farms also were greatly +improved by the advent of water, but none showed such labor and care as +the Ames farm. Rupert grew with the growth of his labors, until he was +now a tall, muscular fellow, browned and calloused. Nina was fast +outgrowing childish things and entering the young-lady period. A +beautiful girl she was, and a favorite among her schoolmates. She had +attended school in town for the past three winters, and her brother was +talking of sending her to the high school.</p> + +<p>Practically, Rupert was the head of the family. Always respectful to his +mother, and generally consulting with her on any important matter, he +nevertheless could not help seeing that everything depended on him, and +that he was the master mind of Ames farm. And then the neighbors came to +him for advice, and older and presumably wiser men counseled with him, +and so it suggested itself to Rupert that he was the master mind of all +Dry Bench besides. Everybody called him a "rustler." When he had leisure +for school, he was beyond school age; so, nothing daunted, he set out to +study by himself. He procured the necessary books, and went to them with +an energy that made up for the lack of a teacher. Nina kept pace with +him for a time, but the ungraded village school curriculum was too slow +for Rupert; and when one spring the young reservoir projector appeared +at the county teachers' examination and passed creditably, all, as he +said "just for fun and practice," the people talked again—and elected +him to the board of trustees.</p> + +<p>A beautiful spring morning dawned on Dry Bench. A cool breeze came from +the mountains and played with the young leaves of the orchard. The +apricots were white with blossoms, and the plums and peaches were just +bursting into masses of pink and white. The alfalfa and wheat fields +were beautifully green. Blessed Morning, what a life promoter, what a +dispeller of fears and bringer of hopes, thou art!</p> + +<p>Rupert was out early. After tossing some hay to the horses and cows, he +shouldered his shovel and strode up the ditch, whistling as he went. His +straw hat set well back on his head. His blue "jumper" met the blue +overalls which were tucked into a pair of heavy boots. His tune was a +merry one and rang out over the still fields and up to the hills.</p> + +<p>Rupert's thoughts were a mixture that morning, and flew from one thing +to another: the ditch which he was to clean and repair; the condition of +the reservoir; the meeting of the school board; the planting of the +garden; the dance at the hall in town; the wonderful spreading +properties of weeds—so on from one subject to another, until he came to +a standstill, leaning on his shovel and looking over his farm and down +to the town, fast growing into a city. From a hundred chimneys smoke was +beginning to come, befouling the clear air of the valley.</p> + +<p>"It is a beautiful sight," said he to himself. "Six years ago and what +was it? Under whose hand has this change grown? Mine. I have done most +of the work, and I can lawfully claim most of the credit. Then it was +worthless, and just the other day I was offered five thousand dollars +for the place. That's pretty good. Father couldn't have done any +better."</p> + +<p>Rupert was not given to boasting, but it did seem lately that everything +he set his hand to prospered exceedingly. This had brought some +self-exalting thoughts into his mind; not that he talked of them to +others, but he communed with them to himself, nevertheless.</p> + +<p>That morning, as he rested his chin on his hands that clasped the end of +his shovel, such thoughts swelled the pride in his heart, and his work +was left undone. The sun came suddenly from behind the peak and flooded +the valley with light; still Rupert stood looking over the fields. In +the distance towards the left he caught sight of a horse and buggy +coming at a good pace along the new country road. He watched it drawing +nearer. A lady was driving. Her horse was on its mettle this morning and +the reins were tight. They were at that ugly place where the road +crosses the canal—he was to repair it that morning—He awoke from his +dreaming with a start, but too late; the horse shied, a wheel went into +the ugly hole, and the occupant was pitched into the dry bottom of the +canal. Rupert ran down the road shouting "whoa" to the horse which +galloped past him. The lady scrambled up before Rupert reached her.</p> + +<p>"Are you hurt?" he inquired.</p> + +<p>"No—no, sir," she managed to say. She was pale and trembling. "Can you +catch my horse? I think he will stop at that barn."</p> + +<p>"I'll get your horse, never fear; just so you're not hurt. Let me help +you out of the ditch."</p> + +<p>She held out a gloved hand and he assisted her up the bank. She was just +a girl, and he could have carried her home, had it been necessary.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir, but could you get my horse, please? There, he is +stopping at that house."</p> + +<p>"That is where I live. I'll bring him to you, if you will wait."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thanks; but I can walk that far. The fall has just shaken me up a +little. I shall soon get over it."</p> + +<p>They walked down the road to the gate.</p> + +<p>"You must come in and rest," said he, "and I'll take care of your +horse." She remonstrated, but he insisted, and brought her into the +kitchen where his mother was busy with breakfast. Rupert explained, and +his mother instantly became solicitous. She drew a rocking chair up to +the fire and with gentle force seated the stranger, continuously asking +questions and exclaiming, "Too bad, too bad."</p> + +<p>Rupert readily caught the runaway animal, and, leading him into the +yard, fastened and fed him.</p> + +<p>"Take off your hat, Miss," said Mrs. Ames, "your head'll feel easier. I +know it must ache with such a knock as that. I believe you're cold, too. +Put your feet on the hearth—or here, I'll open the oven door—there! +You must take a cup of coffee with us. It'll warm you. You haven't had +breakfast yet, I dare say."</p> + +<p>The stranger thanked her and leaned back in the chair quite content. The +fall had really shaken her severely and a pain shot, now and then, into +her head. Rupert foolishly fidgeted about outside before he could make +up his mind to come in. Nina now made her appearance. The coffee was +poured out and the stranger was invited to sit up. Once, twice, Mrs. +Ames spoke to her, but she sat perfectly still. Her face was pale, her +eyes half closed.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, Miss?" asked the mother, looking into the girl's +face.</p> + +<p>"Mother, I believe she has fainted," said Nina.</p> + +<p>The three bent over the still form. Mrs. Ames rubbed the cold hands, +Nina became nervous, and Rupert looked down into the pale, beautiful +face.</p> + +<p>"Yes, she has fainted. It is too warm in here. We must get her in the +sitting-room on the sofa. Rupert, help us."</p> + +<p>Rupert stood at a distance. The mother and Nina tried to lift her, but +they failed.</p> + +<p>"You'll have to carry her in, Rupert. Come, don't stand there as if you +couldn't move. It's too close in this kitchen."</p> + +<p>But the young fellow still hesitated. To take a strange, fair girl in +his arms—such a thing he had never done—but he must do so now. He put +his strong arms under her and lifted her as he would a child, and +carried her into the next room, where he laid his burden on the sofa. +The cool air had its effect, and she opened her eyes and smiled into the +faces that were bent over her.</p> + +<p>"Lie still, my dear," said Mrs. Ames. "You have been hurt more than you +think."</p> + +<p>"Did I faint?—yes, I must have—but I'm not hurt." She tried to rise, +but with a moan she sank back on the pillow which Nina had brought.</p> + +<p>"I'll go for the doctor," said Rupert, and off he went. When he and +Doctor Chase came in an hour later, the girl was again sitting at the +table with Mrs. Ames and Nina.</p> + +<p>"I met with a slight accident down the road," she explained to the +doctor. "I wasn't quite killed, you see, but these good people are +trying to finish me with their kindness;" and she laughed merrily.</p> + +<p>Her name was Miss Wilton. She was a school teacher, and was on her way +to answer an advertisement of the Dry Bench trustees for a teacher. She +hoped the doctor would pronounce her all right that she might continue +her journey, as she understood it was not far.</p> + +<p>"You have had a severe shaking up, Miss Wilton, but I don't think you +need to postpone your journey more than a few hours," was the doctor's +decision.</p> + +<p>About noon, Rupert drove Miss Wilton's horse around to the front door +and delivered it to her. With a profusion of thanks, she drove away in +the direction of the chairman of the school trustees. Neither Nina nor +her mother had said anything about Rupert's being on the board. Mrs. +Ames had once seemed to broach the subject, but a look from Rupert was +enough to check her. When the school teacher disappeared down the road, +Rupert again shouldered his shovel, and this time the ugly hole where +the road crossed the canal was mended. That done, he returned home, +hitched a horse to his cart and drove to town.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="pt2III" id="pt2III"></a>III.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain."—<i>Psalms 31:30.</i></p></div> + + +<p>Miss Virginia Wilton was engaged to teach the spring term of school at +the Dry Bench schoolhouse. Why that upland strip bordering the mountains +should be called "Dry Bench," Miss Wilton, at first, did not understand. +If there was a garden spot in this big, ofttimes barren Western country, +more beautiful than Dry Bench, she had in all her rambles failed to find +it. But when the secret of the big reservoir up in the hills came to her +knowledge, she wondered the more; and one member of the school board +from that moment rose to a higher place in her estimation; yes, went +past a long row of friends, up, shall it be said to the seat of honor?</p> + +<p>Miss Wilton gave general satisfaction, and she was engaged for the next +school year.</p> + +<p>For one whole year, the school teacher had passed the Ames farm twice +each day. She called often on Mrs. Ames, and Nina became her fast +friend. During those cool May mornings and afternoons, when the sky was +cloudless and the breeze came from the mountains, the young school +teacher passed up and down the road and fell to looking with pleasure on +the beautiful fields and orchards around her, and especially at the +Ames farm the central and most flourishing of them all. Perhaps it would +not be fair to analyze her thoughts too closely. She was yet young, only +twenty-two—Rupert's own age; yet Miss Wilton's experiences in this +world's school were greater than that of the simple young farmer's.</p> + +<p>Had she designs on the Ames farm and its master? She had been in the +place a year only. How could such thoughts arise within such a little +head? How could such serious schemes brood behind such laughing lips and +sparkling eyes? Strange that such should be the case, but truth is +ofttimes strange.</p> + +<p>Since the railroad had been extended through the valley, the town of +Willowby had grown wonderfully. Its long, straight streets enclosing the +rectangular squares, had not crept, but had sped swiftly out into the +country on all sides, and especially towards the mountains, until now +the Ames place was within the corporated city limits. Willowby soon +became a shipping point for grain and fruits to the markets which the +mining towns to the north afforded. The Ames orchard consisted of the +finest fruits which commanded a high price. Yes, the property was fast +making its owners rich.</p> + +<p>Rupert Ames was a "rising young man," lacking the finished polish of a +higher education, no doubt, but still, he was no "green-horn." Even Miss +Wilton had to acknowledge that, when she became acquainted so that she +could speak freely with him. He was a shrewd business man and knew how +to invest his growing bank account. It was no secret that city lots and +business property were continually being added to his possessions.</p> + +<p>As to home life at the farm, Miss Wilton was always charmed with the +kind hearted mother, the bright, cheerful Nina, and the handsome, sober +head of the family. Such a beautiful spirit of harmony brooded over the +place! Even within the year, the observant young woman could see signs +of culture and coming wealth. The repairing of old buildings, and the +erecting of the new ones; the repainting and decorating of rooms; the +addition of costly pictures and furniture; the beautifying of the +outside surroundings—all this was observed, and a mental note taken.</p> + +<p>For a time Rupert Ames was quite reserved in the presence of the young +school teacher. Naturally reticent, he was more than ever shy in the +company of an educated lady from the East. Rupert never saw her but he +thought of the day of her arrival on Dry Bench and the time when he held +her in his arms. Never had he referred to the latter part of the +episode, though she often talked of her peculiar introduction to them.</p> + +<p>At the end of the first year, Miss Wilton had so far shown that she was +but common flesh and blood that Rupert had been in her company to a +number of socials, and they had walked from church a few times together. +Dame gossip at once mated the two, and pronounced it a fine match.</p> + +<p>Early in September they had a peach party at the Ames farm. Willowby's +young folks were there, and having a good time. When the sun sank +behind the hills on the other side of the valley, and the cool air came +from the eastern mountains, Chinese lanterns were hung on the trees, and +chairs and tables were placed on the lawn. There were cake and ice-cream +and peaches—peaches of all kinds, large and small, white and yellow, +juicy and dry; for this was a peach party, and everybody was supposed to +eat, at least, half a dozen.</p> + +<p>The band, with Volmer Holm as leader, furnished the music; and beautiful +it was, as it echoed from the porch out over the assembly on the lawn. +When the strains of a waltz floated out, a dozen couples glided softly +over the velvety grass.</p> + +<p>"That's fine music, Volmer," Rupert was saying to the bandmaster, as the +music ceased.</p> + +<p>"Do you think so? We've practiced very much since our new organization +was effected. Will it do for a concert?"</p> + +<p>"You know I'm no judge of music. I like yours, though, Volmer. What do +you say about it, Miss Wilton? Mr. Holm wishes to know if his music is +fit for a concert?"</p> + +<p>"Most certainly it is," answered the young lady addressed, as she +stepped up with an empty peach basket. "Mr. Holm, I understand that last +piece is your own composition? If so, I must congratulate you; it is +most beautiful."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," and he bowed as he gave the signal to begin again.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Ames, more peaches are wanted—the big yellow ones. Where shall I +find them?"</p> + +<p>"I'll get some—or, I'll go with you." He was getting quite bold. +Perhaps the music had something to do with that.</p> + +<p>He did not take the basket, but led the way out into the orchard. It was +quite a distance to the right tree.</p> + +<p>"That is beautiful music," said she. "Mr. Holm is a genius. He'll make +his mark if he keeps on."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I understand that he is going East to study. That will bring him +out if there is anything in him."</p> + +<p>There was a pause in the conversation; then Rupert remarked carefully, +as if feeling his way:</p> + +<p>"Yes, there's talent in Volmer, but he makes music his god, which I +think is wrong."</p> + +<p>"Do you think so?" she asked.</p> + +<p>What that expression meant, it was hard to say.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think that no man should so drown himself in one thing that he +is absolutely dead to everything else. Mr. Holm does that. Volmer +worships nothing but music."</p> + +<p>Rupert filled the basket and they sauntered back.</p> + +<p>"A more beautiful god I cannot imagine," she said, half aloud.</p> + +<p>Rupert turned with an inquiring look on his face, but he got nothing +more from her, as she was busy with a peach. Her straw hat was tilted +back on her head, and the wavy brown hair was somewhat in confusion. +School teaching had not, as yet, driven the roses from her cheeks, nor +the smiles from her lips. There was just enough of daylight left so +that Rupert could see Miss Wilton's big eye looking into his own. How +beautiful she was!</p> + +<p>"Mr. Ames, before we get back to the company, I wish to ask you a +question. Mr. Holm has asked me to sing at his concert, and I should +like to help him, if the school trustees do not object."</p> + +<p>"Why should they, Miss Wilton?"</p> + +<p>"Well, some people, you know, are so peculiar."</p> + +<p>"I assure you they will not care—that is, if it will not interfere with +your school duties."</p> + +<p>"As to that, not a moment. I need no rehearsals as I am used to—that is +I—you see, I will sing some old song."</p> + +<p>Miss Wilton's speech became unusually confused, and Rupert noticed it; +but just then Nina and her escort joined them, and they all went back to +the lawn.</p> + +<p>"Miss Wilton's going to sing at the concert," Volmer told Rupert later +in the evening. "'Twill be a big help. She's a regular opera singer, you +know. She's been in the business. I heard her sing in Denver two years +ago, and she was with a troupe that passed through here some time since. +I remember her well, but of course I wouldn't say anything to her about +it. No doubt she wishes to forget it all."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" asked Rupert, quite fiercely.</p> + +<p>"I mean that her company then was not of the choicest, but I believe +she's all right and a good enough girl. Rupe, don't bother about that. +Perhaps I shouldn't have said anything to you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's all right. I'm glad you mentioned it."</p> + +<p>Still a dull, miserable pain fastened itself in Rupert Ames' heart the +rest of the evening; and even when the company had gone, and Miss Wilton +had lingered and sweetly said "Good-night," and the lights were out, +strange thoughts and feelings drove from his eyes the sleep that usually +came peacefully to him.</p> + +<p>Rupert Ames was in love. The fact became the central idea of his +existence.</p> + +<p>During Rupert's busy life, love affairs had not occupied much of his +attention. Of course, he, in common with the rest of young mankind, +thought that some day he would love some girl and make her his wife; but +it was always as a far-away dream to him, connected with an angelic +perfection which he always found missing in the workaday world. His wife +must be a pure, perfect creature. Marriage was a sacred thing—one of +the great events in a person's life. Not that these views had now +changed altogether, for Miss Virginia Wilton came nearer his ideal than +anyone he had yet met. Still, there was considerable of the tangible +present about her. She was educated, businesslike, and a leader, and he, +ambitious of attaining to something in the world, would need such a +woman for his wife. But that sting which Volmer Holm had given him! His +wife must be beyond suspicion. He could not afford to make a mistake, +for if he did, it would be the mistake of his life. But was it a sin for +a girl to sing in an opera? Certainly not. Anyway, he would not condemn +her unheard—and then, he was sure he loved her. It had come to him +unbidden. It was no fault of his that this girl should have come into +his common life, and, seemingly, completely change it.</p> + +<p>The autumn days passed. With the work of harvesting and marketing there +was no time for social gatherings. The school teacher had changed her +boarding place, and her path lay no longer past the Ames farm. So Rupert +mingled his thoughts with his labors, and in time there emerged from +that fusion a fixed purpose.</p> + +<p>That fall Rupert's time as school trustee expired. At the first meeting +of the new board, Miss Wilton's position was given to a male teacher. +The reason given for the change was that "It takes a man to govern +boys." Other reasons, however, could be heard in the undercurrent of +talk.</p> + +<p>The first Sunday after he heard of it, Rupert found Miss Wilton, and +together they walked up the canyon road. It was a dull, cloudy day, and +not a breath moved the odorous choke-cherry bushes which lined the dusty +road. Never mind what was said and done that afternoon. 'Tis an old, old +story. Between woman's smiles and tears, the man gained hope and +courage, and when that evening they came down the back way through the +fields and orchards, Virginia Wilton was Rupert Ames' promised wife.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="pt2IV" id="pt2IV"></a>IV.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"O Lord, lead me in a plain path."—<i>Isaiah 27:11.</i></p></div> + + +<p>The scene shifts to a land afar off toward the north, Norway—away up +into one of its mountain meadows. The landscape is a mixture of grandeur +and beauty. Hills upon hills, covered with pine and fir, stretch away +from the lowlands to the distant glacier-clad mountains, and patches of +green meadow gleam through the dark pine depths.</p> + +<p>The clear blue sky changes to a faint haze in the hilly distance. The +gentle air is perfumed with the odor of the forest. A Sabbath stillness +broods over all. The sun has swung around to the northwest, and skims +along the horizon as if loth to leave such a sweet scene.</p> + +<p>Evening was settling down on the Norwegian <i>saeter</i>, or summer herd +ground. Riding along the trail through the pines appeared a young man. +He was evidently not at home in the forest, as he peered anxiously +through every opening. His dress and bearing indicated that he was not a +woodsman nor a herder of cattle. Pausing on a knoll, he surveyed the +scene around him, and took off his hat that the evening breeze might +cool his face. Suddenly, there came echoing through the forest, from +hill to hill, the deep notes of the <i>lur</i>. The traveler listened, and +then urged his horse forward. Again and again the blast reverberated, +the notes dying in low echoes on the distant hills. From another rise, +the rider saw the girl who was making all this wild music. She was +standing on a high knoll. Peering down into the forest, she recognized +the traveler and welcomed him with an attempt at a tune on her long, +wooden trumpet.</p> + +<p>"Good evening, Hansine," said he, as his horse scrambled up the path +close by, "your <i>lur</i> made welcome music this evening."</p> + +<p>"Good evening, Hr. Bogstad," said she, "are you not lost?"</p> + +<p>"I was, nearly, until I heard you calling your cows. It is a long way up +here—but the air and the scenery are grand."</p> + +<p>"Yes, do you think so? I don't know anything about what they call grand +scenery. I've always lived up here, and it's work, work all the +time—but those cows are slow coming home." She lifted her <i>lur</i> to her +lips and once more made the woods ring.</p> + +<p>Down at the foot of the hills, where the pines gave place to small, +grassy openings, stood a group of log huts, towards which the cows were +now seen wending.</p> + +<p>"Come, Hr. Bogstad, I see the cows are coming. I must go down to meet +them."</p> + +<p>They went down the hill together. The lowing cows came up to the +stables, and as the herd grew larger there was a deafening din. A girl +was standing in the doorway of one of the cabins, timidly watching the +noisy herd.</p> + +<p>"Come, give the cows their salt," laughingly shouted Hansine to her.</p> + +<p>"And get hooked all to pieces? Not much."</p> + +<p>"You little coward. What good would you be on a <i>saeter</i>? What do you +think, Hr. Bogstad?"</p> + +<p>As the girl caught sight of the new arrival she started and the color +came to her face. He went up to her. "How are you, Signe?" he said. "How +do you like life on a <i>saeter</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I hardly know," she said, seemingly quite embarrassed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'll tell you," broke in the busy Hansine, as she came with a pail +full of salt. "She just goes around and looks at and talks about what +she calls the beauties of nature. That she likes; but as for milking, or +churning, or making cheese, well—"</p> + +<p>Then they all laughed good naturedly.</p> + +<p>Hansine was a large, strong girl, with round, pleasant features. She and +the cows were good friends. At the sound of the <i>lur</i> every afternoon +the cows turned their grazing heads towards home, and, on their arrival, +each was given a pat and a handful of salt. Then they went quietly into +their stalls.</p> + +<p>It was quite late that evening before the milk had been strained into +the wooden platters and placed in rows on the shelves in the milk house. +Hr. Bogstad and Signe had proffered their help, but they had been +ordered into the house and Signe was told to prepare the evening meal. +When Hansine came in, she found the table set with the cheese, milk, +butter, and black bread, while Signe and Hr. Bogstad sat by the large +fireplace watching a pot of boiling cream mush.</p> + +<p>The object of Hr. Bogstad's visit was plain enough. He had been devoting +his attentions to Signe Dahl for some time, and now that he was home +from college on a vacation, it was natural that he should follow her +from the village up to the mountains.</p> + +<p>Hr. Bogstad, though young, was one of the rich men of Nordal. He had +lately fallen heir to a large estate. In fact, Signe's parents, with a +great many more, were but tenants of young Hr. Henrik Bogstad; and +although it was considered a great honor to have the attentions of such +a promising young man—for, in fact, Henrik was quite exemplary in all +things, and had a good name in the neighborhood—still Signe Dahl did +not care for him, and was uneasy in his company. She would rather sail +with some of the fisher boys on the lake than be the object of envy by +her companions. But Signe's slim, graceful form, large blue eyes, clear, +dimpled face, light silken hair, combined with a native grace and +beauty, attracted not only the fisher boys but the "fine" Hr. Bogstad +also. She was now spending a few days with her cousin Hansine in the +mountains. Her limited knowledge of <i>saeter</i> life was fast being +augmented under her cousin's supervision, notwithstanding Hansine's +remarks about her inabilities.</p> + +<p>The cabin wherein the three were seated was of the rudest kind, but +everything was scrupulously clean. The blazing pine log cast a red light +over them as they sat at the table.</p> + +<p>"So you see nothing grand in your surroundings?" asked Hr. Bogstad of +Hansine.</p> + +<p>"How can I? I have never been far from home. Mountains and forests and +lakes are all I know."</p> + +<p>"True," said he, "and we can see grandeur and beauty by contrast only."</p> + +<p>"But here is Signe," remarked Hansine; "she has never seen much of the +world, yet you should hear her. I can never get her interested in my +cows. Her mind must have been far away when she dished up the mush, for +she has forgotten something."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I beg pardon," exclaimed the forgetful girl. "Let me attend to it."</p> + +<p>She went to the cupboard and brought out the sugar and a paper of ground +cinnamon, and sprinkled a layer of each over the plates of mush. Then +she pressed into the middle of each a lump of butter which soon melted +into a tiny yellow pond.</p> + +<p>"I should like to hear some of these ideas of yours," remarked the +visitor to Signe, who had so far forgotten her manners as to be blowing +her spoonful of mush before dipping it into the butter.</p> + +<p>"I wish I were an artist," said she, without seeming to notice his +remarks. "Ah, what pictures I would paint! I would make them so natural +that you could see the pine tops wave, and smell the breath of the woods +as you looked at them."</p> + +<p>"You would put me in, standing on The Look-out blowing my <i>lur</i>, +wouldn't you?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly."</p> + +<p>"And I have no doubt that we could hear the echoes ringing over the +hills," continued Hansine, soberly.</p> + +<p>"Never mind, you needn't make fun. Yes, Hr. Bogstad, I think we have +some grand natural scenes. I often climb up on the hills, and sit and +look over the pines and the shining lake down towards home. Then, +sometimes, I can see the ocean like a silver ribbon, lying on the +horizon. I sit up there and gaze and think, as Hansine says, nearly all +night. I seem to be under a spell. You know it doesn't get dark all +night now, and the air is so delicious. My thoughts go out 'Over the +high mountains,' as Bjornson says, and I want to be away to hear and see +what the world is and has to tell me. A kind of sweet loneliness comes +over me which I cannot explain."</p> + +<p>Hr. Bogstad had finished his dish. He, too, was under a spell—the spell +of a soft, musical voice.</p> + +<p>"Then the light in the summer," she continued. "How I have wished to go +north where the sun shines the whole twenty-four hours. Have you ever +seen the Midnight Sun, Hr. Bogstad?"</p> + +<p>"No; but I have been thinking of taking a trip up there this summer, if +I can get some good company to go with me. Wouldn't you—"</p> + +<p>It was then that Signe hurriedly pushed her chair away and said: "Thanks +for the food."</p> + +<p>Next morning Signe was very busy. She washed the wooden milk basins, +scalded them with juniper tea, and then scoured them with sand. She +churned the butter and wanted to help with the cheese, but Hansine +thought that she was not paying enough attention to their visitor, so +she ordered her off to her lookout on the mountain. Hr. Bogstad would +help her up the steep places; besides, he could tell her the names of +the ferns and flowers, and answer the thousand and one questions which +she was always asking. So, of course, they had to go.</p> + +<p>But Signe was very quiet, and Henrik said but little. He had come to the +conclusion that he truly loved this girl whose parents were among the +poorest of his tenants. None other of his acquaintances, even among the +higher class, charmed him as did Signe. He was old enough to marry, and +she was not too young. He knew full well that if he did marry her, many +of his friends would criticise; but Henrik had some of the Norseman +spirit of liberty, and he did not think that a girl's humble position +barred her from him. True, he had received very little encouragement +from her, though her parents had looked with favor upon him. And now he +was thinking of her cold indifference.</p> + +<p>They sat down on a rocky bank, carpeted with gray reindeer moss.</p> + +<p>They had been talking of his experiences at school. He knew her desire +to finish the college education cut short by a lack of means.</p> + +<p>"Signe, I wish you would let me do you a favor."</p> + +<p>She thought for a moment before she asked what it was.</p> + +<p>"Let me help you attend college. You know I am able to, +besides—besides, some day you may learn to think as much of me as I do +of you, and then, dear Signe—"</p> + +<p>Signe arose. "Hr. Bogstad," she said, "I wish you would not talk like +that. If you do, I shall go back to Hansine."</p> + +<p>"Why, Signe, don't be offended. I am not jesting." He stood before her +in the path, and would have taken her hand, but she drew back.</p> + +<p>"Signe, I have thought a great deal of you for a long time. You know we +have been boy and girl together. My absence at school has made no +difference in me. I wish you could think a little of me, Signe."</p> + +<p>"Hr. Bogstad, I don't believe in deceiving anyone. I am sorry that you +have been thinking like that about me, because I cannot think of you +other than as a friend. Let us not talk about it."</p> + +<p>If Henrik could not talk about that nearest his heart, he would remain +silent, which he did.</p> + +<p>Signe was gathering some rare ferns and mosses when Hansine's <i>lur</i> +sounded through the hills. That was the signal for them, as well as the +cows, to come home.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning Hansine's brother came up to the <i>saeter</i> to take +home the week's accumulation of butter and cheese. Signe, perched on the +top of the two-wheeled cart, was also going home. Hr. Bogstad, mounted +on his horse, accompanied them a short distance, then rode off in +another direction.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="pt2V" id="pt2V"></a>V.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"—<i>Amos 3:3</i></p></div> + + +<p>It was nearly noon when Signe Dahl sprang from the cart, and with her +bundle under her arm, ran down the hillside into the woods, following a +well-beaten trail. That was the short cut home. Hans had found her poor +company during the ride, and even now, alone in the woods, the serious +countenance was loth to relax. A ten minutes' walk brought her to the +brow of a hill, and she sauntered down its sloping side. Signe had +nearly reached home, and being doubtful of her reception there, she +lingered. Then, too, she could usually amuse herself alone, for she +always found some new wonder in the exhaustless beauty of her +surroundings.</p> + +<p>She threw herself on a green bank, and this is the picture which she +saw: Just before her, the greensward extended down to a lake, whose +waters lost themselves behind cliffs and islands and pine-clad hills. +Here and there in the distance towards the north, there could be seen +shining spots of water; but towards the south the hills closed in +precipitously, and left room only for the outlet of the lake to pour +over its rocky bed into another valley below. On the farther shore, five +miles distant, a few red farm houses stood out from the plats of +green—all the rest was forest and rock. The sky was filled with soft, +fleecy clouds, and not a breath stirred the surface of the lake. Signe +gazed towards a rocky island before her. Only the roof of the house +upon it could be seen, but from its chimney arose no smoke. That was +where Signe had been born, and had lived most of the eighteen years of +her life. The girl walked down the hillside to the lake and again seated +herself, this time on a rock near the edge of the water. She took a book +from her bundle and began to read; but the text was soon embellished +with marginal sketches of rocks and bits of scenery, and then both +reading and drawing had to give place to the consideration of the +pictures that came thronging into her mind.</p> + +<p>Hr. Bogstad had actually proposed to her—the rich and handsome Hr. +Bogstad; and she, the insignificant farmer girl, had refused him, had +run away from him. Signe Dahl, she ruminated, aren't you the most +foolish child in the world? He is the owner of miles and miles of the +land about here. The hills with their rich harvest of timber, the rivers +with their fish, and even the island in the lake, are his. To be +mistress over it all—ah, what a temptation. If she had only loved Hr. +Bogstad, if she had only liked him; but she did neither. She could not +explain the reason, but she knew that she could not be his wife.</p> + +<p>How could such a man love her, anyway? Was she really so very good +looking? Signe looked down into the still, deep water and saw her own +reflection asking the question over again. There! her face, at least, +was but a little, ordinary pink and white one. Her eyes were of the +common blue color. Her hair—well, it was a trifle wavy and more glossy +than that of other girls, but—gluck! a stone broke her mirror into a +hundred circling waves. Signe looked up with a start. There was Hagbert +standing half concealed behind a bush.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I see you," she shouted.</p> + +<p>He came down to the water, grinning good-naturedly.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, "I didn't think you were so vain as all that."</p> + +<p>"Can't a person look at the pebbles and fish at at the bottom of the +lake without being vain?" and she laughed her confusion away. "Say, +Hagbert, is your boat close by?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, just down by the north landing."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's good. I thought I would have to wait until father came this +evening to get home. You'll row me across, won't you?"</p> + +<p>"Why, certainly; but I thought you had gone to the <i>saeter</i> to stay, at +least a week."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but—but, I've come home again, you see."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I see," and he looked oddly at her. He had also seen Hr. Bogstad +set out for the mountains two days before, and now he wondered.</p> + +<p>Hagbert fetched the boat, took in his passenger, and his strong arms +soon sent the light craft to the other bank.</p> + +<p>"A thousand thanks, Hagbert," she said, as she sprang out, and then +climbed up the steep path, and watched him pull back. He was a strong, +handsome fellow, too, a poor fisherman, yet somehow, she felt easier in +his company than in Hr. Bogstad's.</p> + +<p>Signe found no one at home. Her mother and the children had, no doubt, +gone to the mainland to pick blueberries; so she went out into the +garden to finish her book. She became so absorbed in her reading that +she did not see her mother's start of surprise when they came home with +their baskets full of berries.</p> + +<p>"Well, well, Signe, is that you? What's the matter?" exclaimed her +mother.</p> + +<p>"Nothing, mother; only I couldn't stay up there any longer." And that +was all the explanation her mother could get until the father came home +that evening. He was tired and a little cross. From Hans he had heard a +bit of gossip that irritated him, and Signe saw that her secret was not +wholly her own. She feared her father.</p> + +<p>"Signe," said he, after supper, "I can guess pretty well why you came +home so soon. I had a talk with Hr. Bogstad before he went to the +<i>saeter</i>."</p> + +<p>The girl's heart beat rapidly, but she said nothing.</p> + +<p>"Did he speak to you about—why did you run away from him, girl?"</p> + +<p>"Father, you know I don't like Hr. Bogstad. I don't know why; he is nice +and all that, but I don't like him anyway."</p> + +<p>"You have such nonsensical ideas!" exclaimed the father, and he paused +before her in his impatient pacing back and forth. "He, the gentleman, +the possessor of thousands. Girl, do you know what you are doing when +you act like this? Can't you see that we are poor; that your father is +worked to death to provide for you all? That if you would treat him as +you should, we would be lifted out of this, and could get away from +this rock-ribbed island on to some land with soil on? Our future would +be secure. Can't you see it, girl? O, you little fool, for running away +from such a man. Don't you know he owns us all, as it were?"</p> + +<p>"No, father, he does not."</p> + +<p>"The very bread you eat and the water you drink come from his +possessions."</p> + +<p>"Still, he does not own us all. He does not own me, nor shall he as long +as I feel as I do now, and as long as there is other land and other +water and other air to which he can lay no claim."</p> + +<p>It was a bold speech, but something prompted her to say it. She was +aroused. The mother came to intercede, for she knew both father and +daughter well.</p> + +<p>"I tell you, girl, there shall be no more foolishness. You shall do as I +want you, do you hear!"</p> + +<p>Signe arose to go, but her father caught her forcibly by the arm.</p> + +<p>"Sit down and listen to me," he said.</p> + +<p>The girl began to cry, and the mother interposed: "Never mind, father; +you know it's useless to talk to her now. Let her go and milk the cow. +It's getting late."</p> + +<p>So Signe escaped with her pail into the little stable where the cow had +been awaiting her for over an hour. But she was a long time milking, +that evening.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="VI" id="VI"></a>VI.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and +from thy father's house, into a land that I will show thee."—<i>Gen. +12:1</i>.</p></div> + + +<p>Signe Dahl sat in the little coupe of the railroad train which was +carrying her to Christiania. She was the sole occupant of the +compartment, her big valise resting on the opposite seat. Out through +the lowered window she looked at the flying landscape, a mingling of +pine hills, waters, and green meadows. An hour ago she had boarded the +train at Holmen, the nearest station to Nordal. Early that morning she +had tearfully kissed them all good-by and had begun her journey to that +haven of rest from old country oppressions—America. She and her mother +had planned it, and the father had at last given his consent. It was all +the outcome of Hr. Bogstad's persistent devotions to the family on the +island in the lake.</p> + +<p>Tiring of the scenery, Signe took from a bundle a letter. It had been +handed her by the postmaster at Nordal that morning as she drove past, +and was from Hr. Bogstad, who was in the North with a party of tourists. +She opened it and read:</p> + +<p>"I wrote you a letter about a week ago, describing our trip up to that +time. I hope you have received it. You know I have no eye for the +beautiful, but I did the best I could. You should have been along and +seen it all yourself.</p> + +<p>"And now I write you again, because, dear friend, I have heard a rumor +from home that you are going to America. It is news to me if it is true. +Dear Signe, don't. Wait, at least, until I can see you again, because I +have something to tell you whether you go or stay. I am coming home as +fast as steam can carry me. Please, don't run off like that. Why should +you? I ask myself. But there, it's only rumor. You're not going, and +I'll see you again in a few days, when I shall tell you all about the +rest of the trip."</p> + +<p>A smile played on Signe's face, but it soon changed to a more sober +expression. What was she to cause such a commotion in the life of a man +like Hr. Bogstad? That he was in earnest she knew. And here she was +running away from him. He would never see her again. How disappointed he +would be! She could see him driving from the station, alighting at the +ferry, springing into a boat, and skimming over to the island. Up the +steep bank he climbs, and little Hakon runs down to meet him, for which +he receives his usual bag of candy. Perhaps he gets to the house before +he finds out. Then—?</p> + +<p>Surely the smile has changed to a tear, for Signe has wiped one away +from her cheek.</p> + +<p>To Signe, the journey that day was made up of strange thoughts and +experiences. The landscape, the stopping at the stations, the coming and +going of people, Hr. Bogstad's letter, the folks at home, the uncertain +future,—all seemed to mingle and to form one chain of thought, which +ended only when the train rolled into the glass-covered station at +Christiania.</p> + +<p>With a firm grasp on her valise, she picked her way through the crowd +with its noise and bustle, and placed herself safely in the care of a +hackman, who soon set her down at her lodgings.</p> + +<p>At the steamship office she learned that the steamer was not to sail for +three days. So Signe meant to see what she could of the city. It was her +first visit to the capital, and perhaps her last. She would make the +best of her time. She had no friends in the city, but that did not +hinder her from walking out alone. In the afternoon of the second day, +Signe went to the art gallery, and that was the end of her sightseeing +to other parts. She lingered among the paintings of the masters and the +beautiful chiseled marble—the first she had seen—until the attendant +reminded her that it was time to close.</p> + +<p>That evening the landlady informed her that a visitor had been inquiring +for her during the day, a gentleman. Who could it be? He was described, +and then Signe knew that it was Hr. Bogstad. He had said that he could +call again in the evening.</p> + +<p>Signe was troubled. What should she do? He was following her, but they +must not meet. It would do no good. The steamer was to sail tomorrow, +and she would go on board that night. She called a carriage and was +driven to the wharf. Yes, it was all right, said the steward, and she +was made comfortable for the night.</p> + +<p>Among the crowd of people that came to see the steamer sail, Signe +thought she caught sight of Hr. Bogstad elbowing through the throng to +get to the ship. But he was too late. The third bell had rung, the +gangplank was being withdrawn, and the vessel was slowly moving away. +Signe had concealed herself among the people, but now she pressed to the +railing and waved her handkerchief with the rest.</p> + +<p>Farewell to Norway, farewell to home and native land. Signe's heart was +full. All that day she sat on deck. She had no desire for food, and the +crowded steerage had no attractions. So she sat, busy with her thoughts +and the sights about the beautiful Christiania fjord.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning they steamed into Christiansand, and a few hours +later, the last of Norway's rocky coast sank below the waters of the +North Sea.</p> + +<p>All went well for a week. Signe had not suffered much from seasickness, +but now a storm was surely coming. Sailors were busy making everything +snug and tight; and the night closed in fierce and dark, with the sea +spray sweeping the deck.</p> + +<p>Signe staggered down into the dimly lighted steerage. Most of the poor +emigrants had crawled into their bunks, and were rolling back and forth +with each lurch of the ship. Signe sat and talked with a Danish girl, +each clinging to a post.</p> + +<p>"I don't feel like going to bed," said the girl.</p> + +<p>"Nor I. What a night it is!"</p> + +<p>"Do you think we shall get safely across?"</p> + +<p>"Why, certainly," replied Signe. "You mustn't be frightened at a +storm."</p> + +<p>"I try not to be afraid, but I'm such a coward."</p> + +<p>"Think about something pleasant, now," suggested the other. "Remember +where you're going and whom you are going to meet."</p> + +<p>The girl from Denmark had confided to Signe that she was going to join +her lover in America.</p> + +<p>The girl tried to smile, and Signe continued: "What a contrast between +us. I am running away; you are going to meet someone—"</p> + +<p>Crash! A blow struck the ship and shook it from end to end; and +presently the machinery came to a full stop. Then there was hurrying of +feet on deck, and they could hear the boatswain's shrill pipe, and the +captain giving commands. The steerage was soon a scene of terror. Those +who rushed up the stairs were met with fastened doors, and were +compelled to remain below. Women screamed and prayed and raved. Then the +steward came in, and informed them that there was no danger, and the +scene somewhat quieted down. On further inquiry it was learned that they +had collided with another ship. Some damage had been done forward, but +there was no further danger. However, very few slept that night, and +when morning broke, clear and beautiful, with glad hearts they rushed up +into the open air.</p> + +<p>The second class was forward. Three of the passengers had been killed +and quite a number injured.</p> + +<p>If Signe had not been so poor, and had not refused help from Hr. +Bogstad, she would have taken second class passage. But now, thank God +for being poor and—independent!</p> + +<p>In another week they landed at New York, and each went her own way. +Signe Dahl took the first train for Chicago.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="VII" id="VII"></a>VII.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away."—<i>Job 1:22</i>.</p></div> + + +<p>The news startled the young city of Willowby from the Honorable Mayor to +the newest comer in the place. The railroad company had found a shorter +route to its northern main line, and it had been decided to remove, or, +at least, to abandon for a time, the road running through the valley. +The short cut would save fifty miles of roadbed and avoid some heavy +grades, but it would leave the town of Willowby twenty-five miles from +the railroad. Everybody said it would be a death-blow to the place. +Petitions and propositions from the citizens to the railroad company +availed nothing.</p> + +<p>The most diresome predictions came true. After the change, the life of +the young town seemed to wither away. Its business almost ceased. The +speculator whose tenement houses were without roof, hurriedly closed +them in, and so let them stand. Safer is the farmer, in such times. His +fields will still yield the same, let stocks and values in real estate +rise and fall as they will.</p> + +<p>Alderman Rupert Ames had been attending the protracted meetings of the +city council; this, with other business, kept him away from home for a +week. This was the explanation which he gave to his mother when he at +last came home.</p> + +<p>"Rupert," she said to him, "you must not worry so. I see you are +sick—you're as pale as death now. Is there anything the matter, my +boy?"</p> + +<p>Rupert seated himself on the sofa, resting his face in his hands, and +looked into the fire. He was haggard and pale.</p> + +<p>"Mother—yes, mother, something's the matter but I cannot tell you, I +cannot tell you."</p> + +<p>The mother sank beside him. "Rupert, what is it, are you sick?"</p> + +<p>"No, dear mother, I'm not sick—only at heart." He put his arms around +her neck and resting his head on her shoulder, began to sob.</p> + +<p>It had been a long time since she had seen her boy shed tears.</p> + +<p>"Mother," he sprang to his feet and forced himself to talk, "I must tell +you. The bank has failed and—and—I have not always told you of my +business transactions, mother. I now owe more than we are worth in this +world. I have been investing in real estate. I paid a big price for the +Riverside Addition, and the paper I asked you to sign was a mortgage on +the farm to secure a loan. Mother, I thought it was a good investment, +and it would have been had the railroad remained, but now property has +sunk so low that all we own will not pay my debts. And the bank has +failed also—O mother!"</p> + +<p>"My son, do not carry on like that. If the worst comes, we still have +the farm, haven't we?"</p> + +<p>"You do not understand, mother; our creditors can take that, too."</p> + +<p>Then she also broke down, and at sight of her tears the son gained +control of his own feelings, and tried to comfort his mother. She should +never want as long as he had two strong hands with which to work, he +assured her. All would be right in the end. "What I have done, I can do +again, mother; and though if it comes to the worst, it will be hard, I +am young yet, and have life before me."</p> + +<p>For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, +talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures +they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush +plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs.</p> + +<p>The worst did come. They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames +farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face +the world honorably. So, before Christmas, everything had been cleared +up, and Widow Ames was installed in a neat three-roomed house nearer +town, for which they paid a monthly rental.</p> + +<p>Miss Virginia Wilton was on a visit to her "folks in the East." Rupert +both longed and feared for her return. In his letters he had said +nothing about the change in his affairs. He would wait until her return, +and then he would explain it fully to her. He had decided, for her sake, +to propose to her the postponement of their marriage until spring. He +would certainly be better prepared then. It would be a sacrifice on his +part, but Virginia would be wise enough to see its advisability. Yes, +they would counsel together, and Virginia's love would be the power to +hold him up. After all, the world was not so dark with such a girl as +Virginia Wilton waiting to become his wife.</p> + +<p>The day after her return to Willowby, Rupert called on her. Mrs. Worth, +the landlady, responded to his knock, and said that Virginia had gone +out for the day. She was, however, to give him this note if he called.</p> + +<p>Rupert took the paper and turned away. He would find her at some +neighbor's. He carefully broke the envelope and read:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Dear Mr. Ames</i>:</p> + +<p>As I have accepted a position to teach in another state, I shall have to +leave Willowby tomorrow. I shall be too busy to see you, and you have +too much good sense to follow me. Forget the past. With kindest regards, +I am,</p> + +<p><i>Virginia Wilton</i>.</p></div> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Nina was married on the first of the year. Widow Ames died about two +weeks after.</p> + +<p>And so life's shifting scenes came fast to Rupert Ames; and they were +mostly scenes of dreariness and trial; but he did not altogether give +up. Many of his friends were his friends still, and he could have +drowned his sorrow in the social whirl; but he preferred to sit at home +during the long winter evenings, beside his fire and shaded lamp, and +forget himself in his books. He seemed to be drifting away from his +former life, into a strange world of his own. He lost all interest in +his surroundings. To him, the world was getting empty and barren and +cold.</p> + +<p>The former beautiful valley was a prison. The hills in which his boyhood +had been spent lost all their loveliness. How foolish, anyway, he began +to think, to always live in a narrow valley, and never know anything of +the broad world without. Surely the soul will grow small in such +conditions.</p> + +<p>Early that spring, Rupert packed his possessions in a bundle which he +tied behind the saddle on his horse and bade good-bye to his friends.</p> + +<p>"Where are you going, Rupe?" they asked.</p> + +<p>But his answer was always, "I don't know."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="VIII" id="VIII"></a>VIII.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: +nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of +righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby."—<i>Heb. 12:11</i>.</p></div> + + +<p>Rupert Ames had ridden all day, resting only at noon to permit his horse +to graze. As for himself, he was not tired. The long pent-up energy had +begun to escape, and it seemed that he could have ridden, or walked, or +in any way worked hard for a long time without need of rest. Move, move +he must. He had been dormant long enough; thinking, thinking, nothing +but that for months. It would have driven him mad had he not made a +change. Where was he going? No one knew; Rupert himself did not know; +anywhere for a change; anywhere to get away, for a time, from the scenes +and remembrances of the valley and town of Willowby.</p> + +<p>At dark he rode into a village at the mouth of a gorge. Lights gleamed +from the windows. A strong breeze came from the gorge, and the trees +which lined the one stony street all leaned away from the mountain. +Rupert had never been in the place before, but he had heard of Windtown. +Was there a hotel? he asked a passer-by. No; but they took lodgers at +Smith's, up the hill. At Smith's he, therefore, put up his horse and +secured supper and bed. Until late at night he walked up and down +Windtown's one street, and even climbed the cliffs above the town.</p> + +<p>Next morning he was out early, and entered the canyon as the sun began +to illumine its rocky domes and cast long shafts of light across the +chasm. A summer morning ride through a canyon of the Rockies is always +an inspiration, but Rupert was not conscious of it. Again, at noon, he +fed his horse a bag of grain, and let him crop the scanty bunch-grass on +the narrow hillside. A slice of bread from his pocket, dipped into the +clear stream, was his own meal. Then, out of the canyon, and up the +mountain, and over the divide he went. All that afternoon he rode over a +stretch of sagebrush plain. It was nearly midnight when he stopped at a +mining camp. In the morning he sold his horse for three twenty-dollar +gold pieces, and with his bundle on his back, walked to the railroad +station, a distance of seven miles.</p> + +<p>"I want a ticket," said he to the man at the little glass window.</p> + +<p>"Where to?"</p> + +<p>"To—to—well, to Chicago."</p> + +<p>The man looked suspiciously at Rupert, and then turned to a card hanging +on the wall.</p> + +<p>"Twenty-eight-fifty," he said.</p> + +<p>Two of the gold pieces were shoved under the glass, and Rupert received +his ticket and his change.</p> + +<p>In the car, he secured a seat near the window that he might see the +country. It was the same familiar mountains and streams all that day, +but the next morning when he awoke and looked out of the car windows, a +strange sight met his gaze. In every direction, as far as he could see, +stretched the level prairie, over which the train sped in straight lines +for miles and miles. "We must be in Kansas," he thought. "What a sight, +to see so much level land."</p> + +<p>But what was he going to do in Chicago? To see the world, to mingle in +the crowd, to jostle with his fellow-beings—what else, he did not know.</p> + +<p>Chicago! What a sight to the man of the mountains! Streets, houses, +people and the continuous din and traffic of the city nearly turned his +head for a time. What an ideal place in which to lose one's self. Rupert +had a bundle no longer, but in his pocket just fifteen dollars and ten +cents. He kept well out of the clutches of the sharpers in the city, +and lived quite comfortably for a week, seeing the sights of the +wonderful city. Then, when his money was getting low, he tried to get +work, as he wished to remain longer. But Rupert was a farmer, and they +were not in demand within the city limits. Outside the city, Rupert fell +in with a body of travelers who were going West—walking, and riding on +the trains when they had a chance. He joined them. Somehow, he had +ceased to consider what his doings might lead to, and as for misgivings +as to the company he was keeping, that did not trouble him. For many +days there was more walking than riding. Rupert was not expert at +swinging himself under the cars and hanging to the brakebeams, so he +traveled with the more easy-going element, who slept in the haylofts at +night and got what food they could from farmhouses, though Rupert +hoarded his little store of money and usually paid for what he got. Then +he lost all track of time. It must have been far into the summer when +Rupert separated from his companions, and found himself at the base of +the mountains. Here he spent his last cent for a loaf of bread.</p> + +<p>That night Rupert felt a fever burning within him, and in the morning he +was too weak to travel. He, therefore, lay in the hay which had served +him for a bed until the sun shone in upon him; then he again tried to +get out, but he trembled so that he crawled back into the loft and there +lay the whole day. Towards evening he was driven out by the owner of the +barn. Rupert staggered along until he came to another hayloft, which he +succeeded in reaching without being seen. All that night he tossed in +fever and suffered from the pains which racked his body. The next day a +farmer found him, and seeing his condition, brought him some food. Then +on he went again. His mind was now in a daze. Sometimes the mountains, +the houses, and the fences became so jumbled together that he could not +distinguish one from the other. Was he losing his mind? Or was it but +the fever? Was the end coming?—and far from home, too—Home?—he had no +home. One place was as good as another to him. He had no distinct +recollection how he got to the usual hayloft, nor how long he lay there. +It was one confused mass of pains and dreams and fantastic shapes. Then +the fever must have burned out, for he awoke one night with a clear +brain. Then he slept again.</p> + +<p>On awakening next morning and crawling out, he saw the sun shining on +the snow-tipped peaks of the mountains. He had dreamed during the night +of his mother and Virginia and Nina, and the dream had impressed him +deeply. His haggard face was covered with a short beard; his clothes +were dirty, and some rents were getting large. Yes, he had reached the +bottom. He could go no further. He was a tramp—a dirty tramp. He had +got to the end of his rope. He would reach the mountains which he still +loved, and there on some cliff he would lie down and die. He would do +it—would do it!</p> + +<p>All that day he walked. He asked not for food. He wanted nothing from +any man. Alone he had come into the world, alone he would leave it. His +face was set and hard. Up the mountain road he went, past farmhouse and +village, up, farther up, until he reached a valley that looked like one +he knew, but there was no town there, nothing but a level stretch of +bench-land and a stream coursing down the lower part of the valley. +Groves of pines extended over the foothills up towards the peaks. Up +there he would go. Under the pines his bones would lie and bleach.</p> + +<p>He left the wagon road, and followed a trail up the side of the hill. +The sun was nearing the white mountain peaks. An autumn haze hung over +the valley and made the distance dim and blue. The odor from the trees +greeted him, and recalled memories of the time when, full of life and +hope, he had roamed his native pine-clad hills. He was nearing home, +anyway. The preacher had said that dying was only going home. If there +was a hereafter, it could be no worse than the present; and if death +ended all, well, his bones would rest in peace in this lone place. The +wolf and the coyote might devour his flesh—let them—and their night +howl would be his funeral dirge.</p> + +<p>Far up, he went into the deepest of the forest. The noise of falling +waters came to him as a distant hymn. He sat on the ground to rest, +before he made his last climb. Mechanically, he took from his pocket a +small book, his testament—his sole remaining bit of property. He opened +it, and his eyes fell on some lines which he had penciled on the margin, +seemingly, years and years ago. They ran as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +"'Tis sorrow builds the shining ladder up,<br /> +Whose golden rounds are our calamities."<br /> +</p></div> + +<p>And the passages to which they pointed read:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint +when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loveth he +chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye +receive chastenings, God dealeth with you as with sons, for what +son is he whom the father chasteneth not?"</p></div> + +<p>The book dropped from the reader's trembling grasp. It was then that the +Angel of Mercy said, "It is enough," and touched the young man's heart. +The long pent-up spring burst forth, and Rupert sobbed like a child. By +a huge gray rock sheltered by the pines, he uttered his first prayer to +God. For a full hour he prayed and wept, until a peaceful spirit +overpowered him, and he slept.</p> + +<p>Rupert awoke with a changed heart, though he was weak and faint. Evening +was coming on and he saw the smoke curling from the chimney of a +farmhouse half a mile below. Painfully, he made his way down to it.</p> + +<p>A young man was feeding the cows for the night, and Rupert went up to +him, and said:</p> + +<p>"Good evening, sir; have you any objection to my sleeping in your barn +tonight?"</p> + +<p>The man eyed him closely. Tramps did not often come to his +out-of-the-way place.</p> + +<p>"Do you smoke?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"Then I have no objection, though I don't like tramps around the place."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir."</p> + +<p>The man moved off, but turned again. "Have you had any supper?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>"No; but I do not care for anything to eat, thank you."</p> + +<p>"Strange tramp, that," said the man to himself, "not to want anything to +eat. Well, go into the shanty and warm yourself, anyway."</p> + +<p>In the shanty, Rupert found an old stove glowing with a hot fire, by the +side of which he seated himself. The night was chilly in that high +altitude, and Rupert spread out his palms to the warmth. Inside the +house, he heard the rattle of dishes and the voices of women. Then +strains of songs floated out to him, and he became an intent listener. +Soon from out the humming came two sweet voices, singing. Rupert sat as +one spellbound, as the song seemed to melt into his soul:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +"O my Father, thou that dwellest<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In the high and glorious place!</span><br /> +When shall I regain thy presence,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And again behold thy face?</span><br /> +In thy holy habitation,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Did my spirit once reside;</span><br /> +In my first primeval childhood,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Was I nurtured near thy side.</span><br /> +<br /> +"For a wise and glorious purpose<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thou hast placed me here on earth,</span><br /> +And withheld the recollection<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of my former friends and birth;</span><br /> +Yet ofttimes a secret something<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Whispered, You're a stranger here;</span><br /> +And I felt that I had wandered<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">From a more exalted sphere.</span><br /> +<br /> +"I had learned to call thee Father,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Through thy Spirit from on high;</span><br /> +But until the Key of Knowledge<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Was restored, I knew not why.</span><br /> +In the heavens are parents single?<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">No; the thought makes reason stare.</span><br /> +Truth is reason; truth eternal<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Tells me I've a mother there.</span><br /> +<br /> +"When I leave this frail existence,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">When I lay this mortal by,</span><br /> +Father, mother, may I meet you<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In your royal courts on high?</span><br /> +Then, at length, when I've completed<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">All you sent me forth to do,</span><br /> +With your mutual approbation<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Let me come and dwell with you."</span><br /> +</p></div> + +<p>The door opened, and a young woman came out with a small tin pail in her +hand. At sight of Rupert she gave a startled cry and backed to the door. +Just then the young farmer passed through the shanty and explained that +it was only a "traveler" warming himself. The young woman looked +steadily at Rupert. The fire shone out from the open door of the stove, +and the light danced on the rough board walls, throwing a halo of red +around the girl.</p> + +<p>"What a sweet picture," instantly thought Rupert.</p> + +<p>Then she slowly advanced again, and, instead of pouring the contents of +the pail into a larger dish as was her errand, she placed it on the +table by Rupert, and said, smilingly:</p> + +<p>"Vil you have a drink of varm milk?"</p> + +<p>"Thank you, thank you."</p> + +<p>Then she went back.</p> + +<p>Warm milk! What could be more delicious? Rupert sipped the sweet fluid. +How it invigorated him and surcharged him with new life. And given by +such hands, with such a smile! It was a glimpse of past glories.</p> + +<p>In the morning Rupert was asked if he wanted a job.</p> + +<p>"Yes," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Can you work on a farm?"</p> + +<p>"I've been a farmer all my life," was the reply. "I'm not a tramp, as +you understand that term."</p> + +<p>"Well, stay around today and I'll see what I can do. I want some help, +but I cannot pay high wages."</p> + +<p>"Never mind the wages," said Rupert, "we'll agree on that after a +while."</p> + +<p>The young farmer saw that he had no common tramp to deal with, although +he looked rough and travel-stained.</p> + +<p>"I have been sick for the past few days," explained Rupert, "and if you +can trust me, I should like to rest up a bit before I go to work. I'm +too weak to do you much good yet."</p> + +<p>"That'll be all right," was the answer. "I see you need something to eat +this morning, even if you weren't hungry last night. Come with me to the +house."</p> + +<p>So Rupert Ames remained with the farmer and did the chores around the +house until he became stronger, when he helped with the harder work. He +was treated kindly by them all, and it was not long before he mingled +freely with the family.</p> + +<p>During this time Rupert realized that his right senses, as he called +them, were coming back to him, and every night he thanked God in vocal +prayer for his deliverance from a dark pit which seemed to have yawned +before him.</p> + +<p>The Jansons were newcomers in the West, and had much to learn about +farming. Mr. Janson was a Swede who had been in the country twenty +years. His wife and her cousin were from Norway, the former having been +in the country long enough to become Americanized; it was two years only +since the latter had emigrated from her native land, so she spoke +English with a foreign accent. Her name was Signe Dahl (first name +pronounced in two syllables, Sig-ne). She attracted Rupert's attention +from the first. She had a complexion of pink and white, blue eyes, soft, +light hair; but it was not her peculiar beauty alone that attracted him. +There was something else about her, an atmosphere of peace and assurance +which Rupert could feel in her presence. Naturally, she was reticent at +first, but on learning to know Rupert, which she seemed to do +intuitively, she talked freely with him, and even seemed pleased with +his company.</p> + +<p>Two weeks went by, and Rupert proffered to remain with Mr. Janson and +help him with his harvesting. The latter gladly accepted the offer, for +he had by this time learned that Rupert Ames could give him many +practical lessons in farming.</p> + +<p>The song that Rupert heard that first evening continually rang in his +ears. He remembered some of the words, and, as he thought of them, +strange ideas came to him. One evening they were all sitting around the +fire in the living room. Rupert had been telling them some of his +history, and when the conversation lagged, he asked the two cousins to +sing that song about "O my Father." They readily consented.</p> + +<p>"A most beautiful song," said Rupert at its close; "and so strange. It +seems to bring me back for an instant to some former existence, if that +were possible. What does it mean:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +'In thy holy habitation,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Did my spirit once reside;</span><br /> +In my first primeval childhood<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Was I nurtured near thy side.'</span><br /> +</p></div> + +<p>"What does it mean?"</p> + +<p>"Signe, you explain it," said Mr. Janson. "You know, you're a better +preacher than I am."</p> + +<p>Signe made no excuses, but went to the little bookshelf and took from it +two books, her English and her Norwegian Bibles. She read for the most +part from the English now, but she always had the more familiar one at +hand to explain any doubtful passage.