\"Letusnowturntothebrightpicture——thesoulthathasweatheredthestormsoflifeandhasreachedthehavenofrest。
Thestruggles,temptations,andtrialsovercome,havedonetheirworkofrefiningwitharapiditythatcouldnothavebeenequalledinanyotherway,andthough,perhaps,veryimperfectstill,thejourneyiseveron。Therewardistenfold,yetinproportiontowhatthissoulhasdone,forweknowthattheservantwhobestusedhistentalentswasmaderulerovertencities,whilehethatincreasedhisfivetalentsbyfivereceivedfive;andtheSaviourinwhomhetrusted,bywhoseaidhemadehisfight,standsreadytoreceivehim,saying,\'EnterthouintothejoyofthyLord。\'
\"Asthedark,earthlybackgroundrecedes,thecloudsbreakandthegloriouslightappears,thecontrastheighteningtheever—unfoldingandincreasingdelights,whichareasgreatastherecipientshavepowertoenjoy,sincetheserighteoussoulsreceivetheirrewardsinproportiontotheweightofthecrossesthattheyhaveborneintherightspirit。ThesesoulsareajoytotheirCreator,andaretheheirsofHiminheaven。Theceaseless,sleeplessactivitythatmustobtaininbothparadiseandhades,andthatmustmaketheheartsofthegodlessgrowfaintatthecontemplation,isalsoaboundlesspromisetothosewhohaveHimwhoisallinall。
\"WhereisnowthySaviour？whereisnowthyGod？theunjustmanhasaskedinhisheartwhenhesawhisjustneighbourstrugglingandunsuccessful。Boththerighteousandtheunrighteousmanaredead。TheonehasfoundhisSaviour,theotherisyearlylosingGod。Whatisthesufferingofthepresentmomentarytime,easedasitisbyGod\'smercyandpresence,comparedwiththegloriesthatawaitus？Whatwoulditbeifourlivesherewerefilledwithnothingelse,asyeknowthatyourlabourisnotvainintheLord？Timeandeternity——thefiniteandtheinfinite。Deathwas,indeed,adeliverer,andthesunsetofthebodyisthesunriseofthesoul。\"
Thepriestheldhimselferectasasoldierwhiledeliveringthissermon,makingthegreatcathedralringwithhisearnestandsolemnvoice,whileAyrault,asaspirit,sawhowabsolutelyhemeantandbelievedeverywordthathesaid。
Nearlyallthemembersofthecongregationweremoved——somemore,somelessthantheyappeared。Afterthebenedictiontheyrapidlydispersed,carryingintheirheartsthegermshehadsown;butwhetherthesewouldbearfruitorwither,timealonecouldshow。
AyraulthadnoticedSylvia\'sfatherandmotherinchurch,butSylviaherselfwasnotthere,andhewasdistressedtothinkshemightbeill。
\"Why,\"ponderedAyrault,\"amIsounhappy？Iwasbaptized,confirmed,andhavetakenthesacrament。Ihavealwayshadanunshakenfaith,and,thoughoftenunsuccessful,havestriventoobeymyconscience。ThespiritsalsoonSaturnkeptsayingI
shouldbehappy。Now,didthismeanitwasincumbentuponmetorejoice,becauseofsomeblessingIalreadyhad,anddidnotappreciate,ordidtheirprescienceshowthemsomeprospectivehappinessIwastoenjoy？ThevisionsalsoofViolet,theangel,andthelily,whichIbelieved,andstillbelieve,werenomereemptyfancies,shouldhavegivenmethemostunspeakablejoy。Itmaybeamistaketoapplyearthlylogictoheavenlythings,butthefundamentallawsofsciencecannotchange。
\"WhyamIsounhappy？\"hecontinued,returningtohisoriginalquestion。\"Thevisionsgavepromiseofspecialgrace,perhapssomespecialfavour。True,myprayertoseeSylviawasheard,but,consideringthesacrifice,thishasbeennoblessing。Therequestcannothavebeenwronginitself,andasforthemanner,therewasnoarroganceinmyheart。Iaskedasamortal,asamanofbutfiniteunderstanding,forwhatconcernedmemost。
Why,ohwhy,sowretched？\"
CHAPTERXIV。
HICILLEJACET。
Atdaybreakthethunder—showerpassedoff,butwasfollowedbyacold,drenchingrain。SupposingAyraulthadremainedintheCallisto,BearwardenandCortlandtdidnotfeelanxious,and,notwishingtobewetthrough,remainedinthecave,keepingupagoodfirewiththewoodtheyhadcollected。Towardseveningacoldwindcameup,and,thinkingthismightcleartheair,theyventuredout,but,findingthegroundsaturated,andthattherainwasagainbeginningtofall,theyreturnedtoshelter,preparedadinnerofcannedmeat,andmadethemselvesascomfortableaspossibleforthenight。
\"Iamsurprised,\"saidCortlandt,\"thatDickdidnottrytoreturntous,sincehehadthemackintoshes。\"
\"Idaresayhedidtry,\"repliedBearwarden,\"butfindingthecourseinundated,andknowingweshouldnotneedthemackintoshesifweremainedundercover,decidedtoputback。TheCallistois,ofcourse,assafeasachurch。\"
\"Ihope,\"saidCortlandt,\"noharmhascometohimontheway。
Itwillbeaweightoffmymindtoseehimsafelywithus。\"
\"Shouldhenotturnupinthemorning,\"repliedBearwarden,\"wemustbeginasearchforhimbrightandearly。\"
