The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-11-27
8 IS 8 g 81 - s
= THE MH|N 3
: : NH)0lDD WORK !. :
= MIRACLES. 50
80 BY Il. G. WELLS. ~
~ cnaxs1sHr 1900, NY H. 8. WELLS. 80
3 g g IS 50 50 s

self alone in his little bedroom in
Church row that he was able to grapple
seriously with his memories of the oc-
currence and ask, "What on earth hap,
pened9"
He had removed his coat and boots
and was sitting on the bed with his
hands in his pockets repeating the text
of his defense for the, seventeenth
time, 81 didn't want the COMPOUNDED |
thing to upset." when 1t occurred to !
him that at the precise moment he had
said the commanding words he had in
advertently willed the thing he said
and that when heahad seen the lamp in
the air he had felt that it depended on
him to maintain it there without being
clear how this was to be done. He
had not a particularly complex mind,
or he might have stuck for time at
that Inadvertently willed," embracing,
as it does, the abstrusest problems OF
voluntary action, but as it was the
idea came ito him with quite accept
able haziness. And from that, follow
ing, as I must admit, no clear logical
path, he came to the test of expert
ment.
He pointed resolutely to his candle
and collected his mind, though he felt
he did a foolish thing. "Be raised up
he said. But in a second that feeling
vanished. The candle was raised,
hung in the air one giddy moment and.
as MT. Fotheringay gasped fell with
smash on his toilet table, leaving him
In darkness save. for the expiring glow
OF dts wick.
For a time Mr.. Fotheringay sat in
the darkness. perfectly still. ut did
happen. aftar.alI,'i he said. "And how
TIM to explain it, I don't know" He
sighed heavily and began feeling in his
pockets for a match. He could find
none, and he rose and CROPPED about the
toilet table. " wish had match
he said. He ,resorted to his coat, and
there was none there, and then 1t
dawned upon him; that miracles were
possible even 'with,Smatches. He eX-
tended a hand andSscowled at it in the
dark. LET there be match in that
hand" he said. He felt some light OBJ
ject fall across his palm, and his fingers
closed upon a match.
After several Intellectual attempts to
light this he discovered it was safety
match. He .tllEew it down, and then it
occurred to him that he might have
willed it lit He did and perceived 1t
burning in the midst Of his toilet table
mat. He caught it up hastily, and il
went out. His perception of possibili-
ties enlarged, and he felt for and re-
placed the candle in the candlestick.
Here. you be lit!' said Mr.. Fotherin-
gay, and forthwith the candle was far.
: ing, and he saw u little black hole liz
the toilet cover, with a wisp of smoke
: rising from it. For "A time he stared
from this to the little fame and back
and then looked up and met his OWL
gaze in the looking glass. By this helr
he eommurled with himself. in silence
for a time.
"How abort miracles now?" said Mr.
Fotheringay Mt last addressing his re
> Election.
The subsequent meditations of Mr.
= Fotheringay We're of severe but con
: fused description. So far he could SEE
1t was case of pure willing with him
, The capture of mis- experiences so fal
: disinclined him for any farther expert
ments, at least until he had reconsider
, ed them. But he lifted sheet of paper
and turned glass of water pink ant
!, then green, and he created a snail
= which he miraculously annihilated, ant
got himself n miraculous new tooth