The Elk Mountain pilot., 1919-12-04
THINK OF DEATH AS a FRIEND, NOT 4 FOE
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox


Above the pathway of each sorrowing soul.
Hope in my eyes, and comfort in my breath.
And strong conviction in my radiant mien,
The while whispered of that beauteous goal
This would do if were you. o Death!"
Said Death to Life, "If I you, my friend.
would not lure confding souls each day
With fair, false smiles. to enter on way
So filled with pain and trouble to the end
would not tempt those whom should defend.
Nor stand unmoved and see them go astray.
Nor would force unwilling souls to stay
Who longed for freedom you. my friend.
But. like tender mother would take
The weary world upon my shelterng breast
And wipe away its tears and sooth its strife.
would fulfill my promises, and make
My children bless as they sank to rest,
Where they curse-if were you. o Life!"
Life made answer and Death spoke again:
81 would not WOO from Gods sweet nothingness
A soul to being, if could not bless
And crown it with all Joy. II unto
My face awesome. tell me- Life, why then
Do they pursue me, mad for my
Believing in my silence lies redress
For your loud fasehoods?" $50 Death spoke again)
"Oh it is well for you l am fair.
Well that hide behind voiceless tomb
The mighty secrets of that other place.
Else would you stand in mpotent despair
While unAedged straight from the mothers womb
Rushed to my arms and spat upon your face"
The main object of most human beings is to avoid
death. and yet death is the only certain thing in life
From the hour we draw the first breath We are going
forward to meet DEATH
Instead of regarding death foe would it not be
sensible to think of it a friend?
One who somes to take a delightful journey?
There advanced metaphysicians who talk
and write about the possibility of living continually and
perpetuahy in this body George Francis Train declared
he should do He believed he had death He
believed he had acquired the life habit and he meant
prove that there need Of changing bodies.
But his body is now dust.
Mary Baker Eddy and Helen Wilmans and Wallace
Wattes and Eleanor Kirk all talked this philosophy
all believed they had entered upon life eternal in this
body on this earth
Yea all are gathered to their fathers All changed
their worlds"
All live. other planes in higher states of con-
seriousness.
No doubt all the old and influence
those whose minds the key. times.
Yet they have experienced that change which call
death.
To. me this change seems desirable
have seen three mature people pass through the
change and each face expression of and
joy satisfaction after the great had taken place
The most glorious music. IL played continually ceases
please the Tho appeizing food loses its
taste II continually taken, and life would pail upon the
happfest heart If It underwent change Of death.
Tho good swimmer enjoys his bath best when
lightly clad.
How much more delightful must be motion in space
when the body Is cast aside
We have many bodies; the physical meant only
for earth,
The astral body only for the astral plane; the
desire body which is vehicle emotions
and leave in the spiritual body. In each of these
bodies will have and wonderful experiences And
will pass onward from plane to plane meeting those
who have been dear to earth, and learning new
truths and gathering powers to help when we
again. after long periods of time return to finish the
work leave undone here
Each of ought to think of these things. calmly
and with and with faith in Gods great good
ness should in the midst Of all pleasures and
pursuits and ambitions and occupations give little time
every day happy thoughts of that wonderful change
called death; and should know that just think
it. just think of life here. will that life
be to which death guides
We building heavens land our hells) we
pass along earth Cheerfulness hope good will gen.
erosity patience gratitude love- industry
truthfuness admiration of the beautiful the seeking for
beauty in all things, order and system and harmonya
these qualities which being laid in the
mansion in the skies which will occupy.
Anger, revenge hate. i'll will greed and all the other
unlovey faults of human nature build hes for souls to
dwell until they work their way out into fared realms
Choose your material with care them and give a lit
tile every day thinking your heaven into shape
ready for the occupancy of your soul when 1t passes
ward.
And think of death as your great good. beautiful
guide. not your hidden enemy.