a journey in other worlds-第52部分

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children；　and　grandchildren　came　to　see　me；　and　all　seemed　going
well；　when；　without　warning；　my　physician　told　me　I　had　but　a　few
hours　to　live。　　I　could　scarcely　believe　my　ears；　and　though；　as
a　Churchman；　I　had　ministered　to　others　and　had　always　tried　to
lead　a　good　life；　I　was　greatly　shocked。　　I　suddenly　remembered
all　the　things　I　had　left　undone　and　all　the　things　I　intended　to
do；　and　the　old　saying；　'Hell　is　paved　with　good　intentions；'
crossed　my　mind　very　forcibly。　　In　less　than　an　hour　I　saw　the
physician　was　right；　I　grew　weaker　and　my　pulse　fluttered；　but　my
mind　remained　clear。　　I　prayed　to　my　Creator　with　all　my　soul；　'O
spare　me　a　little；　that　I　may　recover　my　strength；　before　I　go
hence；　and　be　no　more　seen。'　　As　if　for　an　answer；　the　thought
crossed　my　brain；　'Set　thine　house　in　order；　for　thou　shalt　not
live；　but　die。'　　I　then　called　my　children　and　made　disposition
of　such　of　my　property　and　personal　effects　as　were　not　covered
by　my　will。　　I　also　gave　to　each　the　advice　that　my　experience
had　shown　me　he　or　she　needed。　　Then　came　another　wave　of　remorse
and　regret；　and　again　an　intense　longing　to　pray；　but　along　with
the　thought　of　sins　and　neglected　duties　came　also　the　memory　of
the　honest　efforts　I　had　made　to　obey　my　conscience；　and　these
were　like　rifts　of　sunshine　during　a　storm。　　These　thoughts；　and
the　blessed　promises　of　religion　I　had　so　often　preached　in　the
churches　of　my　diocese；　were　an　indescribable　comfort；　and　saved
me　from　the　depths　of　blank　despair。　　Finally　my　breathing　became
laboured；　I　had　sharp　spasms　of　pain；　and　my　pulse　almost
stopped。　　I　felt　that　I　was　dying；　and　my　sight　grew　dim。　　The
crisis　and　climax　of　life　were　at　hand。　　'Oh！'　I　thought；　with
the　philosophers　and　sages；　'is　it　to　this　end　I　lived？　　The
flower　appears；　briefly　blooms　amid　troublous　toil；　and　is　gone；
my　body　returns　to　its　primordial　dust；　and　my　works　are　buried
in　oblivion。　　The　paths　of　life　and　glory　lead　but　to　the　grave。'　
My　soul　was　filled　with　conflicting　thoughts；　and　for　a　moment
even　my　faith　seemed　at　a　low　ebb。　　I　could　hear　my　children's
stifled　sobs；　and　my　darling　wife　shed　silent　tears。　　The　thought
of　parting　from　them　gave　me　the　bitterest　wrench。　　With　my
fleeting　breath　I　gasped　these　words；　'That　mercy　I　showed
others；　that　show　thou　me。'　　The　darkened　room　grew　darker；　and
after　that　I　died。　　In　my　sleep　I　seemed　to　dream。　　All　about
were　refined　and　heavenly　flowers；　while　the　most　delightful
sounds　and　perfumes　filled　the　air。　　Gradually　the　vision　became
more　distinct；　and　I　experienced　an　indescribable　feeling　of
peace　and　repose。　　I　passed　through　fields　and　scenes　I　had　never
seen　before；　while　every　place　was　filled　with　an　all…pervading
light。　　Sometimes　I　seemed　to　be　miles　in　air；　countless　suns　and
their　planets　shone；　and　dazzled　my　eyes；　while　no
bird…of…paradise　was　as　happy　or　free　as　I。　　Gradually　it　came　to
me　that　I　was　awake；　and　that　it　was　no　dream。　　Then　I　remembered
my　last　moments；　and　perceived　that　I　had　died。　　Death　had
brought　freedom；　my　work　in　the　flesh　was　ended；　I　was　indeed
alive。
　　　
〃'O　Death；　where　is　thy　sting？　　O　Grave；　where　is　thy　victory？'　
In　my　dying　moments　I　had　forgotten　what　I　had　so　often
preached'Thou　fool；　that　which　thou　sowest　is　not　quickened
except　it　die。'　　In　a　moment　my　life　lay　before　me　like　a　valley
or　an　open　page。　　All　along　its　paths　and　waysides　I　saw　the
little　seeds　of　word　and　deed　that　I　had　sown　extending　and
bearing　fruit　forever　for　good　or　evil。　　I　then　saw　things　as
they　were；　and　realized　the　faultiness　of　my　former　conclusions；
based　as　they　had　been　on　the　incomplete　knowledge　obtained
through　embryonic　senses。　　I　also　saw　the　Divine　purpose　in　life
as　the　design　in　a　piece　of　tapestry；　whereas　before　I　had　seen
but　the　wrong　side。　　It　is　not　till　we　have　lost　the　life　in　the
flesh　that　we　realize　its　dignity　and　value；　for　every　hour　gives
us　opportunities　of　helping　or　elevating　some　human　being　it
may　be　ourselvesof　doing　something　in　His　service。
　　　
〃Now　that　time　is　past；　the　books　are　closed；　and　we　can　do
nothing　further　ourselves　to　alter　our　status　for　eternity；
however　much　we　may　wish　to。　　It　is　on　this　account；　and　not
merely　to　save　you　from　death；　which　in　itself　is　nothing；　that　I
now　tell　you　to　run　to　the　Callisto；　seal　the　doors　hermetically；
and　come　not　forth　till　a　sudden　rush　of　air　that　you　will　see　on
the　trees　has　passed。　　A　gust　in　which　even　birds　drop　dead；　if
they　are　unable　to　escape；　will　be　here　when　you　reach　safety。　
Do　not　delay　to　take　this　food；　and　eat　none　of　it　when　you
return；　for　it　will　be　filled　with　poisonous　germs。〃

