Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-12-11
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One after another figures rose from the
vase, assumed human form, and moved
about the roo II. 1t was as dark rs ever
SO, - least, You would have SAID, had you
been tncrc ; but it vas no. l;.rl; to them.
A sUlfilu Il ugnL vas thcre-the light OF
the rid to winch they belonged. y
world devoid 1T space, though broad and
varied as the universe II world that
know not time, though ali things stand
and move in orderly succe SSiOn Il world
without matter, though solid with living
substance. wan each newcomer the
scene z aus consistency and reality, 1t is
AZ If eactl nruu -ght his scenery with MIN,
shining or dalkening forth, as the case
might br, from their own hearts, and
thus creating 4 world that was the seusi-
bic mirror OF themselves. How incvta
bly, the various regions arrange them
selves, bounding one another, like the eS-
tates Of great lanlhOlders But surely
spirits eau 90 whit herSOever they Will !?
Why, YES and yet their barriers are even
more impossible tuan these material ones
OF Ouro and they cannot go whittier they
would not. As easily might London visit
Paris, II yonder dark-browed being touch
the hand OF this maiden though once,
Oh earl it WIS not so The distances of
spiritual thought and affection are less
easily lraver,ed than terrestrial leagues :
and IL know YOU not" is deeper and wider
than the Atlantic and the Pacific.
Luud, standing beside the couch, sees,
lying There, the image OF himself, mo
Sonlc5S, silent, its eyes wide open and
fixed. From the body arises II sort of blue
steam or emanatlOn, or so 1t appears at
first sight but, more attentively eXamin-
ed, it Is much more than this. 1t is com
posed W llvuS particulars, myrladS Of
pictures or suggestions are they OF the
mortal existence thus far accomplished.
Yes, hC.c may b, perceived every event,
thouRuL and emotion, which, i'll the az
Ere4atr, MAKE up this life ANA character ;
a vapur Ui memory, involuntary and il.
repre->iulr, Offering itself to tue perusal
OF eve'y co.. 'Cr cumer-Were it but dis
serni",r b. .urlal eyes. And is 1t not dis
CerniU" hchcc this impreSSIon which
promo, e. 10 Say of one man me IL dan
geIouS, ul another me Is false, of Il
third nc il honest and pure - y dim
impress Oh, no doubt, and easily dissipa-
led by the cUucrete distractions of social
intercourse but real and abiding in Il
world where the veil of the senses no
longer dulis our apprehension.
luuu, however, spends but moment
In lnis contemplation. On every side of
him 81, niingly illmtable fields of vision
open stone walls and all material OBJ
staeleS are pe"meable to his sight and
movement rs the lmpalpable atmosphere,
and there Is an expedition atOOt. He is
already equipped and on the road, through
sceHes That are ; range, though made up
OF WlNl u lhlnllltT. Az lDltFNdlS certain
objects aud circumstances fix themselves
upon MS attention ; they are not import
ant ~ themselves, but they will not be
forgotten. GUnder white horse with the
black ears and tan, for Instance or this
turn OF the road, with the pool on the
right And me pedder resting under the
hedge or the sunlight streaming down
ward in haZy rays between those two
dark Clotl., ; or the long, siopiug roof OF
that wayolur cottage, the tall nayrIck he
klnu AND tue tNO children staring over
the gate or the sudden iurch and swing
OF the coach IL the wheel plunGrs into the
deep rat or tine distant view oI the town,
with tnr sun setting III Il red glow behind
It,, against MulCh rl~eS tall ana dark the
tower at the cathedral or, again, chance
words and fragments OF conversation
such as, "On Wednesday at O'clock,
ii only d. what can, sir, "Jump in
iumpini Iuo~7 are the others ~ "Ol
all luna,Ics e., IpCu from purgatOry .
Pardon me | thought ! was speaking
to, IF you don't believe it get her alone
and ask her" These sentences were eacl
given with the voice and iniOnation be
longing to them and carried with then
the faces and bearing of the speakers.
Throughout, too, there was an impression
OF something momentouS, something lul
of interest. hope and promise, IN the nea
future but the anticipation seemed pro
phetc, not explicit an emotion rather
than u knowledge. 1T is the turning
point Of my life" Lund often said to him
self in His vision. And although he Wa
himself making the iourney-undergOn
the adventure and the eXperience-ye
who but he was, all the while, looking OF
as "a spectator, listening, observing, com
menting, amused, perpleXed, rs If u maI
shonld SIT in the audience and behold him