</p> + +<p>"I vill do wat I can, Mr. Ames. I cannot read English good, so you must +do de reading." She opened the book and pointed to the fourth verse of +the thirty-eighth chapter of the book of Job. Rupert read:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Where wast thou when I laid the foundation of the earth? +declare, if thou hast understanding. * * * When the +morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted +for joy?"</p></div> + +<p>"Yes," said the reader, "that is a great question, indeed. Where was +Job? Why, he was not yet born."</p> + +<p>"Who are de sons of God?" asked Signe.</p> + +<p>"I suppose we—all of us, in a sense."</p> + +<p>"Of course; and ve all shouted for joy when God He laid de foundation of +de earth; so, ve must have been der, and known someting about it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but how could we? We were not yet born."</p> + +<p>"No; not in dis world; but ve lived as spiritual children of our Fader +in heaven."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about that," remarked Rupert, doubtfully.</p> + +<p>"Of course you don't. Dat's why I tell you."</p> + +<p>They all smiled at that. Signe again turned the leaves of her Bible. +"Read here," said she.</p> + +<p>This time it was the first chapter of St. John. He read the first +fourteen verses.</p> + +<p>"Dat vil do; now read here." She returned to the sixth chapter, +sixty-second verse, and he read:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"What and if ye see the Son of man ascend up to where +He was before."</p></div> + +<p>She turned to another. It was the twenty-eighth verse of chapter +sixteen:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I came forth from the Father, and am come into the +world: again, I leave the world and go to the Father."</p></div> + +<p>Still she made him read one more, the fifth verse of the seventeenth +chapter:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self +with the glory which I had with thee before the world was."</p></div> + +<p>"Now, vat does it all mean, Mr. Ames?"</p> + +<p>"I see your point, Miss Dahl. Christ certainly existed as an intelligent +being before He came to this earth—yes, even before the world was."</p> + +<p>"Certainly; our Savior vas himself as ve. He vas born, He had a body as +ve, and He also had a spirit. God is de Fader of His spirit and it +existed long ago, as you said. Christ is our Elder Broder. Ve are of de +same family. If He existed before de vorld, why not ve? Dat's right, +isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"But couldn't Christ have been the only one who had a pre-existence? I +believe something is said in your book about the Savior being the only +begotten of the Father."</p> + +<p>"Yes, in de flesh; dat is true, but God is de Fader of all spirits who +have come to dis world to take a body. I can find you many passages to +prove it."</p> + +<p>"Well, I have never thought of these things before, but it must be true +if the Bible means what it says. That's a grand principle, Mr. Janson."</p> + +<p>"It certainly is, Mr. Ames. Many people object to it; but I cannot see, +if we are to exist in a spiritual state after we leave this body, why we +could not have existed before we entered it—but Signe, here, is the +preacher. Her only trouble is with the w's and th's. She can't get them +right yet."</p> + +<p>Signe smiled. "No, Mr. Ames, I'm no preacher. It's all so plain to me. +De Bible says ve have a Fader in heaven, and I believe it. I also +believe ve have 'a moder der,' as de song says. I can't prove it from de +book, but I just use my reason on dat."</p> + +<p>It was a new experience for Rupert to hear a fair lady expound such +doctrine. The whole thing charmed him, both the speaker and that which +was spoken. A new light seemed to dawn upon him. What if this life was +but a school, anyway, into which eternal souls were being sent to be +proved, to be taught.</p> + +<p>"Have you any other quotations on the subject?</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; it is full," said she. "When you get time read Heb. 12:9. Jer. +1:4-5. Eph. 1:3-5 and John 9:1-3. I do not remember more now."</p> + +<p>Rupert took them down, and read them that night before he went to bed. +And each day he saw a new horizon; and the sweet-faced Norwegian was not +the least factor in this continued change of mental vision. "God bless +her," he said to himself, "God has sent her to me for a purpose;" and he +began to add to his prayers that he might so live that he would be +worthy of the blessings which, seemingly, were coming his way.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="IX" id="IX"></a>IX.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone"—<i>James 2:17.</i><br /> +</p></div> + + +<p>Chamogo Valley lies on the edge of the great arid region of America. At +the time of Rupert Ames' arrival in the valley, full crops were never +certain, and during some years, rain was so scarce that there were no +crops at all. The Chicago real estate dealer who had sold Mr. Janson his +land had not enlightened him on this fact, and so he had already lost +the best part of two years' work by failure of crops. Rupert Ames +learned of all this from Mr. Janson, and then he wondered why advantage +was not taken of the stream in the bottom of the valley for irrigation +purposes.</p> + +<p>One day—it was near the end of the harvest, and they were pitting their +last potatoes—Rupert asked Mr. Janson if the adjoining lands could be +bought.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," was the reply. "I was offered nearly the whole valley for a +small sum, but I have all the land I care to handle. You see, this +region would be different if we could rely on the moisture, but we +can't, and I am nearly tired of it myself. Do you want to buy me out?" +This with a laugh.</p> + +<p>"Can you raise money enough to buy this whole valley?" asked Rupert +seriously.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I could get it."</p> + +<p>"Then I am going to propose something to you."</p> + +<p>Whereupon Rupert pointed out that the rich bench lands on each side of +the river could be brought under cultivation, and crops secured every +year by bringing the water from the stream in canals, and watering, or +irrigating them. Mr. Janson listened with wonder at Rupert's description +of Dry-bench reservoir, and how simple it would be to construct canals +by which to water Chamogo valley.</p> + +<p>"This valley can be made to support a good-sized population," said +Rupert. "By securing the land and digging canals to it, and then +selling it out in farms again—well, if you don't make a hundred per +cent on your investment, I am mistaken."</p> + +<p>They had many talks on the scheme, and at last it was decided to try it. +Rupert would supervise the construction of the canals. He would remain +during the winter, do what work could be done before the snow came, and +then continue the work in the spring.</p> + +<p>The land was secured at a small outlay. The canal was surveyed and a +little digging was done that fall. When the snow came, Rupert rode +twenty-one miles to the county seat, took the teachers' examination, +received a certificate, and obtained the Chamogo district school for the +winter. It was a new experience for him, and a trying one at first. The +big boys came to school to get out of the storm, and incidentally, to +learn something of the three R's. They were often wild, but Rupert +managed them without doing any "licking," the usual mode of discipline. +He now wrote to his sister Nina, and told her that he was located for +the winter; that he expected to get back to Willowby, but not for a +time.</p> + +<p>So the winter months passed. Rupert studied his own lessons when he was +not preparing for his day's work. He made frequent visits to the +Jansons, though it was a good three miles' drive. He was always received +as a friend, and, indeed, was treated as one of the family.</p> + +<p>Was it strange that a tie should grow between Rupert Ames and Signe +Dahl? Was it anything out of the way that Rupert's trips became more +frequent, and that the fair-haired Norwegian looked longingly down the +road for the school-master's horse?</p> + +<p>Rupert did not try to deceive himself. It had been a year only since his +experience with Virginia Wilton. He had thought that he never would get +over that, but even now he could look back on it with indifference, yes, +even with thankfulness. This love which seemed to be coming to him was +different from that first experience. He could not explain this +difference, but he knew that it existed. Rupert had no misgivings. Signe +did not thrill him, did not hold him spell-bound with her presence. No; +it was only a calm, sweet assurance that she was a good girl, that he +loved her, and that she thought well of him. Their conversations were +mostly on serious, but deeply interesting subjects. Signe, in common +with her cousin and Mr. Janson, had religious views of her own, which +were peculiar, at least to Rupert. Nothing more than the common +doctrines of the Christian denominations had Rupert ever heard. Signe +knew her Bible well, and she could find wonderful things within its +lids, teachings which were new to Rupert, but which opened to him a +future, a bright, glorious future, full of possibilities. Besides, they +explained to him many of the mysteries of life and answered many of its +hard questions.</p> + +<p>Thus one evening—it was Friday, and he lingered longer on that +evening—Mr. and Mrs. Janson were visiting neighbors, and Rupert and +Signe were alone. They sat by the kitchen stove, and the blazing pine +wood made a lamp unnecessary. Signe had received a letter from home +which she had translated to Rupert. Her father had long since forgiven +her. The few dollars she sent home now and then multiplied to quite a +few <i>kroner</i> by the time they reached Norway, and they helped the +struggling family. After old country topics had been exhausted, the +conversation had drifted to religious themes, and especially to the +doctrine expressed in the song "O my Father;" but they now sat silently +looking into the fire. Their chairs were not far apart, and it was an +easy matter for Rupert to lay his hand over Signe's fingers that rested +on the arm of her chair and draw them closely into his big palm.</p> + +<p>"Signe," he said, "if we ever lived as intelligent beings in a +pre-existent state—and I now can not doubt it,—we two knew each other +there. Perhaps we were the closest friends, and I have just been letting +my imagination run wild in contemplating the possibilities."</p> + +<p>"Let me tell you someting—thing. Did I get tha-at right?"</p> + +<p>"You get the th as well as I, and the w's trouble you no more."</p> + +<p>"Only sometimes I forget, I was going to say, you remember the first +night you came here?"</p> + +<p>"I certainly do;" and he pressed her fingers a little closer.</p> + +<p>"Well, I seemed to know you from the first. Though you looked bad and +like a tramp, I knew you were not, and I felt as if I had known you +before."</p> + +<p>They were silent again, "reading life's meaning in each other's eyes."</p> + +<p>Signe filled the stove from the box beside it.</p> + +<p>"You remember that book you gave me to read the other day, Signe?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; what do you think of it?"</p> + +<p>"I have been thinking considerably about it. It sets forth gospel +doctrine altogether different from what I have ever heard; still it +agrees perfectly with what Christ and His disciples taught. You know, I +have always been taught that man is a kind of passive being, as regards +the salvation of his soul; that everything has been done for him; that, +in fact, it would be the basest presumption on his part to attempt to do +anything for himself; that man is without free agency in the matter; +that he is simply as a lump of clay, and with little more intelligence +or active powers."</p> + +<p>"I know all about such teachings," said Signe, as she went for her +Bible. "They were drilled into me in the old country."</p> + +<p>"Now," continued he, "I see that such doctrines lower man, who is, in +fact, a child of God. I cannot perceive that an Allwise Parent would +thus take away the agency of His children. We have a motto in school +which says: 'Self effort educates,' and I believe that to be the only +principle upon which we can safely grow, if we are to become like unto +our Eternal Father."</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Signe, "but you must remember one thing, that 'as in +Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.' The +resurrection from the dead comes through Christ without any effort on +our part. We were not responsible for Adam's transgression, therefore we +are redeemed from its effects through the atonement of Christ, all +mankind are, both good and bad—all will arise and stand before God to +be judged by the deeds done in the body."</p> + +<p>"Yes; I admit all that; but it is hardly plain to me what we must do to +be freed from our individual sins. We are in the midst of sin. We are in +a mortal state and partake of our surroundings. Now, there must be a +plan by which we may be rid of these imperfections, for if we are ever +to live in the presence of God, it seems to me that we must be pure and +holy, without sin."</p> + +<p>Signe had her book open. "I will read here an answer to your question," +she said. "You remember that on the day of Pentecost when the Holy +Spirit was given, Peter preached to a large crowd of people. Many of +them believed, and being pricked in their hearts, they said: 'Men and +brethren, what shall we do?' You know they are not the only ones who +have asked that question."</p> + +<p>"No, you are right."</p> + +<p>"'And Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in +the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive +the gift of the Holy Ghost.' That's plain enough, isn't it? Words can +make it no clearer. When Peter saw that they had faith, he told them to +repent, then be baptized for the remission of their sins, then they +would get the Holy Ghost."</p> + +<p>"And the promise was to them and to their children and to them that were +afar off. Signe, is it not to us also?" Rupert asked, eagerly, "why +shouldn't it be?"</p> + +<p>"The promise is not limited—it is to you and to me. I, Rupert, have +obeyed Peter's word, and have received the promise. You may do the same, +and the same blessings will follow. The gospel is a law, a natural law, +and oh, such a beautiful one!"</p> + +<p>"Why haven't I heard this before?" exclaimed he. "Why isn't it written +in our books, and taught us in our childhood? Signe, I am a bit +bewildered yet."</p> + +<p>"Rupert," said she, with a smile that had something of sadness in it, +"the world is 'Ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of +the truth.' 'Darkness has covered the earth and gross darkness the +people.' 'And as with the people, so with the priest.' 'The earth also +is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed +the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.' Is +there any wonder that you have not heard these doctrines before? Though +you may read about them in the Bible, the world has been without their +living presence for many hundreds of years. But a new time has come to +the world. The gospel in its fulness and purity has been restored. We +read here that John, on the Isle of Patmos, saw that in the latter days +an angel would 'fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting +gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth.' That angel has come, +Rupert, that gospel has been restored; and what I have been telling you +are the teachings of that gospel. Man is again endowed with power from +on high to preach the gospel and administer its ordinances to those who +believe."</p> + +<p>Rupert listened with deepest interest. He became as a disciple at her +feet. They talked far into the night, and when Mr. and Mrs. Janson came +home they found them bending low over the fire reading from the "good +old book." Their heads were close together, the dark-brown one and the +one of soft, silken tresses.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="X" id="X"></a>X.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I +have kept the faith."—<i>II Tim. 4:7.</i></p></div> + + +<p>Rupert was now continually thinking of the great questions of life. +Never before had he been so stirred in his feelings; never before had he +contemplated life in the light which now came to him. His heart was full +of love, gratitude, and praise which swelled within him, and seemed to +take possession of his whole being.</p> + +<p>The winter passed, and Rupert closed his school. He came to the +conclusion that school teaching was not his forte, though the people +were satisfied with his work. He longed to be out digging ditches. He +liked it far better, and conjectured that in this world his mission was +to make the physical deserts to blossom as the rose.</p> + +<p>During the summer, Chamogo valley did undergo a change. One side of the +valley was brought under irrigation, and a number of farms were sold at +a good profit. Mr. Janson did right by Rupert, and together they worked +and prospered.</p> + +<p>And that which now filled Rupert's cup of happiness was the fact that he +had rendered obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and had received +the promised gifts and blessings following. The light that leadeth into +all truth was his. With Signe and her co-religionists, he could now see +eye to eye, all having the same glorious hope for the future.</p> + +<p>One more winter passed; and when nature had spread her robe of green +over Chamogo valley, preparations were made for the ceremony that would +make Rupert and Signe husband and wife. Rupert longed to see Willowby +and Dry Bench once more, so it was decided that after they had visited +the Temple of God and had been sealed to each other for time and all +eternity, they would take a trip to Rupert's old home. They were married +in the Temple. Within its sacred walls they experienced more fully than +ever before what still sweetness there is in the ministrations of the +Spirit of God.</p> + +<p>They reached Willowby late in September. He had written Nina when he +would be there, and she and her husband were at the station to meet +them.</p> + +<p>There were tears in their eyes at the meeting.</p> + +<p>"Nina, this is my wife," said Rupert. "Signe, my sister, Mrs. Furns."</p> + +<p>A number of Rupert's old friends were there who now came forward and +welcomed him home.</p> + +<p>Then they rode through the valley behind two spirited grays. Nina had +not changed much, but she declared that had she met her brother on the +street, she would not have known him.</p> + +<p>"What has changed you so, brother?" asked she.</p> + +<p>"Experience, Nina, experience with the world I have lived a long time in +the two and a half years that I have been away—but never mind that now. +Everything looks the same hereabouts. I seem to have been absent but a +few days. How strange it is! Signe, there you see Willowby, on that +rise; quite a town yet. How's Dry Bench, James?"</p> + +<p>"Much the same, Rupe. No improvements since you left."</p> + +<p>"And the reservoir?"</p> + +<p>"As you left it, though it needs repairing badly."</p> + +<p>In the few moments of silence that followed, Rupert contrasted his +condition now with what it was when he left the place. What a change! He +was wiser if not much older. And then he had a wife—and he looked +lovingly at her as he thought of all she had done for him. As they drove +into town, friends greeted him and seemed pleased at his return. +Married? Yes; that is his wife. Not so dashing as Miss Wilton, but far +more charming, was the general expression.</p> + +<p>That evening there was quite a social gathering at Nina's.</p> + +<p>Early next morning, before others of the household were astir, Rupert +and Signe went up to Dry Bench. A beautiful morning greeted them. They +walked up towards the hill that they might get a good view of the farm, +and when they turned, Dry Bench was before them. The trees had grown, +but otherwise it was the same scene that he had looked upon many and +many a time. The memory of a particular morning came to him—the morning +when Miss Wilton's horse had run away. Miss Wilton had never been heard +of since she left Willowby.</p> + +<p>"How beautiful!" exclaimed Signe. "Do you know, Rupert, it reminds me of +a scene in Norway. I must make a sketch here before we leave."</p> + +<p>"Sit down on this rock," said he, "while I tell you something. Here's my +overcoat." He made a seat for her and he stood by her side.</p> + +<p>"Signe, nearly six years ago, I stood here on this spot. I was the owner +of the farm that you see. In fact, I dug this ditch. I set out that +orchard, I planned and built the reservoir that has made all this +possible; and then I stood here, and in the pride of my heart I said: +'All this is mine. I have done it all.' Now I understand that God put me +on trial, lent me some of His riches to try me, and then, seeing that I +was not in a condition to stand such favors, took them all from me. Yes, +it was a blessing in disguise. Darling, for this knowledge I am indebted +to you," and he leaned over and kissed her.</p> + +<p>"There you are wrong again," she said; "what about God above?"</p> + +<p>"You are right. 'Tis He only who should have our gratitude. You have +been but an instrument in His hand. I see it all. O Father, forgive my +foolish thoughts." He uncovered his head, as if in prayer.</p> + +<p>He sat down with her on the stone. The smoke began to rise from the +chimneys of the town below, and soon the Dry Bench farm-houses showed +signs of life. He pressed her cheek against his own.</p> + +<p>"Sweetheart," said he, "'When love has blended and molded two beings in +an angelic and sacred union, they have found the secret of life; +henceforth they are only the two terms of the same destiny, the two +wings of one mind. Love and soar.' That is from Victor Hugo; how true it +is."</p> + +<p>After a time they went down to the old home. A Mr. Temming was living +there, as a renter. He was not acquainted with Mr. Ames, and was not +disposed to show much courtesy, so they left.</p> + +<p>"What do you think of the place?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I like it."</p> + +<p>"Could you live there?"</p> + +<p>"All my life, I could. Rupert, I see you in every tree, fence, and +ditch."</p> + +<p>He laughed at that.</p> + +<p>"I can now buy the place. Shall I?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, do."</p> + +<p>"You don't object? Would you really like to live there?"</p> + +<p>"I think, my dear, that you can do much good here. We ought to live +where we can do the most good."</p> + +<p>And so it was settled. Next day Rupert inquired after the owner of the +farm which once was his, and learned that it was in the hands of a real +estate dealer. He made his way to the office and knocked at the door, +which was partly open. A man was sitting at a desk, but he evidently did +not hear, so Rupert stepped into the room, at the same time giving the +door another loud rap. Still the man did not hear.</p> + +<p>"Good morning, sir," said Rupert.</p> + +<p>The man turned.</p> + +<p>"Volmer, Volmer Holm, is it you?"</p> + +<p>"Rupert Ames, I'm pleased to see you. When did you come to town? Have a +chair."</p> + +<p>"Are you in the real estate business?"</p> + +<p>"I can't hear very well, and you'll have to speak at close range, Rupe."</p> + +<p>So they put their chairs close together, and Rupert repeated his last +question.</p> + +<p>"Yes, a man must do something; but there's nothing going on now—nothing +in our line."</p> + +<p>Rupert looked in pity at his friend. Quite shabbily dressed he was, and +a careworn expression on his face made him look ten years older. He wore +glasses, which he pushed up on his forehead, and then took a good look +at Rupert.</p> + +<p>"Well, well, Rupe, and where have you been keeping yourself? An' I've +had luck, I tell you—you haven't heard, perhaps?"</p> + +<p>"No; I haven't. What's it been, Volmer?"</p> + +<p>"Was getting fifty dollars a week leading the orchestra at the Grand in +Chicago, when I got sick. Don't know what it was, Rupe—the doctors +didn't know. Got into my ears, and that knocked me—couldn't tell one +note from another; so, of course, that let me out. Hard luck, Rupe, hard +luck. Tough world this, Rupe. Why God Almighty crams a fellow's head +full of music, and then disables him so's he can't make use of it, I +don't know—I don't know."</p> + +<p>Rupert sympathized with his friend, and then told him of his errand. A +ray of sunshine seemed to enter the musician's life. The property was +for sale, yes, and cheap, dirt cheap; so the transaction was partly +arranged, and Volmer Holm went home to his wife and four children with +quite a happy heart that day.</p> + +<p>"It's too bad about Volmer Holm," said Rupert to his sister. "I had not +heard of his misfortune. Such a genius in music, too."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know," answered Nina, "it may be all for the best. Rumor +had it that he was fast getting into bad ways in Chicago; and some men +are better off by being poor, anyway."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's so," was all he said.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Rupert Ames was again the owner of Dry Bench farm, and the next spring +they moved into the old home. Mr. and Mrs. Janson came with them to +visit, but their interests in Chamogo would not allow of a protracted +stay. Signe was already in love with her new home. With her taste for +the artistic, she soon had the place comfortable, and Rupert was never +more satisfied than when he came in where his wife's adept fingers had +been at work to adorn. It was the dear old home to him with an added +beauty, lacking only his mother's presence to make it perfect.</p> + +<p>Then they sent for Signe's family. It was hard for the father to make +ends meet in his native land, and Rupert needed just such help as Hr. +Dahl could give. In due time they arrived, and were installed in a +cottage near Rupert's farm.</p> + +<p>In peace and prosperity, the days, months, and years went by; and +Rupert Ames became a light to the surrounding world, and a teacher of +righteousness to his brethren.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>It was the sixth year after Rupert's return that the citizens of the +Bench decided to enlarge the reservoir in Dry Hollow. Rupert was given +the work to supervise, and he entered upon the task with his usual +energy.</p> + +<p>That morning in September, when he gave his wife the usual departing +kiss, the children—four of them, were hanging about his legs and +clinging to his coat in great glee.</p> + +<p>"Now papa must go," said he, as he tried to shake them off.</p> + +<p>"A kiss, another kiss," "A tiss, some more tisses," they shouted.</p> + +<p>So he lifted them up, one by one, and kissed them again. Then his arm +went around his wife's neck, and he drew her face to his.</p> + +<p>"Goodbye, sweetheart," said he, "take care of the children, and don't +forget me," and he tried to hum a song as he walked to the gate. Signe +stood watching him. The tune which floated back to her was, "O, my +Father." Then a peculiar feeling came over her, and she sat down crying, +while the children climbed over her with questions and comforting words.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Terrible news from Dry Hollow! A blast, prematurely exploded, had +seriously injured some of the workmen, and Rupert Ames had been +killed—hurled down the ravine and nearly buried under falling rock.</p> + +<p>Break the news gently to his wife and children. Do not let them see that +bruised, bleeding form. Spare them all you can.</p> + +<p>Yes; it was all done—all that lay in human power was done; and hundreds +of people to whom Rupert Ames had opened up new light, and in the +providence of God, had given them a tangible hope of the future, +gathered around his body and mingled their tears with those of his +children's.</p> + +<p>Another immortal soul's earthly mission was ended. Life's school had +closed for him. Into another sphere he had gone. The Great Schoolmaster +had promoted him.</p> + +<p>And Mrs. Signe Ames, after it all, simply said:</p> + +<p>"God knows best. He has but gone before. He was my husband for time, he +is my husband for eternity. His mission is there, mine is here. In the +morrow, we shall meet again."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XI" id="XI"></a>XI.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every +creature."—<i>Mark 16:15.</i></p></div> + + +<p>Hr. Henrik Bogstad leaned back in his chair before the fire in great +relief. He had just shown out a young man who was distributing religious +tracts dealing with some "new-fangled religion" lately imported from +America, that land of all new-fangled things. All the day, Hr. Bogstad +had been adjusting some difficulties among his tenants, and that evening +he was somewhat ill-humored. His treatment of the missionary, was, +therefore, harsher than he was wont to treat either strangers or +friends.</p> + +<p>His conscience smote him a little as he thought of what the young +American had said. He could find no fault with the religious doctrines +advanced, but why should he be bothered with religion anyway? He had +cares enough; for a great responsibility had come to him since he had +been put in charge of the estate left by his father's death. Just now +was the season of gaiety in Christiania, and here he was missing a good +many things by his enforced visit to his country home.</p> + +<p>After musing for some time, he got up and went to the window. Outside, +the snow covered everything—the fields, the roads, the frozen lake and +river. The houses were half hidden, and the pines on the hill bore up +great banks of snow. From the window the view was beautiful in its +solemn whiteness. From the white level of the distant frozen lake, +broken patches of brown protruded. These were the islands on one of +which Signe Dahl had lived. Henrik wondered what had become of her, and +where in the big America she had taken up her abode. He had heard that +she was well and happy, but further than that he had not set himself to +learn. Long ago he had put behind him philosophically his affair with +Signe. He had ceased to think of her as anything more than a sweet, yet +strange girl who could resist such an offer as he had extended to her.</p> + +<p>As Henrik was looking out of the window, he saw the young stranger who +had visited him less then an hour ago, returning down the road. Just as +he was about to pass, Henrik hailed him and asked him to come in again, +meeting him at the door.</p> + +<p>"Come in," he said; "I want to talk with you."</p> + +<p>The missionary placed his grip on a chair and seated himself on another.</p> + +<p>"I was somewhat cross with you when you called," said Henrik. "I don't +want you to think that I am rude, especially to strangers."</p> + +<p>"I was not the least offended," smiled the other.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to hear it. Now I want you to tell me something about America. +I've never been there, though I expect to go some day. I have some +friends and a good many relatives over there. From what part do you +come?"</p> + +<p>"I am from Wyoming."</p> + +<p>"That's away out west, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Two uncles of mine live in Minnesota, but that's a long way from +Wyoming. Where are you staying here, for the night?"</p> + +<p>"I am a traveling minister of the gospel and I stay wherever there is an +opportunity."</p> + +<p>"Then you'll stay with me tonight. I am not much on religion, but if you +will mix a little information about America with your preaching, I shall +be pleased to listen to you."</p> + +<p>These conditions were easily agreed to. So, after a good supper, the two +young men seated themselves comfortably by the shaded lamp on the +library table. The missionary spread out his book of views and explained +each of the pictures. He told of the great stretch of arid land in +western America, of the ranches, of the high mountains, of the fertile +valleys made fruitful by irrigation, and of the wonders of the great +Salt Lake.</p> + +<p>"This is the Temple."</p> + +<p>"Yes; and what is that for?"</p> + +<p>The purposes of temples were explained.</p> + +<p>"You say you baptize for the dead?" enquired Henrik, "How is that?"</p> + +<p>"Well, as I was telling you when I called on you some time ago—"</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, but I must confess that I did not pay enough attention to +what you said to remember. I was thinking about those quarreling tenants +of mine. Tell me again."</p> + +<p>The other smiled good-naturedly, and did as he was asked. Henrik +listened this time, and was indeed interested, asking a good many +questions.</p> + +<p>"Now, about the Temple," continued the missionary—"we believe that +every soul that has ever lived on the earth, that is living now, or that +will ever live must have the privilege of hearing this gospel of Jesus +Christ. There is only one name given under heaven by which men may be +saved, and every creature must hear that name. Now, the great majority +of the human race has never heard the gospel; in fact, will not hear it +in this life."</p> + +<p>"Where, then, can they hear it?"</p> + +<p>"In the great spirit world. Christ, when He was put to death went and +preached to the spirits in prison—those who were disobedient in the +days of Noah and were destroyed in the flood; and no doubt the saving +power of Christ has been proclaimed in that spirit world ever since. +Among those who hear, many will believe. They have faith, they repent of +their sins, but they can not be baptized in water for the remission of +their sins."</p> + +<p>"No; of course not."</p> + +<p>"And yet Christ definitely said that unless a man is born again of water +and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. What is to be +done?"</p> + +<p>The listener, leaning over the table, merely shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Paul speaks in I Cor. 15:29 of some who were baptized for the dead—and +that is a correct principle. The living may be baptized for the dead, so +that those who have left this world may receive the gospel in the spirit +world and have the birth of the water done for them vicariously by +someone in the flesh."</p> + +<p>"This is strange doctrine."</p> + +<p>"Temples are used for these baptisms. The Latter-day Saints are busy +tracing back as far as possible their lines of ancestry, and then they +are going into their temples—for they have already four of them—and +are doing this work for their dead. In this way is being fulfilled +Malachi's prediction that Elijah the Prophet should come before the +great and dreadful day of the Lord, 'and He shall turn the heart of the +fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their +fathers,' lest the Lord come and smite the earth with a curse. You will +find this in the last chapter of the Old Testament."</p> + +<p>The lamp burned late into the night as these two men sat by it talking; +and the conversation was not, as one of them had planned, for the most +part about the land of America and its material opportunities.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XII" id="XII"></a>XII.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he +hath, he cannot be my disciple."—<i>Luke 14:33.</i></p></div> + + +<p>"I cannot understand him," Frue Bogstad was saying. "His actions are so +strange."</p> + +<p>"It's simply wicked of him," added Froken Selma Bogstad. "He is bringing +the whole family into disrepute."</p> + +<p>The mother did not reply, but turned her face thoughtfully away from the +angry daughter.</p> + +<p>"The boy is completely carried away with this American religion," +continued the girl, pacing nervously back and forth in the room. "Pastor +Tonset called to see him the other day, and you ought to have heard +them! The pastor, as our friend, came to advise him; but do you think +Henrik would take any advice? Why, he even argued with the pastor, +saying that he could prove the truth of this religion from the +Scriptures."</p> + +<p>"Has he talked to you about it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; and he wanted me to accompany him to Osterhausgaden where these +people hold meetings. I told him definitely and forcibly that I didn't +want him to mention religion to me."</p> + +<p>"He seems to be in such deep earnest."</p> + +<p>"And that's the pity of it. It does no good to talk to him. He takes it +for granted that he should be persecuted. I believe he is ready to give +up everything for this creed that has him in its grasp."</p> + +<p>A violent ringing of the bell brought Selma to the door. It was Henrik, +who had forgotten his latch key. He hung up his hat, wiped the +perspiration from his face, for it was a warm evening; then he said +cheerily:</p> + +<p>"Spring is coming; I feel it in the air. I'll be glad to get out to +Nordal—there is so much to do this summer—"</p> + +<p>"Young man," interrupted the sister, "we have been talking about you."</p> + +<p>"About my wickedness, I suppose."</p> + +<p>"About your foolishness. It isn't very pleasant for us—what you're +doing."</p> + +<p>"What am I doing? That which is unkind to you, mother?" He placed his +arms lovingly around her shoulders, but she sat without replying, her +face in her handkerchief. He turned to Selma.</p> + +<p>"What have I done?" he asked. "Do I drink? Do I gamble? Do I steal? Do I +lie? Do I profane? Do I treat any of you unkindly? Am I disrespectful to +my mother or my sister?"</p> + +<p>"You associate with a people known everywhere as the scum of the earth," +snapped the sister, as she stood in front of him. "You are disgracing +us—the whole Bogstad family—you—but what's the use of talking to +you."</p> + +<p>"Not a bit of use that way, dear sister. Suppose you answer some of my +questions. You accuse, but never bring proof. You would rather believe +uninformed people than me. You accept hearsay, but will not listen to +the truth I wish to tell you. I have asked you to point out some of the +bad things taught by the Latter-day Saints, but so far you have never +tried. I have invited you to go with me—"</p> + +<p>"Do you think I would thus disgrace myself to appear in their meetings!"</p> + +<p>"You will not even read a simple tract; you close your eyes and ears. +You push God from you when you say that He does not reveal Himself any +more; and so does Pastor Tonset and all his followers. Because I am +willing to receive light, even though it comes from a 'sect everywhere +spoken against,' I am a bad man. I tell you, my sister, and also you, my +mother, I may be looked upon as a disgrace to the Bogstad family, but +the time will come when you and all that family will thank the Lord that +one member of the family heard the truth, and had courage enough to +accept it!"</p> + +<p>Selma walked to the door, and now passed out without replying. Henrik +sat down by his mother, and the two continued to converse in low, quiet +tones.</p> + +<p>The mother's hair was white, the face pinched from much suffering, the +hands shrunken. Selma's talk disturbed her, as did that of a score or +more of interested relatives; but when she talked with Henrik alone she +was at peace, and she listened quietly to what he told her. She was so +old and weak and traditionated in the belief of her fathers that she +could grasp but feebly the principles taught her by Henrik; but this she +knew, that there was something in his tone and manner of speech that +soothed her and drove away the resentment and hardness of heart left by +the talk of others.</p> + +<p>"You know, mother," Henrik was saying, "this restored gospel answers so +many of life's perplexing questions. It is broad, full of common sense, +and mercy. Father, as you well know, was not a religious man. When he +died, Pastor Tonset gave it as his opinion that father was a lost +soul—"</p> + +<p>"Father was a good man."</p> + +<p>"I know he was, mother; and to say that because he could not believe in +the many inconsistencies taught as religious truths, he is everlastingly +lost, doesn't appeal to me—never did. Father, as all of us, will +continue to learn in the spirit world to which all must go; and when the +time comes, he will, no doubt, see the truths of the gospel and accept +them. And here is where the beauty of true religion comes in: it teaches +that there is hope beyond the grave; that salvation is not limited to +this life; that every soul will have a chance, either here or hereafter. +You, mother, have worried over father's condition. Don't do it any more; +he will be all right." He felt like adding that she had more reason to +worry over the living, but he said no more.</p> + +<p>Selma came in with the coffee, and no further discourse was had on +religious topics. Although Henrik had quit using coffee with his meals, +he occasionally sipped a little in the company of his mother. This +evening he took the proffered cup from his sister, who soon withdrew +again, and then Henrik and his mother continued their talk. It was along +the lines of the old faith, grounded into them and their forefathers +since Christianity had been "reformed" in their country. As a boy, +Henrik had not been religious, as that term was understood by his +people, but nevertheless he had in him a strain of true devotion which +the message of the American missionary had aroused. However, this +revival within the young man did not meet with the favor of his friends, +and he was looked upon as having come under the influence of some evil, +heretical power, much to their regret.</p> + +<p>"Marie is here," announced Selma from the door.</p> + +<p>Henrik arose. "Where is she? I did not know she was in town."</p> + +<p>"She is in the east room."</p> + +<p>"Tell her to come in."</p> + +<p>"She says she wants to see you alone."</p> + +<p>"All right. Good night then, mother. Pleasant dreams to you."</p> + +<p>Henrik found Marie sitting by the open window looking over the tops of +the shrubbery in the garden. The light from the setting sun bathed her +in its glow, increasing the beauty of an already beautiful face. Henrik +stepped up behind the girl and placed his hands under her chin. She did +not turn her head.</p> + +<p>"This is a surprise," he said, "but I am <i>so</i> glad to see you. Did you +have a pleasant time at Skarpen?"</p> + +<p>There was no reply. The young woman still surveyed the garden and the +darkening shadows on the lawn.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter, little girl?" he asked. He felt the trembling of +her chin as she removed his hands.</p> + +<p>"No," she replied, "I did not have a good time."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry. What was wrong?"</p> + +<p>"You were not there—you were somewhere else, where your heart is more +than with me—you were, no doubt at Osterhausgade." She hardened her +tone as she proceeded.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm not there all the time," he laughed.</p> + +<p>"You think more of the people you meet there than you do of me, at any +rate."</p> + +<p>"What makes you think so?"</p> + +<p>"You, and your actions. O, Henrik, could you but hear the talk—I hear +it, and people look so strangely at me, and pity me ... I can't stand +it!" She arose as if to escape him, walked across the room, then sat +down by the center table. He closed the window blind, then lighted the +gas, and seated himself opposite her by the table. There was a pause +which she at last broke by saying:</p> + +<p>"I hear that you are actually going to join those horrid people—is that +true?"</p> + +<p>There was another long silence as they looked at each other across the +table.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said.</p> + +<p>"Next week?"</p> + +<p>"That was my intention—yes."</p> + +<p>"And we were to be married next month?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—"</p> + +<p>"Well, I want to tell you, Henrik, that if you join those people the +wedding day will have to be postponed."</p> + +<p>"For how long?"</p> + +<p>"For a long, long time."</p> + +<p>"Well—I had thought to be baptized next week; but, of course, I can +postpone it."</p> + +<p>"For good, Henrik—say for good."</p> + +<p>"No; I can't say that; for a little while—to please you, to let you +think a little longer on the matter. I want you to choose deliberately, +Marie. There need be no undue haste. I don't want you to make up your +mind unalterably to reject me because of the step which I am going to +take."</p> + +<p>"I have already made up my mind."</p> + +<p>"Marie!"</p> + +<p>"You must choose between me or—"</p> + +<p>"Don't say it, don't; you'll be sorry some day, if you do; for the less +said, the less there is to retract."</p> + +<p>Marie arose. "I'm not going to take anything back," she answered with +forceful anger. "I thought you loved me, but—I—have been mistaken. I +shall not annoy you longer. Good night."</p> + +<p>He arose to follow her. "You need not come with me," she added. "I +shall see Selma, and she will accompany me home—not you."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Marie."</p> + +<p>She turned at the door. "Will you not promise?"</p> + +<p>"Promise what?"</p> + +<p>"Not to do as you said—not to disgrace—"</p> + +<p>"Marie, where the light shines, I must follow; where the truth beckons, +I must go. I—"</p> + +<p>With a low cry the girl turned and fled from the room.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XIII" id="XIII"></a>XIII.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The Lord alone did lead him."—<i>Deut. 32:12</i>.</p></div> + + +<p>One beautiful summer evening, Henrik Bogstad was baptized in the waters +of the Christiania fjord. After that, the truths of the gospel appeared +clearer than ever, and still whisperings of the Spirit, to which he now +had legal right, testified to his spirit that he was in the way of +salvation, narrow and straight perhaps, but glowing with a light that +comforted and cheered.</p> + +<p>He told none of his family or friends of his baptism. They had already +rejected him as far as they could, and they asked him no questions. His +sister would hardly speak to him, and Marie cut him openly. His many +uncles, aunts, and cousins were cold and unfeeling. His mother, though +feeble, and sinking slowly, was the only one of his family that he could +talk to. She seemed to understand and believe him. He felt that in +spirit they were one, and he received great comfort from the thought.</p> + +<p>About Midsummer the mother died. Then Henrik spent most of his time at +Nordal. There was peace in the solitude of the pine-clad hills, there +was comfort in the waving fields of grain and the clear-flowing streams. +The lake spread out to his view from his window, and he gazed at its +beauty, sometimes his mind wandering from the Dahl home on the island +westward to unknown America. And America had a new meaning for him now. +Before, it had been simply a new wonder-land, with untold possibilities +in a material way; but added to this there was now the fact that in +America the Latter-day Zion was to be built; there the people of God +were gathering, were building temples, preparatory to the glorious +coming of the Lord.</p> + +<p>Henrik soon caught the spirit of gathering, but he quenched it as much +as possible. His brethren in the gospel advised him to remain where he +was and do his full duty to his sister and their interests. This he +tried to do. He would not quarrel with Selma, but was exceedingly +patient and considerate. He would "talk religion" with any of his +friends who expressed a desire to do so, but he would not contend.</p> + +<p>Henrik mingled more freely with his tenants at Nordal, and they soon +became aware of a change in him. He gave them good treatment. Sometimes, +there were Sunday services in the large parlor of the Bogstad residence, +and the people were invited to attend. They turned out, it must be +admitted, more because of Hr. Bogstad's invitation than because of any +enthusiasm on their part.</p> + +<p>Henrik, during this period of comparative loneliness, read much. He +always carried a book in his pocket when out among the hills and fields, +and many a moss-covered stone became his reading table. He had procured +a number of English books which he delighted in, for they brought to him +much that had not yet been printed in his own language.</p> + +<p>After the harvesting was over that summer, Henrik directed his attention +to another line of work, pointed out to him by the New Light. He +gathered the genealogy of his forefathers. His was a large family, and +when he searched the old church records at Nordal, at Christiania, and +at a number of other places he found that the family was an old and +prominent one, reaching back to the ancient Norsemen. He derived a +peculiar satisfaction in this work, and he extended his researches until +he had a large list of names on his mother's side as well as on his +father's. "Among these there are many noble and true," thought Henrik. +"Many will receive the gospel in the spirit world, and all will have the +opportunity. I shall have the necessary earthly work done for them. If +my labors for the living will not avail, my dead ancestors shall have +their chance. Who knows but even now the gospel is being preached to +them, and many of them are looking eagerly for someone to do their work +for them." The thought filled him with enthusiasm.</p> + +<p>The following spring Selma married, which left Henrik quite alone. He +met Marie at the wedding festivities. She was silent and quiet. He made +no strong efforts to win her back to him, so they drifted apart again. +Then Henrik arranged his affairs so that he could remain away for some +months. He said he was going to America to visit his uncles in +Minnesota,—and yes, very likely he would go farther west. His friends +shook their heads misgivingly, but he only smiled at their fears.</p> + +<p>Henrik sailed from Christiania in company with a party of his +fellow-believers, and in due uneventful time, landed in the New World. +He found America a wonderfully big and interesting country. He went +directly westward first, crossing the great plains and rugged mountains +to the valleys beyond. Here he found and visited many of his former +friends. He lived with the Latter-day Saints in their homes, and learned +to know their true character and worth.</p> + +<p>Then he saw the temples in which the Saints were doing a saving work +both for the living and the dead. While in conversation with some of the +temple workers, he told them of what he had in the way of genealogy, +which they commended highly, telling him that he had an opportunity to +do much good for his family.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to hear you say that," replied he, "for you know, this work +for the dead was what first impressed me in the gospel. It came to me +naturally, it seems, for I had no trouble in accepting it."</p> + +<p>Henrik learned much regarding the manner of procedure in this temple +work. He could do the work for the male members of his family, but a +woman must officiate for the female members. This was the true order, +he found.</p> + +<p>"Your sister or your wife or any other near relative would be the person +to help you in this," said his informant.</p> + +<p>Henrik shook his head. "I am the only member of the family that has +received the gospel," he replied.</p> + +<p>"Then, of course, any other sister in the faith will do; but the +blessings for doing this work belongs to the nearest kin, if they will +receive it. Have you no relatives in America?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; a lot of them are up in Minnesota, but none that I know are +Latter-day Saints—but I'll go and find out," he added as an +afterthought.</p> + +<p>And that is what Henrik did. Within a month he was on his way. He found +his Uncle Ole living not far from St. Paul. He was a prosperous farmer +with a family of grown-up sons and daughters who were pleased to see +their kinsman from the homeland. All the news from all the family had to +be told from both sides. Henrik was shown the big farm with its +up-to-date American machinery and methods. He was driven behind blooded +horses to the city and there introduced to many people. They knew that +Henrik was a person of some importance back in Norway, and they wanted +to show him that they also were "somebody." That seemed to be the +principle upon which they lived. The father and mother still belonged to +the Lutheran church. The three daughters had joined a Methodist +congregation because their "set" was there. The two boys attended no +church.</p> + +<p>Henrik was disappointed. He saw plainly that here was no help for him. +All these were entrapped by the world. At first, Henrik said nothing +about his own religious faith, but after a time he spoke of the subject +to one of his girl cousins. She was not the least interested. He tried +another with the same result. Then, one day at the table, he told them +all plainly what he believed and what he was called. They were merely +surprised. "That's all right," said his cousin Jack who voiced the +universal opinion, "we live in a free country, you know, where one's +religion isn't called into question."</p> + +<p>Henrik's other uncle lived in the city. He was a mechanic, having worked +for years in the railroad shops. Some months previous he had been +discharged, and since then he had operated a small "tinker" shop of his +own. Uncle Jens lived in a small rented house. Uncle Ole's visits to his +brother were far between. "Brother Jens is shiftless," Uncle Ole said.</p> + +<p>Henrik was, however, made welcome in the humble home, and he soon found +the family a most interesting one. His uncle was a religious man, +having, as he put it, "got religion" some years ago at a Baptist +revival. He had joined that church and was an active member in it. The +wife and some of the children were devout believers. They indulged in +long family prayers and much scriptural reading. This branch of the +Bogstad family called the wealthy farmer and his children a "godless +lot."</p> + +<p>Uncle Jens' oldest daughter, one about Henrik's own age, did not live +at home, therefore he did not see her. He was getting well acquainted +with the others, but Rachel he did not know.</p> + +<p>"I must meet Rachel, too," he said one day to his uncle. "Where can I +find her?"</p> + +<p>"She works in a down-town department store; at night she stays with some +friends of hers. The fact is that Rachel is peculiar. She is not one +with us. She has been led astray—"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried Henrik.</p> + +<p>"She is not a bad girl—no, no; but she has been led away into a false +religion, and as she will talk and argue with us all, I thought it best +that she stay away from our home until she comes to her senses; but—"</p> + +<p>"What is this religion that has caused her to err so badly?"</p> + +<p>"Why, she calls herself a Latter-day Saint."</p> + +<p>"What!"</p> + +<p>"Yes; I've tried to reason with the girl, but it's been no use."</p> + +<p>"I want to see her—now, today," said Henrik. "Give me her address."</p> + +<p>"Shall I go with you?"</p> + +<p>"No, I can find her,—you need not bother."</p> + +<p>Henrik obtained the proper directions, and set out immediately. Was +there then one other of his family that had received the gospel—one +that could help him? He boarded a car, getting off at the store. Going +to the department in which she worked, he asked the floor-walker where +he could find Miss Bogstad. Then he saw her behind a counter, resting +for a moment, unoccupied. Though she was an American, Henrik could see +the Norwegian traits in his fair cousin. She was of the dark type, with +round, rosy lips and cheeks, and heavy, brown hair.</p> + +<p>"I am your cousin Henrik from Norway," he said as he shook her hand.</p> + +<p>Her smile burst into a soft, merry laugh as she greeted him. "I am glad +to see you," she said. "I heard you were here, but thought perhaps I +might not get to meet you."</p> + +<p>He held her hand a long time, as he looked into the pretty, sweet face. +Had he been an American, he would, no doubt, have kissed her then and +there; but being a Norwegian, he only looked his wonder and pleasure.</p> + +<p>They could not talk much because customers had to be served; but Henrik +lingered until closing time, saying he would walk home with her that +they might talk. She expressed her pleasure at the proposition; and +promptly at the closing gong, she donned her wraps and joined him. The +day was warm, and he suggested a walk around by the park, where they +might sit down on a bench under the trees.</p> + +<p>It was a difficult matter for seriously minded Uncle Jens and his family +to laugh, and even a smile was seldom seen on their faces; but here was +one who seemed bubbling over with merriment—one whose countenance shone +as if from an inner light of happiness.</p> + +<p>"Rachel," said Henrik, "your father has told me about you."</p> + +<p>"Yes," she replied with sobering face, "they think I am a very bad +girl,—but—"</p> + +<p>"Look here cousin, don't make any apologies. I know, and understand."</p> + +<p>He asked her some questions about herself, all of which she answered +frankly. Then he told her about himself, which she first met with an +astonished stare. He narrated his experiences in Norway, of his trip +westward, and the real purpose of his coming to Minnesota. She heard his +story with alternating smiles and tears, as it touched her heart. They +sat thus for a long time, oblivious to the singing birds above, of the +curious passers-by, or the fast falling night. They walked home in the +lighted streets, and it was late when he bade her goodnight at the gate.</p> + +<p>The next day Henrik had a talk with Uncle Jens which ended in the +uncle's closing with a bang the open Bible on the table out of which +they had been reading, and then in uncontrolled rage ordering his nephew +out of the house. Henrik tried to make peace with his uncle, but it +proved useless, so he took his hat and left.</p> + +<p>Henrik met Rachel again that evening, and again they sat on the bench +under the trees. Once again they became lost to all outward disturbances +in the deep concerns which brooded in their hearts and found utterance +in their speech.</p> + +<p>"I shall remain here a few days more," said he in conclusion, "because I +want to get better acquainted with you; and then we must talk over our +plans further. Then I shall go back to Norway. In a few months I shall +come back, and we two shall go westward where the Temples are, and there +begin the work that is ours—the work that the Lord has called us to do. +What do you say to that?"</p> + +<p>"Thank you," she replied simply, and with her usual smile; "I shall be +ready."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XIV" id="XIV"></a>XIV.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Rend your heart and not your garments, and turn unto +the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to +anger, and of great kindness."—<i>Joel 2:13.</i></p></div> + + +<p>On Henrik's arrival in Norway, the harvesting was in full swing, and he +busied himself with that. His friends, some of whom were surprised at +his return, asked him what he had found in America, and he told them +freely. Had he discovered the delusion in his American religion? No, he +replied, his faith had been made stronger. Selma had relented somewhat, +she making him welcome at her home in Christiania. Here he also met +Marie. Henrik treated her as a friend with whom he had never had +differences. When she saw him back again, browned and hardy, but the +same gentle Henrik, Marie wondered, and by that wonder her resentment +was modified, and she listened to his accounts of America and his +relatives in Minnesota with much interest. As he spoke with an added +enthusiasm of his cousin Rachel, the listeners opened their ears and +eyes. He told them freely of his plans, and what he and Rachel were +going to do.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, "I can see the hand of the Lord in my finding +Rachel."—Marie had her doubts, but she said nothing.—"It is all so +wonderful to me, and I am only sorry that you folks can't see it!" But +they replied nothing.</p> + +<p>Henrik wrote often to Rachel, and the letters which he received in reply +he usually handed to Selma, and Marie, if she was present. They +pronounced them fine letters. "She must be a jolly girl," they said.</p> + +<p>"She is," he affirmed; "the most religious and yet the merriest girl I +have ever met. That seems a contradiction, but it isn't." Then he went +on explaining, and they could not help listening. Henrik studied the two +young women to see what impression he might be making. On Selma there +was very little, but he believed Marie was overcoming some of her +prejudice. Selma told him that Marie loved him as much as ever, and that +if he deserted her, it would break her heart.</p> + +<p>"But Selma," he exclaimed, "I have never deserted her. It was she who +broke the engagement."</p> + +<p>"How could she do otherwise;—but she has been waiting, and will still +wait in hope."</p> + +<p>"I, too, shall do that," he said.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>That fall Henrik again sailed for America. Going westward by way of +Minnesota, he called for Rachel and took her with him. In one of the +Temple cities they found lodgings with some of his friends, and then +they entered upon their work for their ancestors. Henrik had a long list +of them, and so they were kept busy nearly all the winter. At the end +of three months, Henrik asked Rachel if she was tired and wanted a rest.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," she said; "I believe I can do this work all my life. It isn't +always easy, but there is so much joy and peace in it. I believe the +angels are with us, and I don't want better company."</p> + +<p>And so these two were very much contented. They sent letters home +telling of the "glorious" time they were having, and the work they were +doing. At the opening of spring, Henrik left Rachel to continue the +work, he having to go back to Norway. He asked her if she desired to +return to her folks in Minnesota, but she said no, not yet.</p> + +<p>The early spring months found Henrik in Christiania. He made a trip to +Denmark on genealogical research which proved quite successful. The +first of June found him back to Nordal.</p> + +<p>Midsummer Night came clear and cool. Henrik was in Christiania, and was +to be one of a party to spend the night on the hills above the city. +Marie was not with them, and Henrik enquired the reason.</p> + +<p>"She is ill," said Selma.</p> + +<p>"Ill? Where is she?"</p> + +<p>"At home. I think you should go and see her."</p> + +<p>"Does she want me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>Henrik excused himself from the party and went immediately to Marie. He +found her on the veranda, reclining on a couch. The lamp-light from an +open window fell on a pale face, startling in its changed expression. He +silently took her hand, her fingers tightening in his grasp. She looked +him steadily in the face, her swimming eyes not wavering. Then Henrik +knew that he loved this girl yet. For a long time he had tried to forget +her, tried to root out his love for her, tried to think that she was not +for him. "I'll not try again," he had thought, "for twice now have I +been disappointed;" but now a flood of compassionate love engulfed him, +and he, too, clung to the fingers in his grasp.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to see you like this," he said, "what is the matter?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>"Doesn't the doctor know?"</p> + +<p>She shook her head with a faint smile. "Sit down, Henrik, I want to talk +to you," she said.</p> + +<p>He took the low chair by her side. The mother looked at them from the +door-way, but did not come out.</p> + +<p>"I want you to forgive me," she said.</p> + +<p>"That has been done long ago."</p> + +<p>"Thank you—now listen. I have been wrong, wickedly wrong, it seems to +me—listen! I have not been honest, neither with you, nor myself, nor +with the Lord—which is the worst of all. I understood much that you +taught me of the restored gospel—It seemed so easy to my understanding; +but my pride was in the way, and I would not accept the light. I pushed +it away. I kept saying to myself, 'It isn't true,' when I knew all the +time that it was. That's the sin I have committed."</p> + +<p>"My dear—"</p> + +<p>"You remember that book you asked me to read? Well, I read it through, +though I led you to believe that I did not. It is a beautiful book, and +true, every word. * * * Perhaps you will not believe me when I tell you +that I have been a number of times to your meetings in Osterhausgade. +Once when you were there—I thought you would see me," she smiled. "And +I could find no faults, though at first I went looking for them * * * +Now, I've told you. You have forgiven me, you say; but will the Lord?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; the Lord is good."</p> + +<p>"When I get better—if I do—I am going to join the Church as you have +done. That is the right thing to do, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"And then, may I go to where you and your cousin Rachel are working for +the dead? When—when are you to be married?"</p> + +<p>"Married? To whom?"</p> + +<p>"Why, to your cousin Rachel. Are you not going to marry her?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not—never thought of it for a moment."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear, I must have made another mistake. Forgive me." She lay back +on her cushions.</p> + +<p>"Marie, when I get married, it's you I want for my wife. I have told you +that before, and I haven't changed my mind. You shall be mine, if you +will come back to the sweet days of long ago. Will you?"</p> + +<p>He leaned over the couch, and she drew his face to hers. "Yes," she +whispered.</p> + +<p>At the end of an hour's conversation wherein much had been said, Marie +asked: "May I go with you to the temple and there help you in the work +you are doing? I believe I could help a little."</p> + +<p>It was at that moment that the curtain lifted from the eyes of the +mortal, and Henrik saw for an instant into the pre-existent world. A +group of spiritual beings was eagerly engaged in conversation, and from +out that group he heard the voice of one answering Marie's question.</p> + +<p>"Yes; I think so; but we shall see."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="XV" id="XV"></a>XV.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"A friend of mine in his journey is come to me."—<i>Luke 11:6.</i></p></div> + + +<p>The next time Henrik went to the valleys of the mountains in western +America, Marie accompanied him. They were married in the Temple, made +man and wife for time and eternity by the authority of the Priesthood. +That event was among their supremely happy ones. Rachel witnessed the +ceremony, and the smile on her face was sweeter than ever.</p> + +<p>After that, Marie helped in the temple work as she had desired. The +three then labored together until Henrik's list of names was nearly +exhausted. After a very pleasant visit among friends, Henrik and Marie +went back to Norway and to Nordal. They made a new home from the ancient +one on the hillside by the forest, and for them the years went by in +peace and plenty. Sons and daughters came to them, to whom they taught +the gospel. In time many of his kin also believed the truth and +accepted it, and thus the seed that was sown in humility, and at first +brought but small returns, gave promise of a bounteous harvest.</p> + +<p>Once every four or five years, Henrik and Marie visited the Saints in +the West, and spent some time in the temple. These were happy times for +Rachel, who continued to live alone, not making many intimate +acquaintances. Henrik was glad to provide for her simple necessities, so +that she could continue her life's work in behalf of the dead.</p> + +<p>Rachel did not marry. Once in Minnesota, a young man had made love to +her, but she could not return that love, so she was in duty bound not to +encourage him. Rachel was hard to get acquainted with, a number of young +men had said. She was always happy and smiling, and yet a closer +knowledge of her character disclosed a serious strain that puzzled her +admirers—for Rachel had admirers. A number of times good men had been +about to make love to her in earnest, but each time some strange feeling +had checked them. The young woman was "willing" enough but what could +she do? There was without doubt a "man" for her, but she could not go in +search of him. As the years went by, and with them her youth and +somewhat of her beauty, she was often sad, and sometimes heart-hungry; +and at such times she found no peace until she had poured out her heart +to her heavenly Father, and said, "Thy will be done—but make me +satisfied."</p> + +<p>After an absence of three years Rachel visited her home in Minnesota. +She was received kindly, the parents being no doubt grateful that she +had escaped alive from the clutches of those "terrible people" whom she +had been among. She could still smile and be happy, be more patient than +ever, taking in good part the ridicule and sometimes the abuse directed +toward her. She talked on the gospel with those who would listen, and +after a time she found that she was making a little headway. Her father, +at the first, told her emphatically that she was not to "preach her +religion" in his house; but he would sometimes forget himself and ask +her a question, which in being answered would lead to a gospel +discourse. Then, awakening to what was going on, he would say, "That +will do. I thought I told you that we wanted none of your preaching," at +which Rachel would smilingly look around to the others who were also +smiling at the father's inconsistencies.</p> + +<p>During this visit the good seed was planted, from which in due time the +Lord gave an abundant harvest from among the Bogstad family and its many +ramifications.</p> + +<p>One day in the temple Rachel met Signe Dahl Ames. It was Rachel's custom +to keep a lookout for sisters who were new to the work that she might +assist them. Signe had not been in the Temple since the day she was +married, and now she had come to do some work for her family. Rachel met +her in the outer room with a pleasant greeting.</p> + +<p>"I am Sister Bogstad," she said; "and what is your name?"</p> + +<p>"Bogstad, did you say—why—why, my name is Ames."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Bogstad," replied Rachel, noticing the sister's surprise. "We +haven't met before, have we?"</p> + +<p>"No; I think not. The name is not common, and I used to know a gentleman +by that name—that's all."</p> + +<p>"You're a Norwegian," said Rachel.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"So am I; though I was born in this country, it may be possible that I +belong to the family which you know."</p> + +<p>"I used to know Henrik Bogstad of Nordal, Norway."</p> + +<p>"That's my cousin. We have been doing work here in the temple."</p> + +<p>Signe was greatly surprised, and Rachel led her to a corner where they +talked freely for some time. During the day they found occasion to +continue their conversation, and that evening Signe went home with her +new-found friend.</p> + +<p>This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Rachel knew enough of +Henrik's little romance with Signe to make the acquaintanceship +unusually interesting; besides, there came to be a strong affinity +between the two. Rachel accompanied her friend to Dry Bench, and there +soon became "Aunt Rachel" to Signe's four beautiful children. Then she +wrote to Henrik, telling him of her wonderful "find." He replied that at +their next visit to America, they would surely give Dry Bench a call.