Paradise Regained. TNT

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СКАЧАТЬ experience has taught us that often the smallest, most insignificant incident can do far more to bring peace and mental quietude to the newcomer to spirit lands than would a hundred of the most brilliant dissertations. Therefore, it is that we deliberately introduce the apparently trivial. And I cannot do better to exemplify this than by recounting what next occurred in our care of Roger.

      The boy suddenly turned his gaze towards the window, attracted by the sound of fluttering wings upon the window-ledge, when he perceived a small bird had made its entrance into the room, and had perched itself only a foot or so from him. Roger remained perfectly still, as though scarcely daring to move lest he should frighten the small visitor away. Ruth, however, called to the bird, which immediately flew to her and perched upon her outstretched finger. The bird was dressed in a smart livery of pale gray feathers.

      Roger was greatly interested when Ruth transferred the bird to his own finger.

      ‘He often visits us here,’ I told him, ‘though he really belongs to two old earth friends of mine.’

      ‘Then what is he doing here?’ asked Roger.

      ‘Well, he was found by my friends in great distress when he was but a fledgling; they cared for him, watched him grow, but sad to say, he came to grief. Possibly he became a trifle too daring, overdid things, had some sort of sudden seizure, and died almost at once. A great pity. He was like you, Roger, and had hardly begun his life. And exactly like you, Roger, he passed into these beautiful lands, and was cared for immediately, just as we try to do for all the human souls who come to us. That small bird, so very inconsiderable on earth, and the action of my two friends, equally inconsiderable, have not been lost. Their affection for that tiny atom of life has preserved that life for all time. At present, he is part of the “household” of a mutual old friend, who already has other bird and animal friends of his own. They’re a merry family, and we’ll take you along to see him - and them. Don’t you think he is a rather handsome fellow?’

      ‘I do. What kind of bird is he?’

      ‘When he first came to us here, he was a much darker gray and not so big. But he has grown, and his color, as you see, is now almost dove-gray. What kind of bird is he, did you say? Why only a common sparrow.’

      Ruth was indignant that I should refer to him as in any sense common, and so I was compelled to recant—not for the first time since I came to the spirit world!

      Roger was still playing with the bird, when Ruth espied two visitors coming towards the house. They were walking in leisurely fashion through the garden, often stopping to examine the flowers that were growing in profusion around the house. As they drew nearer, we recognized them as old friends who had often come to see us before. One, the taller of the two, was a Chaldean by nationality, the other an Egyptian.

      I told Roger that not on any account was he to rise when these two visitors came into the room, as they both knew the purpose for which that couch was used, for it had had many and many a newly arrived person resting upon it.

      Ruth and I went to the door to welcome our visitors, and cordial greetings were exchanged. The Chaldean’s name is Omar, by which he is universally known. He is a man of striking appearance, the most remarkable feature being his raven-black hair, so much in contrast with the slight pallor of his complexion. He is, without doubt, one of the merriest souls to be met with in these lands, and he has a wide reputation for his keen sense of humor.

      ‘Will you come in, Omar,’ I said, ‘and see our “patient”?’ He replied they would be delighted, and we moved two chairs nearer to the couch.

      ‘Well, my son, how are you feeling? Happy? Rested?’ Omar turned to us: ‘Roger is wondering who I am.

      Perhaps he is wondering what I am.’

      ‘You see, Omar, you are really the first person he has seen wearing spirit clothes. Isn’t that so, Roger?’

      ‘Yes, it is, and well, I’m a bit confused. Your clothes,’ he said to Omar, ‘are so different from Monsignor’s.’

      ‘Different from those he is wearing now because he did not want to frighten you. You are not frightened of me, are you Roger? There’s no need to be, my dear son, for I’m really harmless, and my two friends— your two friends—will vouch for me. Perhaps you think I’m an angel! Well, that’s better than being thought a devil. Do you know, Roger, there are some charming people on earth who would call me one, yes, and you, too; in fact, all of us here! Do you think Ruth looks particularly satanic? Monsignor, now; there is certainly a hint of brimstone about him. Well, well, it’s a good thing we can laugh, though, mind you, those same nice people would deny us that. Speaking for myself, I don’t feel the least bit holy, and Monsignor is far too hardened a sinner ever to come within a mile of it.’

      Omar turned to me: ‘I must be off now,’ said he, ‘give my love to my friends on earth.’ Then he took Roger by the hand, held it for a moment, and patted him on the cheek. ‘Bless you, my son,’ he said, ‘be rested, then get your friends to show you the glories of these lands. This is your own home land, now, you know. And just between ourselves, we’re rather proud of it.’

      A First View

      AS WE returned to the house after parting with Omar and his companion, we saw that Roger had left his couch and was now leaning out of the window. We waved to him, and he waved back.

      ‘It looks as though he’s completely regained his vigor,’ I remarked to Ruth.

      ‘There’s no doubt of it, I should say.’

      ‘And I should say what’s completed his “cure” is Omar’s visit. Did you notice how he held the boy’s hand? If that wasn’t charging him with vitality I’m much mistaken. Now isn’t that just like Omar.’

      There was no question that a great change had been wrought in the lad for he stood in the doorway as we drew near with every appearance of youthful buoyancy. No longer was that slight languidness to be seen, so common in such cases.

      ‘Well, Roger,’ said Ruth, ‘you look ready for anything.’

      ‘That’s how I do feel, Ruth. Now, Monsignor, the old brain has got clear, and I want to know lots of things.’ He grasped an arm of each of us, and held us in a firm grip.

      ‘Omar certainly has given you strength, judging by the pressure,’ I observed. He laughed, and it was good to hear him, for it showed more than anything else could, that the lad was now clearly himself, and that our task thenceforward would be the simple one of introducing him to the wonders of the spirit world, always an enjoyable occupation, in spite of the fact that we had gone through a similar performance times without number.

      ‘Come along, my boy, and let’s start on the roof.’

      ‘On the roof? What on earth do we want to go climbing on the roof for?’

      ‘On earth, Roger, my lad, no reason at all. However, I know what you mean. Come along and wait till you get there before making any rude remarks about it. Now then, to the roof!’

      We mounted the stairs to the upper floor. Here there is a passage, and about half-way along it is a small bay, in which a brief flight of stairs leads to a door onto a flat roof. Here was presented to the astonished gaze of Roger a most superb view of the countryside, a vast territory extending far away into the distance.

      ‘Now, СКАЧАТЬ