〃How　can　we　find　you？　〃　asked　Ayrault；　grasping　his　hand。　　〃You
must　not　leave　us　till　we　know　how　we　can　see　you　again。〃

〃Think　hard　and　steadfastly　of　me；　you　three；〃　replied　the
spirit；　〃if　you　want　me；　and　I　shall　feel　your　thought〃；　saying
which；　he　vanished　before　their　eyes；　and　the　three　friends　ran
to　the　Callisto。



　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CHAPTER　III。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　DOUBTS　AND　PHILOSOPHY。

On　reaching　it；　they　climbed　the　ladder　leading　to　the
second…story　opening；　and　entering　through　this；　they　closed　the
door；　screwing　it　tightly　in　place。　　　　

〃Now；〃　said　Cortlandt；　〃we　can　see　what　changes；　if　any；　this
wonderful　gust　will　effect。〃
　　　
〃He　made　no　strictures　on　our　senses；　such　as　they　are；〃　said
Bearwarden；　〃but　implied　that　evolution　would　be　carried　much
further　in　us；　from　which　I　suppose　we　may　infer　that　it　has　not
yet　gone　far。　　I　wish　we　had　recorked　those　brandy　peaches；　for
now　they　will　be　filled　with　poisonous　germs。　　I　wonder　if　our
shady　friend　could　not　tell　us　of　an　antiseptic　with　which　they
might　be　treated？〃
　　　
〃Those　fellows；〃　thought　Ayrault；　who　had　climbed　to　the　dome；
from　which　he　had　an　extended　view；　〃would　jeer　at　an　angel；
while　the　deference　they　showed　the　spirit　seems；　as　usual；　to
have　been　merely　superficial。〃
　　　
〃Let　us　note；〃　said　Cortlandt；　〃that　the　spirit　thermometer
outside　has　fallen　several　degrees　since　we　entered；　though；　from
the　time　taken；　I　should　not　say　that　the　sudden　change　would　be
one　of　temperature。〃
　　　
Just　then　they　saw　a　number　of　birds；　which　had　been　resting　in　a
clump　of　trees；　take　flight　suddenly；　but　they　fell　to　the　ground
before　they　had　risen　far；　and　were　dashed　to　pieces。　　In　another
moment　the　trees　began　to　bend　and　sway　before　the　storm；　and　as
they　gazed；　the　colour　of　the　leaves　turned　from　green　and　purple
to　orange　and　red。　　The　wind　blew　off　many　of　these；　and　they
were　carried　along　by　the　gusts；　or　fluttered　to　the　ground；
which　was　soon　strewed　with　them。　　It　was　a　typical　autumnal
scene。　　Presently　the　wind　shifted；　and　this　was　followed　by　a
cold　shower　of　rain。
　　　
〃I　think　the　worst　is　over；〃　said　Bearwarden。　　〃The　Sailor's
Guide　says：

　　　　　　　　　　　'When　the　rain's　before　the　wind；
　　　　　　　　　　　　Halliards；　sheets；　and　braces　mind；
　　　　　　　　　　　　When　the　wind's　before　the　rain；
　　　　　　　　　　　　Soon　you　can　make　sail　again。'

Doubtless　that　will　hold　good　here。〃

This　proved　to　be　correct；　and；　after　a　repetitio