</p> + +<p>Henrik, Marie, and two of the older children came that fall when the +peaches were ripe and the alfalfa fields were being cut. And such +delicious peaches, and such stacks of fragrant hay they found! Amid the +beautiful setting of the harvest time, their several stories were told, +in wonder at the diverging and the meeting of the great streams of Life. +The Bogstad children practiced their book-learned English, while the +Ames children were willing teachers. The boys bathed in the irrigation +canal, rode on the loads of hay, and gorged themselves with peaches. The +girls played house under the trees. And were it part of this story, it +might be here told how that, later, Arnt Bogstad and Margaret Ames loved +and mated—but it is not.</p> + +<p>Henrik and Marie lived happily together for twelve years, and then Marie +was called into the spirit world. Henrik was left with five children, +the youngest but a few months old. With ample means, he could obtain +plenty of household help, but money could not buy a mother for his +children. A number of years went by, bringing to Henrik new and varied +experiences. Then on one of his visits to the West he found another +helpmate for himself and children—a kind-hearted, sweet-souled young +woman, born of Danish parents, and reared among the Saints in the +valleys of the mountains. Then the westward call became so strong that +Henrik disposed of most of his interests in Norway and moved with his +family to America, taking up his abode in a town not far from Dry Bench. +Here they enjoyed the association of the Saints, and his children had +the advantage of companionship of children of the faith.</p> + +<p>Time, and the world with it, sped on. Peace and prosperity came to the +people of this story. As years were added to years, their good works +increased, until the Lord said to each of them, Enough. Then in their +own time and place, they passed into the Paradise of God.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PART_THIRD" id="PART_THIRD"></a>PART THIRD</h2> + + +<br /><center>Ye worlds of light and life, beyond our sphere;<br /> +Mysterious country! Let your light appear.<br /> +Ye angels, lift the veil, the truth unfold,<br /> +And give our seers a glimpse of that bright world;<br /> +Tell where ye live, and what is your employ,<br /> +Your present blessing, and your future joy.<br /> +Say, have you learned the name, and tuned the lyre,<br /> +And hymn'd the praise of Him—the great Messiah?<br /> +Have love's emotions kindled in your breast,<br /> +And hope, enraptured, seized the promised rest?<br /> +Or wait ye still the resurrection day,<br /> +That higher promise of Millenial sway?<br /> +When Saints and angels come to earth again,<br /> +And in the flesh with King Messiah reign?<br /> +The spirits answered as they soared away—<br /> +"We're happy now, but wait a greater day,<br /> +When sin and death, and hell, shall conquered be,<br /> +And earth, with heaven enjoy the victory."<br /> + + +<span style="margin-left: 10em;">—<i>Parley P. Pratt.</i></span></center> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="pt3I" id="pt3I"></a>I.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"They shall be gathered together as prisoners are gathered +in the pit, and shall be shut up in prison, and after many days +shall they be visited."—<i>Isaiah 24:22.</i></p></div> + + +<p>The Lord God created all things "spiritually before they were naturally +upon the earth." He created "every plant of the field before it was in +the earth, every herb of the field before it grew." Before this +"natural" creation "there was not yet flesh upon the earth, neither in +the water, neither in the air;... but spiritually were they created and +made according" to the word of God. In this second or "natural" creation +all things were clothed upon by earthly element, or in other words, the +spiritual was materialized so that it became discernible to the natural +senses. The spiritual and the natural are, therefore, but different +states of the same forms of life. In the natural world there are men, +women, beasts of the field, fowls of the air, and vegetation in +boundless and varied forms. These exist before the natural is added upon +them; they exist after the natural is laid down by the death of the +body.</p> + +<p>In like manner we find in the spirit world men, women, beasts of the +field, fowls of the air, and vegetation in boundless and varied forms. +These things are as natural there as they are in earth-life. They +appeal to spirit nature the same as the "natural" prototype appeals to +the mortal senses; and this is why we may speak of our earth-known +friends who are in the spirit world and of their surroundings in the +manner of mortality.</p> + +<p>And what a big world it is! Here are nations, tribes, races, and +families much larger than in earth-life, and just as varied in all that +made them different in mortality. Here, as in all of God's creations, +like assemble, dislike keep apart; "for intelligence cleaveth unto +intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue +loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on +mercy, and claimeth her own." The righteous in Paradise have no desire +to mingle with the wicked in the regions of darkness; therefore they go +there only as they may be called to perform some duty.</p> + +<p>To the industrious there can be no true pleasure or rest in idleness; +therefore, Paradise furnishes employment to all its inhabitants. A world +of knowledge is open to them into which they may extend their +researches. Thus they may continue in the ever-widening field of +learning, finding enough to occupy their time and talents.</p> + +<p>An arrival in the spirit world brings with him just what he is when he +leaves mortality. The separation of the spiritual part of the soul from +the earthly body does not essentially change that spirit. A person takes +with him the sum total of the character he has formed up to that time. +Mortal death does not make a person better or worse; it simply adds to +him one more experience which, no doubt, has a teachable influence on +him. At death, no person is perfect, even though he is a Saint, and +passes into the Paradise of God. There he must continue the process of +eliminating the weaknesses which he did not wholly overcome in +earth-life. Death will not destroy the tendency to tell untruths, or +change the ungovernable temper to one which is under perfect control. +Such transformations are not of instant attainment, but are the result +of long, patient endeavor.</p> + +<p>As there are gradations of righteousness and intelligences in the spirit +world, there must be a vast field of usefulness for preaching the +gospel, training the ignorant, and helping the weak. As in the world of +mortality, this work is carried on by those who have accepted the gospel +and who have conformed their lives to its principles; so in the spirit +world, the righteous find pleasant and profitable employment in working +for the salvation of souls.</p> + +<p>And as they work they must needs talk of the glories of the great plan +of salvation, made perfect through the atonement of the Lord Jesus. That +which they look forward to most keenly, that about which they talk and +sing most fervently is the time when they also shall follow their Savior +through the door of the resurrection which He has opened for them,—when +their souls shall be perfectly redeemed, and they shall be clothed upon +with a body of the heavenly order, a tabernacle incorruptible and +immortal with which to go on into the celestial world.</p> + +<p>Though the future is most glorious to these people, the past is also +bright. The hopes of the future are well grounded on the facts of the +past. An ever-present theme is that of Christ's first visit to the +spirit world, when, having died on the cross, He brought life and light +and immortality to the world of spirits, entering even into the prison +house where the disobedient had lain for a long time, and preached the +gospel to them.</p> + +<p>And among these who gloried both in the past and in the future were +Rupert and Henrik. Often they conversed on themes near to their hearts:</p> + +<p>"It must have been a place of darkness, of sad despairing hearts, that +prison house, before Christ's visit to it," said Rupert. "There, as in a +pit, dwelt those who in earth-life had rejected the truth, and who, +sinking low in the vices of the world, permitted themselves to be led +captive by the power of the evil one. Noah in his day preached to them, +but they laughed him to scorn and continued in their evil ways. Others +of the prophets in their generations had warned them, but without avail; +so here were found Satan's harvest from the fruitful fields of the +earth."</p> + +<p>"I can well imagine that long, long, night of darkness," added Henrik. +"No ray of hope pierced the gloom of their abode. The prison walls +loomed around and above them, shutting out any glimpse of heaven. These +had rejected the truth, which alone can make men free. They themselves +had shut out the light when it would have shone in upon their vision. +They had chosen the evil, and the evil was claiming its own. Outside the +prison were their fellows who had chosen to do the right, basking in the +light of a clear conscience, enjoying the approval of the Lord. These +faithful ones were going on to eternal perfection. How long would it +take the prisoners, if they ever were released, to overtake those ahead? +Between these was a great gulf fixed, which, in the ordinary order of +things, could never be lessened or bridged."</p> + +<p>"But at last the time of mercy and deliverance came. I remember how the +events of the time have been described to me. Just before the coming of +the Lord, a peculiar, indescribable tremor ran through this spirit world +as if one pulse beat through the universe and that pulse had been +disturbed. The spirits in prison looked in awe at one another, many +crouching in terror, fearful that the day of judgment had come. The vast +multitude of the ignorant wondered what the 'peculiar feeling' could +mean. The righteous, who had been looking wistfully for some +manifestation of the coming of the Lord, whispered to each other, 'The +Lord is dying for the sins of the world!'</p> + +<p>"Yes; the prophets of every dispensation had labored faithfully to +prepare the world of spirits among whom they lived for the coming of the +Lord and Savior. There were Adam, Noah, Abraham, with those who followed +them; there were Lehi, Nephi, Mosiah, and the others of their race; +there were the prophets who had lived among the lost Ten tribes; these +had all been valiant in earth-life, and were faithful yet in the spirit +world. The burden of their message in mortality had been the coming of +Christ the Redeemer, and now they still looked forward with the eye of +faith to Him who should die for the sins of the world, and who should +deliver them from the bondage of the grave. They understood that the +body of flesh which had been given them in mortality was necessary for +their full salvation. Christ would bring to pass the resurrection, so +that bodies would be restored to them, not corruptible as before, but +perfected, immortal and glorious, a fit tabernacle for the immortal +spirit with which to go on into the eternal mansions of the Father."</p> + +<p>"But oh, that time, brother, when the Son of God was dying on the cross! +While the earth was shrouded in darkness, and the bulk of it trembled in +sympathy with the death throes of its Maker, the spirit world also +received the imprint of the terrible event on Calvary as for a moment +the whole spiritual creation lay in tense expectancy. The usual +occupations were suspended. Speech became low and constrained. Songs +ended abruptly, and laughter ceased. There were no audible sobs, neither +sighing. Bird and beast were stilled, as if the end had come, and +nothing more mattered. Then, in a little while, the tenseness relaxed, +and everything went on as before, though much subdued. The righteous in +the Paradise of God quietly gathered themselves together in their usual +places of worship. They clasped each other's hands, and looked with +trembling gladness into each other's faces. There was no fear here: they +were ready."</p> + +<p>"And then His actual coming! That which had been fore-ordained from +before the foundation of the world was about to be fulfilled; that which +had been the theme of the prophets from the beginning was at the door; +that which the seers of all times and nations had beheld in vision was +now to be realized; that about which poets had sung; that for which +every pure heart had yearned; that for which the ages had waited, was +now here! A feeling of sweet peace filled the righteous, which expressed +itself in songs of praise and gladness. Thus they watched and waited."</p> + +<p>"Then Jesus stood in their midst, and they beheld the glorious presence +of their Lord. Then there came to their hearts a small, sweet, +penetrating voice, testifying that this was Jesus Christ the Son of God +who had glorified the name of the Father; who was the life and the light +of the world; who had drunk of the bitter cup which the Father had given +him; and had glorified the Father in taking upon Himself the sins of the +world, in which He had suffered the will of the Father in all things +from the beginning. The multitude fell down at his feet and worshiped."</p> + +<p>"I have been told that as Jesus entered the prison of the condemned in +the spirit world, a murmur of greeting welcomed Him. It was timid and +faint at first, but it increased in volume and force until it became a +shout.</p> + +<p>"'Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting +doors.'"</p> + +<p>"'Hail, hail, to the Lord.'"</p> + +<p>"'And the King of Glory shall come in.'"</p> + +<p>"'Who is the King of Glory?'"</p> + +<p>"'The Lord, strong and mighty.'"</p> + +<p>"'The Lord, will not cast off forever; but though He cause grief, yet +will He have compassion, according to the multitude of His mercies.'"</p> + +<p>"'I will not contend forever, neither will I be always wroth.'"</p> + +<p>"'Come and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn and He will +heal; He hath smitten and He will bind us up.'"</p> + +<p>"'I will heal their back slidings, I will love them freely; for mine +anger is turned away.'"</p> + +<p>"'Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity. He retaineth not +His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy.'"</p> + +<p>"'Say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, show +yourselves. I am He that liveth and was dead; and behold I am alive +forevermore, anew: and I have the keys of hell and death.'"</p> + +<p>"And thus the gates were lifted, and the King of Glory entered. And what +a radiance shone in the gloom! The shades of darkness fled, the chains +of error dropped asunder, the overburdened heart found glad relief, for +the Lord brought the tidings of great joy to the spirits in prison, +offering them pardon and peace in exchange for their broken hearts."</p> + +<p>"Then they sang:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +'"Hark, ten thousand thousand voices<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sing a song of Jubilee!</span><br /> +A world, once captive, now rejoices,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Freed from long captivity.</span><br /> +Hail, Emanuel! Great Deliverer!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hail, our Savior, praise to thee!</span><br /> +Now the theme, in pealing thunders,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Through the universe is rung;</span><br /> +Now in gentle tones, the wonders<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of redeeming grace is sung."'</span><br /> +</p></div> + +<p>"For three days, as counted by earth-time, the Redeemer ministered in +this spirit world, preaching the gospel, giving instructions, and making +plain the way of His servants to follow. Joy and gladness filled many +hearts. Then, when the time had fully come, the great Captain of +Salvation led the way against the enemy of men's souls. He laid low the +Monster that had for ages kept grim watch at the Gates of Death. He +broke through the grave to the regions of life and light and +immortality. The Hope of Ages thus went forth conquering; and those who +followed Him through the resurrection from the dead sang:</p> + +<p>"'Death is swallowed up in victory! O, death, where is thy sting? O +grave, where is thy victory?'"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="pt3II" id="pt3II"></a>II.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For +he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; +but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life +everlasting."—<i>Gal. 6:7, 8</i>.</p></div> + + +<p>In the spirit world are Rupert, Signe, Henrik, Marie, Rachel and all +our friends in their time and place. These are employed in joyous +activity, as they see their field of usefulness continually widen. +Rupert had done a great work before the others had come. He had preached +the gospel to many people, mostly his ancestors, among whom there had +been at the time of his arrival among them an awakening and a desire for +the truth. He had traced his family back to those who on earth had been +known as the Pilgrim Fathers, thence through many generations to the +Norsemen of northern Europe. His wife's family he had also searched out, +and he had discovered, greatly to his delight, that her family and his +met in a sturdy, somewhat fierce, Viking chief. Rupert had sought him +out, and had told him of Christ and His gospel—and the Viking had been +willing to be taught. When Signe had come, Rupert had brought her to +visit her many-times-great-grandmother, who was a beautiful +flaxen-haired, blue-eyed woman, whom Signe herself somewhat resembled.</p> + +<p>Then when Rupert met and became acquainted with Henrik, Marie, and +Rachel, he told them of what he had done, and how that their vicarious +work for the dead had fitted so nicely in with his preaching, in that +many of those for whom they had been baptized were those whom he had +converted. "We have been working in harmony and in conjunction," +exclaimed Rupert, "and God's providence is even now clearly justified." +What joy was there when Henrik and his friends met those for whom they +had performed the necessary earthly rites! Many of these had long ago +believed the gospel, and their hearts had been turned to their +children—their descendants living on the earth—that they would +remember their fathers who had gone before; and these were overjoyed +when they met their "saviors," as they called them. Then, there were +others who had not accepted the work done for them, and these were, +naturally, not so enthusiastic in their greetings. Others there were who +were yet in ignorance of Christ, of His plan of salvation, and the work +that had been done for them. These would have to be taught and given a +chance to accept or reject what had been done.</p> + +<p>"You enjoy a happiness that does not come to me," said a brother to +Henrik, "in that you receive the love and joyous greetings of those for +whom you did work in mortality."</p> + +<p>"Had you no opportunity to do such work?" asked Henrik.</p> + +<p>"Yes; but I had no names of ancestry, and the truth is, I did not try to +get any."</p> + +<p>"You did not do all in your power?"</p> + +<p>"No; I was careless in the matter."</p> + +<p>"If you had only tried, the way would have been opened. That is a true +principle. We do not know what regions of usefulness lie before us if we +do no exploring."</p> + +<p>Signe and Rachel were closely associated, and they performed missions +together to their less enlightened sisters whose condition was not so +favorable. These were of the frivolous and foolish women who had been +taken captive by earthly things. All their treasures had been of earth, +so on earth they had to be left, for none could be taken into the spirit +world; these, therefore, were poor indeed. They had nothing with which +to occupy themselves: in earth-life, wealth, fashion, the gratification +of depraved appetites and passions, and the pampering of worldly +vanities had been their chief concern; and now that earthly things were +no more, these women were as if lost in a strange world, having no sure +footing, groping about in semi-darkness, hungering and thirsting, but +finding no means by which they might be satisfied. They laughed and +appeared to make merry because it was their nature so to do, but their +laugh was empty, and their merriment rang hollow and untrue.</p> + +<p>"I am more than ever thankful," said Signe to Rachel when they had +labored long with a group of frivolous women, "that the gospel reached +us in earth-life."</p> + +<p>"And that we accepted it," added Rachel.</p> + +<p>"Yes; many of these sisters of ours are not evil; they are just +weak,—empty of good. Their earthly training was at fault. And then some +of them have told me that they were very much surprised to find that +death had not worked a transformation in them: they have still the same +feelings, desires and thoughts as before."</p> + +<p>"Some foolish things were taught in earth-life," said Rachel, "one of +them being deathbed repentance. Common sense, if not reason, ought to +have told us that a change of heart coming when a person is in full +possession of his faculties is far better than the confessions made in +fear of death. Repentance should have come further back, for the sooner +we turn about on the right way, the further we get on the road to +perfection."</p> + +<p>Rachel finished her little speech with a smile—the simple sweet smile, +fixed into her nature for all time. A strange sister came up to her, who +was greeted pleasantly.</p> + +<p>"I want to know more of you two," she said. "There is something about +you different from me or my mates. When you mix with us and talk with +us, I can feel it, but I don't know what it is. You appear to me to be, +lilies-of-the-valley among weeds—yes, that's it."</p> + +<p>"And isn't a weed just a useful plant grown wild?" asked Signe. "All it +needs is careful cultivation. Come with us as we walk along. We shall be +pleased to talk with you. We are not very wise, but we may always ask +the brethren who are wiser, for more light."</p> + +<p>And so these three went slowly along the beautiful paths of spirit-land, +conversing as they went. The hazel eyes of the brown-haired stranger +opened in wide astonishment at what her sisters told her. Sometimes she +asked questions, sometimes she shook her head in disbelief. She had been +a "worldly" woman, she told them, never thinking that there would be any +life other than the one she was living while on the earth; and so she +had shaped her daily conduct by that narrow standard. Her earth-life had +ended sadly, and existence had been bitter ever since, "Restless and +hopeless, I have wandered for a long time," she said. "I have seen you +two a number of times and have heard you talk to the women. Your words +seemed to bring to me a glimpse of something better, but I never had the +courage to speak to you until now."</p> + +<p>Signe put her arms around her, drew her close, and kissed her cheek. +"Let us do you all the good we can," she said. "We are going now to +attend a meeting where my husband is to speak. Come with us."</p> + +<p>Rachel linked her arm into that of the stranger's who willingly +accompanied them. "Is your husband also a preacher?" she asked of +Rachel.</p> + +<p>"I have no husband," was the reply. "I did not—I mean, he did not find +me, has not found me yet." Rachel was somewhat confused but she smiled +as ever.</p> + +<p>"She means," explained Signe, "that she did not marry while in +earth-life, for the very good reason that she had no chance—"</p> + +<p>"None such that I could accept," added Rachel. Then as the newly-found +friend looked at her inquiringly, she continued:</p> + +<p>"I have always believed, and I believe now, that I have a mate +somewhere, but he has not yet been revealed. Frequently I asked the Lord +about it in earth-life, and the answer by the spirit always was 'Wait, +patiently wait'; so I am still waiting."</p> + +<p>"And you still have faith," asked the stranger, "that the God of heaven +will answer your prayers and bring about all things for the best?"</p> + +<p>"Why, certainly."</p> + +<p>"I wish I could believe that. Had I in earth life had some such belief +to anchor to, perhaps I would not have made so many mistakes. I married +twice, and they were both mistakes. The one chance I had of getting a +man—I mean, one who does not belie the word—I threw away, because he +was poor in worldly goods; but I suffered through my foolish errors.... +I have heard of people praying about many things, but never have I heard +of the Lord being asked about love affairs."</p> + +<p>"That may be true," said Signe; "and it shows how foolish we were. Why +should people importune the Lord about small trials and petty ailments, +and at the same time neglect to ask His guidance on matters of love and +marriage which make or mar one's life?"</p> + +<p>There seemed to be no immediate answer to this query, so the three +passed along in silence. Presently the newcomer spoke again:</p> + +<p>"I am getting more light and hope since I associate with you two. I +believe my faith is being kindled, and O, it feels so good to get a +little firm footing."</p> + +<p>"Yes, dear sister," said Rachel. "The tangled threads of earth-life are +not all straightened out yet. It will take time, and we must have +patience."</p> + +<p>Arriving at the place of meeting, the three women took positions near +the platform upon which the speakers sat. Rupert was the principal +speaker. He began by telling his listeners something about his +experiences in earth-life. He spoke of his boyhood days, of the trials +and difficulties he had encountered, and how near he had come to being +lost to all good. Then he told how the Lord had rescued him, and brought +him to a knowledge of the gospel of salvation. "And the Lord's chief +instrument in this work of rescue," the speaker said, "was a beautiful, +good woman, who became my wife. O, you women, what power you have for +good or evil! See to it that you use your powers for the purposes of +good."</p> + +<p>Rachel smiled at Signe while they listened, for Rupert's and Signe's +story was quite familiar to her. All the time Rupert had been speaking, +the woman who had come with them sat as if spellbound, her big eyes +fixed on the speaker. When Rupert closed, Signe said to her friend:</p> + +<p>"That is my husband. Let us go up to him; he will be glad to meet you."</p> + +<p>But the woman drew back as if afraid. "I can't," she whispered. "Forgive +me, but I must go"—and with a faint cry she retreated and disappeared +in the crowd, the two women looking after in wonder and astonishment.</p> + +<p>Just then Rupert stepped up to them. Seeing their wonder, he asked the +reason. Signe explained.</p> + +<p>"I think I can guess who it was," said Rupert. "Well, well," he murmured +as if to himself, "I had nearly forgotten her."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I believe it was she," added Signe.</p> + +<p>"Was who?" inquired Rachel.</p> + +<p>But Rupert stopped any reply that his wife might wish to make by +interrupting with:</p> + +<p>"I saw an impressive sight not long ago—Come let us be getting on our +way home, and I shall tell it to you."</p> + +<p>They were willing to listen as they journeyed. "We were out," began +Rupert—"a brother and I—getting some information needed in one of the +temples on earth for a brother who had gone as far as he could with his +genealogy. As we were talking to a group of sisters a man rushed in upon +us. With quick, eager words he asked us if we had seen someone whom he +named and described. At the sight of him, one of the women shrunk back +as if to hide in the crowd, but he saw her, and exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"'Is that you? Yes—Oh, have I found you at last!'"</p> + +<p>"The sister put forth her hand as if to ward him off, as he pressed +through the crowd to her. 'How did you get here?' she asked. 'Keep +away—you are unclean—keep away.'</p> + +<p>"He paused in some astonishment at this reception. Then he pleaded with +her to let him accompany her; but she retreated from him, crying, 'You +are unclean; do not touch me.'</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' he acknowledged, 'I suppose I have been a sinner; but listen to +my justification: I sinned to drown my sorrow when you died. I, also, +wanted to die. My heart was broken—I could not stand it—it was because +I loved you so—'</p> + +<p>"'No; you did not love me. Love is pure—made purer by sorrow. Had you +truly loved, you would not have sinned so grievously. Your sorrow needed +to be repented of. Sorrow cannot be drowned in sin—no, no; go away. +Please go; you frighten me.'</p> + +<p>"The man stood rigid for some time, and the expression on his face was +something terrible to see. The cold, clear truth had for the first time +burst upon him to his convincing. He had a 'bright recollection of all +his guilt,' and his torment was 'as a lake of fire and brimstone.' The +woman, recovering somewhat from her fright, stood before him with +innocent, clear-shining eyes, with half pity and half fear showing in +her beautiful countenance—for the woman was beautiful. The man stood +for a moment, which seemed a long time to all who witnessed the scene, +then his head dropped, his form seemed to shrivel up as he slouched out +of our company and disappeared from sight."</p> + +<p>There was silence. Then Rupert added, "And yet some people tried to make +us believe that there is no hell."</p> + +<p>Rachel, even, forgot to ask further questions regarding the identity of +the woman with hazel eyes and auburn hair, for just then Henrik and +Marie appeared. With them was another woman, and the three were so +preoccupied that they were oblivious to all others.</p> + +<p>"You are too late for the meeting," said Rupert.</p> + +<p>"I did intend to get there in time," replied Henrik, "but don't you see +who is here?"</p> + +<p>Rupert did not recognize the woman who stood by Marie with arms about +each other, but Signe cried in joyous greeting, "Clara, Clara, is that +you?"</p> + +<p>"This is Clara," said Marie to Rupert, "she who came to Henrik after I +left him,—who helped him so much, and who was so good to my children. +She has just come, and has brought us much good news from them. I am so +glad." Marie's arm drew tight around the newcomer as she kissed her +cheek.</p> + +<p>"I, also, am glad to welcome you," said Rupert. "Brother Henrik," he +added, "your excuse for non-attendance at our meeting is accepted."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="pt3III" id="pt3III"></a>III.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The Lord ... will fulfill the desire of them that fear him; +he will also hear their cry."—<i>Psalms 156:19.</i></p></div> + + +<p>Rachel found continual delight in all the wonders of spirit-land. Her +circle of acquaintances enlarged rapidly, as those for whom she had done +temple work were glad to know her, and to know her was to love her. +These brought her in touch with many others; thus her sphere of +usefulness extended until she, too, could say that she was busier than +ever in joy-giving activities.</p> + +<p>Sometimes Rachel went on what she called "excursions of exploration." +Usually she went alone, for the habit of doing things of herself still +clung to her. Frequently, in the throngs of people with whom she +mingled, she was accosted by someone who recognized her. Rachel did not +remember faces easily, but (she was on one of her excursions) she knew +this woman who touched her on the arm, and said:</p> + +<p>"You are Sister Rachel, are you not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; and you—yes, I know you. I am glad to meet you. How are you? Has +the Lord shown you,—has He satisfied you? You see I remember you well."</p> + +<p>The woman showed her gladness at Rachel's recognition. "The Lord has +shown me abundantly and graciously," she replied; "but come with me away +from the crowd. I shall be pleased to tell you all about it." Rachel +accompanied the woman, who led her out into some quieter streets, thence +to a beautiful home under tall trees. Flowers bloomed and birds sang in +the garden. The two women seated themselves by a playing fountain.</p> + +<p>"I am glad you have not forgotten me. My name you may not remember—it +is Sister Rose."</p> + +<p>"Your face, dear sister, your beautiful face marked with that deep +sorrow, no one could forget;" said Rachel, "but now the sorrow is gone, +I see, and the beauty remains."</p> + +<p>Sister Rose took the other's hand caressingly. "That day in the temple," +she said, "I came there as a place of last resort. I was suffering, and +had tried everything that I could think of to ease my troubled soul. I +had prayed to God to give me some manifestation regarding my boy. I came +to the temple to get a great favor, and I obtained a blessing. Instead +of receiving some miraculous manifestation, you came to me and led me +gently to a seat by ourselves. And there you talked to me. It was not so +much what you said, but the spirit by which you said it that soothed and +quieted and rested me. You repeated to me some verses, do you remember? +I had you write them out, and I committed them to memory."</p> + +<p>"Do you remember them yet?"</p> + +<p>"Listen:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +"Thou knowest, O my Father! Why should I<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Weary high heaven with restless prayers and tears!</span><br /> +Thou knowest all! My heart's unuttered cry<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hath soared beyond the stars and reached Thine ears.</span><br /> +<br /> +Thou knowest—ah, Thou knowest! Then what need,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Oh, loving God, to tell Thee o'er and o'er.</span><br /> +And with persistent iteration plead<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">As one who crieth at some closed door."</span><br /> +</p></div> + +<p>"That day I went away comforted and strengthened. Do you recollect?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but what was your trouble? I do not remember that."</p> + +<p>"My son, my only child, was taken so cruelly from me. He was the hope of +my life, and when he answered the call to go on a mission to the islands +of the sea, I let him go gladly, because it was on the Lord's business. +Then some months later the news came that he had died. I was crazed with +grief. I could not understand why the Lord would permit such a thing to +take place. Was my boy not in His service? Why did not the Lord take +care of His own?"</p> + +<p>"And so you suffered, both because of your loss and because of your +thoughts," said Rachel. "Poor sister,—but now?"</p> + +<p>"He is with me now, and it has all been explained. We live in this +house. Do you care to hear the story?"</p> + +<p>"If you desire to tell it, yes."</p> + +<p>"You seem so near and dear to me that I may tell it to you. My boy, +while on his mission, was tempted. He has told me all about it—he was +tempted sorely. He was in great danger, and so the Lord, to prevent him +from falling into the mire of sin, permitted him to be taken away. They +brought his lifeless body home to me, but his spirit went back to its +Maker pure and unspotted from the sins of the world,—and thus I found +him here, a big, fine-looking man as he was. You ought to see him."</p> + +<p>"Mother," someone called from the direction of the house.</p> + +<p>"That is he now," said the mother, rising.</p> + +<p>"Mother, where are you? Oh!" the son exclaimed as he caught sight of the +two women. He came up to them and rested his arm tenderly on his +mother's shoulder. He was big and handsome, and Rachel's eyes dropped +before his curious gaze.</p> + +<p>"David, this is Sister Rachel, whom I first met in earth-life in the +temple. I think I have told you about her and what a comfort she was to +me."</p> + +<p>"I am very glad to know you," said he, as he clasped Rachel's hand. Then +there was a pause which promised to become awkward, at which David said:</p> + +<p>"Mother, I want to show you something in the back garden. You know I +have been experimenting with my roses. I believe I have obtained some +wonderful color effects. You'll come also?" he asked Rachel.</p> + +<p>The three walked on together into the garden where David exhibited and +explained his work. When, at length, Rachel said it was time she was +going, the mother urged her to come again.</p> + +<p>"I'm going along with Sister Rachel to her home, and to find out where +she lives," explained David, as he stepped along, unbidden, by Rachel's +side.</p> + +<p>And so these two walked side by side for the first time. They talked +freely on many topics, she listening contentedly. They smiled into each +other's eyes, and at the end of that short journey, something had +happened. True love had awakened in two hearts. Through all the shifting +scenes of earth-life, nothing like this had ever come to this man and +this woman. Love had waited all this time. The power that draws kindred +souls together is not limited to the few years of earth-life. While time +lasts, God will provide sometime, somewhere, in which to give +opportunity for every deserving soul. Here were two whose hearts beat as +one; but one must needs have left mortality early in his course, while +the other went on to the end alone. The reason for this was difficult to +see by mortal eyes, but now—</p> + +<p>"I'm coming again to see you," said David, as he prepared to depart. "I +have so much to tell you; and you,—you have said very little. I must +hear your story too."</p> + +<p>"I have no story," said she. "My earth-life was very uneventful. I just +seemed to be waiting—"</p> + +<p>"Yes?"</p> + +<p>But Rachel was confused. Her simple heart had spoken, and true to +earthly habit, she now tried to cover up her tell-tale words; but he saw +and understood, and as they stood there, his heart burned with a great +joy.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye," he said, as he took her hand, "may I come again soon?"</p> + +<p>"Yes;" she answered. "I shall be pleased to see more of your beautiful +flower garden."</p> + +<p>This was the beginning of a courtship, not the less sweet because it had +been postponed for so long; not the less real, from the fact that the +man and the woman were spiritual beings. "Sin," said the apostle, "is +without the body;" so love and affection are attributes of the spirit, +whether that spirit is within or without a tabernacle of flesh. And this +courtship did not differ to any great extent from all others which had +taken place from the beginning of time. There were the same timid +approaches and responses; the getting acquainted with each other, +wherein each lover's eyes glorified every act in the other; the +tremulous pressure of hands; the love-laden looks and words; the thrill +of inexpressible joy when the two were together. Neither was this +courtship exceptional. Among the vast multitude in the spirit world +there are many who did not mate in the brief time allotted to them in +the earth-life; therefore, congenial spirits are continually meeting and +reading "life's meaning in each other's eyes."</p> + +<p>Rachel, though she claimed to have no "story" to tell, interested David +greatly in her account of how the Lord had chosen her as one of a family +to become a savior on Mt. Zion. The work for the dead had not interested +him. He, in connection with the youth of his time, had neglected that +part of the gospel plan; and now, of course, he saw his mistake.</p> + +<p>"Yes," David acknowledged to Rachel, "I see my error now, as usual, when +it is too late to remedy it. You who were faithful rank above me here."</p> + +<p>"Don't say that," she pleaded.</p> + +<p>"But it is true. Your good deeds came before you here and gave you a +standing. Some of the treasures you destined for heaven were detained +here, and you are now reaping benefits from them. Do I not see it all +the time? When we meet new people, you are received with delight—I am +unknown."</p> + +<p>"David, what comes to me, you partake of also, because—"</p> + +<p>"Because you shall belong to me. Yes, dear one; that is the blessed +truth. The Lord has brought us together, and all else should be +forgotten in our gratitude to Him.... Rachel, we would have known each +other in earth-life had I behaved myself. Our lives were surely trending +toward each other, and our paths would have met. We would have loved and +have wedded there, had it not been for my—"</p> + +<p>"Say no more. Let us forget the past in thinking of and planning for +the future. I am happy now, and so is your mother."</p> + +<p>"And so am I."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="pt3IV" id="pt3IV"></a>IV.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Whatsoever God doeth it shall be forever."—<i>Eccl. 3:14.</i></p></div> + + +<p>David and Rachel were out walking when they saw another couple whose +lovelike actions were noticeable. As they met, the couple stopped and +the man said, "Pardon me, but we are somewhat strange in this new world. +May we ask you some questions?"</p> + +<p>"Let us sit down here together," suggested David, and he led the way to +a place where they could sit quietly. "Are you in trouble?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I hardly know," replied the man. "Anna and I are together, and +perhaps we ought to be satisfied; but somehow we are not. There is +something lacking."</p> + +<p>"Yes?"</p> + +<p>"You see, we left the earth-life, so suddenly—we were so poorly +prepared for this." His companion clasped his arm as if to be protected +from some impending danger. "We were boating on the lake, the boat +overturned, and here we are.... We were to have been married the next +day, but now—now what is our condition? We are not husband and wife; +neither, I suppose, can we be, for we were taught back in that world +from where we came, that there is no married condition here. Yet you +two are husband and wife, are you not?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet," replied David, "but we expect to be."</p> + +<p>"I don't understand; you seem to know; teach us. May we be married +here?"</p> + +<p>David explained the principle of celestial marriage as it had been +revealed to them in earth-life, and contrasted that doctrine with what +was usually taught. "So you see," said he, "even if you had been married +on that day appointed in mortality, it would have been only until death +did you part. You have passed through death, and so, the contract +between you would have come to an end, and you would not now be husband +and wife."</p> + +<p>"But you said that you two were to be married. How?"</p> + +<p>"Had we been married in earth-life, it would have been for time and +eternity, because it would have been performed by the authority of the +Lord. What God does, is forever. Marriage must be solemnized on the +earth. As our earth-days are past, we cannot go back, so the ceremony +must be done for us by someone else living on the earth. Sister Rachel +here, while in earth-life, did for thousands who had gone before what +they could not do for themselves. Now, someone, in the Lord's own due +time, will stand for her, and do for her what she did not do for +herself."</p> + +<p>The two new acquaintances listened attentively while David and sometimes +Rachel instructed them on the principles of the gospel, and their +application to those who were in the spirit world. They spoke to them +of faith and repentance, principles which all men everywhere could +receive and exercise. They explained the ordinance of baptism for the +remission of sins, an earthly rite, which could be believed in and +accepted by those in the spirit world, but would have to be performed +for them vicariously by someone on earth. Marriage for eternity was also +further explained.</p> + +<p>"It is true," concluded David, "that in the resurrection there is +neither marrying nor giving in marriage. All that must be attended to +before the resurrection, which for all of us—luckily—is yet in the +future. We know for a surety that if we do our part the best we know, +the Lord will take care of the rest."</p> + +<p>These four people did not part until David and Rachel had promised to +meet their friends again soon, and continue the talk which had so +favorably begun. When the two had left, David turned to Rachel and said:</p> + +<p>"Did you see the lovelight glowing in their eyes when their hearts were +touched with the truth?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, as it did in yours when you were speaking."</p> + +<p>"And in yours, too, my dear, when it was your turn."</p> + +<p>"It's good to be a missionary—always a missionary, isn't it, as long as +there is one being in need of guidance and instruction."</p> + +<p>"It is very good, indeed, David."</p> + +<p>"Rachel, glad news for us. We, you and I, are soon to follow our +parents and our older brothers and sisters, up through the gates of the +resurrection, which our Lord so graciously opened.... Yes, yes, it is +true.... Into the celestial kingdom, with bodies of celestial glory and +go on to our exaltation.... And, dear, the work is being done for us in +the Temple of our God.... Yes, right now, it is being done. Come, +Rachel, let us go and be as near as we can.... Yes, we have +permission.... This is the Temple. God's messengers are here, and His +Spirit broods in and around the holy place. That Spirit we also in +common with mortality, may feel. You, Rachel, ought to be at home here, +more so than I. Let us follow the man and the woman who are doing the +work for us.... Do you see them clearly, Rachel?... Yes; we shall not +forget them when they, too, come to us in the spirit, but we shall give +them a welcome such as they have never dreamed of.... Now they are by +the altar. Kneel here by me, Rachel,—your hand in mine, like this. +Listen, can you hear? 'For and in behalf of,'... you and me.... It is +done. We are husband and wife. You are mine for eternity, mine, mine.... +O, Eternal Father, we thank Thee!"</p> + +<p>David holds the fair form of his wife in his arms. He kisses her cheeks, +her eyes, her lips. Then there is silence.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PART_FOURTH" id="PART_FOURTH"></a>PART FOURTH.</h2> + + +<br /><center> +Freedom waves her joyous pinions<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">O'er a land, from sea to sea,</span><br /> +Ransomed, righteous, and rejoicing<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In a world-wide jubilee.</span><br /> +<br /> +O'er a people happy, holy,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gifted now with heavenly grace,</span><br /> +Free from every sordid fetter<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That enslaved a fallen race.</span><br /> +<br /> +Union, love, and fellow feeling<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mark the sainted day of power;</span><br /> +Rich and poor in all things equal,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Righteousness their rock and tower.</span><br /> +<br /> +Mountain peaks of pride are leveled,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lifted up the lowly plain,</span><br /> +Crookedness made straight, while crudeness<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Now gives way to culture's reign.</span><br /> +<br /> +Now no tyrant's sceptre saddens;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Now no bigot's power can bind.</span><br /> +Faith and work, alike unfettered,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Win the goal by heaven designed.</span><br /> +<br /> +God, not mammon, hath the worship<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of His people, pure in heart:</span><br /> +This is Zion—oh, ye nations,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Choose with her "the better part!"</span><br /> +<br /> +Crown and sceptre, sword and buckler—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Baubles!—lay them at her feet.</span><br /> +Strife no more shall vex creation;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Christ's is now the kingly seat.</span><br /> +<br /> +Cities, empires, kingdoms, powers,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In one mighty realm divine.</span><br /> +She, the least and last of nations,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Henceforth as their head shall shine.</span><br /> +<br /> +'Tis thy future glory, Zion,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Glittering in celestial rays,</span><br /> +As the ocean's sun-lit surging<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Rolls upon my raptured gaze!</span><br /> +<br /> +All that ages past have promised,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">All that noblest minds have prized,</span><br /> +All that holy lips have prayed for,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Here at last is realized.</span><br /> + + +<span style="margin-left: 10em;">—<i>Orson F. Whitney.</i></span></center> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="pt4I" id="pt4I"></a>I.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the +Lord is risen upon thee. * * * And the Gentiles shall come to +thy light and kings to the brightness of thy rising."—<i>Isaiah +60:1, 3.</i></p></div> + + +<p>The sun in its downward course had reached the hazy zone, which, bounded +by the clear blue above and the horizon below, extended around the green +earth; in the west, the round disk of the sun shone through it, and +tinged the landscape with a beautiful, mellow light.</p> + +<p>It was midsummer. The sun had been hot all the day, and when on that +evening two men reined in the horses they were driving, and paused on +the summit of a small hill, a cool breeze reached them, and they bared +their heads to the refreshing air. Not a word was spoken as they gazed +on the scene before them; its grandeur and beauty were too vast for +words.</p> + +<p>Before them, to the west, lay the city, the object of their long +journey—before them, it lay as a queen in the midst of her +surroundings. At first sight, it seemed one immense palace, rather than +a city of palaces, as the second view indicated. Street after street, +mansion after mansion, the city stretched away as far as the eye could +reach, mingling with trees and gardens.</p> + +<p>Rising from the center of the city was the temple. Its walls shone like +polished marble, and its towers seemed to pierce the sky, as around +about them a white cloud hung. This cloud extended from the temple as a +center, over the whole city, and seemed as it were a covering.</p> + +<p>The sun sank behind the horizon; still the cloud glowed with light, as +if the sun's rays still lingered there.</p> + +<p>For ten minutes the carriage had paused on the elevation, and the two +men had gazed in silence. Then the driver, as if awakening from a dream, +gave the horses the word to go, as he said:</p> + +<p>"We must drive on."</p> + +<p>"Yes; night is coming on."</p> + +<p>The second speaker was a middle aged man of commanding bearing. He +leaned back in the carriage as they sped onward.</p> + +<p>"So this is the world renowned city," he said, "the new capital of the +world to which we all must bow in submission; within whose borders sit +judges and rulers the like of which for power and wisdom have never yet +appeared. Truly, she is the rising light of the world. What say you, +Remand?"</p> + +<p>"'Tis indeed a wondrous sight, your majesty. The reality far exceeds any +reports that have come to us."</p> + +<p>"It is well, Remand, that we chose this slower mode of coming into the +city. Electricity would have brought us here in a fraction of the time; +but who would miss this beautiful drive?"</p> + +<p>They were already within the outskirts of the city. Although all that +day they had driven through a most beautiful region of cities and fields +and gardens, the latter being gorgeous with flowers and fruit, yet the +glory of this city far surpassed anything they had yet beheld. Over the +smooth, paved roadway, their carriage glided noiselessly. The blooming +flowers and trees shed sweet odors in the air. Buildings and gardens, +arranged in perfect symmetry, delighted the eye. The song of birds and +the hum of evening melodies charmed the ear. Men, women and children and +vehicles of all kinds were continually passing.</p> + +<p>The shades of night crept over the landscape; still the cloudy covering +of the city glowed with brilliant light. The darker the night became, +the brighter became the cloud, until the palace, built of marble and +precious stone, appeared in its soft, clear light like the colors of the +rainbow.</p> + +<p>"Your majesty, must we not soon seek some place to rest for the night?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, you are right. Do you think anyone will suspect our true +character?"</p> + +<p>"No one save ourselves, within thousands of miles, knows that you are +the king of Poland."</p> + +<p>"I do hope so, Remand, for I wish to see these things from the point of +view of a commoner. See, there is the pillar of fire spoken about. +Truly, my good friend, the glory of the Lord is risen upon this place."</p> + +<p>Hardly were the words spoken before the carriage drew up to a gateway, +or open arch, which spanned the road. A man appeared and inquired of the +travelers where they were going. On being informed that they were +strangers come to see the city, the man bade them wait a few minutes. +Soon he returned.</p> + +<p>"As you are strangers and wish to rest for the night, you will please +alight and receive that which you need. Your horses will be taken care +of. Come." They drove along a road leading to a large house. Grooms took +charge of the horses, and they themselves were ushered into a room, +which, for convenience and beauty of finish, was not surpassed even by +the king of Poland's own palaces. Soon fruits and bread were placed +before them, and they were shown couches where they would rest for the +night.</p> + +<p>Though weary with their day's journey, the travelers could not sleep. +The strangeness of it all bewildered them, and they talked about it far +into the night.</p> + +<p>Next morning they were awakened by song birds that had taken position in +a tree near their open window, and were now pouring forth a chorus of +welcome. How beautiful was the morning! Earth and sky were full of the +perfume of flowers and the song of birds. The cloud still hung over the +city.</p> + +<p>From the garden they were called into the dining room, where a meal was +spread before them. Fruits and fruit preparations of a dozen kinds; +breads, cakes and vegetables, drinks from the juice of fruits: this was +the bill of fare.</p> + +<p>After they had eaten, the person who had met them the evening before, +entered, and announced that their carriage was ready for their drive; +or, if they chose to take the cars, they would get within the city much +quicker, but, of course, would miss some interesting sights.</p> + +<p>"We prefer to see all," replied the king.</p> + +<p>"Then come with me."</p> + +<p>The king and Remand followed into another room where they met a young +man who was to be their escort. The first now retired, and the young man +advanced and shook their hands.</p> + +<p>"Be seated for a moment," said he. "My name is Paulus. I am to conduct +you into the city, and be your guide for the day. Such is the rule +here." The speaker also took a seat by the table. The king and his +companion sat opposite.</p> + +<p>"In this city," continued Paulus, "there can be no hypocrisy, no deceit +of any kind. I am instructed, therefore, to tell you that your true +name, character, and mission is known. You are the king of Poland, and +you his counselor and friend."</p> + +<p>The king started, changed color, and looked towards Remand.</p> + +<p>"How—how is that?" he stammered.</p> + +<p>Paulus smiled. "Do not be alarmed, my dear sir. You were known before +you entered the first gate yesterday. These people have entertained you +with a full knowledge of what you are; nevertheless, the treatment you +have received has been in no wise different from that which is given to +every honest man who comes to this city for righteous purposes, no +matter be he high or low, rich or poor, in the estimation of the world. +You see, true worth and righteousness are the only standards of judgment +here. Again, you are safer here than in the house of your best friend +in Poland, or surrounded by your old-time host of armed warriors; for +violence is no more heard in this land, neither wasting nor destruction +within our borders. Our walls are Salvation; our gates, praise; and the +inhabitants of this city are all righteous. It is their inheritance +forever, for they are a branch of the Lord's planting, the work of His +hands, wherein He is glorified."</p> + +<p>Neither of the strangers spoke. The words seemed to thrill them into +silence.</p> + +<p>"Come, then, let us be going."</p> + +<p>The carriage was awaiting; but it was not the travelers' own.</p> + +<p>"No," was Paulus' answer to their inquiry, "your horses will rest. This +is our equipage."</p> + +<p>They drove into the city.</p> + +<p>"'Walk about Zion, and go round about her; tell the towers thereof. Mark +ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces, that ye may tell it to the +generations following,'" said Paulus.</p> + +<p>"You quote from the writings of the ancient Hebrews," said Remand.</p> + +<p>"Yes; these 'holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy +Ghost,'" was the answer.</p> + +<p>An hour's drive through indescribable grandeur brought them to a gate in +the wall which surrounded the temple, where they alighted. An attendant +took charge of the horses. Paulus led the way. A word to the keeper of +the gate, and they were permitted to pass. Surrounding the central +building, was a large open space laid out in walks, grass plats, +ornamental trees, and flowers. People were walking about. Guides and +instructors were busy with strangers, who seemed to have come from all +nations, by the varied manner of dress displayed, and the different +languages spoken.</p> + +<p>"This," said Paulus, "is the sanctuary of freedom, the place of the +great King. From this center go the righteous laws that govern nations +and peoples. It is not time yet to proceed further, so we will walk +about the gardens."</p> + +<p>"Is the great King here today?" asked Poland's ruler.</p> + +<p>"I do not know; but the council will sit and transact all needed +business. And now I will tell you another thing: All whom you have met +or seen have appeared to you as mortal beings, as you or I; but in +reality, in our drive through the city, you have seen many immortal, +that is, resurrected, men and women; for you must remember that now the +righteous live to the age of a tree, and when they die, they do not +sleep in the dust, but are changed in the twinkling of an eye. These +visit with us, abide with us for a time to instruct us. Because you are +a ruler among the nations, you will be permitted to see the assembling +of the council, and receive instruction from it. The time is drawing +nigh. Let us be going."</p> + +<p>Great crowds of white-robed men were flocking into the temple. The three +followed. The king and Remand gazed in wonder at those who had been +pointed out as being resurrected beings, and their wonder increased when +they could see no marked difference between them and the rest of +mankind, save perhaps in the calm, sweet expression of the face, and +the light which appeared to beam from the countenances of the immortals. +They certainly were not unreal, shadowy beings.</p> + +<p>Entering a wide hallway, they soon arrived at the council chamber. Its +glory dazzled the beholders. In the midst of this room was a vast throne +as white as ivory, and ascended by seventy steps. On each side of the +throne were tiers of seats, rising one above the other. The seats were +rapidly being filled, but the throne remained vacant.</p> + +<p>"The King is not here today," whispered Paulus.</p> + +<p>Then a soft, sweet strain of music was heard. It increased in volume +until a thousand instruments seemed to blend into one melody. Suddenly, +the vast assembly arose as one man and joined in a song of joy and +thanksgiving.</p> + +<p>"Guide—dear friend," whispered the king of Poland, "I am overcome, I +cannot remain."</p> + +<p>"I feel faint," said Remand, "I fear I shall perish."</p> + +<p>"Come, then, we had better go," answered Paulus. "This is all we shall +see at present. We shall now go into another room and wait the council's +adjournment; then you will have an interview with one delegated to talk +with you."</p> + +<p>From the hallway they entered a smaller room, decorated with beautiful +pictures and adorned with statuary. Books, newspapers and magazines were +at hand, and when the visitors were tired of gazing, they sat down by a +table.</p> + +<p>They had not long to wait before word came that the king and his +friends should enter another room close by. Paulus would wait for their +return. The two found a venerable looking man awaiting them, who, upon +their entrance, arose and said:</p> + +<p>"Welcome, welcome, to the Lord's house. I may not call you king of +Poland—there is but one King on this earth—but I will call you +servants of the King, as we all are. Be seated.</p> + +<p>"I am instructed to tell you that, as a whole, the King is pleased with +the manner you are conducting your stewardship. The Spirit of our Lord +moved upon you to take this journey to his capital, and you chose to +come as you did. That is well enough. Tyrants do not enter this city, +and your presence here is assurance to you that you are justified.</p> + +<p>"It is well that you have disbanded your armies, and that your +instruments of war have been made into plows and pruning hooks. Remember +the law that the nation and kingdom that will not serve the Lord shall +perish. The King grants to all His subjects their free agency in the +matter of religion, forcing no one to obey the gospel law; still He is +the King of the earth; it is His, and He made it, and has redeemed it; +and He now wills that all nations shall come under one government +organized by Him in righteousness. For a thousand years the earth must +rest in peace; then comes the great and dreadful day of the Lord.</p> + +<p>"And now, another thing. There have been some complaints from your +country that the servants of the Lord who have been sent to preach the +gospel to your people, have not had that perfect freedom which is +desired. Please see to it that they are not molested while peaceably +promulgating religious doctrines."</p> + +<p>"I shall see to it," answered the king of Poland.</p> + +<p>For some time they counseled together; then the two withdrew, and joined +Paulus, who conducted them out into the city.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="pt4II" id="pt4II"></a>II.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard +shall lie down with the kid; * * * and a little child shall lead +them. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain +for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the +waters cover the sea."—<i>Isaiah 11:6-9.</i></p></div> + + +<p>The next day Paulus with his two visitors walked about the city. He +described and explained the many deeply interesting scenes, and answered +the numerous questions directed to him. The foreigners did not fail to +note the wonderful advances made in the arts and sciences and their +practical application to everyday affairs. They had thought their own +country not behind in improvements, but here their own were far +surpassed.</p> + +<p>"We will ride out on the ether-line to one of our schools," remarked +Paulus. "You will be pleased with the children."</p> + +<p>"This is an improvement on electricity," said their director, as seated +in an elegant car, they were carried through the city without noise or +jostle. "This line is rather crude yet. I was reading in the newspaper +the other day that some very important improvements were shortly to be +made. You have noticed, ere this, our method of heating and lighting. +Don't you think it is an advancement on the old way?"</p> + +<p>"It certainly is, though we use some steam and considerable electricity +yet in our country."</p> + +<p>"I suppose so—but here we are."</p> + +<p>Although nothing in the city was cramped or crowded for room, the place +where they now alighted was planned on an unusually large scale. Immense +buildings stood upon a large tract of land, planted with trees, grass, +and flowers. Here were breathing room and playground. A number of +streams of clear water flowed through the grounds, and small ponds were +alive with fish and swimming birds. Fountains played, and statues of +marble gleamed through the foliage.</p> + +<p>"See, what is that?" exclaimed Remand, as he caught sight of a huge, +shaggy beast lying under a tree.</p> + +<p>"Just a brown bear," said Paulus. "We have some lions and few of the +rarest animals on these grounds—but I am forgetting that these scenes +must be strange to you. In Poland you have not wholly shaken off the old +world and its way. It takes time of course."</p> + +<p>"Well," replied Remand, "although the enmity between man and beast is +nearly gone, we have not yet adopted bears and lions as pets for our +children to play with."</p> + +<p>"Well, we have, you perceive."</p> + +<p>A bevy of children came dancing through the grounds. Beautiful children +they were, full of life and gladness. They caught sight of bruin, +stretched under the tree, and with a shout they stormed him. The animal +saw them coming, and extending himself at full length on the ground, +seemed to enjoy the children's tumbling over his shaggy sides. When they +patted him on the head and stroked his nose, he licked their hands.</p> + +<p>"We haven't reached quite that far," remarked the king.</p> + +<p>"Neither do we behold such sights," added his companion, as he pointed +to a tiger crouching on the grass, and gazing with no evil intention at +a lamb quietly feeding by.</p> + +<p>"You will in time," said Paulus. "The earth is being filled with the +knowledge of God. Hate, envy, and destruction are fast disappearing, and +you see the natural results: the wolf lying down with the lamb, and +children playing with once savage beasts. In this way, Satan is being +bound, and the whole earth will soon be released from his power."</p> + +<p>They came to another group of children, gathered on the shore of a small +lake, who were eagerly listening to a man in their midst.</p> + +<p>"We will hear what the lesson is today," said Paulus, and they went up +to the group. The instructor was holding up a flower which he had +plucked from the margin of the water, and was illustrating some +peculiarity of vegetable formation to the class.</p> + +<p>"It is botany today," said Paulus. "I hoped that it would be his +favorite theme."</p> + +<p>"And what is that?"</p> + +<p>"The improvements on these grounds are the work of his planning and +supervision, and he delights to give lessons on earth and water +formations. He often sets a class to digging trenches and waterways. He +says that he learned all about such things when he went to school, +meaning when he was on the earth before."</p> + +<p>"Is he a resurrected being?" asked Remand in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"He is," was the reply. "Many of our instructors are. You will +understand without argument the advantages they have over others."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, certainly."</p> + +<p>"I see he is through with the recitation. Let us speak to him."</p> + +<p>As they came up, the children recognized them with a smile and a salute, +and the instructor said:</p> + +<p>"Welcome, brothers, welcome, Brother Paulus."</p> + +<p>"You are dismissed. Go to your next lesson," he said to the children, +and they quietly walked away.</p> + +<p>"Now," said he, "I have some leisure. Will you all come with me into the +reading room? I have something to show you, Paulus, and it may interest +our visitors."</p> + +<p>"Need we no introduction?" asked the king, as they followed into a large +building.</p> + +<p>"Not at all. He knows who you are."</p> + +<p>The reading room was a compartment beautifully adorned and furnished. It +was filled with tables, chairs, bookracks, etc. Hundreds of children +were there reading. Perfect order reigned, though no overseers or +watchers were seen. The three followed the instructor into a smaller +room, seemingly arranged for private use. Chairs were placed, and then +he opened a newspaper which he spread on the table.</p> + +<p>"Have you seen the last edition of today's paper?"</p> + +<p>None of them had.</p> + +<p>"Well, I found something here of more than usual interest. It seems that +some workmen, excavating for a building, came across the ruins of a +nineteenth century city. In a cavity in a stone they found some coins of +that period, also a number of newspapers. It was a common practice in +those days to imbed such things in the corner stones of buildings. +Extracts from those papers are reproduced here, and they are of interest +to the children of today in showing the condition of the world when +under the influence of that fallen spirit who rebelled against God in +the beginning. Let me read you a few extracts, principally headings +only."</p> + +<p>"'Yesterday this city was visited by a most destructive fire. One-half +of the business part was swept away. Thousands of dollars of property +were lost, and it is supposed that about fifty persons have perished in +the flames.'</p> + +<p>"'The great strike. Thousands of workmen out of employment. Children +crying for bread. Mobs march through the streets, defying the police, +and demolishing property. The governor calls out the state militia.'</p> + +<p>"Here is another:</p> + +<p>"'War! War! England, Germany, France, Russia and the United States are +preparing!'</p> + +<p>"Yes, you have read your histories. You know all about that. What do you +think of this?"</p> + +<p>"'Millions of the people's money have been expended by those in office +to purchase votes. A set of corrupt political bosses rule the nation.'</p> + +<p>"Still another:</p> + +<p>"'A gang of tramps capture a train—'"</p> + +<p>The reader did not finish, but laid the paper down and looked out of the +open door. He did not speak for some time; then turning, said:</p> + +<p>"Brothers, thank God that you live in the Millennium of the world. My +heart grows sick when my mind reverts back to the scenes of long ago. I +passed through some of them. I learned my lessons in a hard school; but +God has been good to me. He has known me all along, and has given me +just what I needed. Shall we visit the buildings? Shall we see the +children who grow up without sin unto salvation? Come with me."</p> + +<p>From room to room, from building to building, they went. Children, +children, everywhere—bright, beautiful children. Oh, it was a grand +sight! Hark! They sing—a thousand voices; and such music!</p> + +<p>"Are there special visitors today?" asked Paulus.</p> + +<p>"Yes; come let us go outside and see them."</p> + +<p>They stepped out on to a portico where they could see the throng of +children standing on a large lawn outside. They were singing a song of +welcome, and through the trees could be seen three men approaching. The +children made way for them, and they walked through towards the +building.</p> + +<p>"Look well at them as they pass," said the instructor; "you may +recognize them."</p> + +<p>They walked with the sprightliness of youth though their hair was white +as snow. They smiled at the children as they passed.</p> + +<p>"Two of the faces are familiar," remarked Remand, "but the third is +strange. Surely, surely—"</p> + +<p>"Surely you did not expect to see George Washington and Martin Luther in +the flesh, walking and talking as other men?"</p> + +<p>"Never."</p> + +<p>"It is they."