The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-09-12
It might have been Better-.it might
have been Worse.

The desire to pry into the future is as
universal rs tho longing aiter immortal lie.
Addison has made his CATO res, his convic-
lion OF the souls immortality upon the .eas.
oninas VI Plato, and lhe universal desire
that II should be 80. The Christian has
the assurance OF immortal life; but his con.
sciou.ness Of imperlection, and prOneness
to coniraveue the laws Of his benevolent
Creator, makes him over anxious 10 gain
knowledge Of iha, undiscovered country
from Whose bourne no traveller returns"
aud Of the situation, the happiness, or mis-
ry Of It's Inhabitants This anxiety was the
cause OF the events we ate about 10 record.
Two American yeomen IA more inquii-
ing race than ,xists among nsricultnri:ts Of
any other region,) had been ncighbors from
children upward. They had been pa'lnsIs
in the thoughlless ievrlries OF youth, had
pariaken OF The excilemrnts OF political
events, had horne avn. IN defence OF their
rights aud their couniry's honor, and fnali.
settled down into the quiet Of that evening
o life when man cannot but look 10 The AZ
preaching change which must make him u
traveller u that land above mentioned.
Peter Prince hal remained unmarried, Z,
lha, superintcndeuca oi the concerns OF u
l-,m which falls TO petl'cJal goyetnmsnt'
being under the management Of a si.ler.-
John lorner had taken wife 10 rule over
his bu,er aud cheese, hs children, and
perhaps himself. Notwithslandins this dis
simli'ude OF condition, the triends contin-
ued their ancien, attachment. smoked their
pipes together talked OF past times and
specuaied on the future.
Hulner was Of moro irritable iempera.
men, than Prince, and his anxiety to pry
into the secrets Of tho world unknown Was
proportion.bly greater. onc evening as The
,ubjsc. was uuder discussion, ho thus ad-
dressed his friend:
"Pe;er, though you mock at ghosts, and
the notion OF the splits OF the deceased re
turning To visit the friends they have left
oehind and the scenes which weIo dear 10
them whom in the flesh. have never heard
from you o. any other person an argument
which convinced me Of the lmpossbllliy Of
such visits, or even ol the improbaoility OF
the souls Of The departed being permitted to
hover abOr, places aud persons de,eredly
dear to them, and Of appearing aud giving
a salutary waning, either bysisn OF words
Of approaching death, and tho necessity ol
due PREPARATION"
Peter Pfince laughed, and after knocking
The ashes ou, Of his PIPE, thus addressed his
freud:
"Giyc me the tobacco, John. | never
said il was not so, only say, cannot CON-
prehenl how II can be. Give me q coal Of
firc-I canno, reach the ,oags."
"There may, and certainly DO cAiss a
grea, many things beyond our limited com
prehcn,ion." said John, handing the tonss.
"True, true" Tejonci Pc'er, after u lew
whiiI,. 81 may believe much that can
not coupreheLd, but | cannot believe in
that which con,radicis all know. Bot we
have tailed this matter over often enough,
and we shall know no more OF IL until We
have passed fiom lhis'lo another state Of ex.
istence."
"Ualil one or The other OF us has lcI this
woild," sal ! John, very solemnly. "Then.
perhaps. the privilege may be granted. -
Homer paused.
"what do you mean :" asked Prince.
al am thinking" said Homer. very de-
liberalely, Z" that us one Of us will probably
be removed before the other, and have the
knowledge So ,his, a'ier given 10 him, he
might be permitted 10 return and imparl II
10 hi. friend"
"Well, well, John lIorner," said Peter.
~ promise thai il 20 fir.', will
come and tell you all about. ifI can; aud
John, You must promise the same neishbor' !
|, Office in regard 10 me, If IL is your frst
turn."
"Idor said Horner. solcmnly."
Heac We drop the colloqny, aud proceed
10 the oenOuemeHt Of our story. with a much
breviiy as possible, being con'i inced that
br.viiy is the soul Of story as well as OF
wit.
Peter died in the presence Of his friend,
Il not III his arms; and with characteristic
almost with his last breath, aiier
his sister 10 Horner's care.
him Of the engagement. he had
entered into, concluding
"Ii is my turn to know first, aud here ]
renew my promise"
The death Of hi, friend was heavy blow
10 Homer he became melancholy; his
thoughts dwelt upon the future state more
Than ever; he feared that be and his friend
had been wrong In entering upon such a
the locked 70 see spiritual visit
pr, or hear from the world whose secrets ne
had 50 earnestly, wished; solitude became
;rk,ome to him, and he dreaded sleep. ca
pec,ing ,ha, in The night, (when the spirits
wander until the cock-crowing calls them
10 tho prison house, the ghost of his friend
would announce that fatal secret Of bis con-
ii,iou, and summon him to participalc.-
John cell sick, aud disclosed to his wife the
compact hs had entered into with Peter.
Now Mrs Horner was whnan little
given 10 speeula,ions ofany kind, she III
tended 10 her duties; worked hard, scoljed
harder went 10 church Icgu. |