Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-09
The Gift of
Speech
CHAPTER II.

Strange she cried. II hear one
voice speaking of wise and beautiful
thoughts! But, ever and anon, other
voices, speaking the words you cal
slang, drown in their shrill speech his
words of wisdom!'
Without doubt" was the old mans
answer, 1.-The rays to which thou now
listen'st come from a gathering pc
culiar to that strange orb, called q
fashionable lecture
She passed on to another disc, and
listened attentively.
What nearest thou?" asked the
wise man.
"Maidens voices" replied Helione
but they say three words so constant
ly that seem to hear no others"
And those words?' questioned her
guide.
They are l'--that is spoken more
often than any other replied the
princess. "and he and him.
She turned to look at the priest
and saw that he was gazing at the
door from which they had come. Next
he Frustrated himself, and then there
emerged from the door mighty an
gel, tall and strong whose wings
cleaned white in the moon-rays, and
whose face, though beautiful, was sad
Helione knew him for one of the angel
visitants not uncommon on her plan.
ct, and she, too, knelt, and covered
her eyes. When she looked up the
sage had gone. The moon shone with
even greater brilliance over the spark
ling waters. and she and the angel
were alone.
Thou art sad said the angel, DE
cause thou hast heard sounds from
world in which the gift of speech is
trained, in thy silent probation, to hold
it, and thy sorrow is not without
cause. But now come hither and gaze
upon yonder star. That is the earth
whence these sad sounds have come.
Now, thou shalt see as we'll as hear.
Behold"
He laid his hand across her eyes,
and then upon her heart; and she saw
and understood.
Tell me-" the angel spoke, doth
sight make more clear to thee the
ways of those jewellers on that far
off starr"
"Srange-most strange" said He'll
one, speaking from the wisdom of
her anointed heart. They speak
much folly, but their souls are whittier
than their words. Through their eyes
read their hearts, and there l see
thoughts Of better things than their
speech hath betrayed! | see kindly
acts, noble imaginings. But tell me
why, O mighty Angel, when their
hearts are clean and pure, and their
deeds are love and kindness, they
should not have speech as fair?"
Because they gain the gift of
speech too lightly replied the angel.
For thine own sake, O Helione, have
| shown thee this. 1t is two-fold. One
part, remember we'll, is to Judge not
on imperfect knowledge! Hadst thou
heard only, and not seen, how err
roneous thy thoughts concerning the
maidens on that far star! | grant 1t
is sad that they who can think and
act as beseems immortal souls should,
by light speech and vain, be deemed
other than they are. Not only do
others misjudge them-that matters
little. since all judgments, save only
the judgment of One Whom we name
not,"-here the angel bowed his head
-" are liable to err, but because vain
and tritling words may lead our souls
astray. There is many a maiden, He
lone, born. as thou art born, to lead.
The name princess is not given her,
but the power to make others follow
in her steps is there. Bitter, indeed.
will be her pain should she look back
upon her days on earth and see some
soul held fast in the mire of sin and
folly to which her words first showed
the way. Small toy will it be to her
to know that she herself escaped and
won her way to heaven! She will
grieve for those whom she had power
to lead downwards. but never had the
power to lead up!''
Helione shuddered.
The angel went on:
Zone of their own evil philosophers
has said that speech was given man
that he might conceal his thought.
Nay; speech hath a power more ter
rible. Speech can mould thought.
Therefore, let those whose words are
foolish take heed, lest in time their
thoughts be no better than their
speech. Thou, Helione, guard well thy
h.,
that the Hall of Silver Speech alone
can give. Where thou callest, others
will follow. Let thy words be simple
and sincere. nor give utterance to any
thought that may not aid thy len
err. Thou wilt sooD be upon my
homeward way. take from eyes ....eir
new sight, but l take not from thy
heart it's knowledge. Remember and
obey. Guard well thy gift of speech"
He touched her eyes, and she saw
no more the distant star. Only, before
he plumed his flight, she knelt and
cried:
Plunge me back 0 mighty Angel,
into the silence that has no power to
harm, before vain or foolish words of
mine shall lead another soul into the
paths of folly or Of SIM
He smiled upon her.
Make that thy daily prayer, and
thou need st have no fear
His great wings spread, and over the