</p> + +<p>"And the third?"</p> + +<p>"The third is Socrates of old."</p> + +<p>"What is their mission?"</p> + +<p>"They are about to speak to the children. They have been at the school +of the prophets all morning, and now they come from the high school +yonder. You see what advantages today's students of history have."</p> + +<p>"Has the knowledge of God exalted men to the society of resurrected +beings?"</p> + +<p>"Your senses do not deceive you," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Now I must go," said the instructor. "Farewell, and peace be with +you."</p> + +<p>He went into the house again, the three following directly, but they saw +nothing more of him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="pt4III" id="pt4III"></a>III.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a +thousand hills * * * for the world is mine, and the fulness +thereof."—<i>Psalms 50:10, 12</i>.</p></div> + + +<p>The King of Poland and his counselor lodged that night in the city. +Early next morning, Paulus came again for them.</p> + +<p>"What do you wish to see, today?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Take us to some or your workshops and mills," replied the King; "we +would like to learn more of your social and industrial conditions, about +which we have heard."</p> + +<p>A car soon took them to a part of the city where the workshops were +situated. The buildings were not great, black-looking structures with +rows of small windows in the walls; but they were handsome, spacious +buildings, resembling somewhat the finest of the public buildings with +which the visitors were acquainted in their own country. Remand noted +the absence of smoking chimneys, and inquired about them.</p> + +<p>"We have done away with all that," explained Paulus. "Pure air is one of +the essentials to life. One of the crudest imperfections of the past was +the wilderness of smoking chimneys which belched forth their blackness +and poison into the atmosphere. As you have noticed, our city is clean, +and the air above us is as clear as that above forests or fields."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you use electricity for light and power," remarked Remand; +"but you need heat, too."</p> + +<p>"We use electricity for heat also," was explained. "We get it direct +from the earth, also have it generated by water power, both from falls +and the waves of the sea, and transmitted to us. Some of these power +stations are hundreds of miles away among the mountains, and by the sea. +We have also learned to collect and conserve heat from the sun; so, you +see, we are well supplied for all purposes. This building," said the +instructor, pointing to the one in front of which they had stopped, "is +a furniture factory. Would you like to see it in working operation?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; very much," said the King.</p> + +<p>They entered clean, well-lighted, airy rooms where beautiful machinery +was being operated by well-dressed and happy-looking workmen. The +visitors passed from section to section, noting, admiring, and asking +questions.</p> + +<p>"Whose factory is this?" asked Remand of the guide.</p> + +<p>"You mean who has charge—who is the steward?" corrected Paulus.</p> + +<p>"No; not exactly that. This magnificent plant must have an owner, either +an individual or a corporation. I asked for the ownership of the +property."</p> + +<p>The guide looked strangely at his companions. Then he realized that +these men had come from the parts of the earth where the celestial order +had not yet been established. The old ideas of private property rights +were still with them.</p> + +<p>"My friends," he said, "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness +thereof. He is the only proprietor. How can weak, mortal man own any +part of this earth! No, ownership is for a future time, a future state. +Now we are only stewards over the Lord's possession."</p> + +<p>"But someone must have charge here," said the king.</p> + +<p>"Certainly. A master mechanic is steward over this factory, and he +renders an account of all its doings to the Bishop, who is the Lord's +representative. In this building, as you have seen, are many +departments, and these are also stewardships, given to those in whose +charge they are. Likewise, each workman has a stewardship for which he +is responsible and accountable to the Lord."</p> + +<p>They came to the wood-carving department where beautiful designs were +being drawn and executed.</p> + +<p>"Each man, as far as possible, does the kind of work best suited to his +tastes and abilities. Here, for instance, those who are skilled carvers +of wood find employment for their talent, and they turn out some fine +articles of furniture. Of course, we have machines that stamp and carve +wood; but the pleasure derived from the use of the skilled hand is not +to be denied the well-trained mechanic and artist."</p> + +<p>"I don't quite understand what you mean by stewardships," said Remand +as they passed into a rest room.</p> + +<p>"Let us sit down here," replied Paulus, "and I shall try to explain +further. You must know that all this order, beauty, peace, and plenty +has been attained by an observance of celestial law. And the celestial +law as pertaining to temporal things is that no man shall have more than +is required for his and his family's support. In this respect all men +are equal according to their needs. In olden times, this law was called +the order of Enoch, because we are informed that Enoch and his city +attained to a high degree of righteousness through its observance. Later +it was called the United Order. It has been revealed to and tried by men +in various periods of the earth's history, but never has it had such a +chance to redeem the world as it is having now. According to this law, +no man can accumulate unto himself the wealth created by the work of +others, as was the case in former times with us, and still prevails to +some extent among other nations. All surplus which a worker accumulates +beyond his needs is turned into the general storehouse of the Lord. Thus +each man becomes equal in temporal things as well as in spiritual +things. There is no rich or poor: each man obtains what he requires, and +no more."</p> + +<p>"What is the extent of this surplus?" asked the King. "Is it large?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; because of the nearly perfect condition of our industrial system, +a great amount of wealth flows into the general storehouse. You will +understand, of course, that all public institutions receive their +support from this fund, so that the old order of taxes is done away +with. You have noticed our beautiful city. You have not seen palaces of +the rich and hovels of the poor, but you have seen magnificent public +buildings, parks, and thoroughfares. These institutions that are for all +alike have been built and are sustained by the surplus; and this city +does not represent all of what the people of the Lord are doing. The +Lord's work is being extended throughout this land and to lands beyond +the sea. Not the least of our duties is the building of temples and the +performing of the work for our dead in them. So you see, we have need of +much wealth to carry on our work."</p> + +<p>"Yes; I understand," remarked Remand; "but in our country and time, as +indeed, it has been in the past, many have tried plans of equality, but +they have been more or less failures. Why have you succeeded so well?"</p> + +<p>"The chief cause for the past failures of the world in this industrial +order lies in the supposition that unregenerated men, who have not +obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ, and who are, therefore, full of +weaknesses and sins incident to human nature without the power to +overcome them—I say the mistake lies in the supposition that such men +can come together and establish a celestial order of things, an order +wherein the heart must be purged from every selfish thought and desire. +No wonder that a building erected on such a poor foundation could not +stand. We have succeeded because we have begun right. We have had faith +in the Lord and His providences, have repented of our sins, have been +born again of water and of the Spirit, and then we have tried to live by +every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. We have done this pretty +well, or we could never have succeeded in this work of equality that you +see and admire. People who do the things that you observe around you +must have the Spirit of God in their hearts. This celestial order is +God's order, and those who partake of its blessings must be in harmony +with God's mind and will. High law cannot be obeyed and lived by +inferior beings who are not willing to submit to the first principles of +salvation and power."</p> + +<p>The three sat in quiet contemplation for a time. Then the King said: +"Tell us about the wages of these workmen. The proper adjustment of +wages has always been a source of much trouble with us."</p> + +<p>"Yes, in the days when every man had to look out for himself and had no +thought for his neighbor, it was a continual struggle to get as much as +possible for one's work and to give as little as possible for the work +of another. Such conditions were natural under a system of greed and +selfishness, and they brought on much contention and trouble, which, +happily are now ended. In the beginning," explained the speaker, "those +who enter this order of equality are required to consecrate all their +property to the Lord. Then each is given a stewardship according to his +needs and his ability to manage and to work. Children have a claim upon +their parents for support until they are of age, when they also are +given a stewardship."</p> + +<p>"Are the wages equal to all?"</p> + +<p>"No; and for the very good reason that the needs of all are not alike. +According to the old order, the superintendent of these works, for +instance, would draw a salary of perhaps $5000.00 a year, while the men +who do the manual labor would get less than a tenth of that sum."</p> + +<p>"True," remarked Remand, "supply and demand regulates these things. +Superintendents are scarce, but common workmen are plentiful."</p> + +<p>"But, my dear friend, we have no common workmen. It is just as important +that a table should be put together properly, and that it be well +finished as that there should be a superintendent of the works. No man +in our industrial system can say to another, 'I have no need of thee.' +Each is important, each has his place, each supports the other. The +polisher or the sawyer, therefore, should have his needs supplied, and +so should the overseer—but no more. What would he do with more, anyway? +Tell me."</p> + +<p>"Why, why," replied Remand, "He could save it, put it in the bank, +invest it."</p> + +<p>Paulus smiled. "What good would hoarded wealth be to a man whose needs +are all provided for as long as he lives, as also his children after +him. We have but one bank here—the Lord's storehouse, and all profits +derived from investments are there deposited. But speaking again of +wages, I happen to know that the superintendent of this factory is a +man with a wife only to support, and they are very simple in their +tastes. The wood-carver whom we spoke of has a large family of children. +His needs are greater than the superintendent's, therefore he receives +more for his portion. That is just, is it not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Remand, "the theory seems to be all right but its +application, among us at least, would bring endless complications to be +adjusted."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so," replied Paulus. "We are not perfect, even here. While we +are in mortality, we have weaknesses to contend with; but you must +remember that we look on every man as a brother and a friend, and as I +have stated, we have the spirit of the Master to help us. When this help +proves insufficient by reason of our own failure to do the right, and in +our weakness we are unjust or overbearing, or oppressive, then there is +the Lord Himself whose throne is with us. He balances again the scales +of justice, and metes out to every man his just deserts."</p> + +<p>Paulus arose, and the others followed him reverently out into the +park-like space surrounding the factory. They walked slowly along the +paths as they talked.</p> + +<p>"The argument usually urged against all orders of equality," remarked +Remand, "is that it takes away man's incentive to work."</p> + +<p>"Have you seen any idle men in or about Zion?" asked the guide.</p> + +<p>They acknowledged that they had not.</p> + +<p>"The new order has not taken away incentives to work; it has simply +changed the incentive from a low order to a higher. We can not afford to +work for money as an end. Wealth, with us, is simply a means to an end, +and that is the bringing to pass of saving righteousness to the race, +individually and collectively. Wealth is not created to be used for +personal aggrandizement; and, in fact, its power to work mischief is +taken away when all men have what they need of it. The attainment of +worldly wealth was at one time the standard of success. It was, indeed, +a low standard."</p> + +<p>"What is your standard?" asked the king.</p> + +<p>"Among us the greatest of all is the servant of all. He who does his +best along the line of his work, and contributes the results of his +efforts to the general good, is successful. Quantity is not always the +test, for the gardener who supplies us with the choicest vegetables is +counted just as successful as he who digs from the mountain his +thousands in gold.... Who, in your country, is counted the greatest +success in history?"</p> + +<p>Neither Remand nor the King replied to this query.</p> + +<p>"I will not confuse you by urging a reply," said Paulus. "You, of +course, understand our view of that matter. He who did the greatest good +to the greatest number made the greatest success. That was the Lord and +Master. 'If I be lifted up, I shall draw all men to me,' he said; and +that is being fulfilled. In like manner the greatest among us is he who +serves us best."</p> + +<p>They seated themselves on a bench and watched the workers flock from +the workshop homeward to their mid-day meal. It was an interesting sight +to the two visitors. The people appeared so happy and contented that the +king noticed it and commented on it.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Paulus; "why should they not be happy? When I think of +the times in the past—how so many of the human race had to struggle +desperately merely to live; how men, women and children often had to beg +for work by which to obtain the means of existence; how sometimes +everything that was good and pure and priceless was sold for bread; +while on the other hand many others of the race lolled in ease and +luxury, being surfeited with the good things of the world—I say, when I +think of this, I can not praise the Lord too much for what He now has +given to us."</p> + +<p>"What are these men's working hours?" asked Remand.</p> + +<p>"The hours vary according to the arduousness of the work, though it is +now much more easy and pleasant, owing to our labor-saving machinery. +From three to four hours usually constitute a day's work. Some prefer to +put in their allotted time every day, and then spend the remainder in +other pursuits. Others work all day, perhaps for a week, which would +give them a week to do other things. Others, again, who wish more +leisure for their self-appointed tasks, keep steadily on for a year, +thus earning a year for themselves."</p> + +<p>"And what is done with this leisure?" asked the king.</p> + +<p>"Most of it is devoted to working in the temples of the Lord, where the +saving ordinances of the gospel are performed for those who had not the +privilege to do them for themselves in this life; but many other things +are done. For instance, he who thinks he is an inventor, devotes his +time to perfecting his invention; those who wish to pursue a certain +line of study, now have time to do so; some spend time in traveling."</p> + +<p>"Is there no competition among you?" said Remand. "Such a condition, it +seems to me, would bring stagnation."</p> + +<p>"We have the keenest kind of competition," was the reply—"a competition +of the highest order that brings the most joyous life-activity into our +work. Each steward competes with every other steward to see who can +improve his stewardship the most and bring the best results to the +general storehouse. For example, you noticed as you came into the city +the beautifully kept gardens and farms lying for miles out into the +country. These are all stewardships, and there is the keenest +competition among the farmers and gardeners to see who can make the land +produce—first the best crops, and then the most of that best. One man +last year who has a small farm turned into the storehouse as his surplus +one thousand bushels of wheat. It was a remarkable record which this +year many others are trying to equal or exceed. This sort of rivalry is +found among all the various businesses and industries in Zion and her +stakes; so you see, that even what you term the wealth producing +incentive is not lost to us, but is used as an end to a mighty good, +and not to foster personal greed."</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The three strolled farther away from the large factory building, out +into a section where residences stood here and there among the trees in +the park-like grounds. Approaching a beautiful sheet of water bordered +by flowering bushes, lawns, and well-kept walks, they saw a man sitting +on a bench by the lake. As his occupation seemed to be throwing bread +crumbs to the swans in the water, the King and his companion concluded +that here, at last, they had discovered one of the idle rich, whom they +still had in their own country. Remand expressed his thought to the +guide.</p> + +<p>"He idle?" was the reply. "Oh, no; he is one of our hardest working men. +That is one of our most popular writers, and in many people's opinion, +our best. We must not disturb him now, but we will sit down here and +observe him. We are told that when he is planning one of his famous +chapters of a story, he comes down to this lake and feeds the swans."</p> + +<p>"And do you still write, print, and read stories?" asked Remand.</p> + +<p>"Certainly. Imaginative literature is one of the highest forms of art. +This man has most beautifully pictured the trend of the race, his +special themes being the future greatness and glory of Zion. Why should +he not paint pictures by words, as well as the artist who does the same +by colors and the sculptor by form? If you have not read any of his +books, you must take some of them home with you. See, he is moving +away. Would you like to meet him?"</p> + +<p>They said they would. The author was soon overtaken, and he received his +visitors graciously.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he laughingly acknowledged to Paulus, "you caught me fairly. I +was planning a most interesting scene of the book on which I am now +engaged, and the swans are a great help."</p> + +<p>He led his visitors into the grounds surrounding his home, and then into +his house. He showed them his books, his studio, and his collection of +art treasures. From an upstairs balcony he pointed out his favorite bit +of landscape, a mixture of hill and dale, shining water, and purple haze +in the distance.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, in answer to an inquiry, "I have read how, in former +times, the workers in art, and especially the writer were seriously +handicapped. The struggle for bread often sapped the strength which +ought to have gone into the producing of a picture, a piece of statuary, +or a book. Fear of some day wanting the necessities of life drove men to +think of nothing else but the making of money; and when sometimes men +and women were driven by the strong impulse of expression to neglect +somewhat the 'Making a living,' they nearly starved. How could the best +work be produced under such conditions? I marvel at what was done, +nevertheless."</p> + +<p>After spending a pleasant and profitable hour with the writer, the three +visitors went on their way. They partook of some lunch at one of the +public eating houses, then they went out farther into the country to +look at the farms and gardens. Lines of easy and rapid transit extended +in every direction, so that it took but a few minutes for Paulus and his +friends to arrive at the place they desired. They alighted at an +orchard, looked at the growing fruit and listened to the orchardist's +explanations. After they had been left to themselves, Paulus continued:</p> + +<p>"I want you to see and taste a certain kind of apple that this man has +produced. Apples are his specialty." He led the way to another part of +the orchard, and found a number of ripening apples which he gave his +friends. "What do you think of them?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Most delicious!" they both exclaimed. "This might be the identical +fruit that tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden," remarked Remand.</p> + +<p>As they walked amid the trees, the conversation reverted again to the +writer of books whom they had just left.</p> + +<p>"This author's royalties must be very great—" began the King's +counselor, and then checked himself when he remembered the conditions +about him.</p> + +<p>"Royalties?" replied Paulus; "yes, they are great; but they are not in +money or material wealth. They consist in the vast amount of help, +encouragement, hope, and true happiness he brings to his readers."</p> + +<p>"But do not men like treasure for treasure's sake? Have your very +natures changed?" asked the King.</p> + +<p>"To some extent our natures have changed, but not altogether in this. +Men and women still like to lay up treasures. It is an inevitable law +that when men do some good to others, credit is given them for that +good in the Book of Life. This wealth of good deeds may accumulate until +one may become a veritable millionaire; and this treasure can never be +put to an unrighteous use; moth can not corrupt it, nor thieves break +through and steal."</p> + +<p>"One more question," asked Remand. "I observed that your novelist had a +beautiful house, many rare books, and some priceless paintings and +pieces of sculptured marble. Are these among the 'needs' that you have +spoken of so many times?"</p> + +<p>"To him, certainly. Each man gets that which will aid him most in his +particular line of work. Those things are not needless luxuries or +extravagances. The writer is surrounded by beautiful things that he may +be influenced by them to produce the most beautiful literature, just the +same as any other laborer is provided with the best tools, helps, and +environments that he may produce the best work."</p> + +<p>From the orchard they went to the gardens and other workshops, closing +the day with a visit to one of the large mercantile establishments of +the city.</p> + +<p>The next morning Paulus was on hand again to be their guide, but the +King said:</p> + +<p>"We must now return home. Much as we would like to remain—to take up +our permanent abode here, I see that my duty calls me home. The Great +King has something for me to do, and I shall try to do it. Let us be +going."</p> + +<p>Then the two visitors thanked their guide most graciously as he set them +on their homeward way.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="pt4IV" id="pt4IV"></a>IV.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"In my Father's house are many mansions. * * * I go +to prepare a place for you."—<i>John 14:2</i>.</p></div> + + +<p>Two men were walking in the grounds surrounding a stately residence on +the outskirts of the city.</p> + +<p>"I told you some time ago of the king of Poland's visit," said the one +who had been instructor at the school. "Did you see that item in the +paper this morning?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the other. "The visit must have made a great impression +on him, judging by what he is doing."</p> + +<p>"He was much interested. He is a good man, and is carrying out the +instructions which he received while here. You have not been here +before?"</p> + +<p>"No; this is my first visit."</p> + +<p>"This house is being built for a descendant of mine who is yet in +mortality. I visit with him frequently, and he has asked me for +suggestions as to its construction. I have had much pleasure in giving +them. Soon he is to bring a wife into his new home, a dear good girl +whom I am pleased to welcome in this way into our family. The workmen +have nearly finished their labors and I am devoting some time to the +preparation of the grounds. Will you have time to look around with me?"</p> + +<p>"I have time today, brother."</p> + +<p>They walked towards the house. It stood on the slope of a gentle +elevation which furnished a view of the country westward.</p> + +<p>"Here you see what I am doing. I am departing somewhat from the usual +form of lawn plans, but I want this place to have a special feature. You +see, I have led this stream of water around the hill-side and made it +fall over this small precipice into this tiny lake. What do you think of +it?"</p> + +<p>"It is beautiful and unique."</p> + +<p>"You see, brother, I have a liking for streams of water. They always +please my eye, and their babble and roar is music to my ears. And then, +someone else will soon be visiting with me here. I call this my +temporary Earth-home; and brother, nothing can be too beautiful for my +wife."</p> + +<p>His companion looked at him and smiled. The speaker smiled in return. +They understood each other.</p> + +<p>"Yes, she is coming soon—at any time, now."</p> + +<p>They walked into the house and inspected the building. It was no +exception to the other houses in the city, as beautiful as gold, silver, +precious stones, fine woods, silks, and other fabrics could make it. +Most of the rooms were furnished, as if in readiness for occupancy.</p> + +<p>"I delight in statuary," was explained to the visitor, "and my wife +delights in paintings. You see, I have catered to both our tastes, and +especially hers. Those panels are the work of the famous Rene, and this +ceiling was painted by the best artist in the city. Here, what do you +think of this?"</p> + +<p>They paused before a large painting hung in the best light. It showed +traces of age, but the colors indicated the hand of a master. It +represented a scene where grandeur and beauty mingle; in the distance, +blue hills; nearer, they became darker and pine clad; in the foreground +loomed a rocky ledge; encircled by the hills, lay a lake, around whose +shores were farms and farm houses with red roofs; and in the foreground +of the lake was an island.</p> + +<p>"A fine picture," said the visitor, "and an old one."</p> + +<p>"It is a scene in old-time Norway, by one of Europe's best painters. +Here is another. This is new, hardly dry, in fact. You observe that +there are no pines on those hills. The farm house and the orchard in the +foreground are as natural as life. She will recognize them at once."</p> + +<p>They passed out.</p> + +<p>"I have not had time to collect much in the way of statuary. I work a +little at that art myself. Here is an unfinished piece, a model for a +fountain."</p> + +<p>They sat on a bench within sight of the falling water.</p> + +<p>"Tell me about your family."</p> + +<p>"I have a wife and four children yet in the spirit world. It is not long +as we count time since I left them, and they are soon to follow; but I +am impatient, I think. Oh, but she is a good woman, brother, good and +true and beautiful; and my children are noble ones—two boys and two +girls—even if one has been wayward. He will come back in time. Yes, my +wife first taught me the knowledge of God, in the second estate, and +opened to me the beauties of our Fathers' great plan. I had fallen low, +and was in danger of going lower, when she came—God sent her—and with +her pure, strong hand drew me up from the mire, God bless her." And the +speaker smiled at the splashing waters.</p> + +<p>"Then in earth-life I left them so suddenly, and she struggled bravely +on to the end. It was all for the best—we know that now. I had a work +to do in the spirit world, and God called me to it. I did it, and was +accepted of the Master. We all met in the spirit world, and there +continued our labors of love for the glory of God and the salvation of +His children. Then my time came to pass through the resurrection, and +here I am.—Hark, what is that? Someone is calling."</p> + +<p>They listened. From the house came a voice, a low, sweet voice, calling.</p> + +<p>"Brother, I must go," said he who had been talking. "Someone calls my +name."</p> + +<p>He disappeared hurriedly within the door-way; and the visitor went on +his way.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="pt4V" id="pt4V"></a>V.</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and +there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither +shall there by any more pain: for the former things are passed +away.</p> + +<p>"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will +be his God and he shall be my son."—<i>Rev. 21:4-7.</i></p></div> + + +<p>A sound, a whispered word echoes through the air and enters the ear. It +touches the chords and finds them tuned to its own harmony. It plays +tenderly on responsive strings, and what an awakening is within that +soul! What rapture in the blending, what delight in the union! From it +is born a joy of the heavenly world.</p> + +<p>A sight, a glimpse of a form—a certain form or face; the rays of light +entering the eye meet with something keenly sympathetic, and the soul +leaps in ecstasy.</p> + +<p>A touch, a gentle pressure of the hand; the union is complete.</p> + +<p>What was that voice that reached him—a voice love-laden, full to +over-flowing from the regions of the past? Ah, what sweetness courses +through his veins, what joy leaps in his heart!</p> + +<p>Within, he sees her. She stands in the middle of the room, with her eyes +upon the open door. She does not move. Her beautiful robe of shining +white clings about her form or falls in graceful folds to the floor. Her +hair, light as of old, now glistens like silken threads. Her face shines +with the indescribable glow of immortality.</p> + +<p>She sees her husband. She raises her arms, and takes a step forward. She +smiles—such a smile!</p> + +<p>"Homan—Rupert."</p> + +<p>"Delsa—Signe."</p> + +<p>He takes her in his arms. He kisses her and holds her to his breast....</p> + +<p>Presently strains of music came from another room. He listened as if +surprised, but she looked up into her husband's eyes and smiled. The +music ceased and a little girl appeared in the doorway.</p> + +<p>"May I come in?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Alice, my darling."</p> + +<p>She runs towards them.</p> + +<p>"Papa, papa, oh, how glad I am!"</p> + +<p>He lifted her up and she threw her arms about his neck and kissed him +again and again.</p> + +<p>"What a beautiful place this is!" she said. "O, mamma, I am very happy!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Alice, we are all happy—happy beyond expression. We now can +partly understand that glorious truth taught us, that 'spirit and +element, inseparably connected, receiveth a fulness of joy.'"</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Alice was playing with the fishes and the swans in the garden, and the +husband and wife were sitting by an open window, gazing out upon the +city.</p> + +<p>"Brother Volmer has not been to see us yet," said he. "You remember he +was our brother Sardus?"</p> + +<p>"I remember him well," she answered.</p> + +<p>"His musical talent is now of great blessing to himself and to the cause +of God, as he is a musical director in the Temple. He understands now +why he lost his hearing while in mortality, and he praises God for his +then seeming misfortune."</p> + +<p>"Husband," said she, "I am thinking again about our children. How long +will it be before we shall receive them all?"</p> + +<p>"Not long now; but each in his order. Leave that to the Lord."</p> + +<p>They looked out at Alice. The swans were eating from her hand, and she +was stroking their curved necks.</p> + +<p>"To look back," said he, "and see the wonderful ways through which the +Lord has brought us to this perfection, fills my heart with praise to +Him. Now we are beyond the power of death and the evil one. Now the +pure, life-giving spirit of God flows in our veins instead of the blood +of mortality. Now we can know the two sides of things. We understand the +good, because we have been in contact with the evil. Our joy is perfect, +because we have experienced pain and sorrow. We know what life is, +eternal life, because we have passed through the ordeal of death."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Father teaches a good school."</p> + +<p>"And we have learned this truth," said she, "that existence itself is a +continuous penalty or reward. The children of God reap as they sow from +eternity to eternity."</p> + +<p>"Yes; then dwell on this thought for a moment: Our lives have just +begun, as it were. We have eternity before us, and we are only now +equipped to meet it."</p> + +<p>"I am lost in the thought. But tell me about this thousand years of +earthly peace and the last great change. Husband, I am a pupil now, and +you the teacher."</p> + +<p>"There is much to tell in contemplating not only the realities but the +possibilities of the future. This earth has for some time been enjoying +its Sabbath of peace and rest. He who rebelled in the beginning and +fought against God is bound, and Christ is sole King of the earth. His +laws go to the ends thereof, and all nations must obey them. The Saints +are building holy places, and working for the living and the dead. No +graves are now made, as the bodies of the Saints do not sleep in the +dust. Thus it will go on until the thousand years are ended. Then Satan +will be loosed for a little season; but his time will be short. Then +comes the last great scene. The Lord will finish His work. In the clouds +of heaven, with power and great glory, He will be seen with all His +angels. The mortal Saints yet on the earth will be instantly changed and +caught up to meet Him. The holy cities will be lifted up. Then the +elements will melt with fervent heat. The earth will die as all things +must, and be resurrected in perfection and glory, to be a fit abode, +eternally, for celestial beings. All things will become new; all things +will become celestial, and the earth will take its place among the +self-shining stars of heaven. Then shall we receive our eternal +inheritance, with our children and our families. Then shall we be in +possession of that better and more enduring substance spoken of by the +prophets. All things shall be ours, 'whether life or death, or things +present, or things to come;' all are ours, and we are Christ's and +Christ is God's."</p> + +<p>"Why, then we will be like unto God."</p> + +<p>"And is it strange that children should become like their father?"</p> + +<p>"I remember now," said she, "as distinctly as though it were yesterday, +what Father promised us in our first estate, that if we were faithful, +we should be added upon, and still added upon. Do you remember it?"</p> + +<p>"Distinctly," he answered. "It was to be 'glory added upon our heads for +ever and ever.' Father is fulfilling his promise."</p> + +<p>Then they sat still, not being able to speak their thoughts, but looked +out towards the cloud-encircled towers of the city.</p> + +<p>Alice came running in. "The people are coming," she said.</p> + +<p>They looked out of the window and saw two persons approach, viewing the +grounds with interest.</p> + +<p>"It is Henrik and Marie," exclaimed Signe. The newcomers were greeted +rapturously.</p> + +<p>"Come in and see the results of my husband's planning," said Signe.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The visitors were led through the house, and shown the gardens +surrounding it. As they had been separated for a time from their friends +they had many things to tell each other.</p> + +<p>"Do you know," said Henrik, as they were all sitting by the playing +fountain, "on our way here, we met Rachel!"</p> + +<p>"Is she also risen?" asked Signe. "Oh, why did you not bring her with +you?"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Henrik with a smile, "I told her where we were going and +asked her to come along. But she naturally preferred to stay with her +husband who was taking her to see some of his own people; so she +graciously declined, but said she would visit with us some other time."</p> + +<p>"Right away?"</p> + +<p>"I can't say. She clung pretty closely to her husband. They are a +splendid pair. I am glad, for I will admit that I once thought Rachel's +case was hopeless."</p> + +<p>"We couldn't see very far, could we, brother?" remarked Rupert.</p> + +<p>"Our faith was weak, and we did not trust the Lord enough."</p> + +<p>"Yes; I used to wonder how the Lord would ever straighten out the mass +of entanglements that seemed to exist in the world. We failed to +comprehend the providences of the Lord because we could not see beyond +the narrow confines of the world in which we were living; we could see +only a small part of the circle of eternity; we could not see how that +visible portion, which was often rough and unshapely, could fit into +anything beautiful; but now our vision is extended, and we have a +larger, and therefore, a more correct view."</p> + +<p>"And this I have found," said Henrik, smiling at Signe and Marie as with +arms around each other, they sauntered down the garden path, "I have +found that our work never ends. While in earth-life my mission was to +seek after those of my people who had gone before me, and to do a work +of salvation for them in the temples. In the spirit world, I continued +my work preaching to my fellowmen, and preparing them to receive that +which was and is being done for them by others. And now, I find, that I +am busier than ever. We are teachers, directors, leaders, judges, and +our field is all the earth."</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Rupert, "I attended the laying of the corner-stone of the +one-hundredth temple the other day; and we have only just begun. The +time, talent, wealth, and energy that formerly went to the enriching of +a few and that was spent to build and sustain armies and navies, now +are directed to the building of temples and the carrying on the work in +them. I used to wonder how the needed temple work could ever be done for +the millions of earth's inhabitants, but now I can see how simple it is. +Tens of thousands of Saints, in thousands of temples, in a thousand +years of millenium can accomplish it. Every son and daughter of Adam +must have a chance; every tangled thread must be straightened out; every +broken link must be welded; every wrong must be righted; every created +thing that fills the measure of its creation must be perfected;—all +this must be before the 'winding-up scene' comes. All this can be +accomplished, for now we have every force working to that end. The earth +is yet teeming with our brothers and sisters in mortality; there is +continual communication between the spirit world and this world, and +then here are we, with our kind; we have passed through the earth-life, +through the spirit world, through the resurrection—and we, as you said, +are busier than ever, because with our added knowledge and wider view +comes greater power. Our services are needed everywhere. And what a +blessed privilege we have in thus being able to help the Lord in the +salvation of His children and the hastening to its destined end of +celestial glory this world of ours."</p> + +<p>Alice was playing with some birds, which she seemed to have well +trained, as they were flying back and forth from her hand to the bushes. +The two women now came back along the path, stopping now and then to +listen to a bird or to look at a flower. They joined Rupert and Henrik.</p> + +<p>"I have quite a lot of names from the spirit world to bring to the +Temple today," said Rupert, "among them fifteen couples to be made +husband and wife."</p> + +<p>"I have heard it said," remarked Marie, "that in heaven there is neither +marrying nor giving in marriage."</p> + +<p>"Neither is there," answered Rupert, "any more than there is baptism for +the remission of sins. Neither this world nor the world of spirits, +where live the contracting parties, is heaven."</p> + +<p>"Isn't this heaven?" asked Marie, looking around on the beauty with +which she was surrounded.</p> + +<p>"As far as we resurrected beings are concerned," replied Rupert, "we +have heaven wherever we go; but this earth is only being prepared for +its heavenly or celestial state. Until that is finished, there shall be +marrying and giving in marriage."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad of it," said Signe; "for there is—"</p> + +<p>She was interrupted by Alice, who came in with the announcement that +others were coming up to the house. Henrik and Marie were greeted for +the first time by visitors who continued to gather. For some time, +white-clothed persons had been directing their steps towards the Temple. +Now they were hurrying.</p> + +<p>"It is time to go," said Rupert.</p> + +<p>In a few moments they had changed their clothing, and with the speed of +thought, they were within the Temple grounds. Entering, they took their +places. Volmer passed, and he paused to speak to them. Soon the hall +was filled.</p> + +<p>The Lord of Life and Light was there, and lent of His light to the +scene.</p> + +<p>Brilliancy pervaded everything, shone from everything. It was not the +sun, there being no dazzle; it was not the moon, but a clearness as of +noonday. The whole Temple shed forth a lustre as if it were built of +some celestial substance. The marble, the precious stones, the gold, +seemed changed into light—light, pure, calm, and consolidated into +form. It radiated from the throne, and from Him who sat upon it. "Around +His head was as the colors of the rainbow, and under His feet was a +paved work of pure gold in color like amber."</p> + +<p>Hark! the music! How it fills the Temple, how it thrills the souls +assembled. A thousand instruments blend in exquisite harmony, ten +thousand voices join in the song:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +"The earth hath travailed and brought forth her strength,<br /> +And truth is established in her bowels;<br /> +And the heavens have smiled upon her;<br /> +And she is clothed with the glory of her God;<br /> +For He stands in the midst of His people.<br /> +Glory, and honor, and power, and might<br /> +Be ascribed to our God; for He is full of mercy,<br /> +Justice, grace, and truth, and peace,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Forever and ever, Amen."</span><br /> +</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="PART_FIFTH" id="PART_FIFTH"></a>PART FIFTH</h2> + + +<br /><center> +The rise of man is endless. Be in hope.<br /> +All stars are gathered in his horoscope.<br /> +The brute man of the planet, he will pass,<br /> +Blown out like forms of vapor on a glass.<br /> +And from this quaking pulp of life will rise<br /> +The superman, child of the higher skies.<br /> +Immortal, he will break the ancient bars,<br /> +Laugh and reach out his hands among the stars.<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 15.5em;">—<i>Edwin Markham.</i></span><br /> +</center> + + +<p>I.</p> + +<p> +Old things have passed away, all now are new;<br /> +Its measure of creation Earth has filled;<br /> +The law of a celestial kingdom it<br /> +Has kept, transgressed not the law;<br /> +Yea, notwithstanding it has died, it has<br /> +Been quickened once again; and it abides<br /> +The power by which that quick'ning has been done.<br /> +Wherefore, it now is sanctified from all<br /> +Unrighteousness, and crowned with glory, e'en<br /> +The presence of the Father and the Son.<br /> +<br /> +Immortal Earth on wings of glory rolls,<br /> +Shines like unto a crystal sea of glass<br /> +And fire, whereon all things are manifest:<br /> +Past, present, future,—all are clear to those<br /> +Who live upon this glorious orb of God.<br /> +<br /> +Upon this globe, God's children glorified<br /> +Are no more strangers, wand'ring to and fro<br /> +As weary pilgrims; now they have received<br /> +Possessions everlasting on the Earth—<br /> +A portion of a glorified domain<br /> +On which to build and multiply and spread—<br /> +A part of Earth to call always their own.<br /> +Eternal mansions may they now erect:<br /> +<br /> +Make them of whatsoe'er their hearts' desire;<br /> +For gold and silver, precious stones and woods,<br /> +And fabrics rare, and stuffs of every hue,<br /> +All plentiful in Nature's store-house lie,<br /> +For them to freely draw upon and use.<br /> +Masters of all the elements are they;<br /> +And Nature's forces are at their command.<br /> +<br /> +The man and woman, in the Lord made one,<br /> +Eternally are wedded man and wife.<br /> +These now together make their plans, and build<br /> +A lovely, spacious home wherein to dwell,<br /> +A place for work, for rest, for new-found joys,<br /> +A peaceful habitation, one beyond<br /> +The power of evil ever to destroy.<br /> +</p> + + +<p>II.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In their primeval childhood—first estate—</span><br /> +These once had lived within their Father's home.<br /> +Out from that home they had been sent to Earth<br /> +To have their spirit bodies clothed upon<br /> +With element, to come in contact with<br /> +Conditions which were needful for their growth,<br /> +And learn the lessons of mortality.<br /> +There they had overcome temptation's wiles,<br /> +There had obeyed the gospel of their Lord<br /> +And worked out their salvation by its power.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">These two had met and mated, had fulfilled</span><br /> +The first great law: "Give bodies clean and strong<br /> +To Father's spirit-children from above."<br /> +The time allotted they had lived on Earth,<br /> +Had died the mortal death, had gone into<br /> +The spirit world; from there they had come forth<br /> +With resurrected bodies from the grave.<br /> +Thus they had kept their first and second estates,<br /> +And now were counted worthy to receive<br /> +Their portion 'mong the exalted ones of God.</p> + + +<p>III.</p> + +Celestial man and woman now do live<br /> +The perfect life; for every faculty<br /> +Of heart and brain is put to highest use.<br /> +The appetites and passions purged are<br /> +From dross that fallen nature with them mixed.<br /> +The will is master now, and every sense<br /> +Is under absolute control, and gives<br /> +Perfected service to perfected souls.<br /> +<br /> +These two have come into their very own.<br /> +They walk by sight; and yet the eye of faith<br /> +Sweeps out to future time and distant space<br /> +And leads them on and on. They lay their plans<br /> +And execute these plans to perfectness.<br /> +Eternal Glory-land is their abode,<br /> +So beautifully clothed in Nature's best,<br /> +And basking in the pleasing smile of God;<br /> +No need of light of sun or moon or stars;<br /> +The glory of the Father and the Son<br /> +Eclipses all such lights of lesser ray.<br /> +Although with godlike powers they rule and reign,<br /> +Yet are they Father's children, and to Him<br /> +All loving honor and obedience give.<br /> +And then that Elder Brother who has done<br /> +So much for all, He also here abides,—<br /> +The Savior of the world and souls of men,<br /> +The Lord of lords, the King of all the Earth,<br /> +Yet ever-present Comforter and Friend.<br /> + + +<p>IV.</p> +<p> +And now they learn the things they could not know<br /> +On mortal earth. They learn the secrets of<br /> +All things that are in space above, or in<br /> +The Earth beneath: the elements which form<br /> +The air that man did breathe, and where obtained,<br /> +And how composed. They learn of primal rocks,<br /> +Foundations of the new-formed worlds in space,<br /> +And how these worlds evolve into abodes<br /> +For man. The source of light and heat and power<br /> +They find, and grasp the laws by which they may<br /> +Be rightly used and perfectly controlled.<br /> +And then, most precious gift! they learn of life:<br /> +What makes the grass to grow, what gives the flowers<br /> +Their fragrance and their many-colored hues.<br /> +They comprehend all life in moving forms,—<br /> +In worm, in insect, fish, and bird, and beast;<br /> +And knowing this, they have the power to draw<br /> +Life from its store-house, and to make it serve<br /> +The highest good in never-ending ways.<br /> +</p> + + +<p>V.</p> + +<p> +The truth has made these holy beings free.<br /> +They having overcome all evil powers,<br /> +Unfettered now they are and free to go<br /> +Where'er they wish within the heavenly spheres.<br /> +They're not alone on this perfected world,<br /> +Here other children of the Father dwell,<br /> +Who also have obeyed celestial law.<br /> +All these are of the Father's household, and<br /> +Are numbered with the just and true, of whom<br /> +'Tis written, "They are God's," and they shall dwell<br /> +Forever in the presence of their God.<br /> +<br /> +What bliss to mingle with such company!<br /> +To taste the joys of friendships perfected,<br /> +And feel to fulness that sweet brother-love<br /> +Which binds in one the noble race of Gods!<br /> +<br /> +And other worlds may now be visited;<br /> +For end there's none to matter and to space.<br /> +Infinitude holds kingdoms, great and small,—<br /> +Worlds upon worlds, redeemed and glorified,<br /> +And peopled with the children of our God,<br /> +Who also have evolved from lower things.<br /> +What opening visions here for knowledge rare!<br /> +What sciences, what laws, what history!<br /> +What stories of God's love in other worlds!<br /> +Exhaustless themes for poets' sweetest songs;<br /> +For painters, sculptors, every science, art<br /> +Has never-ending fields of pure delight.<br /> +To them "the universe its incense brings"—<br /> +Distilled from all the sweetness of the spheres.</p> + +<p>VI.</p> +<p> +Earth's loveliest flow'r, the love 'tween man and wife,<br /> +Transplanted is to this most holy sphere.<br /> +Through all the toiling years of earth-life, it<br /> +Had grown; and now, instead of dying with<br /> +The mortal death, its roots are firmly fixed<br /> +In the eternal soil of Glory-land.<br /> +And blessed man! now at his side there stands<br /> +A woman, one of heaven's queens, a wife,<br /> +A mother to his children of the Earth,<br /> +And yet to be a mother of a race.<br /> +Her beauty rare surpasses power of words.<br /> +Her purity, her sweetly gentle ways<br /> +Rest as a crown of glory on her brow.<br /> +Her love transcendent fills his heart with joy,<br /> +And now he fully realizes that<br /> +"The woman is the glory of the man."<br /> +<br /> +Here in thy Home, O Woman all divine,<br /> +Thy measure of creation thou doest fill!<br /> +Intelligences come from out the womb<br /> +Of Time, into thine own; thence are they born<br /> +With spirit bodies, to thy loving care.<br /> +Now thou art Mother, and doest know in full<br /> +A mother's joy—a joy untinged by pain,<br /> +And with thy Husband thou hast now become<br /> +Creator, fellow worker with thy Lord.<br /> +Celestial Father, Mother at the head<br /> +Of parentage they stand, the perfect type<br /> +Of that eternal principle of sex<br /> +Found in all nature, making possible<br /> +For every living thing to multiply<br /> +And bring increase of being of its kind.<br /> +In this celestial world, the fittest have<br /> +Survived. To them alone the pow'r is given<br /> +To propagate their kind. 'Twas wisely planned.<br /> +The race of Gods must not deteriorate.<br /> +Thus everlasting increase is denied<br /> +To those who have not reached perfection's plane.<br /> +Herein is justice, wisdom all-divine,<br /> +That every child born into spirit world<br /> +Has perfect parentage, thus equal chance<br /> +Is given all to reach the highest goal,<br /> +And win the race which runs up through the worlds.<br /> +<br /> +And children fill the household of these Two—<br /> +And children bring perpetual youth, renew<br /> +The tender sentiments, and firmly knit<br /> +The heart of Father, Mother close in one.<br /> +Thus do they work, and thus they follow in<br /> +The footsteps of their Father; and they spread<br /> +Out o'er the land of their inheritance.<br /> +Masters of all, joint owners of the spheres,<br /> +Eternal increase of eternal lives<br /> +Is theirs; and this their work and glory is<br /> +To bring to pass the immortality<br /> +And life eternal to the race of men.<br /> +</p> + + +<p>VII.</p> + +<p> +Time passes as an ever-flowing stream.<br /> +The many mansions teem with offspring fair,—<br /> +The spirit children of this heavenly world.<br /> +Varied are they, as human beings are<br /> +In form, in likes, in capabilities.<br /> +Here love, combined with justice, rules;<br /> +Here truth is taught, the right and wrong are shown;<br /> +Yet agency is given all, and they<br /> +May choose the way selected by desire.<br /> +Thus some more faithful are than others, and<br /> +Advance more rapidly along the great<br /> +Highway that leads among the shining stars.<br /> +<br /> +Time passes,—and the time has fully come<br /> +When spirits must be clothed upon with flesh,<br /> +Must follow in the footsteps of their Sire,<br /> +Must go to mortal earth and there work out<br /> +Their soul's salvation in the self-same way<br /> +That all perfected beings once have done.<br /> +<br /> +Far out in space where there is ample room<br /> +And where primeval element abounds,<br /> +This Father has been working, and still works,<br /> +Fashioning a world on which to place<br /> +His children. Without proper form, and void,<br /> +In the beginning, this new world has passed<br /> +From one stage to another, until now<br /> +It rolls in space, an orb in beauty clad,<br /> +A world on which a human race may dwell.<br /> +This Father to his children thus doth speak:<br /> +"The time has come for you to leave this home—<br /> +This first estate, and take another step<br /> +Along progression's path. A new-formed world<br /> +Is ready to receive you, and to clothe<br /> +You in another body. You will then<br /> +Learn many things you cannot here receive.<br /> +A veil will then be drawn before your eyes<br /> +That you will be unable to look back<br /> +To us. Alone you'll have to stand; be tried<br /> +To see if faithful you will still remain.<br /> +There's darkness in that world; and sin will come<br /> +And pain and suffering such as now you know<br /> +Not of. But these will only clearly show<br /> +How good is righteousness, and how much more<br /> +To be desired the light than darkness is.<br /> +Yet, you shall not be wholly left alone;<br /> +My ministering angels shall keep watch,<br /> +And near you all the time my power shall be,<br /> +To help you in your direst hours of need.<br /> +My sons and daughters, as you now do live<br /> +Within your Father's ever-watchful care,<br /> +Know this that always shall his loving arm<br /> +Extended be to you; the Father-heart<br /> +And Mother-heart eternally do yearn<br /> +And feel for you in sorrow or in pain.<br /> +Where'er you are, you're still within my reach.<br /> +If you'll but turn to me, I'll hear your cries<br /> +And answer you in my good time and place.<br /> +Go forth as you are called, the lessons learn<br /> +Of earthly school; fear only sin; abide<br /> +By law, nor seek to be a law unto<br /> +Yourselves, for by eternal law the worlds<br /> +Are formed, redeemed, and brought to perfectness,<br /> +Together with all flesh which on them live.<br /> +Go forth. Be worthy to come back again<br /> +And be partakers of all heights and depths,<br /> +Things present, things to come, yea, life or death,<br /> +And it shall be my pleasure to bestow<br /> +Upon you <i>all there is eternally</i>."<br /> +<br /> +Joy fills this Father's children, and with one<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">United voice of gladness do they sing:</span><br /> +"Thanks, Father, kind and good for what you've done;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thanks for the added blessings which you bring.</span><br /> +O glorious, wond'rous truth that we have found:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The course of Gods' is one eternal round!"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<hr class="full" /> +<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADDED UPON***</p> +<p>******* This file should be named 17249-h.txt or 17249-h.zip *******</p> +<p>This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:<br /> +<a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/2/4/17249">https://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/2/4/17249</a></p> +<p>Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed.</p> + +<p>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Added Upon + A Story + + +Author: Nephi Anderson + + + +Release Date: December 7, 2005 [eBook #17249] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADDED UPON*** + + +E-text prepared by Kevin Handy, Dave Macfarlane, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net/) + + + +ADDED UPON + +A Story + +by + +NEPHI ANDERSON + +Author of "The Castle Builder," +"A Daughter of the North," +"John St. John," "Romance of a Missionary," etc. + + + + + + + + "_And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; + ... and they who keep their second estate shall have glory + added upon their heads for ever and ever_." + + + +Ninth Edition +The Deseret News Press +Salt Lake City, Utah +Copyright 1898 +By Nephi Anderson. +Copyright 1912 +By Nephi Anderson. +All Rights Reserved. + + + + +PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION. + + +A religion, to be worth while, must give satisfactory answers to the +great questions of life: What am I? Whence came I? What is the object of +this life? and what is my destiny? True, we walk by faith, and not by +sight, but yet the eye of faith must have some light by which to see. +Added Upon is an effort to give in brief an outline of "the scheme of +things," "the ways of God to men" as taught by the Gospel of Christ and +believed in by the Latter-day Saints; and to justify and praise these +ways, by a glance along the Great Plan, from a point in the distant past +to a point in the future--not so far away, it is to be hoped. + +On subjects where little of a definite character is revealed, the story, +of necessity, could not go into great detail. It is suggestive only; but +it is hoped that the mind of the reader, illumined by the Spirit of the +Lord, will be able to fill in all the details that the heart may desire, +to wander at will in the garden of the Lord, and dwell in peace in the +mansions of the Father. + +Many have told me that when they read Added Upon, it seemed to have been +written directly to them. My greatest reward is to know that the little +story has touched a sympathetic chord in the hearts of the Latter-day +Saints, and that it has brought to some aching hearts a little ray of +hope and consolation. + +Nephi Anderson. + +Liverpool, November 5, 1904. + + + + +PREFACE TO THE FIFTH AND ENLARGED EDITION. + + +This story of things past, things present, and things to come has been +before the Latter-day Saints for fourteen years. During this time, it +seems to have won for itself a place in their hearts and in their +literature. A reviewer of the book when it was first published said that +"so great and grand a subject merits a more elaborate treatment." Many +since then have said the story should be "added upon," and the present +enlarged edition is an attempt to meet in a small way these demands. The +truths restored to the earth through "Mormonism" are capable of +illimitable enlargement; and when we contemplate these glorious +teachings, we are led to exclaim with the poet: + + "Wide, and more wide, the kindling bosom swells, + As love inspires, and truth its wonders tells, + The soul enraptured tunes the sacred lyre, + And bids a worm of earth to heaven aspire, + 'Mid solar systems numberless, to soar, + The death of love and science to explore." + + N.A. + + Salt Lake City, Utah, + May, 1912. + + + + +PART FIRST. + + + "The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of + old. + + "I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth + was. + + "When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no + fountains abounding with water. + + "Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought + forth: + + "While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest + part of the dust of the world. + + "When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon + the face of the depth: + + "When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the + fountains of the deep: + + "When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his + commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: + + "Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his + delight, rejoicing always before him."--_Prov. 8:22-30._ + + + + +ADDED UPON + + "Where was thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?... + When the morning stars sang together, and all the Sons + of God shouted for joy?"--_Job 38:4,7._ + + +The hosts of heaven--sons and daughters of God--were assembled. The many +voices mingling, rose and fell in one great murmur like the rising and +falling of waves about to sink to rest. Then all tumult ceased, and a +perfect silence reigned. + +"Listen," said one to another by his side, "Father's will is heard." + +A voice thrilled the multitude. It was clear as a crystal bell, and so +distinct that every ear heard, so sweet, and so full of music that every +heart within its range beat with delight. + +"And now, children of God," were the words, "ye have arrived at a point +in this stage of your development where a change must needs take place. +Living, as ye have, all this time in the presence of God, and under the +control of the agencies which here exist, ye have grown from children in +knowledge to your present condition. God is pleased with you--the most +of you, and many of you have shown yourselves to be spirits of power, +whom He will make His future rulers. Ye have been taught many of the +laws of light and life, whereby the universe is created and controlled. +True, ye have not all advanced alike, or along the same lines. Some have +delighted more in the harmonies of music, while others have studied the +beauties of God's surrounding works. Each hath found pleasure and profit +in something; but there is one line of knowledge that is closed to you +all. In your present spiritual state, ye have not come in contact with +the grosser materials of existence. Your experiences have been wholly +within the compass of spiritual life, and there is a whole world of +matter, about which ye know nothing. All things have their opposites. Ye +have partly a conception of good and evil, but the many branches into +which these two principles sub-divide, cannot be understood by you. +Again, ye all have had the hope given you that at some time ye would +have the opportunity to become like unto your parents, even to attain to +a body of flesh and bones, a tabernacle with which ye may pass on to +perfection, and inherit that which God inherits. If, then, ye ever +become creators and rulers, ye must first become acquainted with the +existence of properties, laws, and organization of matter other than +that which surround you in this estate. + +"To be over all things, ye must have passed through all things, and have +had experience with them. It is now the Father's pleasure to grant you +this. Ye who continue steadfast, shall be added upon, and be permitted +to enter the second estate; and if ye abide in that, ye shall be further +increased and enlarged and be worthy of the third estate, where glory +shall be added upon your heads forever and ever. + +"Even now, out in space, rolls another world--with no definite form, and +void; but God's Spirit is there, moving upon it, and organizing the +elements. In time, it will be a fit abode for you." + +The voice ceased. Majesty stood looking out upon the silent multitude. +Then glad hearts could contain no more, and the children of God gave a +great shout of joy. Songs of praise and gladness came from the mighty +throng, and its music echoed through the realms of heaven! + +Then silence fell once more. The Voice was heard again: + +"Now, how, and upon what principles will your salvation, exaltation, and +eternal glory be brought about? It has been decided in the councils of +eternity, and I will tell you. + +"When the earth is prepared, two will be sent to begin the work of +begetting bodies for you. It needs be that a law be given these first +parents. This law will be broken, thus bringing sin into the new world. +Transgression is followed by punishment; and thus ye, when ye are born +into the world, will come in contact with misery, pain, suffering, and +death. Ye will have a field for the exercise of justice and mercy, love +and hatred. Ye will suffer, but your suffering will be the furnace +through which ye will be tested. Ye will die, and your bodies will +return to the earth again. Surrounded by earthly influences, ye will +sin. Then, how can ye return to the Father's presence, and regain your +tabernacles? Hear the plan: + +"One must be sent to the earth with power over death. He will be the +Son, the only begotten in the flesh. He must be sinless, yet bear the +sins of the world. Being slain, He will satisfy the eternal law of +justice. He will go before and bring to pass the resurrection from the +dead. He will give unto you another law, obeying which, will free you +from your personal sins, and set you again on the way of eternal life. +Thus will your agency still be yours, that ye may act in all things as +ye will." + + * * * * * + +A faint murmur ran through the assembly. + +Then spoke the Father: "Whom shall I send?" + +One arose, like unto the Father--a majestic form, meek, yet noble--the +Son; and thus he spoke: + +"Father, here am I, send me. Thy will be done, and the glory be thine +forever." + +Then another arose. Erect and proud he stood. His eyes flashed, his lip +curled in scorn. Bold in his bearing, brilliant and influential, +Lucifer, the Son of the Morning, spoke: + +"Behold I, send me. I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, +that not one soul shall be lost; and surely I will do it; wherefore, +give me thine honor." + +Then spoke one as with authority: + +"Lucifer, thy plan would destroy the agency of man--his most priceless +gift. It would take away his means of eternal advancement. Your offer +cannot be accepted." + +The Father looked out over the vast throng; then clearly the words rang +out: + +"I will send the first!" + +But the haughty spirit yielded not. His countenance became fiercer in +its anger, and as he strode from the assembly, many followed after him. + +Then went the news abroad throughout heaven of the council and the +Father's proposed plan; of Christ's offer, and Lucifer's rebellious +actions. The whole celestial realm was agitated, and contention and +strife began to wage among the children of God. + +Returning from the council chamber of the celestial glance through the +paths of the surrounding gardens, came two sons of God. Apparently, the +late events had affected them greatly. The assembly had dispersed, and, +save now and then a fleeting figure, they were alone. They were engaged +in earnest conversation. + +"But, Brother Sardus," said one, "how can you look at it in that light? +Lucifer was surely in the wrong. And then, how haughty and overbearing +he was." + +"I cannot agree with you, Homan. We have a right to think and to act as +we please, and I consider Lucifer in the right. Think of this +magnificent offer, to bring back in glory to Father's presence, every +one of His children, and that, too, without condition on their part." + +"There! He, and you with him, talk about your rights to think and act as +you please. Have you not that right? Have you not used it freely in +refusing to listen to Father's counsel? Do not I exercise it in that I +listen and agree with Him? But let me tell you, brother, what your +reasoning will lead to." + +"I know it--but go on." + +"No, you do not; you do not seem to understand." + +"Perhaps you will explain," said the other haughtily. + +"Brother, be not angry. It is because of my love for you that I speak +thus. It is evident that we, in that future world of experience and +trial, will retain our agencies to choose between the opposites that +will be presented to us. Without that privilege, we should cease to be +intelligences, and become as inanimate things. How could we be proved +without this power? How could we make any progress without it?" + +"I grant it all." + +"Then, what would Lucifer do? He would save you from the dangers of the +world, whether you would or not. He would take away any need of volition +or choice on our part. Do what we would, sink as deep into sin as we +could, he would save us notwithstanding, without a trial, without a +purging process, with all our sins upon us; and in this condition we are +expected to go on to perfection, and become kings and priests unto God +our Father, exercising power and dominion over our fellow creatures. +Think of it! Evil would reign triumphant. Celestial order would be +changed to chaos." + +The other said not a word. He could not answer his brother's array of +arguments. + +"Dear brother," continued Homan, "never before have I received such +sorrow as when I saw you follow that rebellious Son of Morning. +Henceforth quit his company. I fear for him and his followers." + +"But he has such power over me, Homan. His eloquence seems to hold me, +and his arguments certainly convince me. But I must go--and brother, +come with me to the assembly which we are to hold. Many will be there +from far and near. Will you come?" + +"I cannot promise you, Sardus. Perhaps I may call and see what is said +and done." + +Then they parted. + +Homan went to the gathering of which Sardus had spoken, and as had been +intimated, he met many strange faces. Everywhere in the conversation, +serious topics seemed to be uppermost. The singing was not as usual. The +music, though always sweet, was sadder than ever before, and a discord +seemed to have crept into the even flow of life's sweet strain. Homan +had no desire to talk. He wandered from group to group with a smile for +all. Sardus was in a heated discussion with some kindred spirits; but +Homan did not join them. Under the beautiful spread of the trees and by +the fountains, sat and walked companies of sons and daughters of God. +Ah, they were fair to look upon, and Homan wondered at the creations of +the Father. No two were alike, yet all bore an impress of the Creator, +and each had an individual beauty of his own. + +Strolling into an arbor of vines, Homan, did not observe the fair +daughter seated there until he turned to leave; and then he saw her. She +seemed absorbed in thought, and her eyes rested on the shiftings +throngs. + +"A sweet face, and a strange one," thought he, as he went up to her and +spoke: + +"Sister, what are you thinking about?" + +She turned and looked at him, and then a pleased smile overspread her +face. + +"Shall I tell you?" + +"Do, I beg of you. May I sit here?" He seated himself opposite. + +"Yes, brother, sit. My thoughts had such a strange ending that I will +tell you what they were. I have been sitting here looking at these many +faces, both new and old, and studying their varied beauties; but none +seems to me to answer for my ideal. So I have been taking a little from +each face, putting all together to form another. I had just completed +the composition, and was looking admiringly at the new form when you +came and--and--" + +"Drove away your picture. That I should not have done." + +"No; it was not exactly that. It is so odd." She hesitated and turned +away her head. Then she looked up into his face again and said: "My +dream face seemed to blend with yours." + +They looked at each other strangely. + +"Do you often make dream pictures?" asked he. + +"Yes, of late; but I sometimes think I should not." + +"Why?" + +"Because of them any great events that are taking place around us daily +which need our careful thought and consideration. I have been trying to +comprehend this great plan of our Father's in regards to us. I have +asked Mother many questions, and she has explained, but I cannot fully +understand--only, it all seems so wonderful, and our Father is so good +and great and wise;--but how could He be otherwise, having Himself come +up through the school of the eternities?" + +Her words were music to Homan's ear. Her voice was soft and sweet. + +"Yet it is very strange. To think that we shall forget all we know, and +that our memories will fail to recall this world at all." + +"Yes, it is all strange to us, but it cannot be otherwise. You see, if +we knew all about what we really are and what our past has been, mortal +experiences would not be the test or the school that Father intends it +to be." + +"That is true; but think of being shut out, even in our thoughts, from +this world. And then, I hear that down on earth there will be much sin +and misery, and a power to tempt and lead astray. O, if we can but +resist it, dear brother. What will this power be, do you know?" + +"I have only my thoughts about it. I know nothing for a certainty; but +fear not, something will prompt us to the right, and we have this hope +that Father's Spirit will not forsake us. And above all, our Elder +Brother has been accepted as an offering for all the sins we may do. He +will come to us in purity, and with power to loose the bands of death. +He will bring to us Father's law whereby we may overcome the world and +its sin." + +"You said the bands of death. What is death?" + +"Death is simply the losing of our earthly tabernacles for a time. We +shall be separated from them, but the promise is that our Elder Brother +will be given power to raise them up again. With them again united, we +shall become even as our parents are now, eternal, perfected, +celestialized beings." + +As they conversed, both faces shone with a soft, beautiful light. The +joy within was traced on their countenances, and for some time it was +too deep for words. Homan was drawn to this beautiful sister. All were +pleasing to his eye, but he was unusually attracted to one who took such +pleasure in talking about matters nearest his heart. + +"I must be going," said she. + +"May I go with you?" + +"Come." + +They wandered silently among the people, then out through the +surrounding gardens, listening to the music. Instinctively, they clung +to each other, nor bestowed more than a smile or a word on passing +brother or sister. + +"What do you think of Lucifer and his plan?" asked she. + +"The talented Son of the Morning is in danger of being cast out if he +persists in his course. As to his plan, it is this: 'If I cannot rule, I +will ruin.'" + +"And if he rule, it will still be ruin, it seems to me." + +"True; and he is gaining power over many." + +"Yes; he has talked with me. He is a bewitching person; but his +fascination has something strange about it which I do not like." + +"I am glad of that." + +She looked quickly at him, and then they gazed again into each other's +eyes. + +"By what name may I call you?" he asked. + +"My name is Delsa." + +"Will you tell me where you live? May I come and talk with you again? It +will give me much pleasure." + +"Which pleasure will be mutual," said she. + +They parted at the junction of two paths. + + + + +II. + + "How art thou fallen from heaven, O, Lucifer, son of the + morning."--_Isaiah 14:12._ + + +Never before in the experiences of the intelligences of heaven, had such +dire events been foreshadowed. A crisis was certainly at hand. Lucifer +was fast gaining influence among the spirits--and they had their agency +to follow whom they would. The revolting spirit had skill in argument; +and the light-minded, the discontented, and the rebellious were won +over. + +To be assured eternal glory and power without an effort on their part, +appealed to them as something to be desired. To be untrammeled with +laws, to be free to act at pleasure, without jeopardizing their future +welfare, certainly was an attractive proposition. The pleasures in the +body would be of a nature hitherto unknown. Why not be free to enjoy +them? Why this curb on the passions and desires? "Hail to Lucifer and +his plan! We will follow him. He is in the right." + +Many of the mighty and noble children of God arrayed themselves on the +side of Christ, their Elder Brother, and waged war against Lucifer's +pernicious doctrine. One of the foremost among them was Michael. He was +unceasing in his efforts to bring all under the authority of the Father. +The plan which had been proposed, and which had been accepted by the +majority, had been evolved from the wisdom of past eternities. It had +exalted worlds before. It had been proved wise and just. It was founded +on correct principles. By it only could the spiritual creation go on in +its evolution to greater and to higher things. It was the will of the +Father, to whom they all owed their existence as progressive, spiritual +organizations. To bow to Him was no humiliation. To honor and obey Him +was their duty. To follow the First Born, Him whom the Father had chosen +as mediator, was no more than a Father should request. Any other plan +would lead to confusion. Thus reasoned the followers of Christ. + +Then there were others, not valiant in either cause, who stood on +neutral ground. Without strength of character to come out boldly, they +aided neither the right nor the wrong. Weak-minded as they were, they +could not be trusted, nor could Lucifer win them over. + +Meanwhile, the earth, rolling in space, evolved from its chaotic state, +and in time became a fit abode for the higher creations of God. + +Then the crisis came. The edict went forth that for many of the sons and +daughters of God the first estate was about to end, and that the second +would be ushered in. Lucifer had now won over many of the hosts of +heaven. These had failed to keep their first estate. Now there would be +a separation. + +A council was convened, and the leading spirits were summoned. All +waited for the outcome in silent awe. + +Then came the decision, spoken with heavenly authority: + +"Ye valiant and loyal sons and daughters of God, blessed are ye for your +righteousness and your faithfulness to God and His cause. Your reward is +that ye shall be permitted to dwell on the new earth, and in tabernacles +of flesh continue in the eternal course of progress, as has been marked +out and explained to you." + +Then, to the still defiant forms of Lucifer and his adherents this was +said: + +"Lucifer, son of the morning, thou hast withdrawn from the Father many +of the children of heaven. They have their agency, and have chosen to +believe thy lies. They have fallen with thee from before the face of +God. Thus hast thou used the power given thee. Thou hast said in thy +heart, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.... I will be like +the Most High! Thou hast sought to usurp power, to take a kingdom that +does not belong to thee. God holds you all as in the hollow of His hand; +yet He has not restrained thine agency. He has been patient and +longsuffering with you. Rebellious children of heaven, the Father's +bosom heaves with sorrow for you; but justice claims its own--your +punishment is that you be cast out of heaven. Bodies of flesh and bones +ye shall not have; but ye shall wander without tabernacles over the face +of the earth. Ye shall be 'reserved in everlasting chains under darkness +unto the judgment of the great day.'" + +Thus went forth the decree of the Almighty, and with it the force of His +power. Lucifer and many of the hosts of heaven were cast down. The whole +realm was thrilled with the power of God. The celestial elements were +stirred to their depths. Heaven wept over the fallen spirits, and the +cry went out, "Lo, lo, he is fallen, even the Son of the Morning." + + + + +III. + + "For thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."--_John + 17:24._ + + +There was a calm in heaven like unto that of a summer morning after a +night of storm. + +Throughout the whole strife, the dark clouds of evil had been gathering. +In the fierce struggle, the spirits of heaven had been storm-tossed as +on two contending waves; but when Lucifer and his forces were cast out, +the atmosphere became purged of its uncleanness, and a sweet peace +brooded over all. Save for sorrow for the lost ones, nothing marred the +perfect joy of heaven. All now looked forward to the consummation of +that plan whereby they would become inhabitants of another world, fitted +for their school of experience in the flesh. All prepared themselves +with this end in view. + +None was more grateful to his Father than Homan. In the midst of the +strife, he had done what he could for what he thought was right. All his +influence had been used with the wavering ones, and many were those who +owed him a debt of gratitude. But his greatest reward was in the peace +which dwelt within him and the joy with which he was greeted by all who +knew him. + +Through it all, Homan's thoughts had often been with the fair sister +Delsa; and often he had sought her and talked with her. It pleased him +greatly to see the earnestness and energy with which she defended the +cause of the Father. He was drawn to her more than to the many others +who were equally valiant. As he thought of it, its strangeness occurred +to him. Why should it be so? He did not know. Delsa was fair; so were +all the daughters of God. She had attained to great intelligence; so had +thousands of others. Then wherein lay the secret of the power which drew +him to her? + +The vastness of the spiritual world held enough for study, research, and +for occupation. None needed to be idle, for there were duties to be +performed, as much here as in any other sphere of action. In the +Father's house are many mansions. + +In the one where Delsa lived, she and Homan sat in earnest conversation. +Through the opening leading to the garden appeared the stately form of +Sardus. Homan sprang to meet him and greeted him joyously: + +"Welcome, Brother Sardus, welcome!" + +Delsa arose. + +"This is Brother Sardus," said Homan, "and this is Sister Delsa." + +"Welcome, brother," said she. "Come and sit with us." + +"Sardus," continued Homan, "I thought you lost. I have not met you for a +long time. You remember our last conversation? Sardus, what joy to know +that you are on the safe side, that you did not fall with Lucifer--" + +"S--h, that name. Dear brother, he tempted me sorely, but I overcame +him." + +"But we are shortly to meet him on new ground," continued Homan. "As +seducing spirits, he and his followers will still fight against the +anointed Son. They will not yield. Not obtaining bodies themselves, they +will seek to operate through those of others." + +"Now we know how temptation and sin will come into the world," said +Delsa. "God grant that we may overcome these dangers again, as we once +have done." + +They conversed for some time; then Sardus departed to perform some duty. + +"I, too, must go," said Delsa. "A company of sisters is soon to leave +for earth, and I am going to say farewell to them." + +"Delsa, you do not go with them? You are not leaving me?" + +"No, Homan, my time is not yet." + +"May we not go together?--but there--that is as Father wills. He will +ordain for the best. There are nations yet to go to the earth, and we +shall have our allotted time and place." + + * * * * * + +A group of persons was engaged in earnest conversation, when a messenger +approached. He raised his hand for silence, and then announced: + +"I come from the Father on an errand to you." + +The company gave him close attention, and he continued: "It is +pertaining to some of our brothers and sisters who have gone before us +into earth-life. I shall have to tell you about them so that you may +understand. A certain family of earth-children has fallen into evil +ways. Not being very strong for the truth before they left us, their +experiences in the other world have not made them stronger. This family, +it seems, has become rooted in false doctrine and wrong living, so that +those who come to them from us partake also of their error and unbelief +of the truth. As you know, kinship and environment are powerful agencies +in forming character, and it appears that none of the Father's children +have so far been able to withstand the tendency to wrong which is +exerted on all who come to this family." + +The messenger paused and looked around on the listening group. Then he +continued: "The Father bids me ask if any of you are willing to go in +earth-life to this family, become kin to those weak-hearted ones--for +their salvation." + +There was a long pause as if all were considering the proposition. The +messenger waited. + +"Brother," asked one, "is there not danger that he who goes on this +mission might himself come under the influence you speak of to such an +extent that he also would be lost to the good, and thus make a failure +of his mission?" + +"In the earth-life, as here," replied the messenger, "all have their +agency. It is, therefore, possible that those who take upon themselves +this mission--for there must be two, male and female--to give way to the +power of evil, and thus fail in their errand. But, consider this: the +Father has sent me to you. He knows you, your hearts, your faithfulness, +your strength. He knows whom He is asking to go into danger for the sake +of saving souls. Yes, friends, the Father knows, and this ought to be +enough for you." + +The listeners bowed their heads as if ashamed of the doubting, fearful +thought. Then in the stillness, one spoke as if to herself: "To be a +savior,--to share in the work of our Elder Brother! O, think of it!" +Then the speaker raised her head quickly. "May I go, may I?" she +questioned eagerly. + +"And I," "and I," came from others. + +"Sister, you will do for one," said the messenger to her who had first +spoken. "And now, we need a brother--yes, you, brother, will do." This +to one who was pressing forward, asking to be chosen. + +"Yes, yes," continued the messenger, as he smiled his pleasure on the +company, "I see that the Father knows you all." + +"But," faltered the sister who had been chosen, "what are we to do? May +we not know?" + +"Not wholly," was the reply. "Do you not remember what you have been +taught, that a veil is drawn over the eyes of all who enter mortality, +and the memory of this world is taken away; but this I may tell you, +that by the power of your spiritual insight and moral strength you will +be able to exert a correcting influence over your brothers and sisters +in the flesh, and especially over those of your kin. Then again, when +you hear the gospel of our Elder Brother preached, it will have a +familiar sound to you and you will receive it gladly. Then you will +become teachers to your households and a light unto your families. +Again, not only to those in the flesh will you minister. Many will have +passed from earth-life in ignorance of the gospel of salvation when you +come. These must have the saving ordinances of the gospel performed for +them, so that when they some time receive the truth, the necessary rites +will have been performed. This work, also, is a part of your mission--to +enter into the Temples of the Lord, male and female, each for his and +her kind, and do this work." + +A sister, pressing timidly forward near to him who had been chosen, took +his hand, and looked pleadingly into the face of the messenger. "May not +I, too, go?" she asked. "I believe I could help a little." + +The messenger smiled at her, seeing to whose hand she clung. "I think +so," he said; "but we shall see." + +"When do we go?" asked the brother. + +"Not yet. Abide the will of the Father,--and peace be with you all." + +He left them in awed silence. Then, presently, they began to speak to +each other of the wonderful things they had heard and the call that had +come to some of them. + +Times and seasons, nations and peoples had come and gone. Millions of +the sons and daughters of God had passed through the earthly school, and +had gone on to other fields of labor, some with honor, others with +dishonor. God's spiritual intelligences, in their innumerable gradations +were being allotted their times and places. The scheme of things +inaugurated by the Father was working out its legitimate results. + +Homan's time had come for him to leave his spiritual home. He was now to +take the step, which, though temporarily downward, would secure him a +footing by which to climb to greater heights. Delsa was still in her +first estate. So also was Sardus. They, with a company, were gathered to +bid Homan farewell, and thus they spoke: + +"We do not know," Homan was saying, "whether or not we shall meet on +the earth. Our places and callings may be far apart, and we may never +know or recognize each other until that day when we shall meet again in +the mansions of our Father." + +"I am thankful for one thing: I understand that a more opportune time in +which to fill our probation has never been known on the earth. The +Gospel exists there in its fulness, and the time of utter spiritual +darkness has gone. The race is strong and can give us sound bodies. Now, +if we are worthy, we shall, no doubt, secure a parentage that will give +us those powers of mind and body which are needed to successfully combat +the powers of evil." + +It was no new doctrine to them, but they loved to dwell upon the +glorious theme. + +"We have been taught that we shall get that position to which our +preparation here entitles us. Existence is eternal, and its various +stages grade naturally into one another, like the different departments +of a school." + +"Some have been ordained to certain positions of trust. Father knows us +all, and understands what we will do. Many of our mighty ones have +already gone, and many are yet with us awaiting Father's will." + +"I was once quite impatient. Everything seemed to pass so slowly, I +thought; but now I see in it the wisdom of the Father. What confusion +would result if too many went to the earth-life at once. The experience +of those who go before are for our better reception." + +"Sardus," said Homan, "I hear that you are taking great delight in +music." + +"That is expressing the truth mildly, dear Homan. Lately I can think of +nothing else." + +"What is your opinion of a person being so carried away with one +subject?" asked one. + +"I was going to say," answered Homan, "that I think there is danger in +it. Some I know who neglect every other duty except the cultivation of a +certain gift. I think we ought to grow into a perfectly rounded +character, cultivating all of Father's gifts to us, but not permitting +any of them to become an object of worship." + +"Remember, we take with us our various traits," said Delsa. "I think, +Homan, your view is correct. It is well enough to excel in one thing, +but that should not endanger our harmonious development." + +"I have noticed, Delsa, that you are quite an adept at depicting the +beautiful in Father's creations." + +"I?" she asked; "there is no danger of my becoming a genius in that +line. I do not care enough for it, though I do a little of it." + +Thus they conversed; then they sang songs. Tunes born of heavenly melody +thrilled them. After a time they separated, and Homan would have gone +his way alone, but Delsa touched him on the arm. + +"Homan, there is something I wish to tell you," she said. "May I walk +with you?" + +"Instead I will go with you," he replied. + +They went on together. + +"I, too, soon am going to earth," she said. + +"Is it true?" + +"Yes; Mother has informed me and I have been preparing for some time. +Dear Homan, I am so glad, still the strange uncertainty casts a peculiar +feeling over me. Oh, if we could but be classmates in the future +school." + +"Father may order it that way," he replied. "He knows our desires, and +if they are righteous and for our good He may see that they are +gratified. Do you go soon?" + +"Yes; but not so soon as you. You will go before and prepare a welcome +for me. Then I will come." She smiled up into his face. + +"By faith we see afar," he replied. + +"Yes; we live by faith," she added. + +Hand in hand, they went. They spoke no more, but communed with each +other through a more subtle channel of silence. Celestial melodies rang +in their ears; the celestial landscape gladdened their eyes; the peace +of God, their Father, was in their hearts. They walked hand in hand for +the last time in this, their first estate. + + + + +PART SECOND. + + "Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting; + The soul that rises with us, our life's star, + Hath had elsewhere its setting, + And cometh from afar. + Not in entire forgetfulness + And not in utter nakedness, + But trailing clouds of glory do we come + From God who is our home." + +--_Wordsworth._ + + "Two shall be born the whole wide world apart, + And speak in different tongues and have no thought + Each of the other's being, and no heed; + And these o'er unknown seas and unknown lands + Shall cross, escaping wreck, defying death; + And all unconsciously shape every act + And bend each wandering step to this one end-- + That, one day, out of darkness they shall meet + And read life's meaning in each other's eyes." + +--_Susan Marr Spalding._ + + + + +I. + + "Even a child is known by his doings."--_Prov. 20:11._ + + +How it did rain! For two long months the sky had been one unchangeable +color of blue; but now the dark clouds hung low and touched the horizon +at every point dropping their long-accumulated water on the thirsty +barrens, soaking the dried-up fields and meadows. The earth was thirsty, +and the sky had at last taken pity. It rained all day. The water-ditches +along the streets of the village ran thick and black. The house-wife's +tubs and buckets under the dripping eaves were overrunning. The dust was +washed from the long rows of trees which lined the streets. + +It rained steadily all over the valley. The creek which came from the +mountains, and which distributed its waters to the town and adjacent +farm-lands, was unusually muddy. Up in the canyon, just above the town, +it seemed to leap over the rocks with unwonted fury, dashing its brown +waters into white foam. The town below, the farms and gardens of the +whole valley, depended for their existence on that small river. Through +the long, hot summer its waters had been distributed into streams and +sub-streams like the branches of a great tree, and had carried the +life-giving element to the growing vegetation in the valley; but now it +was master no more. The rain was pouring down on places which the river +could not reach. No wonder the river seemed angry at such usurpation. + +About two miles from town, upon the high bench-land which lay above the +waters in the river, stood a hut. It was built of unhewn logs, and had a +mud roof. Stretches of sagebrush desert reached in every direction from +it. A few acres of cleared land lay near by, its yellow stubble drinking +in the rain. A horse stood under a shed. A pile of sagebrush with ax and +chopping block lay in the yard. + +Evening came on and still it rained. A woman often appeared at the door +of the hut, and a pale, anxious face peered out into the twilight. She +looked out over the bench-land and then up to the mountains. Through the +clouds which hung around their summits, she could see the peaks being +covered with snow. She looked at the sky, then again along the plain. +She went in, closed the door, and filled the stove from the brush-wood +in the box. A little girl was sitting in the corner by the stove, with +her feet resting on the hearth. + +"I thought I heard old Reddy's bell," she said, looking up to her +mother. + +"No; I heard nothing. Poor boy, he must be wet through." + +The mud roof was leaking, and pans and buckets were placed here and +there to catch the water. The bed had been moved a number of times to +find a dry spot, but at last two milk pans and a pail had to be placed +on it. Drip, drip, rang the tins--and it still rained. + +The mother went again to the door. The clang of cow-bells greeted her, +and in a few minutes, a boy drove two cows into the shed. The mother +held the door open while he came stamping into the house. He was a boy +of about fifteen, wearing a big straw hat pressed down over his brown +hair, a shabby coat, blue overalls with a rend up one leg, ragged shoes, +but no stockings. He was wet to the skin, and a pool of water soon +accumulated on the floor where he paused for an instant. + +"Rupert, you're wet through. How long you have been! You must get your +clothes off," anxiously exclaimed his mother. + +"Phew!" said he, "that's a whoopin' big rain. Say, mother, if we'd only +had this two months ago, now, on our dry farm, wouldn't we have raised a +crop though." + +"You must get your clothes off, Rupert." + +"Oh, that's nothin'. I must milk first; and say, I guess the mud's +washed off the roof by the looks of things. I guess I'll fix it." + +"Never mind now, you're so wet." + +"Well, I can't get any wetter, and I'll work and keep warm. It won't do +to have the water comin' in like this--look here, there's a mud puddle +right on Sis's back, an' she don't know it." + +He laughed and went out. It was quite dark, but the rain had nearly +ceased. With his wheel-barrow and shovel he went to a ravine close by +and obtained a load of clay, which he easily threw up on the roof of the +low "lean-to"; then he climbed up and patched the holes. A half hour's +work and it was done. + +"And now I'll milk while I'm at it," he said; which he did. + +"I've kept your supper warm," said his mother, as she busied with the +table. "It's turned quite cold. Why did you stay so long today?" + +Rupert had changed his wet clothes, and the family was sitting around +the table eating mush and milk. A small lamp threw a cheery light over +the bare table and its few dishes, over the faces of mother, boy, and +girl. It revealed the bed, moved back into its usual corner, shone on +the cupboard with its red paint nearly worn off, and dimly lighted the +few pictures hanging on the rough whitewashed wall. + +It was a poor home, but the lamplight revealed no discontent in the +faces around the table. True, the mother's was a little pinched and +careworn, which gave the yet beautiful face a sharp expression; but the +other two countenances shone with health and happiness. The girl was +enjoying her supper, the bright sagebrush fire, and the story book by +the side of her bowl, all at the same time. She dipped, alternately, +into her bowl and into her book. + +The boy was the man of that family. He had combed his hair well back, +and his bright, honest face gleamed in the light. He was big and strong, +hardened by constant toil, matured beyond his years by the +responsibility which had been placed upon him since his father's death, +now four years ago. In answer to his mother's inquiries, Rupert +explained: + +"You see, the cows had strayed up Dry Holler, an' I had an awful time a +findin' them. I couldn't hear any bell, neither. Dry Holler creek is +just boomin', an' there's a big lake up there now. The water has washed +out a hole in the bank and has gone into Dry Basin, an' it's backed up +there till now it's a lake as big as Brown's pond. As I stood and looked +at the running water an' the pond, somethin' came into my +head--somethin' I heard down town last summer. An' mother, _we_ must do +it!" + +The boy was glowing with some exciting thought. His mother looked at him +while his sister neglected both book and bowl. + +"Do what, Rupert?" + +"Why, we must have Dry Basin, an' I'll make a reservoir out of it, an' +we'll have water in the summer for our land, an' it'll be just the +thing. With a little work the creek can be turned into the Basin +which'll fill up during the winter an' spring. There's a low place which +we'll have to bank up, an' the thing's done. The ditch'll be the biggest +job, but I think we can get some help on that--but we must have the land +up in Dry Holler now before someone else thinks of it an' settles on it. +Mother, I was just wonderin' why someone hasn't thought of this before." + +The mother was taken by surprise. She sat and looked wonderingly at the +boy as he talked. The idea was new to her, but now she thought of it, it +seemed perfectly feasible. Work was the only thing needed; but could she +and her boy do it? + +Five years ago when Mr. Ames had moved upon the bench, he had been +promised that the new canal should come high enough to bring water to +his land; but a new survey had been made which had left his farm far +above the irrigation limit. Mr. Ames had died before he could move his +family; and they had been compelled to remain in their temporary hut +these four long, hard years. Rupert had tried to farm without water. A +little wheat and alfalfa had been raised, which helped the little family +to live without actual suffering. + + * * * * * + +That evening, mother and son talked late into the night. Nina listened +until her eyes closed in sleep. The rain had ceased altogether, and the +moon, hurrying through the breaking clouds, shone in at the little +curtained window. Prayers were said, and then they retired. Peaceful +sleep reigned within. Without, the moonlight illumined the mountains, +shining on the caps of pearly whiteness which they had donned for the +night. + + + + +II. + + "He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread; but + he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding."--_Prov. 12:11._ + + +Widow Ames had homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of government +land in Dry Hollow. That was a subject for a two days' gossip in the +town. There was speculation about what she wanted with a dry ravine in +the hills, and many shook their heads in condemnation. However, it set +some to thinking and moved one man, at least, to action. Jed Bolton, +the same day that he heard of it, rode up into the hills above town. +Sure enough, there was a rough shanty nearly finished; some furrows had +been plowed, and every indication of settlement was present. Mr. Bolton +bit his lip and used language which, if it did not grate on his own +ears, could not on the only other listener, his horse. + +Rupert was on the roof of his shanty, and Mr. Bolton greeted him as he +rode up. + +"Hello, Rupe, what're ye doin'?" + +"Just finishin' my house. It looks like more rain, an' I must have the +roof good an' tight." + +"You're not goin' to live here?" + +"Oh, yes, part of the time." + +"What's that for?" + +"To secure our claim. Mother's homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres +of this land." + +"What in the world are you goin' to do with it?" + +"We'll farm some of it, of course, an' we'll find some use for another +part after awhile, I guess." + +Then Mr. Bolton changed his tactics. He tried to discourage the boy by +telling him that it was railroad land, and even if it wasn't, his own +adjacent claim took it all in anyway; Rupert did not scare, but said, "I +guess not," as he went on quietly fitting and pounding. + +The man had to give it up. "That Ames kid" had gotten the best of him. + +This was four years ago, and wonderful changes had taken place since +then. Rupert had begun work on his reservoir the spring after they had +taken possession. He had a most beautiful site for one; and when the +melting winter snows and spring rains filled Dry Hollow creek, most of +it was turned into the Basin. It slowly spread out, filled the deep +ravines, and crept up to Rupert's embankment. Then he turned the stream +back into its natural channel again. Many came to look at the wonder. +Some of his neighbor "dry-benchers" offered to join him and help him for +a share in the water. The reservoir could be greatly enlarged, and the +canal leading from it around the side-hills to the bench had yet to be +dug; so Rupert and his mother accepted the offers of help and the work +went on rapidly. The next year Dry Bench had water. New ground was +broken and cleared. Trees were set out. There was new life on the farm, +and new hopes within the hearts of Widow Ames and her children. + +Dry Bench farm had undergone a change. A neat frame house stood in front +of the log hut, which had been boarded and painted to match the newer +part. A barn filled with hay and containing horses and cows stood at a +proper distance back. A granary and a corn-crib were near. The new +county road now extended along the fronting of the Ames place, and a +neat fence separated the garden from the public highway. On the left was +the orchard, a beautiful sight. Standing in long, symmetrical rows were +peaches, apples, pears, and a dozen other varieties of fruit, now just +beginning to bear. At the rear, stretching nearly to the mountains, were +the grain and alfalfa fields. Neighboring farms also were greatly +improved by the advent of water, but none showed such labor and care as +the Ames farm. Rupert grew with the growth of his labors, until he was +now a tall, muscular fellow, browned and calloused. Nina was fast +outgrowing childish things and entering the young-lady period. A +beautiful girl she was, and a favorite among her schoolmates. She had +attended school in town for the past three winters, and her brother was +talking of sending her to the high school. + +Practically, Rupert was the head of the family. Always respectful to his +mother, and generally consulting with her on any important matter, he +nevertheless could not help seeing that everything depended on him, and +that he was the master mind of Ames farm. And then the neighbors came to +him for advice, and older and presumably wiser men counseled with him, +and so it suggested itself to Rupert that he was the master mind of all +Dry Bench besides. Everybody called him a "rustler." When he had leisure +for school, he was beyond school age; so, nothing daunted, he set out to +study by himself. He procured the necessary books, and went to them with +an energy that made up for the lack of a teacher. Nina kept pace with +him for a time, but the ungraded village school curriculum was too slow +for Rupert; and when one spring the young reservoir projector appeared +at the county teachers' examination and passed creditably, all, as he +said "just for fun and practice," the people talked again--and elected +him to the board of trustees. + +A beautiful spring morning dawned on Dry Bench. A cool breeze came from +the mountains and played with the young leaves of the orchard. The +apricots were white with blossoms, and the plums and peaches were just +bursting into masses of pink and white. The alfalfa and wheat fields +were beautifully green. Blessed Morning, what a life promoter, what a +dispeller of fears and bringer of hopes, thou art! + +Rupert was out early. After tossing some hay to the horses and cows, he +shouldered his shovel and strode up the ditch, whistling as he went. His +straw hat set well back on his head. His blue "jumper" met the blue +overalls which were tucked into a pair of heavy boots. His tune was a +merry one and rang out over the still fields and up to the hills. + +Rupert's thoughts were a mixture that morning, and flew from one thing +to another: the ditch which he was to clean and repair; the condition of +the reservoir; the meeting of the school board; the planting of the +garden; the dance at the hall in town; the wonderful spreading +properties of weeds--so on from one subject to another, until he came to +a standstill, leaning on his shovel and looking over his farm and down +to the town, fast growing into a city. From a hundred chimneys smoke was +beginning to come, befouling the clear air of the valley. + +"It is a beautiful sight," said he to himself. "Six years ago and what +was it? Under whose hand has this change grown? Mine. I have done most +of the work, and I can lawfully claim most of the credit. Then it was +worthless, and just the other day I was offered five thousand dollars +for the place. That's pretty good. Father couldn't have done any +better." + +Rupert was not given to boasting, but it did seem lately that everything +he set his hand to prospered exceedingly. This had brought some +self-exalting thoughts into his mind; not that he talked of them to +others, but he communed with them to himself, nevertheless. + +That morning, as he rested his chin on his hands that clasped the end of +his shovel, such thoughts swelled the pride in his heart, and his work +was left undone. The sun came suddenly from behind the peak and flooded +the valley with light; still Rupert stood looking over the fields. In +the distance towards the left he caught sight of a horse and buggy +coming at a good pace along the new country road. He watched it drawing +nearer. A lady was driving. Her horse was on its mettle this morning and +the reins were tight. They were at that ugly place where the road +crosses the canal--he was to repair it that morning--He awoke from his +dreaming with a start, but too late; the horse shied, a wheel went into +the ugly hole, and the occupant was pitched into the dry bottom of the +canal. Rupert ran down the road shouting "whoa" to the horse which +galloped past him. The lady scrambled up before Rupert reached her. + +"Are you hurt?" he inquired. + +"No--no, sir," she managed to say. She was pale and trembling. "Can you +catch my horse? I think he will stop at that barn." + +"I'll get your horse, never fear; just so you're not hurt. Let me help +you out of the ditch." + +She held out a gloved hand and he assisted her up the bank. She was just +a girl, and he could have carried her home, had it been necessary. + +"Thank you, sir, but could you get my horse, please? There, he is +stopping at that house." + +"That is where I live. I'll bring him to you, if you will wait." + +"Oh, thanks; but I can walk that far. The fall has just shaken me up a +little. I shall soon get over it." + +They walked down the road to the gate. + +"You must come in and rest," said he, "and I'll take care of your +horse." She remonstrated, but he insisted, and brought her into the +kitchen where his mother was busy with breakfast. Rupert explained, and +his mother instantly became solicitous. She drew a rocking chair up to +the fire and with gentle force seated the stranger, continuously asking +questions and exclaiming, "Too bad, too bad." + +Rupert readily caught the runaway animal, and, leading him into the +yard, fastened and fed him. + +"Take off your hat, Miss," said Mrs. Ames, "your head'll feel easier. I +know it must ache with such a knock as that. I believe you're cold, too. +Put your feet on the hearth--or here, I'll open the oven door--there! +You must take a cup of coffee with us. It'll warm you. You haven't had +breakfast yet, I dare say." + +The stranger thanked her and leaned back in the chair quite content. The +fall had really shaken her severely and a pain shot, now and then, into +her head. Rupert foolishly fidgeted about outside before he could make +up his mind to come in. Nina now made her appearance. The coffee was +poured out and the stranger was invited to sit up. Once, twice, Mrs. +Ames spoke to her, but she sat perfectly still. Her face was pale, her +eyes half closed. + +"What's the matter, Miss?" asked the mother, looking into the girl's +face. + +"Mother, I believe she has fainted," said Nina. + +The three bent over the still form. Mrs. Ames rubbed the cold hands, +Nina became nervous, and Rupert looked down into the pale, beautiful +face. + +"Yes, she has fainted. It is too warm in here. We must get her in the +sitting-room on the sofa. Rupert, help us." + +Rupert stood at a distance. The mother and Nina tried to lift her, but +they failed. + +"You'll have to carry her in, Rupert. Come, don't stand there as if you +couldn't move. It's too close in this kitchen." + +But the young fellow still hesitated. To take a strange, fair girl in +his arms--such a thing he had never done--but he must do so now. He put +his strong arms under her and lifted her as he would a child, and +carried her into the next room, where he laid his burden on the sofa. +The cool air had its effect, and she opened her eyes and smiled into the +faces that were bent over her. + +"Lie still, my dear," said Mrs. Ames. "You have been hurt more than you +think." + +"Did I faint?--yes, I must have--but I'm not hurt." She tried to rise, +but with a moan she sank back on the pillow which Nina had brought. + +"I'll go for the doctor," said Rupert, and off he went. When he and +Doctor Chase came in an hour later, the girl was again sitting at the +table with Mrs. Ames and Nina. + +"I met with a slight accident down the road," she explained to the +doctor. "I wasn't quite killed, you see, but these good people are +trying to finish me with their kindness;" and she laughed merrily. + +Her name was Miss Wilton. She was a school teacher, and was on her way +to answer an advertisement of the Dry Bench trustees for a teacher. She +hoped the doctor would pronounce her all right that she might continue +her journey, as she understood it was not far. + +"You have had a severe shaking up, Miss Wilton, but I don't think you +need to postpone your journey more than a few hours," was the doctor's +decision. + +About noon, Rupert drove Miss Wilton's horse around to the front door +and delivered it to her. With a profusion of thanks, she drove away in +the direction of the chairman of the school trustees. Neither Nina nor +her mother had said anything about Rupert's being on the board. Mrs. +Ames had once seemed to broach the subject, but a look from Rupert was +enough to check her. When the school teacher disappeared down the road, +Rupert again shouldered his shovel, and this time the ugly hole where +the road crossed the canal was mended. That done, he returned home, +hitched a horse to his cart and drove to town. + + + + +III. + + "Favor is deceitful and beauty is vain."--_Psalms 31:30._ + + +Miss Virginia Wilton was engaged to teach the spring term of school at +the Dry Bench schoolhouse. Why that upland strip bordering the mountains +should be called "Dry Bench," Miss Wilton, at first, did not understand. +If there was a garden spot in this big, ofttimes barren Western country, +more beautiful than Dry Bench, she had in all her rambles failed to find +it. But when the secret of the big reservoir up in the hills came to her +knowledge, she wondered the more; and one member of the school board +from that moment rose to a higher place in her estimation; yes, went +past a long row of friends, up, shall it be said to the seat of honor? + +Miss Wilton gave general satisfaction, and she was engaged for the next +school year. + +For one whole year, the school teacher had passed the Ames farm twice +each day. She called often on Mrs. Ames, and Nina became her fast +friend. During those cool May mornings and afternoons, when the sky was +cloudless and the breeze came from the mountains, the young school +teacher passed up and down the road and fell to looking with pleasure on +the beautiful fields and orchards around her, and especially at the +Ames farm the central and most flourishing of them all. Perhaps it would +not be fair to analyze her thoughts too closely. She was yet young, only +twenty-two--Rupert's own age; yet Miss Wilton's experiences in this +world's school were greater than that of the simple young farmer's. + +Had she designs on the Ames farm and its master? She had been in the +place a year only. How could such thoughts arise within such a little +head? How could such serious schemes brood behind such laughing lips and +sparkling eyes? Strange that such should be the case, but truth is +ofttimes strange. + +Since the railroad had been extended through the valley, the town of +Willowby had grown wonderfully. Its long, straight streets enclosing the +rectangular squares, had not crept, but had sped swiftly out into the +country on all sides, and especially towards the mountains, until now +the Ames place was within the corporated city limits. Willowby soon +became a shipping point for grain and fruits to the markets which the +mining towns to the north afforded. The Ames orchard consisted of the +finest fruits which commanded a high price. Yes, the property was fast +making its owners rich. + +Rupert Ames was a "rising young man," lacking the finished polish of a +higher education, no doubt, but still, he was no "green-horn." Even Miss +Wilton had to acknowledge that, when she became acquainted so that she +could speak freely with him. He was a shrewd business man and knew how +to invest his growing bank account. It was no secret that city lots and +business property were continually being added to his possessions. + +As to home life at the farm, Miss Wilton was always charmed with the +kind hearted mother, the bright, cheerful Nina, and the handsome, sober +head of the family. Such a beautiful spirit of harmony brooded over the +place! Even within the year, the observant young woman could see signs +of culture and coming wealth. The repairing of old buildings, and the +erecting of the new ones; the repainting and decorating of rooms; the +addition of costly pictures and furniture; the beautifying of the +outside surroundings--all this was observed, and a mental note taken. + +For a time Rupert Ames was quite reserved in the presence of the young +school teacher. Naturally reticent, he was more than ever shy in the +company of an educated lady from the East. Rupert never saw her but he +thought of the day of her arrival on Dry Bench and the time when he held +her in his arms. Never had he referred to the latter part of the +episode, though she often talked of her peculiar introduction to them. + +At the end of the first year, Miss Wilton had so far shown that she was +but common flesh and blood that Rupert had been in her company to a +number of socials, and they had walked from church a few times together. +Dame gossip at once mated the two, and pronounced it a fine match. + +Early in September they had a peach party at the Ames farm. Willowby's +young folks were there, and having a good time. When the sun sank +behind the hills on the other side of the valley, and the cool air came +from the eastern mountains, Chinese lanterns were hung on the trees, and +chairs and tables were placed on the lawn. There were cake and ice-cream +and peaches--peaches of all kinds, large and small, white and yellow, +juicy and dry; for this was a peach party, and everybody was supposed to +eat, at least, half a dozen. + +The band, with Volmer Holm as leader, furnished the music; and beautiful +it was, as it echoed from the porch out over the assembly on the lawn. +When the strains of a waltz floated out, a dozen couples glided softly +over the velvety grass. + +"That's fine music, Volmer," Rupert was saying to the bandmaster, as the +music ceased. + +"Do you think so? We've practiced very much since our new organization +was effected. Will it do for a concert?" + +"You know I'm no judge of music. I like yours, though, Volmer. What do +you say about it, Miss Wilton? Mr. Holm wishes to know if his music is +fit for a concert?" + +"Most certainly it is," answered the young lady addressed, as she +stepped up with an empty peach basket. "Mr. Holm, I understand that last +piece is your own composition? If so, I must congratulate you; it is +most beautiful." + +"Thank you," and he bowed as he gave the signal to begin again. + +"Mr. Ames, more peaches are wanted--the big yellow ones. Where shall I +find them?" + +"I'll get some--or, I'll go with you." He was getting quite bold. +Perhaps the music had something to do with that. + +He did not take the basket, but led the way out into the orchard. It was +quite a distance to the right tree. + +"That is beautiful music," said she. "Mr. Holm is a genius. He'll make +his mark if he keeps on." + +"Yes, I understand that he is going East to study. That will bring him +out if there is anything in him." + +There was a pause in the conversation; then Rupert remarked carefully, +as if feeling his way: + +"Yes, there's talent in Volmer, but he makes music his god, which I +think is wrong." + +"Do you think so?" she asked. + +What that expression meant, it was hard to say. + +"Yes, I think that no man should so drown himself in one thing that he +is absolutely dead to everything else. Mr. Holm does that. Volmer +worships nothing but music." + +Rupert filled the basket and they sauntered back. + +"A more beautiful god I cannot imagine," she said, half aloud. + +Rupert turned with an inquiring look on his face, but he got nothing +more from her, as she was busy with a peach. Her straw hat was tilted +back on her head, and the wavy brown hair was somewhat in confusion. +School teaching had not, as yet, driven the roses from her cheeks, nor +the smiles from her lips. There was just enough of daylight left so +that Rupert could see Miss Wilton's big eye looking into his own. How +beautiful she was! + +"Mr. Ames, before we get back to the company, I wish to ask you a +question. Mr. Holm has asked me to sing at his concert, and I should +like to help him, if the school trustees do not object." + +"Why should they, Miss Wilton?" + +"Well, some people, you know, are so peculiar." + +"I assure you they will not care--that is, if it will not interfere with +your school duties." + +"As to that, not a moment. I need no rehearsals as I am used to--that is +I--you see, I will sing some old song." + +Miss Wilton's speech became unusually confused, and Rupert noticed it; +but just then Nina and her escort joined them, and they all went back to +the lawn. + +"Miss Wilton's going to sing at the concert," Volmer told Rupert later +in the evening. "'Twill be a big help. She's a regular opera singer, you +know. She's been in the business. I heard her sing in Denver two years +ago, and she was with a troupe that passed through here some time since. +I remember her well, but of course I wouldn't say anything to her about +it. No doubt she wishes to forget it all." + +"What do you mean?" asked Rupert, quite fiercely. + +"I mean that her company then was not of the choicest, but I believe +she's all right and a good enough girl. Rupe, don't bother about that. +Perhaps I shouldn't have said anything to you." + +"Oh, that's all right. I'm glad you mentioned it." + +Still a dull, miserable pain fastened itself in Rupert Ames' heart the +rest of the evening; and even when the company had gone, and Miss Wilton +had lingered and sweetly said "Good-night," and the lights were out, +strange thoughts and feelings drove from his eyes the sleep that usually +came peacefully to him. + +Rupert Ames was in love. The fact became the central idea of his +existence. + +During Rupert's busy life, love affairs had not occupied much of his +attention. Of course, he, in common with the rest of young mankind, +thought that some day he would love some girl and make her his wife; but +it was always as a far-away dream to him, connected with an angelic +perfection which he always found missing in the workaday world. His wife +must be a pure, perfect creature. Marriage was a sacred thing--one of +the great events in a person's life. Not that these views had now +changed altogether, for Miss Virginia Wilton came nearer his ideal than +anyone he had yet met. Still, there was considerable of the tangible +present about her. She was educated, businesslike, and a leader, and he, +ambitious of attaining to something in the world, would need such a +woman for his wife. But that sting which Volmer Holm had given him! His +wife must be beyond suspicion. He could not afford to make a mistake, +for if he did, it would be the mistake of his life. But was it a sin for +a girl to sing in an opera? Certainly not. Anyway, he would not condemn +her unheard--and then, he was sure he loved her. It had come to him +unbidden. It was no fault of his that this girl should have come into +his common life, and, seemingly, completely change it. + +The autumn days passed. With the work of harvesting and marketing there +was no time for social gatherings. The school teacher had changed her +boarding place, and her path lay no longer past the Ames farm. So Rupert +mingled his thoughts with his labors, and in time there emerged from +that fusion a fixed purpose. + +That fall Rupert's time as school trustee expired. At the first meeting +of the new board, Miss Wilton's position was given to a male teacher. +The reason given for the change was that "It takes a man to govern +boys." Other reasons, however, could be heard in the undercurrent of +talk. + +The first Sunday after he heard of it, Rupert found Miss Wilton, and +together they walked up the canyon road. It was a dull, cloudy day, and +not a breath moved the odorous choke-cherry bushes which lined the dusty +road. Never mind what was said and done that afternoon. 'Tis an old, old +story. Between woman's smiles and tears, the man gained hope and +courage, and when that evening they came down the back way through the +fields and orchards, Virginia Wilton was Rupert Ames' promised wife. + + + + +IV. + + "O Lord, lead me in a plain path."--_Isaiah 27:11._ + + +The scene shifts to a land afar off toward the north, Norway--away up +into one of its mountain meadows. The landscape is a mixture of grandeur +and beauty. Hills upon hills, covered with pine and fir, stretch away +from the lowlands to the distant glacier-clad mountains, and patches of +green meadow gleam through the dark pine depths. + +The clear blue sky changes to a faint haze in the hilly distance. The +gentle air is perfumed with the odor of the forest. A Sabbath stillness +broods over all. The sun has swung around to the northwest, and skims +along the horizon as if loth to leave such a sweet scene. + +Evening was settling down on the Norwegian _saeter_, or summer herd +ground. Riding along the trail through the pines appeared a young man. +He was evidently not at home in the forest, as he peered anxiously +through every opening. His dress and bearing indicated that he was not a +woodsman nor a herder of cattle. Pausing on a knoll, he surveyed the +scene around him, and took off his hat that the evening breeze might +cool his face. Suddenly, there came echoing through the forest, from +hill to hill, the deep notes of the _lur_. The traveler listened, and +then urged his horse forward. Again and again the blast reverberated, +the notes dying in low echoes on the distant hills. From another rise, +the rider saw the girl who was making all this wild music. She was +standing on a high knoll. Peering down into the forest, she recognized +the traveler and welcomed him with an attempt at a tune on her long, +wooden trumpet. + +"Good evening, Hansine," said he, as his horse scrambled up the path +close by, "your _lur_ made welcome music this evening." + +"Good evening, Hr. Bogstad," said she, "are you not lost?" + +"I was, nearly, until I heard you calling your cows. It is a long way up +here--but the air and the scenery are grand." + +"Yes, do you think so? I don't know anything about what they call grand +scenery. I've always lived up here, and it's work, work all the +time--but those cows are slow coming home." She lifted her _lur_ to her +lips and once more made the woods ring. + +Down at the foot of the hills, where the pines gave place to small, +grassy openings, stood a group of log huts, towards which the cows were +now seen wending. + +"Come, Hr. Bogstad, I see the cows are coming. I must go down to meet +them." + +They went down the hill together. The lowing cows came up to the +stables, and as the herd grew larger there was a deafening din. A girl +was standing in the doorway of one of the cabins, timidly watching the +noisy herd. + +"Come, give the cows their salt," laughingly shouted Hansine to her. + +"And get hooked all to pieces? Not much." + +"You little coward. What good would you be on a _saeter_? What do you +think, Hr. Bogstad?" + +As the girl caught sight of the new arrival she started and the color +came to her face. He went up to her. "How are you, Signe?" he said. "How +do you like life on a _saeter_?" + +"Well, I hardly know," she said, seemingly quite embarrassed. + +"Oh, I'll tell you," broke in the busy Hansine, as she came with a pail +full of salt. "She just goes around and looks at and talks about what +she calls the beauties of nature. That she likes; but as for milking, or +churning, or making cheese, well--" + +Then they all laughed good naturedly. + +Hansine was a large, strong girl, with round, pleasant features. She and +the cows were good friends. At the sound of the _lur_ every afternoon +the cows turned their grazing heads towards home, and, on their arrival, +each was given a pat and a handful of salt. Then they went quietly into +their stalls. + +It was quite late that evening before the milk had been strained into +the wooden platters and placed in rows on the shelves in the milk house. +Hr. Bogstad and Signe had proffered their help, but they had been +ordered into the house and Signe was told to prepare the evening meal. +When Hansine came in, she found the table set with the cheese, milk, +butter, and black bread, while Signe and Hr. Bogstad sat by the large +fireplace watching a pot of boiling cream mush. + +The object of Hr. Bogstad's visit was plain enough. He had been devoting +his attentions to Signe Dahl for some time, and now that he was home +from college on a vacation, it was natural that he should follow her +from the village up to the mountains. + +Hr. Bogstad, though young, was one of the rich men of Nordal. He had +lately fallen heir to a large estate. In fact, Signe's parents, with a +great many more, were but tenants of young Hr. Henrik Bogstad; and +although it was considered a great honor to have the attentions of such +a promising young man--for, in fact, Henrik was quite exemplary in all +things, and had a good name in the neighborhood--still Signe Dahl did +not care for him, and was uneasy in his company. She would rather sail +with some of the fisher boys on the lake than be the object of envy by +her companions. But Signe's slim, graceful form, large blue eyes, clear, +dimpled face, light silken hair, combined with a native grace and +beauty, attracted not only the fisher boys but the "fine" Hr. Bogstad +also. She was now spending a few days with her cousin Hansine in the +mountains. Her limited knowledge of _saeter_ life was fast being +augmented under her cousin's supervision, notwithstanding Hansine's +remarks about her inabilities. + +The cabin wherein the three were seated was of the rudest kind, but +everything was scrupulously clean. The blazing pine log cast a red light +over them as they sat at the table. + +"So you see nothing grand in your surroundings?" asked Hr. Bogstad of +Hansine. + +"How can I? I have never been far from home. Mountains and forests and +lakes are all I know." + +"True," said he, "and we can see grandeur and beauty by contrast only." + +"But here is Signe," remarked Hansine; "she has never seen much of the +world, yet you should hear her. I can never get her interested in my +cows. Her mind must have been far away when she dished up the mush, for +she has forgotten something." + +"Oh, I beg pardon," exclaimed the forgetful girl. "Let me attend to it." + +She went to the cupboard and brought out the sugar and a paper of ground +cinnamon, and sprinkled a layer of each over the plates of mush. Then +she pressed into the middle of each a lump of butter which soon melted +into a tiny yellow pond. + +"I should like to hear some of these ideas of yours," remarked the +visitor to Signe, who had so far forgotten her manners as to be blowing +her spoonful of mush before dipping it into the butter. + +"I wish I were an artist," said she, without seeming to notice his +remarks. "Ah, what pictures I would paint! I would make them so natural +that you could see the pine tops wave, and smell the breath of the woods +as you looked at them." + +"You would put me in, standing on The Look-out blowing my _lur_, +wouldn't you?" + +"Certainly." + +"And I have no doubt that we could hear the echoes ringing over the +hills," continued Hansine, soberly. + +"Never mind, you needn't make fun. Yes, Hr. Bogstad, I think we have +some grand natural scenes. I often climb up on the hills, and sit and +look over the pines and the shining lake down towards home. Then, +sometimes, I can see the ocean like a silver ribbon, lying on the +horizon. I sit up there and gaze and think, as Hansine says, nearly all +night. I seem to be under a spell. You know it doesn't get dark all +night now, and the air is so delicious. My thoughts go out 'Over the +high mountains,' as Bjornson says, and I want to be away to hear and see +what the world is and has to tell me. A kind of sweet loneliness comes +over me which I cannot explain." + +Hr. Bogstad had finished his dish. He, too, was under a spell--the spell +of a soft, musical voice. + +"Then the light in the summer," she continued. "How I have wished to go +north where the sun shines the whole twenty-four hours. Have you ever +seen the Midnight Sun, Hr. Bogstad?" + +"No; but I have been thinking of taking a trip up there this summer, if +I can get some good company to go with me. Wouldn't you--" + +It was then that Signe hurriedly pushed her chair away and said: "Thanks +for the food." + +Next morning Signe was very busy. She washed the wooden milk basins, +scalded them with juniper tea, and then scoured them with sand. She +churned the butter and wanted to help with the cheese, but Hansine +thought that she was not paying enough attention to their visitor, so +she ordered her off to her lookout on the mountain. Hr. Bogstad would +help her up the steep places; besides, he could tell her the names of +the ferns and flowers, and answer the thousand and one questions which +she was always asking. So, of course, they had to go. + +But Signe was very quiet, and Henrik said but little. He had come to the +conclusion that he truly loved this girl whose parents were among the +poorest of his tenants. None other of his acquaintances, even among the +higher class, charmed him as did Signe. He was old enough to marry, and +she was not too young. He knew full well that if he did marry her, many +of his friends would criticise; but Henrik had some of the Norseman +spirit of liberty, and he did not think that a girl's humble position +barred her from him. True, he had received very little encouragement +from her, though her parents had looked with favor upon him. And now he +was thinking of her cold indifference. + +They sat down on a rocky bank, carpeted with gray reindeer moss. + +They had been talking of his experiences at school. He knew her desire +to finish the college education cut short by a lack of means. + +"Signe, I wish you would let me do you a favor." + +She thought for a moment before she asked what it was. + +"Let me help you attend college. You know I am able to, +besides--besides, some day you may learn to think as much of me as I do +of you, and then, dear Signe--" + +Signe arose. "Hr. Bogstad," she said, "I wish you would not talk like +that. If you do, I shall go back to Hansine." + +"Why, Signe, don't be offended. I am not jesting." He stood before her +in the path, and would have taken her hand, but she drew back. + +"Signe, I have thought a great deal of you for a long time. You know we +have been boy and girl together. My absence at school has made no +difference in me. I wish you could think a little of me, Signe." + +"Hr. Bogstad, I don't believe in deceiving anyone. I am sorry that you +have been thinking like that about me, because I cannot think of you +other than as a friend. Let us not talk about it." + +If Henrik could not talk about that nearest his heart, he would remain +silent, which he did. + +Signe was gathering some rare ferns and mosses when Hansine's _lur_ +sounded through the hills. That was the signal for them, as well as the +cows, to come home. + +Early the next morning Hansine's brother came up to the _saeter_ to take +home the week's accumulation of butter and cheese. Signe, perched on the +top of the two-wheeled cart, was also going home. Hr. Bogstad, mounted +on his horse, accompanied them a short distance, then rode off in +another direction. + + + + +V. + + "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"--_Amos 3:3_ + + +It was nearly noon when Signe Dahl sprang from the cart, and with her +bundle under her arm, ran down the hillside into the woods, following a +well-beaten trail. That was the short cut home. Hans had found her poor +company during the ride, and even now, alone in the woods, the serious +countenance was loth to relax. A ten minutes' walk brought her to the +brow of a hill, and she sauntered down its sloping side. Signe had +nearly reached home, and being doubtful of her reception there, she +lingered. Then, too, she could usually amuse herself alone, for she +always found some new wonder in the exhaustless beauty of her +surroundings. + +She threw herself on a green bank, and this is the picture which she +saw: Just before her, the greensward extended down to a lake, whose +waters lost themselves behind cliffs and islands and pine-clad hills. +Here and there in the distance towards the north, there could be seen +shining spots of water; but towards the south the hills closed in +precipitously, and left room only for the outlet of the lake to pour +over its rocky bed into another valley below. On the farther shore, five +miles distant, a few red farm houses stood out from the plats of +green--all the rest was forest and rock. The sky was filled with soft, +fleecy clouds, and not a breath stirred the surface of the lake. Signe +gazed towards a rocky island before her. Only the roof of the house +upon it could be seen, but from its chimney arose no smoke. That was +where Signe had been born, and had lived most of the eighteen years of +her life. The girl walked down the hillside to the lake and again seated +herself, this time on a rock near the edge of the water. She took a book +from her bundle and began to read; but the text was soon embellished +with marginal sketches of rocks and bits of scenery, and then both +reading and drawing had to give place to the consideration of the +pictures that came thronging into her mind. + +Hr. Bogstad had actually proposed to her--the rich and handsome Hr. +Bogstad; and she, the insignificant farmer girl, had refused him, had +run away from him. Signe Dahl, she ruminated, aren't you the most +foolish child in the world? He is the owner of miles and miles of the +land about here. The hills with their rich harvest of timber, the rivers +with their fish, and even the island in the lake, are his. To be +mistress over it all--ah, what a temptation. If she had only loved Hr. +Bogstad, if she had only liked him; but she did neither. She could not +explain the reason, but she knew that she could not be his wife. + +How could such a man love her, anyway? Was she really so very good +looking? Signe looked down into the still, deep water and saw her own +reflection asking the question over again. There! her face, at least, +was but a little, ordinary pink and white one. Her eyes were of the +common blue color. Her hair--well, it was a trifle wavy and more glossy +than that of other girls, but--gluck! a stone broke her mirror into a +hundred circling waves. Signe looked up with a start. There was Hagbert +standing half concealed behind a bush. + +"Oh, I see you," she shouted. + +He came down to the water, grinning good-naturedly. + +"Well," said he, "I didn't think you were so vain as all that." + +"Can't a person look at the pebbles and fish at at the bottom of the +lake without being vain?" and she laughed her confusion away. "Say, +Hagbert, is your boat close by?" + +"Yes, just down by the north landing." + +"Oh, that's good. I thought I would have to wait until father came this +evening to get home. You'll row me across, won't you?" + +"Why, certainly; but I thought you had gone to the _saeter_ to stay, at +least a week." + +"Yes, but--but, I've come home again, you see." + +"Yes, I see," and he looked oddly at her. He had also seen Hr. Bogstad +set out for the mountains two days before, and now he wondered. + +Hagbert fetched the boat, took in his passenger, and his strong arms +soon sent the light craft to the other bank. + +"A thousand thanks, Hagbert," she said, as she sprang out, and then +climbed up the steep path, and watched him pull back. He was a strong, +handsome fellow, too, a poor fisherman, yet somehow, she felt easier in +his company than in Hr. Bogstad's. + +Signe found no one at home. Her mother and the children had, no doubt, +gone to the mainland to pick blueberries; so she went out into the +garden to finish her book. She became so absorbed in her reading that +she did not see her mother's start of surprise when they came home with +their baskets full of berries. + +"Well, well, Signe, is that you? What's the matter?" exclaimed her +mother. + +"Nothing, mother; only I couldn't stay up there any longer." And that +was all the explanation her mother could get until the father came home +that evening. He was tired and a little cross. From Hans he had heard a +bit of gossip that irritated him, and Signe saw that her secret was not +wholly her own. She feared her father. + +"Signe," said he, after supper, "I can guess pretty well why you came +home so soon. I had a talk with Hr. Bogstad before he went to the +_saeter_." + +The girl's heart beat rapidly, but she said nothing. + +"Did he speak to you about--why did you run away from him, girl?" + +"Father, you know I don't like Hr. Bogstad. I don't know why; he is nice +and all that, but I don't like him anyway." + +"You have such nonsensical ideas!" exclaimed the father, and he paused +before her in his impatient pacing back and forth. "He, the gentleman, +the possessor of thousands. Girl, do you know what you are doing when +you act like this? Can't you see that we are poor; that your father is +worked to death to provide for you all? That if you would treat him as +you should, we would be lifted out of this, and could get away from +this rock-ribbed island on to some land with soil on? Our future would +be secure. Can't you see it, girl? O, you little fool, for running away +from such a man. Don't you know he owns us all, as it were?" + +"No, father, he does not." + +"The very bread you eat and the water you drink come from his +possessions." + +"Still, he does not own us all. He does not own me, nor shall he as long +as I feel as I do now, and as long as there is other land and other +water and other air to which he can lay no claim." + +It was a bold speech, but something prompted her to say it. She was +aroused. The mother came to intercede, for she knew both father and +daughter well. + +"I tell you, girl, there shall be no more foolishness. You shall do as I +want you, do you hear!" + +Signe arose to go, but her father caught her forcibly by the arm. + +"Sit down and listen to me," he said. + +The girl began to cry, and the mother interposed: "Never mind, father; +you know it's useless to talk to her now. Let her go and milk the cow. +It's getting late." + +So Signe escaped with her pail into the little stable where the cow had +been awaiting her for over an hour. But she was a long time milking, +that evening. + + + + +VI. + + "Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy + father's house, into a land that I will show thee."--_Gen. 12:1_. + + +Signe Dahl sat in the little coupe of the railroad train which was +carrying her to Christiania. She was the sole occupant of the +compartment, her big valise resting on the opposite seat. Out through +the lowered window she looked at the flying landscape, a mingling of +pine hills, waters, and green meadows. An hour ago she had boarded the +train at Holmen, the nearest station to Nordal. Early that morning she +had tearfully kissed them all good-by and had begun her journey to that +haven of rest from old country oppressions--America. She and her mother +had planned it, and the father had at last given his consent. It was all +the outcome of Hr. Bogstad's persistent devotions to the family on the +island in the lake. + +Tiring of the scenery, Signe took from a bundle a letter. It had been +handed her by the postmaster at Nordal that morning as she drove past, +and was from Hr. Bogstad, who was in the North with a party of tourists. +She opened it and read: + +"I wrote you a letter about a week ago, describing our trip up to that +time. I hope you have received it. You know I have no eye for the +beautiful, but I did the best I could. You should have been along and +seen it all yourself. + +"And now I write you again, because, dear friend, I have heard a rumor +from home that you are going to America. It is news to me if it is true. +Dear Signe, don't. Wait, at least, until I can see you again, because I +have something to tell you whether you go or stay. I am coming home as +fast as steam can carry me. Please, don't run off like that. Why should +you? I ask myself. But there, it's only rumor. You're not going, and +I'll see you again in a few days, when I shall tell you all about the +rest of the trip." + +A smile played on Signe's face, but it soon changed to a more sober +expression. What was she to cause such a commotion in the life of a man +like Hr. Bogstad? That he was in earnest she knew. And here she was +running away from him. He would never see her again. How disappointed he +would be! She could see him driving from the station, alighting at the +ferry, springing into a boat, and skimming over to the island. Up the +steep bank he climbs, and little Hakon runs down to meet him, for which +he receives his usual bag of candy. Perhaps he gets to the house before +he finds out. Then--? + +Surely the smile has changed to a tear, for Signe has wiped one away +from her cheek. + +To Signe, the journey that day was made up of strange thoughts and +experiences. The landscape, the stopping at the stations, the coming and +going of people, Hr. Bogstad's letter, the folks at home, the uncertain +future,--all seemed to mingle and to form one chain of thought, which +ended only when the train rolled into the glass-covered station at +Christiania. + +With a firm grasp on her valise, she picked her way through the crowd +with its noise and bustle, and placed herself safely in the care of a +hackman, who soon set her down at her lodgings. + +At the steamship office she learned that the steamer was not to sail for +three days. So Signe meant to see what she could of the city. It was her +first visit to the capital, and perhaps her last. She would make the +best of her time. She had no friends in the city, but that did not +hinder her from walking out alone. In the afternoon of the second day, +Signe went to the art gallery, and that was the end of her sightseeing +to other parts. She lingered among the paintings of the masters and the +beautiful chiseled marble--the first she had seen--until the attendant +reminded her that it was time to close. + +That evening the landlady informed her that a visitor had been inquiring +for her during the day, a gentleman. Who could it be? He was described, +and then Signe knew that it was Hr. Bogstad. He had said that he could +call again in the evening. + +Signe was troubled. What should she do? He was following her, but they +must not meet. It would do no good. The steamer was to sail tomorrow, +and she would go on board that night. She called a carriage and was +driven to the wharf. Yes, it was all right, said the steward, and she +was made comfortable for the night. + +Among the crowd of people that came to see the steamer sail, Signe +thought she caught sight of Hr. Bogstad elbowing through the throng to +get to the ship. But he was too late. The third bell had rung, the +gangplank was being withdrawn, and the vessel was slowly moving away. +Signe had concealed herself among the people, but now she pressed to the +railing and waved her handkerchief with the rest. + +Farewell to Norway, farewell to home and native land. Signe's heart was +full. All that day she sat on deck. She had no desire for food, and the +crowded steerage had no attractions. So she sat, busy with her thoughts +and the sights about the beautiful Christiania fjord. + +Early the next morning they steamed into Christiansand, and a few hours +later, the last of Norway's rocky coast sank below the waters of the +North Sea. + +All went well for a week. Signe had not suffered much from seasickness, +but now a storm was surely coming. Sailors were busy making everything +snug and tight; and the night closed in fierce and dark, with the sea +spray sweeping the deck. + +Signe staggered down into the dimly lighted steerage. Most of the poor +emigrants had crawled into their bunks, and were rolling back and forth +with each lurch of the ship. Signe sat and talked with a Danish girl, +each clinging to a post. + +"I don't feel like going to bed," said the girl. + +"Nor I. What a night it is!" + +"Do you think we shall get safely across?" + +"Why, certainly," replied Signe. "You mustn't be frightened at a +storm." + +"I try not to be afraid, but I'm such a coward." + +"Think about something pleasant, now," suggested the other. "Remember +where you're going and whom you are going to meet." + +The girl from Denmark had confided to Signe that she was going to join +her lover in America. + +The girl tried to smile, and Signe continued: "What a contrast between +us. I am running away; you are going to meet someone--" + +Crash! A blow struck the ship and shook it from end to end; and +presently the machinery came to a full stop. Then there was hurrying of +feet on deck, and they could hear the boatswain's shrill pipe, and the +captain giving commands. The steerage was soon a scene of terror. Those +who rushed up the stairs were met with fastened doors, and were +compelled to remain below. Women screamed and prayed and raved. Then the +steward came in, and informed them that there was no danger, and the +scene somewhat quieted down. On further inquiry it was learned that they +had collided with another ship. Some damage had been done forward, but +there was no further danger. However, very few slept that night, and +when morning broke, clear and beautiful, with glad hearts they rushed up +into the open air. + +The second class was forward. Three of the passengers had been killed +and quite a number injured. + +If Signe had not been so poor, and had not refused help from Hr. +Bogstad, she would have taken second class passage. But now, thank God +for being poor and--independent! + +In another week they landed at New York, and each went her own way. +Signe Dahl took the first train for Chicago. + + + + +VII. + + "The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away."--_Job 1:22_. + + +The news startled the young city of Willowby from the Honorable Mayor to +the newest comer in the place. The railroad company had found a shorter +route to its northern main line, and it had been decided to remove, or, +at least, to abandon for a time, the road running through the valley. +The short cut would save fifty miles of roadbed and avoid some heavy +grades, but it would leave the town of Willowby twenty-five miles from +the railroad. Everybody said it would be a death-blow to the place. +Petitions and propositions from the citizens to the railroad company +availed nothing. + +The most diresome predictions came true. After the change, the life of +the young town seemed to wither away. Its business almost ceased. The +speculator whose tenement houses were without roof, hurriedly closed +them in, and so let them stand. Safer is the farmer, in such times. His +fields will still yield the same, let stocks and values in real estate +rise and fall as they will. + +Alderman Rupert Ames had been attending the protracted meetings of the +city council; this, with other business, kept him away from home for a +week. This was the explanation which he gave to his mother when he at +last came home. + +"Rupert," she said to him, "you must not worry so. I see you are +sick--you're as pale as death now. Is there anything the matter, my +boy?" + +Rupert seated himself on the sofa, resting his face in his hands, and +looked into the fire. He was haggard and pale. + +"Mother--yes, mother, something's the matter but I cannot tell you, I +cannot tell you." + +The mother sank beside him. "Rupert, what is it, are you sick?" + +"No, dear mother, I'm not sick--only at heart." He put his arms around +her neck and resting his head on her shoulder, began to sob. + +It had been a long time since she had seen her boy shed tears. + +"Mother," he sprang to his feet and forced himself to talk, "I must tell +you. The bank has failed and--and--I have not always told you of my +business transactions, mother. I now owe more than we are worth in this +world. I have been investing in real estate. I paid a big price for the +Riverside Addition, and the paper I asked you to sign was a mortgage on +the farm to secure a loan. Mother, I thought it was a good investment, +and it would have been had the railroad remained, but now property has +sunk so low that all we own will not pay my debts. And the bank has +failed also--O mother!" + +"My son, do not carry on like that. If the worst comes, we still have +the farm, haven't we?" + +"You do not understand, mother; our creditors can take that, too." + +Then she also broke down, and at sight of her tears the son gained +control of his own feelings, and tried to comfort his mother. She should +never want as long as he had two strong hands with which to work, he +assured her. All would be right in the end. "What I have done, I can do +again, mother; and though if it comes to the worst, it will be hard, I +am young yet, and have life before me." + +For an hour they sat on the sofa with their arms around each other, +talking and planning; and then when they became silent, the pictures +they saw in the glowing coals partook of a log house, a dreary sagebrush +plain, and the building of canals and reservoirs. + +The worst did come. They could, perhaps, have retained a part of Ames +farm, but they decided to give up everything, pay their debts, and face +the world honorably. So, before Christmas, everything had been cleared +up, and Widow Ames was installed in a neat three-roomed house nearer +town, for which they paid a monthly rental. + +Miss Virginia Wilton was on a visit to her "folks in the East." Rupert +both longed and feared for her return. In his letters he had said +nothing about the change in his affairs. He would wait until her return, +and then he would explain it fully to her. He had decided, for her sake, +to propose to her the postponement of their marriage until spring. He +would certainly be better prepared then. It would be a sacrifice on his +part, but Virginia would be wise enough to see its advisability. Yes, +they would counsel together, and Virginia's love would be the power to +hold him up. After all, the world was not so dark with such a girl as +Virginia Wilton waiting to become his wife. + +The day after her return to Willowby, Rupert called on her. Mrs. Worth, +the landlady, responded to his knock, and said that Virginia had gone +out for the day. She was, however, to give him this note if he called. + +Rupert took the paper and turned away. He would find her at some +neighbor's. He carefully broke the envelope and read: + + _Dear Mr. Ames_: + + As I have accepted a position to teach in another state, I shall + have to leave Willowby tomorrow. I shall be too busy to see you, and + you have too much good sense to follow me. Forget the past. With + kindest regards, I am, _Virginia Wilton_. + + * * * * * + +Nina was married on the first of the year. Widow Ames died about two +weeks after. + +And so life's shifting scenes came fast to Rupert Ames; and they were +mostly scenes of dreariness and trial; but he did not altogether give +up. Many of his friends were his friends still, and he could have +drowned his sorrow in the social whirl; but he preferred to sit at home +during the long winter evenings, beside his fire and shaded lamp, and +forget himself in his books. He seemed to be drifting away from his +former life, into a strange world of his own. He lost all interest in +his surroundings. To him, the world was getting empty and barren and +cold. + +The former beautiful valley was a prison. The hills in which his boyhood +had been spent lost all their loveliness. How foolish, anyway, he began +to think, to always live in a narrow valley, and never know anything of +the broad world without. Surely the soul will grow small in such +conditions. + +Early that spring, Rupert packed his possessions in a bundle which he +tied behind the saddle on his horse and bade good-bye to his friends. + +"Where are you going, Rupe?" they asked. + +But his answer was always, "I don't know." + + + + +VIII. + + "No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: + nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of + righteousness unto them that are exercised + thereby."--_Heb. 12:11_. + + +Rupert Ames had ridden all day, resting only at noon to permit his horse +to graze. As for himself, he was not tired. The long pent-up energy had +begun to escape, and it seemed that he could have ridden, or walked, or +in any way worked hard for a long time without need of rest. Move, move +he must. He had been dormant long enough; thinking, thinking, nothing +but that for months. It would have driven him mad had he not made a +change. Where was he going? No one knew; Rupert himself did not know; +anywhere for a change; anywhere to get away, for a time, from the scenes +and remembrances of the valley and town of Willowby. + +At dark he rode into a village at the mouth of a gorge. Lights gleamed +from the windows. A strong breeze came from the gorge, and the trees +which lined the one stony street all leaned away from the mountain. +Rupert had never been in the place before, but he had heard of Windtown. +Was there a hotel? he asked a passer-by. No; but they took lodgers at +Smith's, up the hill. At Smith's he, therefore, put up his horse and +secured supper and bed. Until late at night he walked up and down +Windtown's one street, and even climbed the cliffs above the town. + +Next morning he was out early, and entered the canyon as the sun began +to illumine its rocky domes and cast long shafts of light across the +chasm. A summer morning ride through a canyon of the Rockies is always +an inspiration, but Rupert was not conscious of it. Again, at noon, he +fed his horse a bag of grain, and let him crop the scanty bunch-grass on +the narrow hillside. A slice of bread from his pocket, dipped into the +clear stream, was his own meal. Then, out of the canyon, and up the +mountain, and over the divide he went. All that afternoon he rode over a +stretch of sagebrush plain. It was nearly midnight when he stopped at a +mining camp. In the morning he sold his horse for three twenty-dollar +gold pieces, and with his bundle on his back, walked to the railroad +station, a distance of seven miles. + +"I want a ticket," said he to the man at the little glass window. + +"Where to?" + +"To--to--well, to Chicago." + +The man looked suspiciously at Rupert, and then turned to a card hanging +on the wall. + +"Twenty-eight-fifty," he said. + +Two of the gold pieces were shoved under the glass, and Rupert received +his ticket and his change. + +In the car, he secured a seat near the window that he might see the +country. It was the same familiar mountains and streams all that day, +but the next morning when he awoke and looked out of the car windows, a +strange sight met his gaze. In every direction, as far as he could see, +stretched the level prairie, over which the train sped in straight lines +for miles and miles. "We must be in Kansas," he thought. "What a sight, +to see so much level land." + +But what was he going to do in Chicago? To see the world, to mingle in +the crowd, to jostle with his fellow-beings--what else, he did not know. + +Chicago! What a sight to the man of the mountains! Streets, houses, +people and the continuous din and traffic of the city nearly turned his +head for a time. What an ideal place in which to lose one's self. Rupert +had a bundle no longer, but in his pocket just fifteen dollars and ten +cents. He kept well out of the clutches of the sharpers in the city, +and lived quite comfortably for a week, seeing the sights of the +wonderful city. Then, when his money was getting low, he tried to get +work, as he wished to remain longer. But Rupert was a farmer, and they +were not in demand within the city limits. Outside the city, Rupert fell +in with a body of travelers who were going West--walking, and riding on +the trains when they had a chance. He joined them. Somehow, he had +ceased to consider what his doings might lead to, and as for misgivings +as to the company he was keeping, that did not trouble him. For many +days there was more walking than riding. Rupert was not expert at +swinging himself under the cars and hanging to the brakebeams, so he +traveled with the more easy-going element, who slept in the haylofts at +night and got what food they could from farmhouses, though Rupert +hoarded his little store of money and usually paid for what he got. Then +he lost all track of time. It must have been far into the summer when +Rupert separated from his companions, and found himself at the base of +the mountains. Here he spent his last cent for a loaf of bread. + +That night Rupert felt a fever burning within him, and in the morning he +was too weak to travel. He, therefore, lay in the hay which had served +him for a bed until the sun shone in upon him; then he again tried to +get out, but he trembled so that he crawled back into the loft and there +lay the whole day. Towards evening he was driven out by the owner of the +barn. Rupert staggered along until he came to another hayloft, which he +succeeded in reaching without being seen. All that night he tossed in +fever and suffered from the pains which racked his body. The next day a +farmer found him, and seeing his condition, brought him some food. Then +on he went again. His mind was now in a daze. Sometimes the mountains, +the houses, and the fences became so jumbled together that he could not +distinguish one from the other. Was he losing his mind? Or was it but +the fever? Was the end coming?--and far from home, too--Home?--he had no +home. One place was as good as another to him. He had no distinct +recollection how he got to the usual hayloft, nor how long he lay there. +It was one confused mass of pains and dreams and fantastic shapes. Then +the fever must have burned out, for he awoke one night with a clear +brain. Then he slept again. + +On awakening next morning and crawling out, he saw the sun shining on +the snow-tipped peaks of the mountains. He had dreamed during the night +of his mother and Virginia and Nina, and the dream had impressed him +deeply. His haggard face was covered with a short beard; his clothes +were dirty, and some rents were getting large. Yes, he had reached the +bottom. He could go no further. He was a tramp--a dirty tramp. He had +got to the end of his rope. He would reach the mountains which he still +loved, and there on some cliff he would lie down and die. He would do +it--would do it! + +All that day he walked. He asked not for food. He wanted nothing from +any man. Alone he had come into the world, alone he would leave it. His +face was set and hard. Up the mountain road he went, past farmhouse and +village, up, farther up, until he reached a valley that looked like one +he knew, but there was no town there, nothing but a level stretch of +bench-land and a stream coursing down the lower part of the valley. +Groves of pines extended over the foothills up towards the peaks. Up +there he would go. Under the pines his bones would lie and bleach. + +He left the wagon road, and followed a trail up the side of the hill. +The sun was nearing the white mountain peaks. An autumn haze hung over +the valley and made the distance dim and blue. The odor from the trees +greeted him, and recalled memories of the time when, full of life and +hope, he had roamed his native pine-clad hills. He was nearing home, +anyway. The preacher had said that dying was only going home. If there +was a hereafter, it could be no worse than the present; and if death +ended all, well, his bones would rest in peace in this lone place. The +wolf and the coyote might devour his flesh--let them--and their night +howl would be his funeral dirge. + +Far up, he went into the deepest of the forest. The noise of falling +waters came to him as a distant hymn. He sat on the ground to rest, +before he made his last climb. Mechanically, he took from his pocket a +small book, his testament--his sole remaining bit of property. He opened +it, and his eyes fell on some lines which he had penciled on the margin, +seemingly, years and years ago. They ran as follows: + + "'Tis sorrow builds the shining ladder up, + Whose golden rounds are our calamities." + +And the passages to which they pointed read: + + "My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint + when thou art rebuked of him; for whom the Lord loveth he + chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye + receive chastenings, God dealeth with you as with sons, for what + son is he whom the father chasteneth not?" + +The book dropped from the reader's trembling grasp. It was then that the +Angel of Mercy said, "It is enough," and touched the young man's heart. +The long pent-up spring burst forth, and Rupert sobbed like a child. By +a huge gray rock sheltered by the pines, he uttered his first prayer to +God. For a full hour he prayed and wept, until a peaceful spirit +overpowered him, and he slept. + +Rupert awoke with a changed heart, though he was weak and faint. Evening +was coming on and he saw the smoke curling from the chimney of a +farmhouse half a mile below. Painfully, he made his way down to it. + +A young man was feeding the cows for the night, and Rupert went up to +him, and said: + +"Good evening, sir; have you any objection to my sleeping in your barn +tonight?" + +The man eyed him closely. Tramps did not often come to his +out-of-the-way place. + +"Do you smoke?" + +"No, sir." + +"Then I have no objection, though I don't like tramps around the place." + +"Thank you, sir." + +The man moved off, but turned again. "Have you had any supper?" he +asked. + +"No; but I do not care for anything to eat, thank you." + +"Strange tramp, that," said the man to himself, "not to want anything to +eat. Well, go into the shanty and warm yourself, anyway." + +In the shanty, Rupert found an old stove glowing with a hot fire, by the +side of which he seated himself. The night was chilly in that high +altitude, and Rupert spread out his palms to the warmth. Inside the +house, he heard the rattle of dishes and the voices of women. Then +strains of songs floated out to him, and he became an intent listener. +Soon from out the humming came two sweet voices, singing. Rupert sat as +one spellbound, as the song seemed to melt into his soul: + + "O my Father, thou that dwellest + In the high and glorious place! + When shall I regain thy presence, + And again behold thy face? + In thy holy habitation, + Did my spirit once reside; + In my first primeval childhood, + Was I nurtured near thy side. + + "For a wise and glorious purpose + Thou hast placed me here on earth, + And withheld the recollection + Of my former friends and birth; + Yet ofttimes a secret something + Whispered, You're a stranger here; + And I felt that I had wandered + From a more exalted sphere. + + "I had learned to call thee Father, + Through thy Spirit from on high; + But until the Key of Knowledge + Was restored, I knew not why. + In the heavens are parents single? + No; the thought makes reason stare. + Truth is reason; truth eternal + Tells me I've a mother there. + + "When I leave this frail existence, + When I lay this mortal by, + Father, mother, may I meet you + In your royal courts on high? + Then, at length, when I've completed + All you sent me forth to do, + With your mutual approbation + Let me come and dwell with you." + +The door opened, and a young woman came out with a small tin pail in her +hand. At sight of Rupert she gave a startled cry and backed to the door. +Just then the young farmer passed through the shanty and explained that +it was only a "traveler" warming himself. The young woman looked +steadily at Rupert. The fire shone out from the open door of the stove, +and the light danced on the rough board walls, throwing a halo of red +around the girl. + +"What a sweet picture," instantly thought Rupert. + +Then she slowly advanced again, and, instead of pouring the contents of +the pail into a larger dish as was her errand, she placed it on the +table by Rupert, and said, smilingly: + +"Vil you have a drink of varm milk?" + +"Thank you, thank you." + +Then she went back. + +Warm milk! What could be more delicious? Rupert sipped the sweet fluid. +How it invigorated him and surcharged him with new life. And given by +such hands, with such a smile! It was a glimpse of past glories. + +In the morning Rupert was asked if he wanted a job. + +"Yes," was the answer. + +"Can you work on a farm?" + +"I've been a farmer all my life," was the reply. "I'm not a tramp, as +you understand that term." + +"Well, stay around today and I'll see what I can do. I want some help, +but I cannot pay high wages." + +"Never mind the wages," said Rupert, "we'll agree on that after a +while." + +The young farmer saw that he had no common tramp to deal with, although +he looked rough and travel-stained. + +"I have been sick for the past few days," explained Rupert, "and if you +can trust me, I should like to rest up a bit before I go to work. I'm +too weak to do you much good yet." + +"That'll be all right," was the answer. "I see you need something to eat +this morning, even if you weren't hungry last night. Come with me to the +house." + +So Rupert Ames remained with the farmer and did the chores around the +house until he became stronger, when he helped with the harder work. He +was treated kindly by them all, and it was not long before he mingled +freely with the family. + +During this time Rupert realized that his right senses, as he called +them, were coming back to him, and every night he thanked God in vocal +prayer for his deliverance from a dark pit which seemed to have yawned +before him. + +The Jansons were newcomers in the West, and had much to learn about +farming. Mr. Janson was a Swede who had been in the country twenty +years. His wife and her cousin were from Norway, the former having been +in the country long enough to become Americanized; it was two years only +since the latter had emigrated from her native land, so she spoke +English with a foreign accent. Her name was Signe Dahl (first name +pronounced in two syllables, Sig-ne). She attracted Rupert's attention +from the first. She had a complexion of pink and white, blue eyes, soft, +light hair; but it was not her peculiar beauty alone that attracted him. +There was something else about her, an atmosphere of peace and assurance +which Rupert could feel in her presence. Naturally, she was reticent at +first, but on learning to know Rupert, which she seemed to do +intuitively, she talked freely with him, and even seemed pleased with +his company. + +Two weeks went by, and Rupert proffered to remain with Mr. Janson and +help him with his harvesting. The latter gladly accepted the offer, for +he had by this time learned that Rupert Ames could give him many +practical lessons in farming. + +The song that Rupert heard that first evening continually rang in his +ears. He remembered some of the words, and, as he thought of them, +strange ideas came to him. One evening they were all sitting around the +fire in the living room. Rupert had been telling them some of his +history, and when the conversation lagged, he asked the two cousins to +sing that song about "O my Father." They readily consented. + +"A most beautiful song," said Rupert at its close; "and so strange. It +seems to bring me back for an instant to some former existence, if that +were possible. What does it mean: + + 'In thy holy habitation, + Did my spirit once reside; + In my first primeval childhood + Was I nurtured near thy side.' + +"What does it mean?" + +"Signe, you explain it," said Mr. Janson. "You know, you're a better +preacher than I am." + +Signe made no excuses, but went to the little bookshelf and took from it +two books, her English and her Norwegian Bibles. She read for the most +part from the English now, but she always had the more familiar one at +hand to explain any doubtful passage. + +"I vill do wat I can, Mr. Ames. I cannot read English good, so you must +do de reading." She opened the book and pointed to the fourth verse of +the thirty-eighth chapter of the book of Job. Rupert read: + + "Where wast thou when I laid the foundation of the earth? + declare, if thou hast understanding. * * * When the morning + stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" + +"Yes," said the reader, "that is a great question, indeed. Where was +Job? Why, he was not yet born." + +"Who are de sons of God?" asked Signe. + +"I suppose we--all of us, in a sense." + +"Of course; and ve all shouted for joy when God He laid de foundation of +de earth; so, ve must have been der, and known someting about it." + +"Yes, but how could we? We were not yet born." + +"No; not in dis world; but ve lived as spiritual children of our Fader +in heaven." + +"I don't know about that," remarked Rupert, doubtfully. + +"Of course you don't. Dat's why I tell you." + +They all smiled at that. Signe again turned the leaves of her Bible. +"Read here," said she. + +This time it was the first chapter of St. John. He read the first +fourteen verses. + +"Dat vil do; now read here." She returned to the sixth chapter, +sixty-second verse, and he read: + + "What and if ye see the Son of man ascend up to where He was before." + +She turned to another. It was the twenty-eighth verse of chapter +sixteen: + + "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, + I leave the world and go to the Father." + +Still she made him read one more, the fifth verse of the seventeenth +chapter: + + "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the + glory which I had with thee before the world was." + +"Now, vat does it all mean, Mr. Ames?" + +"I see your point, Miss Dahl. Christ certainly existed as an intelligent +being before He came to this earth--yes, even before the world was." + +"Certainly; our Savior vas himself as ve. He vas born, He had a body as +ve, and He also had a spirit. God is de Fader of His spirit and it +existed long ago, as you said. Christ is our Elder Broder. Ve are of de +same family. If He existed before de vorld, why not ve? Dat's right, +isn't it?" + +"But couldn't Christ have been the only one who had a pre-existence? I +believe something is said in your book about the Savior being the only +begotten of the Father." + +"Yes, in de flesh; dat is true, but God is de Fader of all spirits who +have come to dis world to take a body. I can find you many passages to +prove it." + +"Well, I have never thought of these things before, but it must be true +if the Bible means what it says. That's a grand principle, Mr. Janson." + +"It certainly is, Mr. Ames. Many people object to it; but I cannot see, +if we are to exist in a spiritual state after we leave this body, why we +could not have existed before we entered it--but Signe, here, is the +preacher. Her only trouble is with the w's and th's. She can't get them +right yet." + +Signe smiled. "No, Mr. Ames, I'm no preacher. It's all so plain to me. +De Bible says ve have a Fader in heaven, and I believe it. I also +believe ve have 'a moder der,' as de song says. I can't prove it from de +book, but I just use my reason on dat." + +It was a new experience for Rupert to hear a fair lady expound such +doctrine. The whole thing charmed him, both the speaker and that which +was spoken. A new light seemed to dawn upon him. What if this life was +but a school, anyway, into which eternal souls were being sent to be +proved, to be taught. + +"Have you any other quotations on the subject? + +"Oh, yes; it is full," said she. "When you get time read Heb. 12:9, +Jer. 1:4-5, Eph. 1:3-5 and John 9:1-3. I do not remember more now." + +Rupert took them down, and read them that night before he went to bed. +And each day he saw a new horizon; and the sweet-faced Norwegian was not +the least factor in this continued change of mental vision. "God bless +her," he said to himself, "God has sent her to me for a purpose;" and he +began to add to his prayers that he might so live that he would be +worthy of the blessings which, seemingly, were coming his way. + + + + +IX. + + + "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being + alone"--_James 2:17._ + +Chamogo Valley lies on the edge of the great arid region of America. At +the time of Rupert Ames' arrival in the valley, full crops were never +certain, and during some years, rain was so scarce that there were no +crops at all. The Chicago real estate dealer who had sold Mr. Janson his +land had not enlightened him on this fact, and so he had already lost +the best part of two years' work by failure of crops. Rupert Ames +learned of all this from Mr. Janson, and then he wondered why advantage +was not taken of the stream in the bottom of the valley for irrigation +purposes. + +One day--it was near the end of the harvest, and they were pitting their +last potatoes--Rupert asked Mr. Janson if the adjoining lands could be +bought. + +"Why, yes," was the reply. "I was offered nearly the whole valley for a +small sum, but I have all the land I care to handle. You see, this +region would be different if we could rely on the moisture, but we +can't, and I am nearly tired of it myself. Do you want to buy me out?" +This with a laugh. + +"Can you raise money enough to buy this whole valley?" asked Rupert +seriously. + +"Yes; I could get it." + +"Then I am going to propose something to you." + +Whereupon Rupert pointed out that the rich bench lands on each side of +the river could be brought under cultivation, and crops secured every +year by bringing the water from the stream in canals, and watering, or +irrigating them. Mr. Janson listened with wonder at Rupert's description +of Dry-bench reservoir, and how simple it would be to construct canals +by which to water Chamogo valley. + +"This valley can be made to support a good-sized population," said +Rupert. "By securing the land and digging canals to it, and then +selling it out in farms again--well, if you don't make a hundred per +cent on your investment, I am mistaken." + +They had many talks on the scheme, and at last it was decided to try it. +Rupert would supervise the construction of the canals. He would remain +during the winter, do what work could be done before the snow came, and +then continue the work in the spring. + +The land was secured at a small outlay. The canal was surveyed and a +little digging was done that fall. When the snow came, Rupert rode +twenty-one miles to the county seat, took the teachers' examination, +received a certificate, and obtained the Chamogo district school for the +winter. It was a new experience for him, and a trying one at first. The +big boys came to school to get out of the storm, and incidentally, to +learn something of the three R's. They were often wild, but Rupert +managed them without doing any "licking," the usual mode of discipline. +He now wrote to his sister Nina, and told her that he was located for +the winter; that he expected to get back to Willowby, but not for a +time. + +So the winter months passed. Rupert studied his own lessons when he was +not preparing for his day's work. He made frequent visits to the +Jansons, though it was a good three miles' drive. He was always received +as a friend, and, indeed, was treated as one of the family. + +Was it strange that a tie should grow between Rupert Ames and Signe +Dahl? Was it anything out of the way that Rupert's trips became more +frequent, and that the fair-haired Norwegian looked longingly down the +road for the school-master's horse? + +Rupert did not try to deceive himself. It had been a year only since his +experience with Virginia Wilton. He had thought that he never would get +over that, but even now he could look back on it with indifference, yes, +even with thankfulness. This love which seemed to be coming to him was +different from that first experience. He could not explain this +difference, but he knew that it existed. Rupert had no misgivings. Signe +did not thrill him, did not hold him spell-bound with her presence. No; +it was only a calm, sweet assurance that she was a good girl, that he +loved her, and that she thought well of him. Their conversations were +mostly on serious, but deeply interesting subjects. Signe, in common +with her cousin and Mr. Janson, had religious views of her own, which +were peculiar, at least to Rupert. Nothing more than the common +doctrines of the Christian denominations had Rupert ever heard. Signe +knew her Bible well, and she could find wonderful things within its +lids, teachings which were new to Rupert, but which opened to him a +future, a bright, glorious future, full of possibilities. Besides, they +explained to him many of the mysteries of life and answered many of its +hard questions. + +Thus one evening--it was Friday, and he lingered longer on that +evening--Mr. and Mrs. Janson were visiting neighbors, and Rupert and +Signe were alone. They sat by the kitchen stove, and the blazing pine +wood made a lamp unnecessary. Signe had received a letter from home +which she had translated to Rupert. Her father had long since forgiven +her. The few dollars she sent home now and then multiplied to quite a +few _kroner_ by the time they reached Norway, and they helped the +struggling family. After old country topics had been exhausted, the +conversation had drifted to religious themes, and especially to the +doctrine expressed in the song "O my Father;" but they now sat silently +looking into the fire. Their chairs were not far apart, and it was an +easy matter for Rupert to lay his hand over Signe's fingers that rested +on the arm of her chair and draw them closely into his big palm. + +"Signe," he said, "if we ever lived as intelligent beings in a +pre-existent state--and I now can not doubt it,--we two knew each other +there. Perhaps we were the closest friends, and I have just been letting +my imagination run wild in contemplating the possibilities." + +"Let me tell you someting--thing. Did I get tha-at right?" + +"You get the th as well as I, and the w's trouble you no more." + +"Only sometimes I forget, I was going to say, you remember the first +night you came here?" + +"I certainly do;" and he pressed her fingers a little closer. + +"Well, I seemed to know you from the first. Though you looked bad and +like a tramp, I knew you were not, and I felt as if I had known you +before." + +They were silent again, "reading life's meaning in each other's eyes." + +Signe filled the stove from the box beside it. + +"You remember that book you gave me to read the other day, Signe?" + +"Yes; what do you think of it?" + +"I have been thinking considerably about it. It sets forth gospel +doctrine altogether different from what I have ever heard; still it +agrees perfectly with what Christ and His disciples taught. You know, I +have always been taught that man is a kind of passive being, as regards +the salvation of his soul; that everything has been done for him; that, +in fact, it would be the basest presumption on his part to attempt to do +anything for himself; that man is without free agency in the matter; +that he is simply as a lump of clay, and with little more intelligence +or active powers." + +"I know all about such teachings," said Signe, as she went for her +Bible. "They were drilled into me in the old country." + +"Now," continued he, "I see that such doctrines lower man, who is, in +fact, a child of God. I cannot perceive that an Allwise Parent would +thus take away the agency of His children. We have a motto in school +which says: 'Self effort educates,' and I believe that to be the only +principle upon which we can safely grow, if we are to become like unto +our Eternal Father." + +"Yes," answered Signe, "but you must remember one thing, that 'as in +Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.' The +resurrection from the dead comes through Christ without any effort on +our part. We were not responsible for Adam's transgression, therefore we +are redeemed from its effects through the atonement of Christ, all +mankind are, both good and bad--all will arise and stand before God to +be judged by the deeds done in the body." + +"Yes; I admit all that; but it is hardly plain to me what we must do to +be freed from our individual sins. We are in the midst of sin. We are in +a mortal state and partake of our surroundings. Now, there must be a +plan by which we may be rid of these imperfections, for if we are ever +to live in the presence of God, it seems to me that we must be pure and +holy, without sin." + +Signe had her book open. "I will read here an answer to your question," +she said. "You remember that on the day of Pentecost when the Holy +Spirit was given, Peter preached to a large crowd of people. Many of +them believed, and being pricked in their hearts, they said: 'Men and +brethren, what shall we do?' You know they are not the only ones who +have asked that question." + +"No, you are right." + +"'And Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in +the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive +the gift of the Holy Ghost.' That's plain enough, isn't it? Words can +make it no clearer. When Peter saw that they had faith, he told them to +repent, then be baptized for the remission of their sins, then they +would get the Holy Ghost." + +"And the promise was to them and to their children and to them that were +afar off. Signe, is it not to us also?" Rupert asked, eagerly, "why +shouldn't it be?" + +"The promise is not limited--it is to you and to me. I, Rupert, have +obeyed Peter's word, and have received the promise. You may do the same, +and the same blessings will follow. The gospel is a law, a natural law, +and oh, such a beautiful one!" + +"Why haven't I heard this before?" exclaimed he. "Why isn't it written +in our books, and taught us in our childhood? Signe, I am a bit +bewildered yet." + +"Rupert," said she, with a smile that had something of sadness in it, +"the world is 'Ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of +the truth.' 'Darkness has covered the earth and gross darkness the +people.' 'And as with the people, so with the priest.' 'The earth also +is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed +the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.' Is +there any wonder that you have not heard these doctrines before? Though +you may read about them in the Bible, the world has been without their +living presence for many hundreds of years. But a new time has come to +the world. The gospel in its fulness and purity has been restored. We +read here that John, on the Isle of Patmos, saw that in the latter days +an angel would 'fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting +gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth.' That angel has come, +Rupert, that gospel has been restored; and what I have been telling you +are the teachings of that gospel. Man is again endowed with power from +on high to preach the gospel and administer its ordinances to those who +believe." + +Rupert listened with deepest interest. He became as a disciple at her +feet. They talked far into the night, and when Mr. and Mrs. Janson came +home they found them bending low over the fire reading from the "good +old book." Their heads were close together, the dark-brown one and the +one of soft, silken tresses. + + + + +X. + + "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept + the faith."--_II Tim. 4:7._ + + +Rupert was now continually thinking of the great questions of life. +Never before had he been so stirred in his feelings; never before had he +contemplated life in the light which now came to him. His heart was full +of love, gratitude, and praise which swelled within him, and seemed to +take possession of his whole being. + +The winter passed, and Rupert closed his school. He came to the +conclusion that school teaching was not his forte, though the people +were satisfied with his work. He longed to be out digging ditches. He +liked it far better, and conjectured that in this world his mission was +to make the physical deserts to blossom as the rose. + +During the summer, Chamogo valley did undergo a change. One side of the +valley was brought under irrigation, and a number of farms were sold at +a good profit. Mr. Janson did right by Rupert, and together they worked +and prospered. + +And that which now filled Rupert's cup of happiness was the fact that he +had rendered obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and had received +the promised gifts and blessings following. The light that leadeth into +all truth was his. With Signe and her co-religionists, he could now see +eye to eye, all having the same glorious hope for the future. + +One more winter passed; and when nature had spread her robe of green +over Chamogo valley, preparations were made for the ceremony that would +make Rupert and Signe husband and wife. Rupert longed to see Willowby +and Dry Bench once more, so it was decided that after they had visited +the Temple of God and had been sealed to each other for time and all +eternity, they would take a trip to Rupert's old home. They were married +in the Temple. Within its sacred walls they experienced more fully than +ever before what still sweetness there is in the ministrations of the +Spirit of God. + +They reached Willowby late in September. He had written Nina when he +would be there, and she and her husband were at the station to meet +them. + +There were tears in their eyes at the meeting. + +"Nina, this is my wife," said Rupert. "Signe, my sister, Mrs. Furns." + +A number of Rupert's old friends were there who now came forward and +welcomed him home. + +Then they rode through the valley behind two spirited grays. Nina had +not changed much, but she declared that had she met her brother on the +street, she would not have known him. + +"What has changed you so, brother?" asked she. + +"Experience, Nina, experience with the world I have lived a long time in +the two and a half years that I have been away--but never mind that now. +Everything looks the same hereabouts. I seem to have been absent but a +few days. How strange it is! Signe, there you see Willowby, on that +rise; quite a town yet. How's Dry Bench, James?" + +"Much the same, Rupe. No improvements since you left." + +"And the reservoir?" + +"As you left it, though it needs repairing badly." + +In the few moments of silence that followed, Rupert contrasted his +condition now with what it was when he left the place. What a change! He +was wiser if not much older. And then he had a wife--and he looked +lovingly at her as he thought of all she had done for him. As they drove +into town, friends greeted him and seemed pleased at his return. +Married? Yes; that is his wife. Not so dashing as Miss Wilton, but far +more charming, was the general expression. + +That evening there was quite a social gathering at Nina's. + +Early next morning, before others of the household were astir, Rupert +and Signe went up to Dry Bench. A beautiful morning greeted them. They +walked up towards the hill that they might get a good view of the farm, +and when they turned, Dry Bench was before them. The trees had grown, +but otherwise it was the same scene that he had looked upon many and +many a time. The memory of a particular morning came to him--the morning +when Miss Wilton's horse had run away. Miss Wilton had never been heard +of since she left Willowby. + +"How beautiful!" exclaimed Signe. "Do you know, Rupert, it reminds me of +a scene in Norway. I must make a sketch here before we leave." + +"Sit down on this rock," said he, "while I tell you something. Here's my +overcoat." He made a seat for her and he stood by her side. + +"Signe, nearly six years ago, I stood here on this spot. I was the owner +of the farm that you see. In fact, I dug this ditch. I set out that +orchard, I planned and built the reservoir that has made all this +possible; and then I stood here, and in the pride of my heart I said: +'All this is mine. I have done it all.' Now I understand that God put me +on trial, lent me some of His riches to try me, and then, seeing that I +was not in a condition to stand such favors, took them all from me. Yes, +it was a blessing in disguise. Darling, for this knowledge I am indebted +to you," and he leaned over and kissed her. + +"There you are wrong again," she said; "what about God above?" + +"You are right. 'Tis He only who should have our gratitude. You have +been but an instrument in His hand. I see it all. O Father, forgive my +foolish thoughts." He uncovered his head, as if in prayer. + +He sat down with her on the stone. The smoke began to rise from the +chimneys of the town below, and soon the Dry Bench farm-houses showed +signs of life. He pressed her cheek against his own. + +"Sweetheart," said he, "'When love has blended and molded two beings in +an angelic and sacred union, they have found the secret of life; +henceforth they are only the two terms of the same destiny, the two +wings of one mind. Love and soar.' That is from Victor Hugo; how true it +is." + +After a time they went down to the old home. A Mr. Temming was living +there, as a renter. He was not acquainted with Mr. Ames, and was not +disposed to show much courtesy, so they left. + +"What do you think of the place?" he asked. + +"I like it." + +"Could you live there?" + +"All my life, I could. Rupert, I see you in every tree, fence, and +ditch." + +He laughed at that. + +"I can now buy the place. Shall I?" + +"Yes, do." + +"You don't object? Would you really like to live there?" + +"I think, my dear, that you can do much good here. We ought to live +where we can do the most good." + +And so it was settled. Next day Rupert inquired after the owner of the +farm which once was his, and learned that it was in the hands of a real +estate dealer. He made his way to the office and knocked at the door, +which was partly open. A man was sitting at a desk, but he evidently did +not hear, so Rupert stepped into the room, at the same time giving the +door another loud rap. Still the man did not hear. + +"Good morning, sir," said Rupert. + +The man turned. + +"Volmer, Volmer Holm, is it you?" + +"Rupert Ames, I'm pleased to see you. When did you come to town? Have a +chair." + +"Are you in the real estate business?" + +"I can't hear very well, and you'll have to speak at close range, Rupe." + +So they put their chairs close together, and Rupert repeated his last +question. + +"Yes, a man must do something; but there's nothing going on now--nothing +in our line." + +Rupert looked in pity at his friend. Quite shabbily dressed he was, and +a careworn expression on his face made him look ten years older. He wore +glasses, which he pushed up on his forehead, and then took a good look +at Rupert. + +"Well, well, Rupe, and where have you been keeping yourself? An' I've +had luck, I tell you--you haven't heard, perhaps?" + +"No; I haven't. What's it been, Volmer?" + +"Was getting fifty dollars a week leading the orchestra at the Grand in +Chicago, when I got sick. Don't know what it was, Rupe--the doctors +didn't know. Got into my ears, and that knocked me--couldn't tell one +note from another; so, of course, that let me out. Hard luck, Rupe, hard +luck. Tough world this, Rupe. Why God Almighty crams a fellow's head +full of music, and then disables him so's he can't make use of it, I +don't know--I don't know." + +Rupert sympathized with his friend, and then told him of his errand. A +ray of sunshine seemed to enter the musician's life. The property was +for sale, yes, and cheap, dirt cheap; so the transaction was partly +arranged, and Volmer Holm went home to his wife and four children with +quite a happy heart that day. + +"It's too bad about Volmer Holm," said Rupert to his sister. "I had not +heard of his misfortune. Such a genius in music, too." + +"Well, I don't know," answered Nina, "it may be all for the best. Rumor +had it that he was fast getting into bad ways in Chicago; and some men +are better off by being poor, anyway." + +"Yes, that's so," was all he said. + + * * * * * + +Rupert Ames was again the owner of Dry Bench farm, and the next spring +they moved into the old home. Mr. and Mrs. Janson came with them to +visit, but their interests in Chamogo would not allow of a protracted +stay. Signe was already in love with her new home. With her taste for +the artistic, she soon had the place comfortable, and Rupert was never +more satisfied than when he came in where his wife's adept fingers had +been at work to adorn. It was the dear old home to him with an added +beauty, lacking only his mother's presence to make it perfect. + +Then they sent for Signe's family. It was hard for the father to make +ends meet in his native land, and Rupert needed just such help as Hr. +Dahl could give. In due time they arrived, and were installed in a +cottage near Rupert's farm. + +In peace and prosperity, the days, months, and years went by; and +Rupert Ames became a light to the surrounding world, and a teacher of +righteousness to his brethren. + + * * * * * + +It was the sixth year after Rupert's return that the citizens of the +Bench decided to enlarge the reservoir in Dry Hollow. Rupert was given +the work to supervise, and he entered upon the task with his usual +energy. + +That morning in September, when he gave his wife the usual departing +kiss, the children--four of them, were hanging about his legs and +clinging to his coat in great glee. + +"Now papa must go," said he, as he tried to shake them off. + +"A kiss, another kiss," "A tiss, some more tisses," they shouted. + +So he lifted them up, one by one, and kissed them again. Then his arm +went around his wife's neck, and he drew her face to his. + +"Goodbye, sweetheart," said he, "take care of the children, and don't +forget me," and he tried to hum a song as he walked to the gate. Signe +stood watching him. The tune which floated back to her was, "O, my +Father." Then a peculiar feeling came over her, and she sat down crying, +while the children climbed over her with questions and comforting words. + + * * * * * + +Terrible news from Dry Hollow! A blast, prematurely exploded, had +seriously injured some of the workmen, and Rupert Ames had been +killed--hurled down the ravine and nearly buried under falling rock. + +Break the news gently to his wife and children. Do not let them see that +bruised, bleeding form. Spare them all you can. + +Yes; it was all done--all that lay in human power was done; and hundreds +of people to whom Rupert Ames had opened up new light, and in the +providence of God, had given them a tangible hope of the future, +gathered around his body and mingled their tears with those of his +children's. + +Another immortal soul's earthly mission was ended. Life's school had +closed for him. Into another sphere he had gone. The Great Schoolmaster +had promoted him. + +And Mrs. Signe Ames, after it all, simply said: + +"God knows best. He has but gone before. He was my husband for time, he +is my husband for eternity. His mission is there, mine is here. In the +morrow, we shall meet again." + + + + +XI. + + "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every + creature."--_Mark 16:15._ + + +Hr. Henrik Bogstad leaned back in his chair before the fire in great +relief. He had just shown out a young man who was distributing religious +tracts dealing with some "new-fangled religion" lately imported from +America, that land of all new-fangled things. All the day, Hr. Bogstad +had been adjusting some difficulties among his tenants, and that evening +he was somewhat ill-humored. His treatment of the missionary, was, +therefore, harsher than he was wont to treat either strangers or +friends. + +His conscience smote him a little as he thought of what the young +American had said. He could find no fault with the religious doctrines +advanced, but why should he be bothered with religion anyway? He had +cares enough; for a great responsibility had come to him since he had +been put in charge of the estate left by his father's death. Just now +was the season of gaiety in Christiania, and here he was missing a good +many things by his enforced visit to his country home. + +After musing for some time, he got up and went to the window. Outside, +the snow covered everything--the fields, the roads, the frozen lake and +river. The houses were half hidden, and the pines on the hill bore up +great banks of snow. From the window the view was beautiful in its +solemn whiteness. From the white level of the distant frozen lake, +broken patches of brown protruded. These were the islands on one of +which Signe Dahl had lived. Henrik wondered what had become of her, and +where in the big America she had taken up her abode. He had heard that +she was well and happy, but further than that he had not set himself to +learn. Long ago he had put behind him philosophically his affair with +Signe. He had ceased to think of her as anything more than a sweet, yet +strange girl who could resist such an offer as he had extended to her. + +As Henrik was looking out of the window, he saw the young stranger who +had visited him less then an hour ago, returning down the road. Just as +he was about to pass, Henrik hailed him and asked him to come in again, +meeting him at the door. + +"Come in," he said; "I want to talk with you." + +The missionary placed his grip on a chair and seated himself on another. + +"I was somewhat cross with you when you called," said Henrik. "I don't +want you to think that I am rude, especially to strangers." + +"I was not the least offended," smiled the other. + +"I'm glad to hear it. Now I want you to tell me something about America. +I've never been there, though I expect to go some day. I have some +friends and a good many relatives over there. From what part do you +come?" + +"I am from Wyoming." + +"That's away out west, isn't it?" + +"Yes." + +"Two uncles of mine live in Minnesota, but that's a long way from +Wyoming. Where are you staying here, for the night?" + +"I am a traveling minister of the gospel and I stay wherever there is an +opportunity." + +"Then you'll stay with me tonight. I am not much on religion, but if you +will mix a little information about America with your preaching, I shall +be pleased to listen to you." + +These conditions were easily agreed to. So, after a good supper, the two +young men seated themselves comfortably by the shaded lamp on the +library table. The missionary spread out his book of views and explained +each of the pictures. He told of the great stretch of arid land in +western America, of the ranches, of the high mountains, of the fertile +valleys made fruitful by irrigation, and of the wonders of the great +Salt Lake. + +"This is the Temple." + +"Yes; and what is that for?" + +The purposes of temples were explained. + +"You say you baptize for the dead?" enquired Henrik, "How is that?" + +"Well, as I was telling you when I called on you some time ago--" + +"Pardon me, but I must confess that I did not pay enough attention to +what you said to remember. I was thinking about those quarreling tenants +of mine. Tell me again." + +The other smiled good-naturedly, and did as he was asked. Henrik +listened this time, and was indeed interested, asking a good many +questions. + +"Now, about the Temple," continued the missionary--"we believe that +every soul that has ever lived on the earth, that is living now, or that +will ever live must have the privilege of hearing this gospel of Jesus +Christ. There is only one name given under heaven by which men may be +saved, and every creature must hear that name. Now, the great majority +of the human race has never heard the gospel; in fact, will not hear it +in this life." + +"Where, then, can they hear it?" + +"In the great spirit world. Christ, when He was put to death went and +preached to the spirits in prison--those who were disobedient in the +days of Noah and were destroyed in the flood; and no doubt the saving +power of Christ has been proclaimed in that spirit world ever since. +Among those who hear, many will believe. They have faith, they repent of +their sins, but they can not be baptized in water for the remission of +their sins." + +"No; of course not." + +"And yet Christ definitely said that unless a man is born again of water +and of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. What is to be +done?" + +The listener, leaning over the table, merely shook his head. + +"Paul speaks in I Cor. 15:29 of some who were baptized for the dead--and +that is a correct principle. The living may be baptized for the dead, so +that those who have left this world may receive the gospel in the spirit +world and have the birth of the water done for them vicariously by +someone in the flesh." + +"This is strange doctrine." + +"Temples are used for these baptisms. The Latter-day Saints are busy +tracing back as far as possible their lines of ancestry, and then they +are going into their temples--for they have already four of them--and +are doing this work for their dead. In this way is being fulfilled +Malachi's prediction that Elijah the Prophet should come before the +great and dreadful day of the Lord, 'and He shall turn the heart of the +fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their +fathers,' lest the Lord come and smite the earth with a curse. You will +find this in the last chapter of the Old Testament." + +The lamp burned late into the night as these two men sat by it talking; +and the conversation was not, as one of them had planned, for the most +part about the land of America and its material opportunities. + + + + +XII. + + "Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he + cannot be my disciple."--_Luke 14:33._ + + +"I cannot understand him," Frue Bogstad was saying. "His actions are so +strange." + +"It's simply wicked of him," added Froken Selma Bogstad. "He is bringing +the whole family into disrepute." + +The mother did not reply, but turned her face thoughtfully away from the +angry daughter. + +"The boy is completely carried away with this American religion," +continued the girl, pacing nervously back and forth in the room. "Pastor +Tonset called to see him the other day, and you ought to have heard +them! The pastor, as our friend, came to advise him; but do you think +Henrik would take any advice? Why, he even argued with the pastor, +saying that he could prove the truth of this religion from the +Scriptures." + +"Has he talked to you about it?" + +"Yes; and he wanted me to accompany him to Osterhausgaden where these +people hold meetings. I told him definitely and forcibly that I didn't +want him to mention religion to me." + +"He seems to be in such deep earnest." + +"And that's the pity of it. It does no good to talk to him. He takes it +for granted that he should be persecuted. I believe he is ready to give +up everything for this creed that has him in its grasp." + +A violent ringing of the bell brought Selma to the door. It was Henrik, +who had forgotten his latch key. He hung up his hat, wiped the +perspiration from his face, for it was a warm evening; then he said +cheerily: + +"Spring is coming; I feel it in the air. I'll be glad to get out to +Nordal--there is so much to do this summer--" + +"Young man," interrupted the sister, "we have been talking about you." + +"About my wickedness, I suppose." + +"About your foolishness. It isn't very pleasant for us--what you're +doing." + +"What am I doing? That which is unkind to you, mother?" He placed his +arms lovingly around her shoulders, but she sat without replying, her +face in her handkerchief. He turned to Selma. + +"What have I done?" he asked. "Do I drink? Do I gamble? Do I steal? Do I +lie? Do I profane? Do I treat any of you unkindly? Am I disrespectful to +my mother or my sister?" + +"You associate with a people known everywhere as the scum of the earth," +snapped the sister, as she stood in front of him. "You are disgracing +us--the whole Bogstad family--you--but what's the use of talking to +you." + +"Not a bit of use that way, dear sister. Suppose you answer some of my +questions. You accuse, but never bring proof. You would rather believe +uninformed people than me. You accept hearsay, but will not listen to +the truth I wish to tell you. I have asked you to point out some of the +bad things taught by the Latter-day Saints, but so far you have never +tried. I have invited you to go with me--" + +"Do you think I would thus disgrace myself to appear in their meetings!" + +"You will not even read a simple tract; you close your eyes and ears. +You push God from you when you say that He does not reveal Himself any +more; and so does Pastor Tonset and all his followers. Because I am +willing to receive light, even though it comes from a 'sect everywhere +spoken against,' I am a bad man. I tell you, my sister, and also you, my +mother, I may be looked upon as a disgrace to the Bogstad family, but +the time will come when you and all that family will thank the Lord that +one member of the family heard the truth, and had courage enough to +accept it!" + +Selma walked to the door, and now passed out without replying. Henrik +sat down by his mother, and the two continued to converse in low, quiet +tones. + +The mother's hair was white, the face pinched from much suffering, the +hands shrunken. Selma's talk disturbed her, as did that of a score or +more of interested relatives; but when she talked with Henrik alone she +was at peace, and she listened quietly to what he told her. She was so +old and weak and traditionated in the belief of her fathers that she +could grasp but feebly the principles taught her by Henrik; but this she +knew, that there was something in his tone and manner of speech that +soothed her and drove away the resentment and hardness of heart left by +the talk of others. + +"You know, mother," Henrik was saying, "this restored gospel answers so +many of life's perplexing questions. It is broad, full of common sense, +and mercy. Father, as you well know, was not a religious man. When he +died, Pastor Tonset gave it as his opinion that father was a lost +soul--" + +"Father was a good man." + +"I know he was, mother; and to say that because he could not believe in +the many inconsistencies taught as religious truths, he is everlastingly +lost, doesn't appeal to me--never did. Father, as all of us, will +continue to learn in the spirit world to which all must go; and when the +time comes, he will, no doubt, see the truths of the gospel and accept +them. And here is where the beauty of true religion comes in: it teaches +that there is hope beyond the grave; that salvation is not limited to +this life; that every soul will have a chance, either here or hereafter. +You, mother, have worried over father's condition. Don't do it any more; +he will be all right." He felt like adding that she had more reason to +worry over the living, but he said no more. + +Selma came in with the coffee, and no further discourse was had on +religious topics. Although Henrik had quit using coffee with his meals, +he occasionally sipped a little in the company of his mother. This +evening he took the proffered cup from his sister, who soon withdrew +again, and then Henrik and his mother continued their talk. It was along +the lines of the old faith, grounded into them and their forefathers +since Christianity had been "reformed" in their country. As a boy, +Henrik had not been religious, as that term was understood by his +people, but nevertheless he had in him a strain of true devotion which +the message of the American missionary had aroused. However, this +revival within the young man did not meet with the favor of his friends, +and he was looked upon as having come under the influence of some evil, +heretical power, much to their regret. + +"Marie is here," announced Selma from the door. + +Henrik arose. "Where is she? I did not know she was in town." + +"She is in the east room." + +"Tell her to come in." + +"She says she wants to see you alone." + +"All right. Good night then, mother. Pleasant dreams to you." + +Henrik found Marie sitting by the open window looking over the tops of +the shrubbery in the garden. The light from the setting sun bathed her +in its glow, increasing the beauty of an already beautiful face. Henrik +stepped up behind the girl and placed his hands under her chin. She did +not turn her head. + +"This is a surprise," he said, "but I am _so_ glad to see you. Did you +have a pleasant time at Skarpen?" + +There was no reply. The young woman still surveyed the garden and the +darkening shadows on the lawn. + +"What is the matter, little girl?" he asked. He felt the trembling of +her chin as she removed his hands. + +"No," she replied, "I did not have a good time." + +"I'm sorry. What was wrong?" + +"You were not there--you were somewhere else, where your heart is more +than with me--you were, no doubt at Osterhausgade." She hardened her +tone as she proceeded. + +"Oh, I'm not there all the time," he laughed. + +"You think more of the people you meet there than you do of me, at any +rate." + +"What makes you think so?" + +"You, and your actions. O, Henrik, could you but hear the talk--I hear +it, and people look so strangely at me, and pity me ... I can't stand +it!" She arose as if to escape him, walked across the room, then sat +down by the center table. He closed the window blind, then lighted the +gas, and seated himself opposite her by the table. There was a pause +which she at last broke by saying: + +"I hear that you are actually going to join those horrid people--is that +true?" + +There was another long silence as they looked at each other across the +table. + +"Yes," he said. + +"Next week?" + +"That was my intention--yes." + +"And we were to be married next month?" + +"Yes--" + +"Well, I want to tell you, Henrik, that if you join those people the +wedding day will have to be postponed." + +"For how long?" + +"For a long, long time." + +"Well--I had thought to be baptized next week; but, of course, I can +postpone it." + +"For good, Henrik--say for good." + +"No; I can't say that; for a little while--to please you, to let you +think a little longer on the matter. I want you to choose deliberately, +Marie. There need be no undue haste. I don't want you to make up your +mind unalterably to reject me because of the step which I am going to +take." + +"I have already made up my mind." + +"Marie!" + +"You must choose between me or--" + +"Don't say it, don't; you'll be sorry some day, if you do; for the less +said, the less there is to retract." + +Marie arose. "I'm not going to take anything back," she answered with +forceful anger. "I thought you loved me, but--I--have been mistaken. I +shall not annoy you longer. Good night." + +He arose to follow her. "You need not come with me," she added. "I +shall see Selma, and she will accompany me home--not you." + +"Very well, Marie." + +She turned at the door. "Will you not promise?" + +"Promise what?" + +"Not to do as you said--not to disgrace--" + +"Marie, where the light shines, I must follow; where the truth beckons, +I must go. I--" + +With a low cry the girl turned and fled from the room. + + + + +XIII. + + "The Lord alone did lead him."--_Deut. 32:12_. + + +One beautiful summer evening, Henrik Bogstad was baptized in the waters +of the Christiania fjord. After that, the truths of the gospel appeared +clearer than ever, and still whisperings of the Spirit, to which he now +had legal right, testified to his spirit that he was in the way of +salvation, narrow and straight perhaps, but glowing with a light that +comforted and cheered. + +He told none of his family or friends of his baptism. They had already +rejected him as far as they could, and they asked him no questions. His +sister would hardly speak to him, and Marie cut him openly. His many +uncles, aunts, and cousins were cold and unfeeling. His mother, though +feeble, and sinking slowly, was the only one of his family that he could +talk to. She seemed to understand and believe him. He felt that in +spirit they were one, and he received great comfort from the thought. + +About Midsummer the mother died. Then Henrik spent most of his time at +Nordal. There was peace in the solitude of the pine-clad hills, there +was comfort in the waving fields of grain and the clear-flowing streams. +The lake spread out to his view from his window, and he gazed at its +beauty, sometimes his mind wandering from the Dahl home on the island +westward to unknown America. And America had a new meaning for him now. +Before, it had been simply a new wonder-land, with untold possibilities +in a material way; but added to this there was now the fact that in +America the Latter-day Zion was to be built; there the people of God +were gathering, were building temples, preparatory to the glorious +coming of the Lord. + +Henrik soon caught the spirit of gathering, but he quenched it as much +as possible. His brethren in the gospel advised him to remain where he +was and do his full duty to his sister and their interests. This he +tried to do. He would not quarrel with Selma, but was exceedingly +patient and considerate. He would "talk religion" with any of his +friends who expressed a desire to do so, but he would not contend. + +Henrik mingled more freely with his tenants at Nordal, and they soon +became aware of a change in him. He gave them good treatment. Sometimes, +there were Sunday services in the large parlor of the Bogstad residence, +and the people were invited to attend. They turned out, it must be +admitted, more because of Hr. Bogstad's invitation than because of any +enthusiasm on their part. + +Henrik, during this period of comparative loneliness, read much. He +always carried a book in his pocket when out among the hills and fields, +and many a moss-covered stone became his reading table. He had procured +a number of English books which he delighted in, for they brought to him +much that had not yet been printed in his own language. + +After the harvesting was over that summer, Henrik directed his attention +to another line of work, pointed out to him by the New Light. He +gathered the genealogy of his forefathers. His was a large family, and +when he searched the old church records at Nordal, at Christiania, and +at a number of other places he found that the family was an old and +prominent one, reaching back to the ancient Norsemen. He derived a +peculiar satisfaction in this work, and he extended his researches until +he had a large list of names on his mother's side as well as on his +father's. "Among these there are many noble and true," thought Henrik. +"Many will receive the gospel in the spirit world, and all will have the +opportunity. I shall have the necessary earthly work done for them. If +my labors for the living will not avail, my dead ancestors shall have +their chance. Who knows but even now the gospel is being preached to +them, and many of them are looking eagerly for someone to do their work +for them." The thought filled him with enthusiasm. + +The following spring Selma married, which left Henrik quite alone. He +met Marie at the wedding festivities. She was silent and quiet. He made +no strong efforts to win her back to him, so they drifted apart again. +Then Henrik arranged his affairs so that he could remain away for some +months. He said he was going to America to visit his uncles in +Minnesota,--and yes, very likely he would go farther west. His friends +shook their heads misgivingly, but he only smiled at their fears. + +Henrik sailed from Christiania in company with a party of his +fellow-believers, and in due uneventful time, landed in the New World. +He found America a wonderfully big and interesting country. He went +directly westward first, crossing the great plains and rugged mountains +to the valleys beyond. Here he found and visited many of his former +friends. He lived with the Latter-day Saints in their homes, and learned +to know their true character and worth. + +Then he saw the temples in which the Saints were doing a saving work +both for the living and the dead. While in conversation with some of the +temple workers, he told them of what he had in the way of genealogy, +which they commended highly, telling him that he had an opportunity to +do much good for his family. + +"I am glad to hear you say that," replied he, "for you know, this work +for the dead was what first impressed me in the gospel. It came to me +naturally, it seems, for I had no trouble in accepting it." + +Henrik learned much regarding the manner of procedure in this temple +work. He could do the work for the male members of his family, but a +woman must officiate for the female members. This was the true order, +he found. + +"Your sister or your wife or any other near relative would be the person +to help you in this," said his informant. + +Henrik shook his head. "I am the only member of the family that has +received the gospel," he replied. + +"Then, of course, any other sister in the faith will do; but the +blessings for doing this work belongs to the nearest kin, if they will +receive it. Have you no relatives in America?" + +"Yes; a lot of them are up in Minnesota, but none that I know are +Latter-day Saints--but I'll go and find out," he added as an +afterthought. + +And that is what Henrik did. Within a month he was on his way. He found +his Uncle Ole living not far from St. Paul. He was a prosperous farmer +with a family of grown-up sons and daughters who were pleased to see +their kinsman from the homeland. All the news from all the family had to +be told from both sides. Henrik was shown the big farm with its +up-to-date American machinery and methods. He was driven behind blooded +horses to the city and there introduced to many people. They knew that +Henrik was a person of some importance back in Norway, and they wanted +to show him that they also were "somebody." That seemed to be the +principle upon which they lived. The father and mother still belonged to +the Lutheran church. The three daughters had joined a Methodist +congregation because their "set" was there. The two boys attended no +church. + +Henrik was disappointed. He saw plainly that here was no help for him. +All these were entrapped by the world. At first, Henrik said nothing +about his own religious faith, but after a time he spoke of the subject +to one of his girl cousins. She was not the least interested. He tried +another with the same result. Then, one day at the table, he told them +all plainly what he believed and what he was called. They were merely +surprised. "That's all right," said his cousin Jack who voiced the +universal opinion, "we live in a free country, you know, where one's +religion isn't called into question." + +Henrik's other uncle lived in the city. He was a mechanic, having worked +for years in the railroad shops. Some months previous he had been +discharged, and since then he had operated a small "tinker" shop of his +own. Uncle Jens lived in a small rented house. Uncle Ole's visits to his +brother were far between. "Brother Jens is shiftless," Uncle Ole said. + +Henrik was, however, made welcome in the humble home, and he soon found +the family a most interesting one. His uncle was a religious man, +having, as he put it, "got religion" some years ago at a Baptist +revival. He had joined that church and was an active member in it. The +wife and some of the children were devout believers. They indulged in +long family prayers and much scriptural reading. This branch of the +Bogstad family called the wealthy farmer and his children a "godless +lot." + +Uncle Jens' oldest daughter, one about Henrik's own age, did not live +at home, therefore he did not see her. He was getting well acquainted +with the others, but Rachel he did not know. + +"I must meet Rachel, too," he said one day to his uncle. "Where can I +find her?" + +"She works in a down-town department store; at night she stays with some +friends of hers. The fact is that Rachel is peculiar. She is not one +with us. She has been led astray--" + +"Oh!" cried Henrik. + +"She is not a bad girl--no, no; but she has been led away into a false +religion, and as she will talk and argue with us all, I thought it best +that she stay away from our home until she comes to her senses; but--" + +"What is this religion that has caused her to err so badly?" + +"Why, she calls herself a Latter-day Saint." + +"What!" + +"Yes; I've tried to reason with the girl, but it's been no use." + +"I want to see her--now, today," said Henrik. "Give me her address." + +"Shall I go with you?" + +"No, I can find her,--you need not bother." + +Henrik obtained the proper directions, and set out immediately. Was +there then one other of his family that had received the gospel--one +that could help him? He boarded a car, getting off at the store. Going +to the department in which she worked, he asked the floor-walker where +he could find Miss Bogstad. Then he saw her behind a counter, resting +for a moment, unoccupied. Though she was an American, Henrik could see +the Norwegian traits in his fair cousin. She was of the dark type, with +round, rosy lips and cheeks, and heavy, brown hair. + +"I am your cousin Henrik from Norway," he said as he shook her hand. + +Her smile burst into a soft, merry laugh as she greeted him. "I am glad +to see you," she said. "I heard you were here, but thought perhaps I +might not get to meet you." + +He held her hand a long time, as he looked into the pretty, sweet face. +Had he been an American, he would, no doubt, have kissed her then and +there; but being a Norwegian, he only looked his wonder and pleasure. + +They could not talk much because customers had to be served; but Henrik +lingered until closing time, saying he would walk home with her that +they might talk. She expressed her pleasure at the proposition; and +promptly at the closing gong, she donned her wraps and joined him. The +day was warm, and he suggested a walk around by the park, where they +might sit down on a bench under the trees. + +It was a difficult matter for seriously minded Uncle Jens and his family +to laugh, and even a smile was seldom seen on their faces; but here was +one who seemed bubbling over with merriment--one whose countenance shone +as if from an inner light of happiness. + +"Rachel," said Henrik, "your father has told me about you." + +"Yes," she replied with sobering face, "they think I am a very bad +girl,--but--" + +"Look here cousin, don't make any apologies. I know, and understand." + +He asked her some questions about herself, all of which she answered +frankly. Then he told her about himself, which she first met with an +astonished stare. He narrated his experiences in Norway, of his trip +westward, and the real purpose of his coming to Minnesota. She heard his +story with alternating smiles and tears, as it touched her heart. They +sat thus for a long time, oblivious to the singing birds above, of the +curious passers-by, or the fast falling night. They walked home in the +lighted streets, and it was late when he bade her goodnight at the gate. + +The next day Henrik had a talk with Uncle Jens which ended in the +uncle's closing with a bang the open Bible on the table out of which +they had been reading, and then in uncontrolled rage ordering his nephew +out of the house. Henrik tried to make peace with his uncle, but it +proved useless, so he took his hat and left. + +Henrik met Rachel again that evening, and again they sat on the bench +under the trees. Once again they became lost to all outward disturbances +in the deep concerns which brooded in their hearts and found utterance +in their speech. + +"I shall remain here a few days more," said he in conclusion, "because I +want to get better acquainted with you; and then we must talk over our +plans further. Then I shall go back to Norway. In a few months I shall +come back, and we two shall go westward where the Temples are, and there +begin the work that is ours--the work that the Lord has called us to do. +What do you say to that?" + +"Thank you," she replied simply, and with her usual smile; "I shall be +ready." + + + + +XIV. + + "Rend your heart and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your + God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great + kindness."--_Joel 2:13._ + + +On Henrik's arrival in Norway, the harvesting was in full swing, and he +busied himself with that. His friends, some of whom were surprised at +his return, asked him what he had found in America, and he told them +freely. Had he discovered the delusion in his American religion? No, he +replied, his faith had been made stronger. Selma had relented somewhat, +she making him welcome at her home in Christiania. Here he also met +Marie. Henrik treated her as a friend with whom he had never had +differences. When she saw him back again, browned and hardy, but the +same gentle Henrik, Marie wondered, and by that wonder her resentment +was modified, and she listened to his accounts of America and his +relatives in Minnesota with much interest. As he spoke with an added +enthusiasm of his cousin Rachel, the listeners opened their ears and +eyes. He told them freely of his plans, and what he and Rachel were +going to do. + +"Yes," he said, "I can see the hand of the Lord in my finding +Rachel."--Marie had her doubts, but she said nothing.--"It is all so +wonderful to me, and I am only sorry that you folks can't see it!" But +they replied nothing. + +Henrik wrote often to Rachel, and the letters which he received in reply +he usually handed to Selma, and Marie, if she was present. They +pronounced them fine letters. "She must be a jolly girl," they said. + +"She is," he affirmed; "the most religious and yet the merriest girl I +have ever met. That seems a contradiction, but it isn't." Then he went +on explaining, and they could not help listening. Henrik studied the two +young women to see what impression he might be making. On Selma there +was very little, but he believed Marie was overcoming some of her +prejudice. Selma told him that Marie loved him as much as ever, and that +if he deserted her, it would break her heart. + +"But Selma," he exclaimed, "I have never deserted her. It was she who +broke the engagement." + +"How could she do otherwise;--but she has been waiting, and will still +wait in hope." + +"I, too, shall do that," he said. + + * * * * * + +That fall Henrik again sailed for America. Going westward by way of +Minnesota, he called for Rachel and took her with him. In one of the +Temple cities they found lodgings with some of his friends, and then +they entered upon their work for their ancestors. Henrik had a long list +of them, and so they were kept busy nearly all the winter. At the end +of three months, Henrik asked Rachel if she was tired and wanted a rest. + +"Oh, no," she said; "I believe I can do this work all my life. It isn't +always easy, but there is so much joy and peace in it. I believe the +angels are with us, and I don't want better company." + +And so these two were very much contented. They sent letters home +telling of the "glorious" time they were having, and the work they were +doing. At the opening of spring, Henrik left Rachel to continue the +work, he having to go back to Norway. He asked her if she desired to +return to her folks in Minnesota, but she said no, not yet. + +The early spring months found Henrik in Christiania. He made a trip to +Denmark on genealogical research which proved quite successful. The +first of June found him back to Nordal. + +Midsummer Night came clear and cool. Henrik was in Christiania, and was +to be one of a party to spend the night on the hills above the city. +Marie was not with them, and Henrik enquired the reason. + +"She is ill," said Selma. + +"Ill? Where is she?" + +"At home. I think you should go and see her." + +"Does she want me?" + +"Yes." + +Henrik excused himself from the party and went immediately to Marie. He +found her on the veranda, reclining on a couch. The lamp-light from an +open window fell on a pale face, startling in its changed expression. He +silently took her hand, her fingers tightening in his grasp. She looked +him steadily in the face, her swimming eyes not wavering. Then Henrik +knew that he loved this girl yet. For a long time he had tried to forget +her, tried to root out his love for her, tried to think that she was not +for him. "I'll not try again," he had thought, "for twice now have I +been disappointed;" but now a flood of compassionate love engulfed him, +and he, too, clung to the fingers in his grasp. + +"I am sorry to see you like this," he said, "what is the matter?" + +"I don't know." + +"Doesn't the doctor know?" + +She shook her head with a faint smile. "Sit down, Henrik, I want to talk +to you," she said. + +He took the low chair by her side. The mother looked at them from the +door-way, but did not come out. + +"I want you to forgive me," she said. + +"That has been done long ago." + +"Thank you--now listen. I have been wrong, wickedly wrong, it seems to +me--listen! I have not been honest, neither with you, nor myself, nor +with the Lord--which is the worst of all. I understood much that you +taught me of the restored gospel--It seemed so easy to my understanding; +but my pride was in the way, and I would not accept the light. I pushed +it away. I kept saying to myself, 'It isn't true,' when I knew all the +time that it was. That's the sin I have committed." + +"My dear--" + +"You remember that book you asked me to read? Well, I read it through, +though I led you to believe that I did not. It is a beautiful book, and +true, every word. * * * Perhaps you will not believe me when I tell you +that I have been a number of times to your meetings in Osterhausgade. +Once when you were there--I thought you would see me," she smiled. "And +I could find no faults, though at first I went looking for them * * * +Now, I've told you. You have forgiven me, you say; but will the Lord?" + +"Yes; the Lord is good." + +"When I get better--if I do--I am going to join the Church as you have +done. That is the right thing to do, isn't it?" + +"Yes." + +"And then, may I go to where you and your cousin Rachel are working for +the dead? When--when are you to be married?" + +"Married? To whom?" + +"Why, to your cousin Rachel. Are you not going to marry her?" + +"Certainly not--never thought of it for a moment." + +"Oh, dear, I must have made another mistake. Forgive me." She lay back +on her cushions. + +"Marie, when I get married, it's you I want for my wife. I have told you +that before, and I haven't changed my mind. You shall be mine, if you +will come back to the sweet days of long ago. Will you?" + +He leaned over the couch, and she drew his face to hers. "Yes," she +whispered. + +At the end of an hour's conversation wherein much had been said, Marie +asked: "May I go with you to the temple and there help you in the work +you are doing? I believe I could help a little." + +It was at that moment that the curtain lifted from the eyes of the +mortal, and Henrik saw for an instant into the pre-existent world. A +group of spiritual beings was eagerly engaged in conversation, and from +out that group he heard the voice of one answering Marie's question. + +"Yes; I think so; but we shall see." + + + + +XV. + + "A friend of mine in his journey is come to me."--_Luke 11:6._ + + +The next time Henrik went to the valleys of the mountains in western +America, Marie accompanied him. They were married in the Temple, made +man and wife for time and eternity by the authority of the Priesthood. +That event was among their supremely happy ones. Rachel witnessed the +ceremony, and the smile on her face was sweeter than ever. + +After that, Marie helped in the temple work as she had desired. The +three then labored together until Henrik's list of names was nearly +exhausted. After a very pleasant visit among friends, Henrik and Marie +went back to Norway and to Nordal. They made a new home from the ancient +one on the hillside by the forest, and for them the years went by in +peace and plenty. Sons and daughters came to them, to whom they taught +the gospel. In time many of his kin also believed the truth and +accepted it, and thus the seed that was sown in humility, and at first +brought but small returns, gave promise of a bounteous harvest. + +Once every four or five years, Henrik and Marie visited the Saints in +the West, and spent some time in the temple. These were happy times for +Rachel, who continued to live alone, not making many intimate +acquaintances. Henrik was glad to provide for her simple necessities, so +that she could continue her life's work in behalf of the dead. + +Rachel did not marry. Once in Minnesota, a young man had made love to +her, but she could not return that love, so she was in duty bound not to +encourage him. Rachel was hard to get acquainted with, a number of young +men had said. She was always happy and smiling, and yet a closer +knowledge of her character disclosed a serious strain that puzzled her +admirers--for Rachel had admirers. A number of times good men had been +about to make love to her in earnest, but each time some strange feeling +had checked them. The young woman was "willing" enough but what could +she do? There was without doubt a "man" for her, but she could not go in +search of him. As the years went by, and with them her youth and +somewhat of her beauty, she was often sad, and sometimes heart-hungry; +and at such times she found no peace until she had poured out her heart +to her heavenly Father, and said, "Thy will be done--but make me +satisfied." + +After an absence of three years Rachel visited her home in Minnesota. +She was received kindly, the parents being no doubt grateful that she +had escaped alive from the clutches of those "terrible people" whom she +had been among. She could still smile and be happy, be more patient than +ever, taking in good part the ridicule and sometimes the abuse directed +toward her. She talked on the gospel with those who would listen, and +after a time she found that she was making a little headway. Her father, +at the first, told her emphatically that she was not to "preach her +religion" in his house; but he would sometimes forget himself and ask +her a question, which in being answered would lead to a gospel +discourse. Then, awakening to what was going on, he would say, "That +will do. I thought I told you that we wanted none of your preaching," at +which Rachel would smilingly look around to the others who were also +smiling at the father's inconsistencies. + +During this visit the good seed was planted, from which in due time the +Lord gave an abundant harvest from among the Bogstad family and its many +ramifications. + +One day in the temple Rachel met Signe Dahl Ames. It was Rachel's custom +to keep a lookout for sisters who were new to the work that she might +assist them. Signe had not been in the Temple since the day she was +married, and now she had come to do some work for her family. Rachel met +her in the outer room with a pleasant greeting. + +"I am Sister Bogstad," she said; "and what is your name?" + +"Bogstad, did you say--why--why, my name is Ames." + +"Yes, Bogstad," replied Rachel, noticing the sister's surprise. "We +haven't met before, have we?" + +"No; I think not. The name is not common, and I used to know a gentleman +by that name--that's all." + +"You're a Norwegian," said Rachel. + +"Yes." + +"So am I; though I was born in this country, it may be possible that I +belong to the family which you know." + +"I used to know Henrik Bogstad of Nordal, Norway." + +"That's my cousin. We have been doing work here in the temple." + +Signe was greatly surprised, and Rachel led her to a corner where they +talked freely for some time. During the day they found occasion to +continue their conversation, and that evening Signe went home with her +new-found friend. + +This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Rachel knew enough of +Henrik's little romance with Signe to make the acquaintanceship +unusually interesting; besides, there came to be a strong affinity +between the two. Rachel accompanied her friend to Dry Bench, and there +soon became "Aunt Rachel" to Signe's four beautiful children. Then she +wrote to Henrik, telling him of her wonderful "find." He replied that at +their next visit to America, they would surely give Dry Bench a call. + +Henrik, Marie, and two of the older children came that fall when the +peaches were ripe and the alfalfa fields were being cut. And such +delicious peaches, and such stacks of fragrant hay they found! Amid the +beautiful setting of the harvest time, their several stories were told, +in wonder at the diverging and the meeting of the great streams of Life. +The Bogstad children practiced their book-learned English, while the +Ames children were willing teachers. The boys bathed in the irrigation +canal, rode on the loads of hay, and gorged themselves with peaches. The +girls played house under the trees. And were it part of this story, it +might be here told how that, later, Arnt Bogstad and Margaret Ames loved +and mated--but it is not. + +Henrik and Marie lived happily together for twelve years, and then Marie +was called into the spirit world. Henrik was left with five children, +the youngest but a few months old. With ample means, he could obtain +plenty of household help, but money could not buy a mother for his +children. A number of years went by, bringing to Henrik new and varied +experiences. Then on one of his visits to the West he found another +helpmate for himself and children--a kind-hearted, sweet-souled young +woman, born of Danish parents, and reared among the Saints in the +valleys of the mountains. Then the westward call became so strong that +Henrik disposed of most of his interests in Norway and moved with his +family to America, taking up his abode in a town not far from Dry Bench. +Here they enjoyed the association of the Saints, and his children had +the advantage of companionship of children of the faith. + +Time, and the world with it, sped on. Peace and prosperity came to the +people of this story. As years were added to years, their good works +increased, until the Lord said to each of them, Enough. Then in their +own time and place, they passed into the Paradise of God. + + + + +PART THIRD + + Ye worlds of light and life, beyond our sphere; + Mysterious country! Let your light appear. + Ye angels, lift the veil, the truth unfold, + And give our seers a glimpse of that bright world; + Tell where ye live, and what is your employ, + Your present blessing, and your future joy. + Say, have you learned the name, and tuned the lyre, + And hymn'd the praise of Him--the great Messiah? + Have love's emotions kindled in your breast, + And hope, enraptured, seized the promised rest? + Or wait ye still the resurrection day, + That higher promise of Millenial sway? + When Saints and angels come to earth again, + And in the flesh with King Messiah reign? + The spirits answered as they soared away-- + "We're happy now, but wait a greater day, + When sin and death, and hell, shall conquered be, + And earth, with heaven enjoy the victory." + + --_Parley P. Pratt._ + + + + +I. + + "They shall be gathered together as prisoners are gathered in the pit, + and shall be shut up in prison, and after many days shall they be + visited."--_Isaiah 24:22._ + + +The Lord God created all things "spiritually before they were naturally +upon the earth." He created "every plant of the field before it was in +the earth, every herb of the field before it grew." Before this +"natural" creation "there was not yet flesh upon the earth, neither in +the water, neither in the air;... but spiritually were they created and +made according" to the word of God. In this second or "natural" creation +all things were clothed upon by earthly element, or in other words, the +spiritual was materialized so that it became discernible to the natural +senses. The spiritual and the natural are, therefore, but different +states of the same forms of life. In the natural world there are men, +women, beasts of the field, fowls of the air, and vegetation in +boundless and varied forms. These exist before the natural is added upon +them; they exist after the natural is laid down by the death of the +body. + +In like manner we find in the spirit world men, women, beasts of the +field, fowls of the air, and vegetation in boundless and varied forms. +These things are as natural there as they are in earth-life. They +appeal to spirit nature the same as the "natural" prototype appeals to +the mortal senses; and this is why we may speak of our earth-known +friends who are in the spirit world and of their surroundings in the +manner of mortality. + +And what a big world it is! Here are nations, tribes, races, and +families much larger than in earth-life, and just as varied in all that +made them different in mortality. Here, as in all of God's creations, +like assemble, dislike keep apart; "for intelligence cleaveth unto +intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue +loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on +mercy, and claimeth her own." The righteous in Paradise have no desire +to mingle with the wicked in the regions of darkness; therefore they go +there only as they may be called to perform some duty. + +To the industrious there can be no true pleasure or rest in idleness; +therefore, Paradise furnishes employment to all its inhabitants. A world +of knowledge is open to them into which they may extend their +researches. Thus they may continue in the ever-widening field of +learning, finding enough to occupy their time and talents. + +An arrival in the spirit world brings with him just what he is when he +leaves mortality. The separation of the spiritual part of the soul from +the earthly body does not essentially change that spirit. A person takes +with him the sum total of the character he has formed up to that time. +Mortal death does not make a person better or worse; it simply adds to +him one more experience which, no doubt, has a teachable influence on +him. At death, no person is perfect, even though he is a Saint, and +passes into the Paradise of God. There he must continue the process of +eliminating the weaknesses which he did not wholly overcome in +earth-life. Death will not destroy the tendency to tell untruths, or +change the ungovernable temper to one which is under perfect control. +Such transformations are not of instant attainment, but are the result +of long, patient endeavor. + +As there are gradations of righteousness and intelligences in the spirit +world, there must be a vast field of usefulness for preaching the +gospel, training the ignorant, and helping the weak. As in the world of +mortality, this work is carried on by those who have accepted the gospel +and who have conformed their lives to its principles; so in the spirit +world, the righteous find pleasant and profitable employment in working +for the salvation of souls. + +And as they work they must needs talk of the glories of the great plan +of salvation, made perfect through the atonement of the Lord Jesus. That +which they look forward to most keenly, that about which they talk and +sing most fervently is the time when they also shall follow their Savior +through the door of the resurrection which He has opened for them,--when +their souls shall be perfectly redeemed, and they shall be clothed upon +with a body of the heavenly order, a tabernacle incorruptible and +immortal with which to go on into the celestial world. + +Though the future is most glorious to these people, the past is also +bright. The hopes of the future are well grounded on the facts of the +past. An ever-present theme is that of Christ's first visit to the +spirit world, when, having died on the cross, He brought life and light +and immortality to the world of spirits, entering even into the prison +house where the disobedient had lain for a long time, and preached the +gospel to them. + +And among these who gloried both in the past and in the future were +Rupert and Henrik. Often they conversed on themes near to their hearts: + +"It must have been a place of darkness, of sad despairing hearts, that +prison house, before Christ's visit to it," said Rupert. "There, as in a +pit, dwelt those who in earth-life had rejected the truth, and who, +sinking low in the vices of the world, permitted themselves to be led +captive by the power of the evil one. Noah in his day preached to them, +but they laughed him to scorn and continued in their evil ways. Others +of the prophets in their generations had warned them, but without avail; +so here were found Satan's harvest from the fruitful fields of the +earth." + +"I can well imagine that long, long, night of darkness," added Henrik. +"No ray of hope pierced the gloom of their abode. The prison walls +loomed around and above them, shutting out any glimpse of heaven. These +had rejected the truth, which alone can make men free. They themselves +had shut out the light when it would have shone in upon their vision. +They had chosen the evil, and the evil was claiming its own. Outside the +prison were their fellows who had chosen to do the right, basking in the +light of a clear conscience, enjoying the approval of the Lord. These +faithful ones were going on to eternal perfection. How long would it +take the prisoners, if they ever were released, to overtake those ahead? +Between these was a great gulf fixed, which, in the ordinary order of +things, could never be lessened or bridged." + +"But at last the time of mercy and deliverance came. I remember how the +events of the time have been described to me. Just before the coming of +the Lord, a peculiar, indescribable tremor ran through this spirit world +as if one pulse beat through the universe and that pulse had been +disturbed. The spirits in prison looked in awe at one another, many +crouching in terror, fearful that the day of judgment had come. The vast +multitude of the ignorant wondered what the 'peculiar feeling' could +mean. The righteous, who had been looking wistfully for some +manifestation of the coming of the Lord, whispered to each other, 'The +Lord is dying for the sins of the world!' + +"Yes; the prophets of every dispensation had labored faithfully to +prepare the world of spirits among whom they lived for the coming of the +Lord and Savior. There were Adam, Noah, Abraham, with those who followed +them; there were Lehi, Nephi, Mosiah, and the others of their race; +there were the prophets who had lived among the lost Ten tribes; these +had all been valiant in earth-life, and were faithful yet in the spirit +world. The burden of their message in mortality had been the coming of +Christ the Redeemer, and now they still looked forward with the eye of +faith to Him who should die for the sins of the world, and who should +deliver them from the bondage of the grave. They understood that the +body of flesh which had been given them in mortality was necessary for +their full salvation. Christ would bring to pass the resurrection, so +that bodies would be restored to them, not corruptible as before, but +perfected, immortal and glorious, a fit tabernacle for the immortal +spirit with which to go on into the eternal mansions of the Father." + +"But oh, that time, brother, when the Son of God was dying on the cross! +While the earth was shrouded in darkness, and the bulk of it trembled in +sympathy with the death throes of its Maker, the spirit world also +received the imprint of the terrible event on Calvary as for a moment +the whole spiritual creation lay in tense expectancy. The usual +occupations were suspended. Speech became low and constrained. Songs +ended abruptly, and laughter ceased. There were no audible sobs, neither +sighing. Bird and beast were stilled, as if the end had come, and +nothing more mattered. Then, in a little while, the tenseness relaxed, +and everything went on as before, though much subdued. The righteous in +the Paradise of God quietly gathered themselves together in their usual +places of worship. They clasped each other's hands, and looked with +trembling gladness into each other's faces. There was no fear here: they +were ready." + +"And then His actual coming! That which had been fore-ordained from +before the foundation of the world was about to be fulfilled; that which +had been the theme of the prophets from the beginning was at the door; +that which the seers of all times and nations had beheld in vision was +now to be realized; that about which poets had sung; that for which +every pure heart had yearned; that for which the ages had waited, was +now here! A feeling of sweet peace filled the righteous, which expressed +itself in songs of praise and gladness. Thus they watched and waited." + +"Then Jesus stood in their midst, and they beheld the glorious presence +of their Lord. Then there came to their hearts a small, sweet, +penetrating voice, testifying that this was Jesus Christ the Son of God +who had glorified the name of the Father; who was the life and the light +of the world; who had drunk of the bitter cup which the Father had given +him; and had glorified the Father in taking upon Himself the sins of the +world, in which He had suffered the will of the Father in all things +from the beginning. The multitude fell down at his feet and worshiped." + +"I have been told that as Jesus entered the prison of the condemned in +the spirit world, a murmur of greeting welcomed Him. It was timid and +faint at first, but it increased in volume and force until it became a +shout. + +"'Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting +doors.'" + +"'Hail, hail, to the Lord.'" + +"'And the King of Glory shall come in.'" + +"'Who is the King of Glory?'" + +"'The Lord, strong and mighty.'" + +"'The Lord, will not cast off forever; but though He cause grief, yet +will He have compassion, according to the multitude of His mercies.'" + +"'I will not contend forever, neither will I be always wroth.'" + +"'Come and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn and He will +heal; He hath smitten and He will bind us up.'" + +"'I will heal their back slidings, I will love them freely; for mine +anger is turned away.'" + +"'Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity. He retaineth not +His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy.'" + +"'Say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, show +yourselves. I am He that liveth and was dead; and behold I am alive +forevermore, anew: and I have the keys of hell and death.'" + +"And thus the gates were lifted, and the King of Glory entered. And what +a radiance shone in the gloom! The shades of darkness fled, the chains +of error dropped asunder, the overburdened heart found glad relief, for +the Lord brought the tidings of great joy to the spirits in prison, +offering them pardon and peace in exchange for their broken hearts." + +"Then they sang: + + '"Hark, ten thousand thousand voices + Sing a song of Jubilee! + A world, once captive, now rejoices, + Freed from long captivity. + Hail, Emanuel! Great Deliverer! + Hail, our Savior, praise to thee! + Now the theme, in pealing thunders, + Through the universe is rung; + Now in gentle tones, the wonders + Of redeeming grace is sung."' + +"For three days, as counted by earth-time, the Redeemer ministered in +this spirit world, preaching the gospel, giving instructions, and making +plain the way of His servants to follow. Joy and gladness filled many +hearts. Then, when the time had fully come, the great Captain of +Salvation led the way against the enemy of men's souls. He laid low the +Monster that had for ages kept grim watch at the Gates of Death. He +broke through the grave to the regions of life and light and +immortality. The Hope of Ages thus went forth conquering; and those who +followed Him through the resurrection from the dead sang: + + "'Death is swallowed up in victory! O, death, where is thy sting? O + grave, where is thy victory?'" + + + + +II. + + "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that + soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he + that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life + everlasting."--_Gal. 6:7, 8_. + + +In the spirit world are Rupert, Signe, Henrik, Marie, Rachel and all +our friends in their time and place. These are employed in joyous +activity, as they see their field of usefulness continually widen. +Rupert had done a great work before the others had come. He had preached +the gospel to many people, mostly his ancestors, among whom there had +been at the time of his arrival among them an awakening and a desire for +the truth. He had traced his family back to those who on earth had been +known as the Pilgrim Fathers, thence through many generations to the +Norsemen of northern Europe. His wife's family he had also searched out, +and he had discovered, greatly to his delight, that her family and his +met in a sturdy, somewhat fierce, Viking chief. Rupert had sought him +out, and had told him of Christ and His gospel--and the Viking had been +willing to be taught. When Signe had come, Rupert had brought her to +visit her many-times-great-grandmother, who was a beautiful +flaxen-haired, blue-eyed woman, whom Signe herself somewhat resembled. + +Then when Rupert met and became acquainted with Henrik, Marie, and +Rachel, he told them of what he had done, and how that their vicarious +work for the dead had fitted so nicely in with his preaching, in that +many of those for whom they had been baptized were those whom he had +converted. "We have been working in harmony and in conjunction," +exclaimed Rupert, "and God's providence is even now clearly justified." +What joy was there when Henrik and his friends met those for whom they +had performed the necessary earthly rites! Many of these had long ago +believed the gospel, and their hearts had been turned to their +children--their descendants living on the earth--that they would +remember their fathers who had gone before; and these were overjoyed +when they met their "saviors," as they called them. Then, there were +others who had not accepted the work done for them, and these were, +naturally, not so enthusiastic in their greetings. Others there were who +were yet in ignorance of Christ, of His plan of salvation, and the work +that had been done for them. These would have to be taught and given a +chance to accept or reject what had been done. + +"You enjoy a happiness that does not come to me," said a brother to +Henrik, "in that you receive the love and joyous greetings of those for +whom you did work in mortality." + +"Had you no opportunity to do such work?" asked Henrik. + +"Yes; but I had no names of ancestry, and the truth is, I did not try to +get any." + +"You did not do all in your power?" + +"No; I was careless in the matter." + +"If you had only tried, the way would have been opened. That is a true +principle. We do not know what regions of usefulness lie before us if we +do no exploring." + +Signe and Rachel were closely associated, and they performed missions +together to their less enlightened sisters whose condition was not so +favorable. These were of the frivolous and foolish women who had been +taken captive by earthly things. All their treasures had been of earth, +so on earth they had to be left, for none could be taken into the spirit +world; these, therefore, were poor indeed. They had nothing with which +to occupy themselves: in earth-life, wealth, fashion, the gratification +of depraved appetites and passions, and the pampering of worldly +vanities had been their chief concern; and now that earthly things were +no more, these women were as if lost in a strange world, having no sure +footing, groping about in semi-darkness, hungering and thirsting, but +finding no means by which they might be satisfied. They laughed and +appeared to make merry because it was their nature so to do, but their +laugh was empty, and their merriment rang hollow and untrue. + +"I am more than ever thankful," said Signe to Rachel when they had +labored long with a group of frivolous women, "that the gospel reached +us in earth-life." + +"And that we accepted it," added Rachel. + +"Yes; many of these sisters of ours are not evil; they are just +weak,--empty of good. Their earthly training was at fault. And then some +of them have told me that they were very much surprised to find that +death had not worked a transformation in them: they have still the same +feelings, desires and thoughts as before." + +"Some foolish things were taught in earth-life," said Rachel, "one of +them being deathbed repentance. Common sense, if not reason, ought to +have told us that a change of heart coming when a person is in full +possession of his faculties is far better than the confessions made in +fear of death. Repentance should have come further back, for the sooner +we turn about on the right way, the further we get on the road to +perfection." + +Rachel finished her little speech with a smile--the simple sweet smile, +fixed into her nature for all time. A strange sister came up to her, who +was greeted pleasantly. + +"I want to know more of you two," she said. "There is something about +you different from me or my mates. When you mix with us and talk with +us, I can feel it, but I don't know what it is. You appear to me to be, +lilies-of-the-valley among weeds--yes, that's it." + +"And isn't a weed just a useful plant grown wild?" asked Signe. "All it +needs is careful cultivation. Come with us as we walk along. We shall be +pleased to talk with you. We are not very wise, but we may always ask +the brethren who are wiser, for more light." + +And so these three went slowly along the beautiful paths of spirit-land, +conversing as they went. The hazel eyes of the brown-haired stranger +opened in wide astonishment at what her sisters told her. Sometimes she +asked questions, sometimes she shook her head in disbelief. She had been +a "worldly" woman, she told them, never thinking that there would be any +life other than the one she was living while on the earth; and so she +had shaped her daily conduct by that narrow standard. Her earth-life had +ended sadly, and existence had been bitter ever since, "Restless and +hopeless, I have wandered for a long time," she said. "I have seen you +two a number of times and have heard you talk to the women. Your words +seemed to bring to me a glimpse of something better, but I never had the +courage to speak to you until now." + +Signe put her arms around her, drew her close, and kissed her cheek. +"Let us do you all the good we can," she said. "We are going now to +attend a meeting where my husband is to speak. Come with us." + +Rachel linked her arm into that of the stranger's who willingly +accompanied them. "Is your husband also a preacher?" she asked of +Rachel. + +"I have no husband," was the reply. "I did not--I mean, he did not find +me, has not found me yet." Rachel was somewhat confused but she smiled +as ever. + +"She means," explained Signe, "that she did not marry while in +earth-life, for the very good reason that she had no chance--" + +"None such that I could accept," added Rachel. Then as the newly-found +friend looked at her inquiringly, she continued: + +"I have always believed, and I believe now, that I have a mate +somewhere, but he has not yet been revealed. Frequently I asked the Lord +about it in earth-life, and the answer by the spirit always was 'Wait, +patiently wait'; so I am still waiting." + +"And you still have faith," asked the stranger, "that the God of heaven +will answer your prayers and bring about all things for the best?" + +"Why, certainly." + +"I wish I could believe that. Had I in earth life had some such belief +to anchor to, perhaps I would not have made so many mistakes. I married +twice, and they were both mistakes. The one chance I had of getting a +man--I mean, one who does not belie the word--I threw away, because he +was poor in worldly goods; but I suffered through my foolish errors.... +I have heard of people praying about many things, but never have I heard +of the Lord being asked about love affairs." + +"That may be true," said Signe; "and it shows how foolish we were. Why +should people importune the Lord about small trials and petty ailments, +and at the same time neglect to ask His guidance on matters of love and +marriage which make or mar one's life?" + +There seemed to be no immediate answer to this query, so the three +passed along in silence. Presently the newcomer spoke again: + +"I am getting more light and hope since I associate with you two. I +believe my faith is being kindled, and O, it feels so good to get a +little firm footing." + +"Yes, dear sister," said Rachel. "The tangled threads of earth-life are +not all straightened out yet. It will take time, and we must have +patience." + +Arriving at the place of meeting, the three women took positions near +the platform upon which the speakers sat. Rupert was the principal +speaker. He began by telling his listeners something about his +experiences in earth-life. He spoke of his boyhood days, of the trials +and difficulties he had encountered, and how near he had come to being +lost to all good. Then he told how the Lord had rescued him, and brought +him to a knowledge of the gospel of salvation. "And the Lord's chief +instrument in this work of rescue," the speaker said, "was a beautiful, +good woman, who became my wife. O, you women, what power you have for +good or evil! See to it that you use your powers for the purposes of +good." + +Rachel smiled at Signe while they listened, for Rupert's and Signe's +story was quite familiar to her. All the time Rupert had been speaking, +the woman who had come with them sat as if spellbound, her big eyes +fixed on the speaker. When Rupert closed, Signe said to her friend: + +"That is my husband. Let us go up to him; he will be glad to meet you." + +But the woman drew back as if afraid. "I can't," she whispered. "Forgive +me, but I must go"--and with a faint cry she retreated and disappeared +in the crowd, the two women looking after in wonder and astonishment. + +Just then Rupert stepped up to them. Seeing their wonder, he asked the +reason. Signe explained. + +"I think I can guess who it was," said Rupert. "Well, well," he murmured +as if to himself, "I had nearly forgotten her." + +"Yes, I believe it was she," added Signe. + +"Was who?" inquired Rachel. + +But Rupert stopped any reply that his wife might wish to make by +interrupting with: + +"I saw an impressive sight not long ago--Come let us be getting on our +way home, and I shall tell it to you." + +They were willing to listen as they journeyed. "We were out," began +Rupert--"a brother and I--getting some information needed in one of the +temples on earth for a brother who had gone as far as he could with his +genealogy. As we were talking to a group of sisters a man rushed in upon +us. With quick, eager words he asked us if we had seen someone whom he +named and described. At the sight of him, one of the women shrunk back +as if to hide in the crowd, but he saw her, and exclaimed: + +"'Is that you? Yes--Oh, have I found you at last!'" + +"The sister put forth her hand as if to ward him off, as he pressed +through the crowd to her. 'How did you get here?' she asked. 'Keep +away--you are unclean--keep away.' + +"He paused in some astonishment at this reception. Then he pleaded with +her to let him accompany her; but she retreated from him, crying, 'You +are unclean; do not touch me.' + +"'Yes,' he acknowledged, 'I suppose I have been a sinner; but listen to +my justification: I sinned to drown my sorrow when you died. I, also, +wanted to die. My heart was broken--I could not stand it--it was because +I loved you so--' + +"'No; you did not love me. Love is pure--made purer by sorrow. Had you +truly loved, you would not have sinned so grievously. Your sorrow needed +to be repented of. Sorrow cannot be drowned in sin--no, no; go away. +Please go; you frighten me.' + +"The man stood rigid for some time, and the expression on his face was +something terrible to see. The cold, clear truth had for the first time +burst upon him to his convincing. He had a 'bright recollection of all +his guilt,' and his torment was 'as a lake of fire and brimstone.' The +woman, recovering somewhat from her fright, stood before him with +innocent, clear-shining eyes, with half pity and half fear showing in +her beautiful countenance--for the woman was beautiful. The man stood +for a moment, which seemed a long time to all who witnessed the scene, +then his head dropped, his form seemed to shrivel up as he slouched out +of our company and disappeared from sight." + +There was silence. Then Rupert added, "And yet some people tried to make +us believe that there is no hell." + +Rachel, even, forgot to ask further questions regarding the identity of +the woman with hazel eyes and auburn hair, for just then Henrik and +Marie appeared. With them was another woman, and the three were so +preoccupied that they were oblivious to all others. + +"You are too late for the meeting," said Rupert. + +"I did intend to get there in time," replied Henrik, "but don't you see +who is here?" + +Rupert did not recognize the woman who stood by Marie with arms about +each other, but Signe cried in joyous greeting, "Clara, Clara, is that +you?" + +"This is Clara," said Marie to Rupert, "she who came to Henrik after I +left him,--who helped him so much, and who was so good to my children. +She has just come, and has brought us much good news from them. I am so +glad." Marie's arm drew tight around the newcomer as she kissed her +cheek. + +"I, also, am glad to welcome you," said Rupert. "Brother Henrik," he +added, "your excuse for non-attendance at our meeting is accepted." + + + + +III. + + "The Lord ... will fulfill the desire of them that fear him; + he will also hear their cry."--_Psalms 156:19._ + + +Rachel found continual delight in all the wonders of spirit-land. Her +circle of acquaintances enlarged rapidly, as those for whom she had done +temple work were glad to know her, and to know her was to love her. +These brought her in touch with many others; thus her sphere of +usefulness extended until she, too, could say that she was busier than +ever in joy-giving activities. + +Sometimes Rachel went on what she called "excursions of exploration." +Usually she went alone, for the habit of doing things of herself still +clung to her. Frequently, in the throngs of people with whom she +mingled, she was accosted by someone who recognized her. Rachel did not +remember faces easily, but (she was on one of her excursions) she knew +this woman who touched her on the arm, and said: + +"You are Sister Rachel, are you not?" + +"Yes; and you--yes, I know you. I am glad to meet you. How are you? Has +the Lord shown you,--has He satisfied you? You see I remember you well." + +The woman showed her gladness at Rachel's recognition. "The Lord has +shown me abundantly and graciously," she replied; "but come with me away +from the crowd. I shall be pleased to tell you all about it." Rachel +accompanied the woman, who led her out into some quieter streets, thence +to a beautiful home under tall trees. Flowers bloomed and birds sang in +the garden. The two women seated themselves by a playing fountain. + +"I am glad you have not forgotten me. My name you may not remember--it +is Sister Rose." + +"Your face, dear sister, your beautiful face marked with that deep +sorrow, no one could forget;" said Rachel, "but now the sorrow is gone, +I see, and the beauty remains." + +Sister Rose took the other's hand caressingly. "That day in the temple," +she said, "I came there as a place of last resort. I was suffering, and +had tried everything that I could think of to ease my troubled soul. I +had prayed to God to give me some manifestation regarding my boy. I came +to the temple to get a great favor, and I obtained a blessing. Instead +of receiving some miraculous manifestation, you came to me and led me +gently to a seat by ourselves. And there you talked to me. It was not so +much what you said, but the spirit by which you said it that soothed and +quieted and rested me. You repeated to me some verses, do you remember? +I had you write them out, and I committed them to memory." + +"Do you remember them yet?" + +"Listen: + + "Thou knowest, O my Father! Why should I + Weary high heaven with restless prayers and tears! + Thou knowest all! My heart's unuttered cry + Hath soared beyond the stars and reached Thine ears. + + Thou knowest--ah, Thou knowest! Then what need, + Oh, loving God, to tell Thee o'er and o'er. + And with persistent iteration plead + As one who crieth at some closed door." + +"That day I went away comforted and strengthened. Do you recollect?" + +"Yes; but what was your trouble? I do not remember that." + +"My son, my only child, was taken so cruelly from me. He was the hope of +my life, and when he answered the call to go on a mission to the islands +of the sea, I let him go gladly, because it was on the Lord's business. +Then some months later the news came that he had died. I was crazed with +grief. I could not understand why the Lord would permit such a thing to +take place. Was my boy not in His service? Why did not the Lord take +care of His own?" + +"And so you suffered, both because of your loss and because of your +thoughts," said Rachel. "Poor sister,--but now?" + +"He is with me now, and it has all been explained. We live in this +house. Do you care to hear the story?" + +"If you desire to tell it, yes." + +"You seem so near and dear to me that I may tell it to you. My boy, +while on his mission, was tempted. He has told me all about it--he was +tempted sorely. He was in great danger, and so the Lord, to prevent him +from falling into the mire of sin, permitted him to be taken away. They +brought his lifeless body home to me, but his spirit went back to its +Maker pure and unspotted from the sins of the world,--and thus I found +him here, a big, fine-looking man as he was. You ought to see him." + +"Mother," someone called from the direction of the house. + +"That is he now," said the mother, rising. + +"Mother, where are you? Oh!" the son exclaimed as he caught sight of the +two women. He came up to them and rested his arm tenderly on his +mother's shoulder. He was big and handsome, and Rachel's eyes dropped +before his curious gaze. + +"David, this is Sister Rachel, whom I first met in earth-life in the +temple. I think I have told you about her and what a comfort she was to +me." + +"I am very glad to know you," said he, as he clasped Rachel's hand. Then +there was a pause which promised to become awkward, at which David said: + +"Mother, I want to show you something in the back garden. You know I +have been experimenting with my roses. I believe I have obtained some +wonderful color effects. You'll come also?" he asked Rachel. + +The three walked on together into the garden where David exhibited and +explained his work. When, at length, Rachel said it was time she was +going, the mother urged her to come again. + +"I'm going along with Sister Rachel to her home, and to find out where +she lives," explained David, as he stepped along, unbidden, by Rachel's +side. + +And so these two walked side by side for the first time. They talked +freely on many topics, she listening contentedly. They smiled into each +other's eyes, and at the end of that short journey, something had +happened. True love had awakened in two hearts. Through all the shifting +scenes of earth-life, nothing like this had ever come to this man and +this woman. Love had waited all this time. The power that draws kindred +souls together is not limited to the few years of earth-life. While time +lasts, God will provide sometime, somewhere, in which to give +opportunity for every deserving soul. Here were two whose hearts beat as +one; but one must needs have left mortality early in his course, while +the other went on to the end alone. The reason for this was difficult to +see by mortal eyes, but now-- + +"I'm coming again to see you," said David, as he prepared to depart. "I +have so much to tell you; and you,--you have said very little. I must +hear your story too." + +"I have no story," said she. "My earth-life was very uneventful. I just +seemed to be waiting--" + +"Yes?" + +But Rachel was confused. Her simple heart had spoken, and true to +earthly habit, she now tried to cover up her tell-tale words; but he saw +and understood, and as they stood there, his heart burned with a great +joy. + +"Good-bye," he said, as he took her hand, "may I come again soon?" + +"Yes;" she answered. "I shall be pleased to see more of your beautiful +flower garden." + +This was the beginning of a courtship, not the less sweet because it had +been postponed for so long; not the less real, from the fact that the +man and the woman were spiritual beings. "Sin," said the apostle, "is +without the body;" so love and affection are attributes of the spirit, +whether that spirit is within or without a tabernacle of flesh. And this +courtship did not differ to any great extent from all others which had +taken place from the beginning of time. There were the same timid +approaches and responses; the getting acquainted with each other, +wherein each lover's eyes glorified every act in the other; the +tremulous pressure of hands; the love-laden looks and words; the thrill +of inexpressible joy when the two were together. Neither was this +courtship exceptional. Among the vast multitude in the spirit world +there are many who did not mate in the brief time allotted to them in +the earth-life; therefore, congenial spirits are continually meeting and +reading "life's meaning in each other's eyes." + +Rachel, though she claimed to have no "story" to tell, interested David +greatly in her account of how the Lord had chosen her as one of a family +to become a savior on Mt. Zion. The work for the dead had not interested +him. He, in connection with the youth of his time, had neglected that +part of the gospel plan; and now, of course, he saw his mistake. + +"Yes," David acknowledged to Rachel, "I see my error now, as usual, when +it is too late to remedy it. You who were faithful rank above me here." + +"Don't say that," she pleaded. + +"But it is true. Your good deeds came before you here and gave you a +standing. Some of the treasures you destined for heaven were detained +here, and you are now reaping benefits from them. Do I not see it all +the time? When we meet new people, you are received with delight--I am +unknown." + +"David, what comes to me, you partake of also, because--" + +"Because you shall belong to me. Yes, dear one; that is the blessed +truth. The Lord has brought us together, and all else should be +forgotten in our gratitude to Him.... Rachel, we would have known each +other in earth-life had I behaved myself. Our lives were surely trending +toward each other, and our paths would have met. We would have loved and +have wedded there, had it not been for my--" + +"Say no more. Let us forget the past in thinking of and planning for +the future. I am happy now, and so is your mother." + +"And so am I." + + + + +IV. + + "Whatsoever God doeth it shall be forever."--_Eccl. 3:14._ + + +David and Rachel were out walking when they saw another couple whose +lovelike actions were noticeable. As they met, the couple stopped and +the man said, "Pardon me, but we are somewhat strange in this new world. +May we ask you some questions?" + +"Let us sit down here together," suggested David, and he led the way to +a place where they could sit quietly. "Are you in trouble?" + +"Well, I hardly know," replied the man. "Anna and I are together, and +perhaps we ought to be satisfied; but somehow we are not. There is +something lacking." + +"Yes?" + +"You see, we left the earth-life, so suddenly--we were so poorly +prepared for this." His companion clasped his arm as if to be protected +from some impending danger. "We were boating on the lake, the boat +overturned, and here we are.... We were to have been married the next +day, but now--now what is our condition? We are not husband and wife; +neither, I suppose, can we be, for we were taught back in that world +from where we came, that there is no married condition here. Yet you +two are husband and wife, are you not?" + +"Not yet," replied David, "but we expect to be." + +"I don't understand; you seem to know; teach us. May we be married +here?" + +David explained the principle of celestial marriage as it had been +revealed to them in earth-life, and contrasted that doctrine with what +was usually taught. "So you see," said he, "even if you had been married +on that day appointed in mortality, it would have been only until death +did you part. You have passed through death, and so, the contract +between you would have come to an end, and you would not now be husband +and wife." + +"But you said that you two were to be married. How?" + +"Had we been married in earth-life, it would have been for time and +eternity, because it would have been performed by the authority of the +Lord. What God does, is forever. Marriage must be solemnized on the +earth. As our earth-days are past, we cannot go back, so the ceremony +must be done for us by someone else living on the earth. Sister Rachel +here, while in earth-life, did for thousands who had gone before what +they could not do for themselves. Now, someone, in the Lord's own due +time, will stand for her, and do for her what she did not do for +herself." + +The two new acquaintances listened attentively while David and sometimes +Rachel instructed them on the principles of the gospel, and their +application to those who were in the spirit world. They spoke to them +of faith and repentance, principles which all men everywhere could +receive and exercise. They explained the ordinance of baptism for the +remission of sins, an earthly rite, which could be believed in and +accepted by those in the spirit world, but would have to be performed +for them vicariously by someone on earth. Marriage for eternity was also +further explained. + +"It is true," concluded David, "that in the resurrection there is +neither marrying nor giving in marriage. All that must be attended to +before the resurrection, which for all of us--luckily--is yet in the +future. We know for a surety that if we do our part the best we know, +the Lord will take care of the rest." + +These four people did not part until David and Rachel had promised to +meet their friends again soon, and continue the talk which had so +favorably begun. When the two had left, David turned to Rachel and said: + +"Did you see the lovelight glowing in their eyes when their hearts were +touched with the truth?" + +"Yes, as it did in yours when you were speaking." + +"And in yours, too, my dear, when it was your turn." + +"It's good to be a missionary--always a missionary, isn't it, as long as +there is one being in need of guidance and instruction." + +"It is very good, indeed, David." + +"Rachel, glad news for us. We, you and I, are soon to follow our +parents and our older brothers and sisters, up through the gates of the +resurrection, which our Lord so graciously opened.... Yes, yes, it is +true.... Into the celestial kingdom, with bodies of celestial glory and +go on to our exaltation.... And, dear, the work is being done for us in +the Temple of our God.... Yes, right now, it is being done. Come, +Rachel, let us go and be as near as we can.... Yes, we have +permission.... This is the Temple. God's messengers are here, and His +Spirit broods in and around the holy place. That Spirit we also in +common with mortality, may feel. You, Rachel, ought to be at home here, +more so than I. Let us follow the man and the woman who are doing the +work for us.... Do you see them clearly, Rachel?... Yes; we shall not +forget them when they, too, come to us in the spirit, but we shall give +them a welcome such as they have never dreamed of.... Now they are by +the altar. Kneel here by me, Rachel,--your hand in mine, like this. +Listen, can you hear? 'For and in behalf of,'... you and me.... It is +done. We are husband and wife. You are mine for eternity, mine, mine.... +O, Eternal Father, we thank Thee!" + +David holds the fair form of his wife in his arms. He kisses her cheeks, +her eyes, her lips. Then there is silence. + + + + +PART FOURTH. + + Freedom waves her joyous pinions + O'er a land, from sea to sea, + Ransomed, righteous, and rejoicing + In a world-wide jubilee. + + O'er a people happy, holy, + Gifted now with heavenly grace, + Free from every sordid fetter + That enslaved a fallen race. + + Union, love, and fellow feeling + Mark the sainted day of power; + Rich and poor in all things equal, + Righteousness their rock and tower. + + Mountain peaks of pride are leveled, + Lifted up the lowly plain, + Crookedness made straight, while crudeness + Now gives way to culture's reign. + + Now no tyrant's sceptre saddens; + Now no bigot's power can bind. + Faith and work, alike unfettered, + Win the goal by heaven designed. + + God, not mammon, hath the worship + Of His people, pure in heart: + This is Zion--oh, ye nations, + Choose with her "the better part!" + + Crown and sceptre, sword and buckler-- + Baubles!--lay them at her feet. + Strife no more shall vex creation; + Christ's is now the kingly seat. + + Cities, empires, kingdoms, powers, + In one mighty realm divine. + She, the least and last of nations, + Henceforth as their head shall shine. + + 'Tis thy future glory, Zion, + Glittering in celestial rays, + As the ocean's sun-lit surging + Rolls upon my raptured gaze! + + All that ages past have promised, + All that noblest minds have prized, + All that holy lips have prayed for, + Here at last is realized. + + --_Orson F. Whitney._ + + + + +I. + + "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is + risen upon thee. * * * And the Gentiles shall come to thy light and + kings to the brightness of thy rising."--_Isaiah 60:1, 3._ + + +The sun in its downward course had reached the hazy zone, which, bounded +by the clear blue above and the horizon below, extended around the green +earth; in the west, the round disk of the sun shone through it, and +tinged the landscape with a beautiful, mellow light. + +It was midsummer. The sun had been hot all the day, and when on that +evening two men reined in the horses they were driving, and paused on +the summit of a small hill, a cool breeze reached them, and they bared +their heads to the refreshing air. Not a word was spoken as they gazed +on the scene before them; its grandeur and beauty were too vast for +words. + +Before them, to the west, lay the city, the object of their long +journey--before them, it lay as a queen in the midst of her +surroundings. At first sight, it seemed one immense palace, rather than +a city of palaces, as the second view indicated. Street after street, +mansion after mansion, the city stretched away as far as the eye could +reach, mingling with trees and gardens. + +Rising from the center of the city was the temple. Its walls shone like +polished marble, and its towers seemed to pierce the sky, as around +about them a white cloud hung. This cloud extended from the temple as a +center, over the whole city, and seemed as it were a covering. + +The sun sank behind the horizon; still the cloud glowed with light, as +if the sun's rays still lingered there. + +For ten minutes the carriage had paused on the elevation, and the two +men had gazed in silence. Then the driver, as if awakening from a dream, +gave the horses the word to go, as he said: + +"We must drive on." + +"Yes; night is coming on." + +The second speaker was a middle aged man of commanding bearing. He +leaned back in the carriage as they sped onward. + +"So this is the world renowned city," he said, "the new capital of the +world to which we all must bow in submission; within whose borders sit +judges and rulers the like of which for power and wisdom have never yet +appeared. Truly, she is the rising light of the world. What say you, +Remand?" + +"'Tis indeed a wondrous sight, your majesty. The reality far exceeds any +reports that have come to us." + +"It is well, Remand, that we chose this slower mode of coming into the +city. Electricity would have brought us here in a fraction of the time; +but who would miss this beautiful drive?" + +They were already within the outskirts of the city. Although all that +day they had driven through a most beautiful region of cities and fields +and gardens, the latter being gorgeous with flowers and fruit, yet the +glory of this city far surpassed anything they had yet beheld. Over the +smooth, paved roadway, their carriage glided noiselessly. The blooming +flowers and trees shed sweet odors in the air. Buildings and gardens, +arranged in perfect symmetry, delighted the eye. The song of birds and +the hum of evening melodies charmed the ear. Men, women and children and +vehicles of all kinds were continually passing. + +The shades of night crept over the landscape; still the cloudy covering +of the city glowed with brilliant light. The darker the night became, +the brighter became the cloud, until the palace, built of marble and +precious stone, appeared in its soft, clear light like the colors of the +rainbow. + +"Your majesty, must we not soon seek some place to rest for the night?" + +"Yes, you are right. Do you think anyone will suspect our true +character?" + +"No one save ourselves, within thousands of miles, knows that you are +the king of Poland." + +"I do hope so, Remand, for I wish to see these things from the point of +view of a commoner. See, there is the pillar of fire spoken about. +Truly, my good friend, the glory of the Lord is risen upon this place." + +Hardly were the words spoken before the carriage drew up to a gateway, +or open arch, which spanned the road. A man appeared and inquired of the +travelers where they were going. On being informed that they were +strangers come to see the city, the man bade them wait a few minutes. +Soon he returned. + +"As you are strangers and wish to rest for the night, you will please +alight and receive that which you need. Your horses will be taken care +of. Come." They drove along a road leading to a large house. Grooms took +charge of the horses, and they themselves were ushered into a room, +which, for convenience and beauty of finish, was not surpassed even by +the king of Poland's own palaces. Soon fruits and bread were placed +before them, and they were shown couches where they would rest for the +night. + +Though weary with their day's journey, the travelers could not sleep. +The strangeness of it all bewildered them, and they talked about it far +into the night. + +Next morning they were awakened by song birds that had taken position in +a tree near their open window, and were now pouring forth a chorus of +welcome. How beautiful was the morning! Earth and sky were full of the +perfume of flowers and the song of birds. The cloud still hung over the +city. + +From the garden they were called into the dining room, where a meal was +spread before them. Fruits and fruit preparations of a dozen kinds; +breads, cakes and vegetables, drinks from the juice of fruits: this was +the bill of fare. + +After they had eaten, the person who had met them the evening before, +entered, and announced that their carriage was ready for their drive; +or, if they chose to take the cars, they would get within the city much +quicker, but, of course, would miss some interesting sights. + +"We prefer to see all," replied the king. + +"Then come with me." + +The king and Remand followed into another room where they met a young +man who was to be their escort. The first now retired, and the young man +advanced and shook their hands. + +"Be seated for a moment," said he. "My name is Paulus. I am to conduct +you into the city, and be your guide for the day. Such is the rule +here." The speaker also took a seat by the table. The king and his +companion sat opposite. + +"In this city," continued Paulus, "there can be no hypocrisy, no deceit +of any kind. I am instructed, therefore, to tell you that your true +name, character, and mission is known. You are the king of Poland, and +you his counselor and friend." + +The king started, changed color, and looked towards Remand. + +"How--how is that?" he stammered. + +Paulus smiled. "Do not be alarmed, my dear sir. You were known before +you entered the first gate yesterday. These people have entertained you +with a full knowledge of what you are; nevertheless, the treatment you +have received has been in no wise different from that which is given to +every honest man who comes to this city for righteous purposes, no +matter be he high or low, rich or poor, in the estimation of the world. +You see, true worth and righteousness are the only standards of judgment +here. Again, you are safer here than in the house of your best friend +in Poland, or surrounded by your old-time host of armed warriors; for +violence is no more heard in this land, neither wasting nor destruction +within our borders. Our walls are Salvation; our gates, praise; and the +inhabitants of this city are all righteous. It is their inheritance +forever, for they are a branch of the Lord's planting, the work of His +hands, wherein He is glorified." + +Neither of the strangers spoke. The words seemed to thrill them into +silence. + +"Come, then, let us be going." + +The carriage was awaiting; but it was not the travelers' own. + +"No," was Paulus' answer to their inquiry, "your horses will rest. This +is our equipage." + +They drove into the city. + +"'Walk about Zion, and go round about her; tell the towers thereof. Mark +ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces, that ye may tell it to the +generations following,'" said Paulus. + +"You quote from the writings of the ancient Hebrews," said Remand. + +"Yes; these 'holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy +Ghost,'" was the answer. + +An hour's drive through indescribable grandeur brought them to a gate in +the wall which surrounded the temple, where they alighted. An attendant +took charge of the horses. Paulus led the way. A word to the keeper of +the gate, and they were permitted to pass. Surrounding the central +building, was a large open space laid out in walks, grass plats, +ornamental trees, and flowers. People were walking about. Guides and +instructors were busy with strangers, who seemed to have come from all +nations, by the varied manner of dress displayed, and the different +languages spoken. + +"This," said Paulus, "is the sanctuary of freedom, the place of the +great King. From this center go the righteous laws that govern nations +and peoples. It is not time yet to proceed further, so we will walk +about the gardens." + +"Is the great King here today?" asked Poland's ruler. + +"I do not know; but the council will sit and transact all needed +business. And now I will tell you another thing: All whom you have met +or seen have appeared to you as mortal beings, as you or I; but in +reality, in our drive through the city, you have seen many immortal, +that is, resurrected, men and women; for you must remember that now the +righteous live to the age of a tree, and when they die, they do not +sleep in the dust, but are changed in the twinkling of an eye. These +visit with us, abide with us for a time to instruct us. Because you are +a ruler among the nations, you will be permitted to see the assembling +of the council, and receive instruction from it. The time is drawing +nigh. Let us be going." + +Great crowds of white-robed men were flocking into the temple. The three +followed. The king and Remand gazed in wonder at those who had been +pointed out as being resurrected beings, and their wonder increased when +they could see no marked difference between them and the rest of +mankind, save perhaps in the calm, sweet expression of the face, and +the light which appeared to beam from the countenances of the immortals. +They certainly were not unreal, shadowy beings. + +Entering a wide hallway, they soon arrived at the council chamber. Its +glory dazzled the beholders. In the midst of this room was a vast throne +as white as ivory, and ascended by seventy steps. On each side of the +throne were tiers of seats, rising one above the other. The seats were +rapidly being filled, but the throne remained vacant. + +"The King is not here today," whispered Paulus. + +Then a soft, sweet strain of music was heard. It increased in volume +until a thousand instruments seemed to blend into one melody. Suddenly, +the vast assembly arose as one man and joined in a song of joy and +thanksgiving. + +"Guide--dear friend," whispered the king of Poland, "I am overcome, I +cannot remain." + +"I feel faint," said Remand, "I fear I shall perish." + +"Come, then, we had better go," answered Paulus. "This is all we shall +see at present. We shall now go into another room and wait the council's +adjournment; then you will have an interview with one delegated to talk +with you." + +From the hallway they entered a smaller room, decorated with beautiful +pictures and adorned with statuary. Books, newspapers and magazines were +at hand, and when the visitors were tired of gazing, they sat down by a +table. + +They had not long to wait before word came that the king and his +friends should enter another room close by. Paulus would wait for their +return. The two found a venerable looking man awaiting them, who, upon +their entrance, arose and said: + +"Welcome, welcome, to the Lord's house. I may not call you king of +Poland--there is but one King on this earth--but I will call you +servants of the King, as we all are. Be seated. + +"I am instructed to tell you that, as a whole, the King is pleased with +the manner you are conducting your stewardship. The Spirit of our Lord +moved upon you to take this journey to his capital, and you chose to +come as you did. That is well enough. Tyrants do not enter this city, +and your presence here is assurance to you that you are justified. + +"It is well that you have disbanded your armies, and that your +instruments of war have been made into plows and pruning hooks. Remember +the law that the nation and kingdom that will not serve the Lord shall +perish. The King grants to all His subjects their free agency in the +matter of religion, forcing no one to obey the gospel law; still He is +the King of the earth; it is His, and He made it, and has redeemed it; +and He now wills that all nations shall come under one government +organized by Him in righteousness. For a thousand years the earth must +rest in peace; then comes the great and dreadful day of the Lord. + +"And now, another thing. There have been some complaints from your +country that the servants of the Lord who have been sent to preach the +gospel to your people, have not had that perfect freedom which is +desired. Please see to it that they are not molested while peaceably +promulgating religious doctrines." + +"I shall see to it," answered the king of Poland. + +For some time they counseled together; then the two withdrew, and joined +Paulus, who conducted them out into the city. + + + + +II. + + "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie + down with the kid; * * * and a little child shall lead them. They + shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain for the earth shall + be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the + sea."--_Isaiah 11:6-9._ + + +The next day Paulus with his two visitors walked about the city. He +described and explained the many deeply interesting scenes, and answered +the numerous questions directed to him. The foreigners did not fail to +note the wonderful advances made in the arts and sciences and their +practical application to everyday affairs. They had thought their own +country not behind in improvements, but here their own were far +surpassed. + +"We will ride out on the ether-line to one of our schools," remarked +Paulus. "You will be pleased with the children." + +"This is an improvement on electricity," said their director, as seated +in an elegant car, they were carried through the city without noise or +jostle. "This line is rather crude yet. I was reading in the newspaper +the other day that some very important improvements were shortly to be +made. You have noticed, ere this, our method of heating and lighting. +Don't you think it is an advancement on the old way?" + +"It certainly is, though we use some steam and considerable electricity +yet in our country." + +"I suppose so--but here we are." + +Although nothing in the city was cramped or crowded for room, the place +where they now alighted was planned on an unusually large scale. Immense +buildings stood upon a large tract of land, planted with trees, grass, +and flowers. Here were breathing room and playground. A number of +streams of clear water flowed through the grounds, and small ponds were +alive with fish and swimming birds. Fountains played, and statues of +marble gleamed through the foliage. + +"See, what is that?" exclaimed Remand, as he caught sight of a huge, +shaggy beast lying under a tree. + +"Just a brown bear," said Paulus. "We have some lions and few of the +rarest animals on these grounds--but I am forgetting that these scenes +must be strange to you. In Poland you have not wholly shaken off the old +world and its way. It takes time of course." + +"Well," replied Remand, "although the enmity between man and beast is +nearly gone, we have not yet adopted bears and lions as pets for our +children to play with." + +"Well, we have, you perceive." + +A bevy of children came dancing through the grounds. Beautiful children +they were, full of life and gladness. They caught sight of bruin, +stretched under the tree, and with a shout they stormed him. The animal +saw them coming, and extending himself at full length on the ground, +seemed to enjoy the children's tumbling over his shaggy sides. When they +patted him on the head and stroked his nose, he licked their hands. + +"We haven't reached quite that far," remarked the king. + +"Neither do we behold such sights," added his companion, as he pointed +to a tiger crouching on the grass, and gazing with no evil intention at +a lamb quietly feeding by. + +"You will in time," said Paulus. "The earth is being filled with the +knowledge of God. Hate, envy, and destruction are fast disappearing, and +you see the natural results: the wolf lying down with the lamb, and +children playing with once savage beasts. In this way, Satan is being +bound, and the whole earth will soon be released from his power." + +They came to another group of children, gathered on the shore of a small +lake, who were eagerly listening to a man in their midst. + +"We will hear what the lesson is today," said Paulus, and they went up +to the group. The instructor was holding up a flower which he had +plucked from the margin of the water, and was illustrating some +peculiarity of vegetable formation to the class. + +"It is botany today," said Paulus. "I hoped that it would be his +favorite theme." + +"And what is that?" + +"The improvements on these grounds are the work of his planning and +supervision, and he delights to give lessons on earth and water +formations. He often sets a class to digging trenches and waterways. He +says that he learned all about such things when he went to school, +meaning when he was on the earth before." + +"Is he a resurrected being?" asked Remand in a low voice. + +"He is," was the reply. "Many of our instructors are. You will +understand without argument the advantages they have over others." + +"Certainly, certainly." + +"I see he is through with the recitation. Let us speak to him." + +As they came up, the children recognized them with a smile and a salute, +and the instructor said: + +"Welcome, brothers, welcome, Brother Paulus." + +"You are dismissed. Go to your next lesson," he said to the children, +and they quietly walked away. + +"Now," said he, "I have some leisure. Will you all come with me into the +reading room? I have something to show you, Paulus, and it may interest +our visitors." + +"Need we no introduction?" asked the king, as they followed into a large +building. + +"Not at all. He knows who you are." + +The reading room was a compartment beautifully adorned and furnished. It +was filled with tables, chairs, bookracks, etc. Hundreds of children +were there reading. Perfect order reigned, though no overseers or +watchers were seen. The three followed the instructor into a smaller +room, seemingly arranged for private use. Chairs were placed, and then +he opened a newspaper which he spread on the table. + +"Have you seen the last edition of today's paper?" + +None of them had. + +"Well, I found something here of more than usual interest. It seems that +some workmen, excavating for a building, came across the ruins of a +nineteenth century city. In a cavity in a stone they found some coins of +that period, also a number of newspapers. It was a common practice in +those days to imbed such things in the corner stones of buildings. +Extracts from those papers are reproduced here, and they are of interest +to the children of today in showing the condition of the world when +under the influence of that fallen spirit who rebelled against God in +the beginning. Let me read you a few extracts, principally headings +only." + +"'Yesterday this city was visited by a most destructive fire. One-half +of the business part was swept away. Thousands of dollars of property +were lost, and it is supposed that about fifty persons have perished in +the flames.' + +"'The great strike. Thousands of workmen out of employment. Children +crying for bread. Mobs march through the streets, defying the police, +and demolishing property. The governor calls out the state militia.' + +"Here is another: + +"'War! War! England, Germany, France, Russia and the United States are +preparing!' + +"Yes, you have read your histories. You know all about that. What do you +think of this?" + +"'Millions of the people's money have been expended by those in office +to purchase votes. A set of corrupt political bosses rule the nation.' + +"Still another: + +"'A gang of tramps capture a train--'" + +The reader did not finish, but laid the paper down and looked out of the +open door. He did not speak for some time; then turning, said: + +"Brothers, thank God that you live in the Millennium of the world. My +heart grows sick when my mind reverts back to the scenes of long ago. I +passed through some of them. I learned my lessons in a hard school; but +God has been good to me. He has known me all along, and has given me +just what I needed. Shall we visit the buildings? Shall we see the +children who grow up without sin unto salvation? Come with me." + +From room to room, from building to building, they went. Children, +children, everywhere--bright, beautiful children. Oh, it was a grand +sight! Hark! They sing--a thousand voices; and such music! + +"Are there special visitors today?" asked Paulus. + +"Yes; come let us go outside and see them." + +They stepped out on to a portico where they could see the throng of +children standing on a large lawn outside. They were singing a song of +welcome, and through the trees could be seen three men approaching. The +children made way for them, and they walked through towards the +building. + +"Look well at them as they pass," said the instructor; "you may +recognize them." + +They walked with the sprightliness of youth though their hair was white +as snow. They smiled at the children as they passed. + +"Two of the faces are familiar," remarked Remand, "but the third is +strange. Surely, surely--" + +"Surely you did not expect to see George Washington and Martin Luther in +the flesh, walking and talking as other men?" + +"Never." + +"It is they." + +"And the third?" + +"The third is Socrates of old." + +"What is their mission?" + +"They are about to speak to the children. They have been at the school +of the prophets all morning, and now they come from the high school +yonder. You see what advantages today's students of history have." + +"Has the knowledge of God exalted men to the society of resurrected +beings?" + +"Your senses do not deceive you," was the reply. + +"Now I must go," said the instructor. "Farewell, and peace be with +you." + +He went into the house again, the three following directly, but they saw +nothing more of him. + + + + +III. + + "Every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand + hills * * * for the world is mine, and the fulness + thereof."--_Psalms 50:10, 12_. + + +The King of Poland and his counselor lodged that night in the city. +Early next morning, Paulus came again for them. + +"What do you wish to see, today?" he asked. + +"Take us to some or your workshops and mills," replied the King; "we +would like to learn more of your social and industrial conditions, about +which we have heard." + +A car soon took them to a part of the city where the workshops were +situated. The buildings were not great, black-looking structures with +rows of small windows in the walls; but they were handsome, spacious +buildings, resembling somewhat the finest of the public buildings with +which the visitors were acquainted in their own country. Remand noted +the absence of smoking chimneys, and inquired about them. + +"We have done away with all that," explained Paulus. "Pure air is one of +the essentials to life. One of the crudest imperfections of the past was +the wilderness of smoking chimneys which belched forth their blackness +and poison into the atmosphere. As you have noticed, our city is clean, +and the air above us is as clear as that above forests or fields." + +"I suppose you use electricity for light and power," remarked Remand; +"but you need heat, too." + +"We use electricity for heat also," was explained. "We get it direct +from the earth, also have it generated by water power, both from falls +and the waves of the sea, and transmitted to us. Some of these power +stations are hundreds of miles away among the mountains, and by the sea. +We have also learned to collect and conserve heat from the sun; so, you +see, we are well supplied for all purposes. This building," said the +instructor, pointing to the one in front of which they had stopped, "is +a furniture factory. Would you like to see it in working operation?" + +"Yes; very much," said the King. + +They entered clean, well-lighted, airy rooms where beautiful machinery +was being operated by well-dressed and happy-looking workmen. The +visitors passed from section to section, noting, admiring, and asking +questions. + +"Whose factory is this?" asked Remand of the guide. + +"You mean who has charge--who is the steward?" corrected Paulus. + +"No; not exactly that. This magnificent plant must have an owner, either +an individual or a corporation. I asked for the ownership of the +property." + +The guide looked strangely at his companions. Then he realized that +these men had come from the parts of the earth where the celestial order +had not yet been established. The old ideas of private property rights +were still with them. + +"My friends," he said, "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness +thereof. He is the only proprietor. How can weak, mortal man own any +part of this earth! No, ownership is for a future time, a future state. +Now we are only stewards over the Lord's possession." + +"But someone must have charge here," said the king. + +"Certainly. A master mechanic is steward over this factory, and he +renders an account of all its doings to the Bishop, who is the Lord's +representative. In this building, as you have seen, are many +departments, and these are also stewardships, given to those in whose +charge they are. Likewise, each workman has a stewardship for which he +is responsible and accountable to the Lord." + +They came to the wood-carving department where beautiful designs were +being drawn and executed. + +"Each man, as far as possible, does the kind of work best suited to his +tastes and abilities. Here, for instance, those who are skilled carvers +of wood find employment for their talent, and they turn out some fine +articles of furniture. Of course, we have machines that stamp and carve +wood; but the pleasure derived from the use of the skilled hand is not +to be denied the well-trained mechanic and artist." + +"I don't quite understand what you mean by stewardships," said Remand +as they passed into a rest room. + +"Let us sit down here," replied Paulus, "and I shall try to explain +further. You must know that all this order, beauty, peace, and plenty +has been attained by an observance of celestial law. And the celestial +law as pertaining to temporal things is that no man shall have more than +is required for his and his family's support. In this respect all men +are equal according to their needs. In olden times, this law was called +the order of Enoch, because we are informed that Enoch and his city +attained to a high degree of righteousness through its observance. Later +it was called the United Order. It has been revealed to and tried by men +in various periods of the earth's history, but never has it had such a +chance to redeem the world as it is having now. According to this law, +no man can accumulate unto himself the wealth created by the work of +others, as was the case in former times with us, and still prevails to +some extent among other nations. All surplus which a worker accumulates +beyond his needs is turned into the general storehouse of the Lord. Thus +each man becomes equal in temporal things as well as in spiritual +things. There is no rich or poor: each man obtains what he requires, and +no more." + +"What is the extent of this surplus?" asked the King. "Is it large?" + +"Yes; because of the nearly perfect condition of our industrial system, +a great amount of wealth flows into the general storehouse. You will +understand, of course, that all public institutions receive their +support from this fund, so that the old order of taxes is done away +with. You have noticed our beautiful city. You have not seen palaces of +the rich and hovels of the poor, but you have seen magnificent public +buildings, parks, and thoroughfares. These institutions that are for all +alike have been built and are sustained by the surplus; and this city +does not represent all of what the people of the Lord are doing. The +Lord's work is being extended throughout this land and to lands beyond +the sea. Not the least of our duties is the building of temples and the +performing of the work for our dead in them. So you see, we have need of +much wealth to carry on our work." + +"Yes; I understand," remarked Remand; "but in our country and time, as +indeed, it has been in the past, many have tried plans of equality, but +they have been more or less failures. Why have you succeeded so well?" + +"The chief cause for the past failures of the world in this industrial +order lies in the supposition that unregenerated men, who have not +obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ, and who are, therefore, full of +weaknesses and sins incident to human nature without the power to +overcome them--I say the mistake lies in the supposition that such men +can come together and establish a celestial order of things, an order +wherein the heart must be purged from every selfish thought and desire. +No wonder that a building erected on such a poor foundation could not +stand. We have succeeded because we have begun right. We have had faith +in the Lord and His providences, have repented of our sins, have been +born again of water and of the Spirit, and then we have tried to live by +every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. We have done this pretty +well, or we could never have succeeded in this work of equality that you +see and admire. People who do the things that you observe around you +must have the Spirit of God in their hearts. This celestial order is +God's order, and those who partake of its blessings must be in harmony +with God's mind and will. High law cannot be obeyed and lived by +inferior beings who are not willing to submit to the first principles of +salvation and power." + +The three sat in quiet contemplation for a time. Then the King said: +"Tell us about the wages of these workmen. The proper adjustment of +wages has always been a source of much trouble with us." + +"Yes, in the days when every man had to look out for himself and had no +thought for his neighbor, it was a continual struggle to get as much as +possible for one's work and to give as little as possible for the work +of another. Such conditions were natural under a system of greed and +selfishness, and they brought on much contention and trouble, which, +happily are now ended. In the beginning," explained the speaker, "those +who enter this order of equality are required to consecrate all their +property to the Lord. Then each is given a stewardship according to his +needs and his ability to manage and to work. Children have a claim upon +their parents for support until they are of age, when they also are +given a stewardship." + +"Are the wages equal to all?" + +"No; and for the very good reason that the needs of all are not alike. +According to the old order, the superintendent of these works, for +instance, would draw a salary of perhaps $5000.00 a year, while the men +who do the manual labor would get less than a tenth of that sum." + +"True," remarked Remand, "supply and demand regulates these things. +Superintendents are scarce, but common workmen are plentiful." + +"But, my dear friend, we have no common workmen. It is just as important +that a table should be put together properly, and that it be well +finished as that there should be a superintendent of the works. No man +in our industrial system can say to another, 'I have no need of thee.' +Each is important, each has his place, each supports the other. The +polisher or the sawyer, therefore, should have his needs supplied, and +so should the overseer--but no more. What would he do with more, anyway? +Tell me." + +"Why, why," replied Remand, "He could save it, put it in the bank, +invest it." + +Paulus smiled. "What good would hoarded wealth be to a man whose needs +are all provided for as long as he lives, as also his children after +him. We have but one bank here--the Lord's storehouse, and all profits +derived from investments are there deposited. But speaking again of +wages, I happen to know that the superintendent of this factory is a +man with a wife only to support, and they are very simple in their +tastes. The wood-carver whom we spoke of has a large family of children. +His needs are greater than the superintendent's, therefore he receives +more for his portion. That is just, is it not?" + +"Yes," replied Remand, "the theory seems to be all right but its +application, among us at least, would bring endless complications to be +adjusted." + +"Perhaps so," replied Paulus. "We are not perfect, even here. While we +are in mortality, we have weaknesses to contend with; but you must +remember that we look on every man as a brother and a friend, and as I +have stated, we have the spirit of the Master to help us. When this help +proves insufficient by reason of our own failure to do the right, and in +our weakness we are unjust or overbearing, or oppressive, then there is +the Lord Himself whose throne is with us. He balances again the scales +of justice, and metes out to every man his just deserts." + +Paulus arose, and the others followed him reverently out into the +park-like space surrounding the factory. They walked slowly along the +paths as they talked. + +"The argument usually urged against all orders of equality," remarked +Remand, "is that it takes away man's incentive to work." + +"Have you seen any idle men in or about Zion?" asked the guide. + +They acknowledged that they had not. + +"The new order has not taken away incentives to work; it has simply +changed the incentive from a low order to a higher. We can not afford to +work for money as an end. Wealth, with us, is simply a means to an end, +and that is the bringing to pass of saving righteousness to the race, +individually and collectively. Wealth is not created to be used for +personal aggrandizement; and, in fact, its power to work mischief is +taken away when all men have what they need of it. The attainment of +worldly wealth was at one time the standard of success. It was, indeed, +a low standard." + +"What is your standard?" asked the king. + +"Among us the greatest of all is the servant of all. He who does his +best along the line of his work, and contributes the results of his +efforts to the general good, is successful. Quantity is not always the +test, for the gardener who supplies us with the choicest vegetables is +counted just as successful as he who digs from the mountain his +thousands in gold.... Who, in your country, is counted the greatest +success in history?" + +Neither Remand nor the King replied to this query. + +"I will not confuse you by urging a reply," said Paulus. "You, of +course, understand our view of that matter. He who did the greatest good +to the greatest number made the greatest success. That was the Lord and +Master. 'If I be lifted up, I shall draw all men to me,' he said; and +that is being fulfilled. In like manner the greatest among us is he who +serves us best." + +They seated themselves on a bench and watched the workers flock from +the workshop homeward to their mid-day meal. It was an interesting sight +to the two visitors. The people appeared so happy and contented that the +king noticed it and commented on it. + +"Yes," replied Paulus; "why should they not be happy? When I think of +the times in the past--how so many of the human race had to struggle +desperately merely to live; how men, women and children often had to beg +for work by which to obtain the means of existence; how sometimes +everything that was good and pure and priceless was sold for bread; +while on the other hand many others of the race lolled in ease and +luxury, being surfeited with the good things of the world--I say, when I +think of this, I can not praise the Lord too much for what He now has +given to us." + +"What are these men's working hours?" asked Remand. + +"The hours vary according to the arduousness of the work, though it is +now much more easy and pleasant, owing to our labor-saving machinery. +From three to four hours usually constitute a day's work. Some prefer to +put in their allotted time every day, and then spend the remainder in +other pursuits. Others work all day, perhaps for a week, which would +give them a week to do other things. Others, again, who wish more +leisure for their self-appointed tasks, keep steadily on for a year, +thus earning a year for themselves." + +"And what is done with this leisure?" asked the king. + +"Most of it is devoted to working in the temples of the Lord, where the +saving ordinances of the gospel are performed for those who had not the +privilege to do them for themselves in this life; but many other things +are done. For instance, he who thinks he is an inventor, devotes his +time to perfecting his invention; those who wish to pursue a certain +line of study, now have time to do so; some spend time in traveling." + +"Is there no competition among you?" said Remand. "Such a condition, it +seems to me, would bring stagnation." + +"We have the keenest kind of competition," was the reply--"a competition +of the highest order that brings the most joyous life-activity into our +work. Each steward competes with every other steward to see who can +improve his stewardship the most and bring the best results to the +general storehouse. For example, you noticed as you came into the city +the beautifully kept gardens and farms lying for miles out into the +country. These are all stewardships, and there is the keenest +competition among the farmers and gardeners to see who can make the land +produce--first the best crops, and then the most of that best. One man +last year who has a small farm turned into the storehouse as his surplus +one thousand bushels of wheat. It was a remarkable record which this +year many others are trying to equal or exceed. This sort of rivalry is +found among all the various businesses and industries in Zion and her +stakes; so you see, that even what you term the wealth producing +incentive is not lost to us, but is used as an end to a mighty good, +and not to foster personal greed." + + * * * * * + +The three strolled farther away from the large factory building, out +into a section where residences stood here and there among the trees in +the park-like grounds. Approaching a beautiful sheet of water bordered +by flowering bushes, lawns, and well-kept walks, they saw a man sitting +on a bench by the lake. As his occupation seemed to be throwing bread +crumbs to the swans in the water, the King and his companion concluded +that here, at last, they had discovered one of the idle rich, whom they +still had in their own country. Remand expressed his thought to the +guide. + +"He idle?" was the reply. "Oh, no; he is one of our hardest working men. +That is one of our most popular writers, and in many people's opinion, +our best. We must not disturb him now, but we will sit down here and +observe him. We are told that when he is planning one of his famous +chapters of a story, he comes down to this lake and feeds the swans." + +"And do you still write, print, and read stories?" asked Remand. + +"Certainly. Imaginative literature is one of the highest forms of art. +This man has most beautifully pictured the trend of the race, his +special themes being the future greatness and glory of Zion. Why should +he not paint pictures by words, as well as the artist who does the same +by colors and the sculptor by form? If you have not read any of his +books, you must take some of them home with you. See, he is moving +away. Would you like to meet him?" + +They said they would. The author was soon overtaken, and he received his +visitors graciously. + +"Yes," he laughingly acknowledged to Paulus, "you caught me fairly. I +was planning a most interesting scene of the book on which I am now +engaged, and the swans are a great help." + +He led his visitors into the grounds surrounding his home, and then into +his house. He showed them his books, his studio, and his collection of +art treasures. From an upstairs balcony he pointed out his favorite bit +of landscape, a mixture of hill and dale, shining water, and purple haze +in the distance. + +"Yes," he said, in answer to an inquiry, "I have read how, in former +times, the workers in art, and especially the writer were seriously +handicapped. The struggle for bread often sapped the strength which +ought to have gone into the producing of a picture, a piece of statuary, +or a book. Fear of some day wanting the necessities of life drove men to +think of nothing else but the making of money; and when sometimes men +and women were driven by the strong impulse of expression to neglect +somewhat the 'Making a living,' they nearly starved. How could the best +work be produced under such conditions? I marvel at what was done, +nevertheless." + +After spending a pleasant and profitable hour with the writer, the three +visitors went on their way. They partook of some lunch at one of the +public eating houses, then they went out farther into the country to +look at the farms and gardens. Lines of easy and rapid transit extended +in every direction, so that it took but a few minutes for Paulus and his +friends to arrive at the place they desired. They alighted at an +orchard, looked at the growing fruit and listened to the orchardist's +explanations. After they had been left to themselves, Paulus continued: + +"I want you to see and taste a certain kind of apple that this man has +produced. Apples are his specialty." He led the way to another part of +the orchard, and found a number of ripening apples which he gave his +friends. "What do you think of them?" he asked. + +"Most delicious!" they both exclaimed. "This might be the identical +fruit that tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden," remarked Remand. + +As they walked amid the trees, the conversation reverted again to the +writer of books whom they had just left. + +"This author's royalties must be very great--" began the King's +counselor, and then checked himself when he remembered the conditions +about him. + +"Royalties?" replied Paulus; "yes, they are great; but they are not in +money or material wealth. They consist in the vast amount of help, +encouragement, hope, and true happiness he brings to his readers." + +"But do not men like treasure for treasure's sake? Have your very +natures changed?" asked the King. + +"To some extent our natures have changed, but not altogether in this. +Men and women still like to lay up treasures. It is an inevitable law +that when men do some good to others, credit is given them for that +good in the Book of Life. This wealth of good deeds may accumulate until +one may become a veritable millionaire; and this treasure can never be +put to an unrighteous use; moth can not corrupt it, nor thieves break +through and steal." + +"One more question," asked Remand. "I observed that your novelist had a +beautiful house, many rare books, and some priceless paintings and +pieces of sculptured marble. Are these among the 'needs' that you have +spoken of so many times?" + +"To him, certainly. Each man gets that which will aid him most in his +particular line of work. Those things are not needless luxuries or +extravagances. The writer is surrounded by beautiful things that he may +be influenced by them to produce the most beautiful literature, just the +same as any other laborer is provided with the best tools, helps, and +environments that he may produce the best work." + +From the orchard they went to the gardens and other workshops, closing +the day with a visit to one of the large mercantile establishments of +the city. + +The next morning Paulus was on hand again to be their guide, but the +King said: + +"We must now return home. Much as we would like to remain--to take up +our permanent abode here, I see that my duty calls me home. The Great +King has something for me to do, and I shall try to do it. Let us be +going." + +Then the two visitors thanked their guide most graciously as he set them +on their homeward way. + + + + +IV. + + "In my Father's house are many mansions. * * * I go to prepare a place + for you."--_John 14:2_. + + +Two men were walking in the grounds surrounding a stately residence on +the outskirts of the city. + +"I told you some time ago of the king of Poland's visit," said the one +who had been instructor at the school. "Did you see that item in the +paper this morning?" + +"Yes," replied the other. "The visit must have made a great impression +on him, judging by what he is doing." + +"He was much interested. He is a good man, and is carrying out the +instructions which he received while here. You have not been here +before?" + +"No; this is my first visit." + +"This house is being built for a descendant of mine who is yet in +mortality. I visit with him frequently, and he has asked me for +suggestions as to its construction. I have had much pleasure in giving +them. Soon he is to bring a wife into his new home, a dear good girl +whom I am pleased to welcome in this way into our family. The workmen +have nearly finished their labors and I am devoting some time to the +preparation of the grounds. Will you have time to look around with me?" + +"I have time today, brother." + +They walked towards the house. It stood on the slope of a gentle +elevation which furnished a view of the country westward. + +"Here you see what I am doing. I am departing somewhat from the usual +form of lawn plans, but I want this place to have a special feature. You +see, I have led this stream of water around the hill-side and made it +fall over this small precipice into this tiny lake. What do you think of +it?" + +"It is beautiful and unique." + +"You see, brother, I have a liking for streams of water. They always +please my eye, and their babble and roar is music to my ears. And then, +someone else will soon be visiting with me here. I call this my +temporary Earth-home; and brother, nothing can be too beautiful for my +wife." + +His companion looked at him and smiled. The speaker smiled in return. +They understood each other. + +"Yes, she is coming soon--at any time, now." + +They walked into the house and inspected the building. It was no +exception to the other houses in the city, as beautiful as gold, silver, +precious stones, fine woods, silks, and other fabrics could make it. +Most of the rooms were furnished, as if in readiness for occupancy. + +"I delight in statuary," was explained to the visitor, "and my wife +delights in paintings. You see, I have catered to both our tastes, and +especially hers. Those panels are the work of the famous Rene, and this +ceiling was painted by the best artist in the city. Here, what do you +think of this?" + +They paused before a large painting hung in the best light. It showed +traces of age, but the colors indicated the hand of a master. It +represented a scene where grandeur and beauty mingle; in the distance, +blue hills; nearer, they became darker and pine clad; in the foreground +loomed a rocky ledge; encircled by the hills, lay a lake, around whose +shores were farms and farm houses with red roofs; and in the foreground +of the lake was an island. + +"A fine picture," said the visitor, "and an old one." + +"It is a scene in old-time Norway, by one of Europe's best painters. +Here is another. This is new, hardly dry, in fact. You observe that +there are no pines on those hills. The farm house and the orchard in the +foreground are as natural as life. She will recognize them at once." + +They passed out. + +"I have not had time to collect much in the way of statuary. I work a +little at that art myself. Here is an unfinished piece, a model for a +fountain." + +They sat on a bench within sight of the falling water. + +"Tell me about your family." + +"I have a wife and four children yet in the spirit world. It is not long +as we count time since I left them, and they are soon to follow; but I +am impatient, I think. Oh, but she is a good woman, brother, good and +true and beautiful; and my children are noble ones--two boys and two +girls--even if one has been wayward. He will come back in time. Yes, my +wife first taught me the knowledge of God, in the second estate, and +opened to me the beauties of our Fathers' great plan. I had fallen low, +and was in danger of going lower, when she came--God sent her--and with +her pure, strong hand drew me up from the mire, God bless her." And the +speaker smiled at the splashing waters. + +"Then in earth-life I left them so suddenly, and she struggled bravely +on to the end. It was all for the best--we know that now. I had a work +to do in the spirit world, and God called me to it. I did it, and was +accepted of the Master. We all met in the spirit world, and there +continued our labors of love for the glory of God and the salvation of +His children. Then my time came to pass through the resurrection, and +here I am.--Hark, what is that? Someone is calling." + +They listened. From the house came a voice, a low, sweet voice, calling. + +"Brother, I must go," said he who had been talking. "Someone calls my +name." + +He disappeared hurriedly within the door-way; and the visitor went on +his way. + + + + +V. + + "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall + be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there by + any more pain: for the former things are passed away. + + "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God + and he shall be my son."--_Rev. 21:4-7._ + + +A sound, a whispered word echoes through the air and enters the ear. It +touches the chords and finds them tuned to its own harmony. It plays +tenderly on responsive strings, and what an awakening is within that +soul! What rapture in the blending, what delight in the union! From it +is born a joy of the heavenly world. + +A sight, a glimpse of a form--a certain form or face; the rays of light +entering the eye meet with something keenly sympathetic, and the soul +leaps in ecstasy. + +A touch, a gentle pressure of the hand; the union is complete. + +What was that voice that reached him--a voice love-laden, full to +over-flowing from the regions of the past? Ah, what sweetness courses +through his veins, what joy leaps in his heart! + +Within, he sees her. She stands in the middle of the room, with her eyes +upon the open door. She does not move. Her beautiful robe of shining +white clings about her form or falls in graceful folds to the floor. Her +hair, light as of old, now glistens like silken threads. Her face shines +with the indescribable glow of immortality. + +She sees her husband. She raises her arms, and takes a step forward. She +smiles--such a smile! + +"Homan--Rupert." + +"Delsa--Signe." + +He takes her in his arms. He kisses her and holds her to his breast.... + +Presently strains of music came from another room. He listened as if +surprised, but she looked up into her husband's eyes and smiled. The +music ceased and a little girl appeared in the doorway. + +"May I come in?" she asked. + +"Alice, my darling." + +She runs towards them. + +"Papa, papa, oh, how glad I am!" + +He lifted her up and she threw her arms about his neck and kissed him +again and again. + +"What a beautiful place this is!" she said. "O, mamma, I am very happy!" + +"Yes, Alice, we are all happy--happy beyond expression. We now can +partly understand that glorious truth taught us, that 'spirit and +element, inseparably connected, receiveth a fulness of joy.'" + + * * * * * + +Alice was playing with the fishes and the swans in the garden, and the +husband and wife were sitting by an open window, gazing out upon the +city. + +"Brother Volmer has not been to see us yet," said he. "You remember he +was our brother Sardus?" + +"I remember him well," she answered. + +"His musical talent is now of great blessing to himself and to the cause +of God, as he is a musical director in the Temple. He understands now +why he lost his hearing while in mortality, and he praises God for his +then seeming misfortune." + +"Husband," said she, "I am thinking again about our children. How long +will it be before we shall receive them all?" + +"Not long now; but each in his order. Leave that to the Lord." + +They looked out at Alice. The swans were eating from her hand, and she +was stroking their curved necks. + +"To look back," said he, "and see the wonderful ways through which the +Lord has brought us to this perfection, fills my heart with praise to +Him. Now we are beyond the power of death and the evil one. Now the +pure, life-giving spirit of God flows in our veins instead of the blood +of mortality. Now we can know the two sides of things. We understand the +good, because we have been in contact with the evil. Our joy is perfect, +because we have experienced pain and sorrow. We know what life is, +eternal life, because we have passed through the ordeal of death." + +"Yes, Father teaches a good school." + +"And we have learned this truth," said she, "that existence itself is a +continuous penalty or reward. The children of God reap as they sow from +eternity to eternity." + +"Yes; then dwell on this thought for a moment: Our lives have just +begun, as it were. We have eternity before us, and we are only now +equipped to meet it." + +"I am lost in the thought. But tell me about this thousand years of +earthly peace and the last great change. Husband, I am a pupil now, and +you the teacher." + +"There is much to tell in contemplating not only the realities but the +possibilities of the future. This earth has for some time been enjoying +its Sabbath of peace and rest. He who rebelled in the beginning and +fought against God is bound, and Christ is sole King of the earth. His +laws go to the ends thereof, and all nations must obey them. The Saints +are building holy places, and working for the living and the dead. No +graves are now made, as the bodies of the Saints do not sleep in the +dust. Thus it will go on until the thousand years are ended. Then Satan +will be loosed for a little season; but his time will be short. Then +comes the last great scene. The Lord will finish His work. In the clouds +of heaven, with power and great glory, He will be seen with all His +angels. The mortal Saints yet on the earth will be instantly changed and +caught up to meet Him. The holy cities will be lifted up. Then the +elements will melt with fervent heat. The earth will die as all things +must, and be resurrected in perfection and glory, to be a fit abode, +eternally, for celestial beings. All things will become new; all things +will become celestial, and the earth will take its place among the +self-shining stars of heaven. Then shall we receive our eternal +inheritance, with our children and our families. Then shall we be in +possession of that better and more enduring substance spoken of by the +prophets. All things shall be ours, 'whether life or death, or things +present, or things to come;' all are ours, and we are Christ's and +Christ is God's." + +"Why, then we will be like unto God." + +"And is it strange that children should become like their father?" + +"I remember now," said she, "as distinctly as though it were yesterday, +what Father promised us in our first estate, that if we were faithful, +we should be added upon, and still added upon. Do you remember it?" + +"Distinctly," he answered. "It was to be 'glory added upon our heads for +ever and ever.' Father is fulfilling his promise." + +Then they sat still, not being able to speak their thoughts, but looked +out towards the cloud-encircled towers of the city. + +Alice came running in. "The people are coming," she said. + +They looked out of the window and saw two persons approach, viewing the +grounds with interest. + +"It is Henrik and Marie," exclaimed Signe. The newcomers were greeted +rapturously. + +"Come in and see the results of my husband's planning," said Signe. + + * * * * * + +The visitors were led through the house, and shown the gardens +surrounding it. As they had been separated for a time from their friends +they had many things to tell each other. + +"Do you know," said Henrik, as they were all sitting by the playing +fountain, "on our way here, we met Rachel!" + +"Is she also risen?" asked Signe. "Oh, why did you not bring her with +you?" + +"Well," said Henrik with a smile, "I told her where we were going and +asked her to come along. But she naturally preferred to stay with her +husband who was taking her to see some of his own people; so she +graciously declined, but said she would visit with us some other time." + +"Right away?" + +"I can't say. She clung pretty closely to her husband. They are a +splendid pair. I am glad, for I will admit that I once thought Rachel's +case was hopeless." + +"We couldn't see very far, could we, brother?" remarked Rupert. + +"Our faith was weak, and we did not trust the Lord enough." + +"Yes; I used to wonder how the Lord would ever straighten out the mass +of entanglements that seemed to exist in the world. We failed to +comprehend the providences of the Lord because we could not see beyond +the narrow confines of the world in which we were living; we could see +only a small part of the circle of eternity; we could not see how that +visible portion, which was often rough and unshapely, could fit into +anything beautiful; but now our vision is extended, and we have a +larger, and therefore, a more correct view." + +"And this I have found," said Henrik, smiling at Signe and Marie as with +arms around each other, they sauntered down the garden path, "I have +found that our work never ends. While in earth-life my mission was to +seek after those of my people who had gone before me, and to do a work +of salvation for them in the temples. In the spirit world, I continued +my work preaching to my fellowmen, and preparing them to receive that +which was and is being done for them by others. And now, I find, that I +am busier than ever. We are teachers, directors, leaders, judges, and +our field is all the earth." + +"Yes," replied Rupert, "I attended the laying of the corner-stone of the +one-hundredth temple the other day; and we have only just begun. The +time, talent, wealth, and energy that formerly went to the enriching of +a few and that was spent to build and sustain armies and navies, now +are directed to the building of temples and the carrying on the work in +them. I used to wonder how the needed temple work could ever be done for +the millions of earth's inhabitants, but now I can see how simple it is. +Tens of thousands of Saints, in thousands of temples, in a thousand +years of millenium can accomplish it. Every son and daughter of Adam +must have a chance; every tangled thread must be straightened out; every +broken link must be welded; every wrong must be righted; every created +thing that fills the measure of its creation must be perfected;--all +this must be before the 'winding-up scene' comes. All this can be +accomplished, for now we have every force working to that end. The earth +is yet teeming with our brothers and sisters in mortality; there is +continual communication between the spirit world and this world, and +then here are we, with our kind; we have passed through the earth-life, +through the spirit world, through the resurrection--and we, as you said, +are busier than ever, because with our added knowledge and wider view +comes greater power. Our services are needed everywhere. And what a +blessed privilege we have in thus being able to help the Lord in the +salvation of His children and the hastening to its destined end of +celestial glory this world of ours." + +Alice was playing with some birds, which she seemed to have well +trained, as they were flying back and forth from her hand to the bushes. +The two women now came back along the path, stopping now and then to +listen to a bird or to look at a flower. They joined Rupert and Henrik. + +"I have quite a lot of names from the spirit world to bring to the +Temple today," said Rupert, "among them fifteen couples to be made +husband and wife." + +"I have heard it said," remarked Marie, "that in heaven there is neither +marrying nor giving in marriage." + +"Neither is there," answered Rupert, "any more than there is baptism for +the remission of sins. Neither this world nor the world of spirits, +where live the contracting parties, is heaven." + +"Isn't this heaven?" asked Marie, looking around on the beauty with +which she was surrounded. + +"As far as we resurrected beings are concerned," replied Rupert, "we +have heaven wherever we go; but this earth is only being prepared for +its heavenly or celestial state. Until that is finished, there shall be +marrying and giving in marriage." + +"I'm glad of it," said Signe; "for there is--" + +She was interrupted by Alice, who came in with the announcement that +others were coming up to the house. Henrik and Marie were greeted for +the first time by visitors who continued to gather. For some time, +white-clothed persons had been directing their steps towards the Temple. +Now they were hurrying. + +"It is time to go," said Rupert. + +In a few moments they had changed their clothing, and with the speed of +thought, they were within the Temple grounds. Entering, they took their +places. Volmer passed, and he paused to speak to them. Soon the hall +was filled. + +The Lord of Life and Light was there, and lent of His light to the +scene. + +Brilliancy pervaded everything, shone from everything. It was not the +sun, there being no dazzle; it was not the moon, but a clearness as of +noonday. The whole Temple shed forth a lustre as if it were built of +some celestial substance. The marble, the precious stones, the gold, +seemed changed into light--light, pure, calm, and consolidated into +form. It radiated from the throne, and from Him who sat upon it. "Around +His head was as the colors of the rainbow, and under His feet was a +paved work of pure gold in color like amber." + +Hark! the music! How it fills the Temple, how it thrills the souls +assembled. A thousand instruments blend in exquisite harmony, ten +thousand voices join in the song: + + "The earth hath travailed and brought forth her strength, + And truth is established in her bowels; + And the heavens have smiled upon her; + And she is clothed with the glory of her God; + For He stands in the midst of His people. + Glory, and honor, and power, and might + Be ascribed to our God; for He is full of mercy, + Justice, grace, and truth, and peace, + Forever and ever, Amen." + + + + +PART FIFTH + + The rise of man is endless. Be in hope. + All stars are gathered in his horoscope. + The brute man of the planet, he will pass, + Blown out like forms of vapor on a glass. + And from this quaking pulp of life will rise + The superman, child of the higher skies. + Immortal, he will break the ancient bars, + Laugh and reach out his hands among the stars. + --_Edwin Markham._ + + +I. + + Old things have passed away, all now are new; + Its measure of creation Earth has filled; + The law of a celestial kingdom it + Has kept, transgressed not the law; + Yea, notwithstanding it has died, it has + Been quickened once again; and it abides + The power by which that quick'ning has been done. + Wherefore, it now is sanctified from all + Unrighteousness, and crowned with glory, e'en + The presence of the Father and the Son. + + Immortal Earth on wings of glory rolls, + Shines like unto a crystal sea of glass + And fire, whereon all things are manifest: + Past, present, future,--all are clear to those + Who live upon this glorious orb of God. + + Upon this globe, God's children glorified + Are no more strangers, wand'ring to and fro + As weary pilgrims; now they have received + Possessions everlasting on the Earth-- + A portion of a glorified domain + On which to build and multiply and spread-- + A part of Earth to call always their own. + Eternal mansions may they now erect: + + Make them of whatsoe'er their hearts' desire; + For gold and silver, precious stones and woods, + And fabrics rare, and stuffs of every hue, + All plentiful in Nature's store-house lie, + For them to freely draw upon and use. + Masters of all the elements are they; + And Nature's forces are at their command. + + The man and woman, in the Lord made one, + Eternally are wedded man and wife. + These now together make their plans, and build + A lovely, spacious home wherein to dwell, + A place for work, for rest, for new-found joys, + A peaceful habitation, one beyond + The power of evil ever to destroy. + + +II. + + In their primeval childhood--first estate-- + These once had lived within their Father's home. + Out from that home they had been sent to Earth + To have their spirit bodies clothed upon + With element, to come in contact with + Conditions which were needful for their growth, + And learn the lessons of mortality. + There they had overcome temptation's wiles, + There had obeyed the gospel of their Lord + And worked out their salvation by its power. + + These two had met and mated, had fulfilled + The first great law: "Give bodies clean and strong + To Father's spirit-children from above." + The time allotted they had lived on Earth, + Had died the mortal death, had gone into + The spirit world; from there they had come forth + With resurrected bodies from the grave. + Thus they had kept their first and second estates, + And now were counted worthy to receive + Their portion 'mong the exalted ones of God. + + +III. + + Celestial man and woman now do live + The perfect life; for every faculty + Of heart and brain is put to highest use. + The appetites and passions purged are + From dross that fallen nature with them mixed. + The will is master now, and every sense + Is under absolute control, and gives + Perfected service to perfected souls. + + These two have come into their very own. + They walk by sight; and yet the eye of faith + Sweeps out to future time and distant space + And leads them on and on. They lay their plans + And execute these plans to perfectness. + Eternal Glory-land is their abode, + So beautifully clothed in Nature's best, + And basking in the pleasing smile of God; + No need of light of sun or moon or stars; + The glory of the Father and the Son + Eclipses all such lights of lesser ray. + Although with godlike powers they rule and reign, + Yet are they Father's children, and to Him + All loving honor and obedience give. + And then that Elder Brother who has done + So much for all, He also here abides,-- + The Savior of the world and souls of men, + The Lord of lords, the King of all the Earth, + Yet ever-present Comforter and Friend. + + +IV. + + And now they learn the things they could not know + On mortal earth. They learn the secrets of + All things that are in space above, or in + The Earth beneath: the elements which form + The air that man did breathe, and where obtained, + And how composed. They learn of primal rocks, + Foundations of the new-formed worlds in space, + And how these worlds evolve into abodes + For man. The source of light and heat and power + They find, and grasp the laws by which they may + Be rightly used and perfectly controlled. + And then, most precious gift! they learn of life: + What makes the grass to grow, what gives the flowers + Their fragrance and their many-colored hues. + They comprehend all life in moving forms,-- + In worm, in insect, fish, and bird, and beast; + And knowing this, they have the power to draw + Life from its store-house, and to make it serve + The highest good in never-ending ways. + + +V. + + The truth has made these holy beings free. + They having overcome all evil powers, + Unfettered now they are and free to go + Where'er they wish within the heavenly spheres. + They're not alone on this perfected world, + Here other children of the Father dwell, + Who also have obeyed celestial law. + All these are of the Father's household, and + Are numbered with the just and true, of whom + 'Tis written, "They are God's," and they shall dwell + Forever in the presence of their God. + + What bliss to mingle with such company! + To taste the joys of friendships perfected, + And feel to fulness that sweet brother-love + Which binds in one the noble race of Gods! + + And other worlds may now be visited; + For end there's none to matter and to space. + Infinitude holds kingdoms, great and small,-- + Worlds upon worlds, redeemed and glorified, + And peopled with the children of our God, + Who also have evolved from lower things. + What opening visions here for knowledge rare! + What sciences, what laws, what history! + What stories of God's love in other worlds! + Exhaustless themes for poets' sweetest songs; + For painters, sculptors, every science, art + Has never-ending fields of pure delight. + To them "the universe its incense brings"-- + Distilled from all the sweetness of the spheres. + + +VI. + + Earth's loveliest flow'r, the love 'tween man and wife, + Transplanted is to this most holy sphere. + Through all the toiling years of earth-life, it + Had grown; and now, instead of dying with + The mortal death, its roots are firmly fixed + In the eternal soil of Glory-land. + And blessed man! now at his side there stands + A woman, one of heaven's queens, a wife, + A mother to his children of the Earth, + And yet to be a mother of a race. + Her beauty rare surpasses power of words. + Her purity, her sweetly gentle ways + Rest as a crown of glory on her brow. + Her love transcendent fills his heart with joy, + And now he fully realizes that + "The woman is the glory of the man." + + Here in thy Home, O Woman all divine, + Thy measure of creation thou doest fill! + Intelligences come from out the womb + Of Time, into thine own; thence are they born + With spirit bodies, to thy loving care. + Now thou art Mother, and doest know in full + A mother's joy--a joy untinged by pain, + And with thy Husband thou hast now become + Creator, fellow worker with thy Lord. + Celestial Father, Mother at the head + Of parentage they stand, the perfect type + Of that eternal principle of sex + Found in all nature, making possible + For every living thing to multiply + And bring increase of being of its kind. + In this celestial world, the fittest have + Survived. To them alone the pow'r is given + To propagate their kind. 'Twas wisely planned. + The race of Gods must not deteriorate. + Thus everlasting increase is denied + To those who have not reached perfection's plane. + Herein is justice, wisdom all-divine, + That every child born into spirit world + Has perfect parentage, thus equal chance + Is given all to reach the highest goal, + And win the race which runs up through the worlds. + + And children fill the household of these Two-- + And children bring perpetual youth, renew + The tender sentiments, and firmly knit + The heart of Father, Mother close in one. + Thus do they work, and thus they follow in + The footsteps of their Father; and they spread + Out o'er the land of their inheritance. + Masters of all, joint owners of the spheres, + Eternal increase of eternal lives + Is theirs; and this their work and glory is + To bring to pass the immortality + And life eternal to the race of men. + + +VII. + + Time passes as an ever-flowing stream. + The many mansions teem with offspring fair,-- + The spirit children of this heavenly world. + Varied are they, as human beings are + In form, in likes, in capabilities. + Here love, combined with justice, rules; + Here truth is taught, the right and wrong are shown; + Yet agency is given all, and they + May choose the way selected by desire. + Thus some more faithful are than others, and + Advance more rapidly along the great + Highway that leads among the shining stars. + + Time passes,--and the time has fully come + When spirits must be clothed upon with flesh, + Must follow in the footsteps of their Sire, + Must go to mortal earth and there work out + Their soul's salvation in the self-same way + That all perfected beings once have done. + + Far out in space where there is ample room + And where primeval element abounds, + This Father has been working, and still works, + Fashioning a world on which to place + His children. Without proper form, and void, + In the beginning, this new world has passed + From one stage to another, until now + It rolls in space, an orb in beauty clad, + A world on which a human race may dwell. + This Father to his children thus doth speak: + "The time has come for you to leave this home-- + This first estate, and take another step + Along progression's path. A new-formed world + Is ready to receive you, and to clothe + You in another body. You will then + Learn many things you cannot here receive. + A veil will then be drawn before your eyes + That you will be unable to look back + To us. Alone you'll have to stand; be tried + To see if faithful you will still remain. + There's darkness in that world; and sin will come + And pain and suffering such as now you know + Not of. But these will only clearly show + How good is righteousness, and how much more + To be desired the light than darkness is. + Yet, you shall not be wholly left alone; + My ministering angels shall keep watch, + And near you all the time my power shall be, + To help you in your direst hours of need. + My sons and daughters, as you now do live + Within your Father's ever-watchful care, + Know this that always shall his loving arm + Extended be to you; the Father-heart + And Mother-heart eternally do yearn + And feel for you in sorrow or in pain. + Where'er you are, you're still within my reach. + If you'll but turn to me, I'll hear your cries + And answer you in my good time and place. + Go forth as you are called, the lessons learn + Of earthly school; fear only sin; abide + By law, nor seek to be a law unto + Yourselves, for by eternal law the worlds + Are formed, redeemed, and brought to perfectness, + Together with all flesh which on them live. + Go forth. Be worthy to come back again + And be partakers of all heights and depths, + Things present, things to come, yea, life or death, + And it shall be my pleasure to bestow + Upon you _all there is eternally_." + + Joy fills this Father's children, and with one + United voice of gladness do they sing: + "Thanks, Father, kind and good for what you've done; + Thanks for the added blessings which you bring. + O glorious, wond'rous truth that we have found: + The course of Gods' is one eternal round!" + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ADDED UPON*** + + +******* This file should be named 17249.txt or 17249.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/7/2/4/17249 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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