Makingupthefireasneartheentranceofthecaveastheycouldfindadryplace,sothatAyraultshouldseeitifheattemptedtoreturnduringthenight,theypiledonwood,andtalkedoftheirrecentexperiences。
\"HoweverunwillingIwas,\"saidCortlandt,\"tobelievemysenses,whichIfeltweremisleadingme,Icannolongerdoubttherealityofthatspiritbishop,orthetruthofwhatbesays。
Whenyoulookatthequestiondispassionately,itiswhatyoumightlogicallyexpect。Inmydesiretodisprovewhatistoussupernatural,Itriedtocreatementallyasystemthatwouldbeasubstitutefortheonehedescribed,butcouldevolvenothingthatsoperfectlyfilledtherequirements,orthatwassosimple。
Nothingseemsmorenaturalthanthatman,havingbeenevolvedfromstone,shouldcontinuehisascenttillhediscardsmaterialaltogether。Themetamorphismismorestrikinginthefirstchangethaninthesecond。Grantedthatthesoulisimmaterial,andthatitleavesthebodyafterdeath,whatistheretokeepitonearth？Gravitationcannotaffectit。Whatismorelikelythanthatitisleftbehindbytheearthinitsorbit,orthatitcontinuesitsforwardmotion,butinastraightline,till,reachingthepathsofthegreaterplanets,itisdrawntothembysomeaffinityorattractionthattheearthdoesnotpossess,andthatthesoulsheldinthatmannerremainhereonprobation,developinglikeyounganimalsorchildren,till,bygraduallyacquiredpower,resultingfromtheirwills,theyareabletoriseagainintospace,torevisittheearth,andintimetoexploretheuniverse？Itmighteasilycomeaboutthat,bysomeexplainablesympathy,theinfantgoodsoulsaredrawntothisplanet,whilethecondemnedpassontoCassandra,whichholdsthembysomepropertypeculiartoitself,untilperhapsthey,too,byvirtueoftheirwills,acquirenewpower,unlessinvolutionsetsinandtheylosewhattheyhave。Thesimplicityofthethingiswhatsurprisesmenow,andthatforagesphilosophershavebeenrackingtheirbrainswitheveryconceivablefancy,when,bysimplyextendingandfollowingnaturallaws,theycoulddiscernthewhole。\"
\"Itistheoldstory,\"saidBearwarden,\"ofColumbusandtheegg。
Schopenhouerandhispredecessorsappeartohavetriedeveryideabuttherightone,andevenDarwinandHuxleyfellshortintheirreasoning,becausetheytriedtoobtainmoreorlessthanfourbyputtingtwowithtwo。\"
Thustheysatandtalkedwhilethenightworeon。Neitherthoughtofsleeping,hopingallthewhilethatAyraultmightwalkinashehadthenightbefore。
Atlastthedawnbegantotinttheeast,andthegrowinglightshowedthemthatthestormhadpassed。TheupperstrataofSaturn\'satmospherebeingfilledwithinfinitesimalparticlesofdust,asaresultofitsnumerousvolcanoes,theconditionswerehighlyfavourabletobeautifulsunrisesandsunsets。Sooncolouredstreaksextendedfarintothesky,andthoughtheyknewthatwhenthesun\'sdiscappeareditwouldseemsmall,itfilledthealmostboundlesseasternhorizonwiththemostvariegatedandgorgeoushues。
Turningawayfromthewelcomesight——fortheirmindswereillatease——theyfoundthelightstrongenoughfortheirsearchtobegin。Writingonasheetofpaper,inalargehand,\"HavegonetotheCallistotolookforyou;shallafterwardsreturnhere,\"
theypinnedthisinaconspicuousplaceandsetoutduewest,keepingaboutahundredyardsapart。Thegroundwaswetandslippery,butoverheadallwasclear,andthesunsoonshonebrightly。Lookingtorightandleft,andoccasionallyshoutinganddischargingtheirrevolvers,theywentonforhalfanhour。
\"Ihavehistracks,\"calledBearwarden,andCortlandthastenedtojoinhim。
Inthesoftground,sureenough,theysawAyrault\'sfootprints,and,fromthedistancebetweenthem,concludedthathemusthavebeenrunningorwalkingveryfast;buttherainhadwasheddowntheedgesoftheincision。Thetrailascendedagentleslope,wheretheylostit;butonreachingthesummittheysawitagainwiththefeettogether,asthoughAyraulthadpaused,andaboutitweremanyotherimpressionswiththefeetturnedin,asifthewalkersorstandershadsurroundedAyrault,whowasinthecentre。
\"Ihope,\"saidCortlandt,\"thesearenothingmorethanthefootprintswehaveseenformedaboutourselves。\"
\"See,\"saidBearwarden,\"Dick\'strailgoeson,andtheothersvanish。TheycannothavebeenmadebysavagesorIndians,fortheyseemtohavehadweightonlywhilestanding。\"
Theythenresumedtheirmarch,firingarevolvershotatintervalsofaminute。Suddenlytheycameuponatall,straighttree,uprootedbythewindandlyingdiagonallyacrosstheirpath。Followingwiththeireyesthedirectioninwhichitlay,theysawalarge,hollowtrunk,withthebarkstrippedoff,andcharredasifstruckbylightning。Obligedtopassnearthisbytheuprootedtree—whosethicktrunk,upheldbythebranchesatthehead,layraisedabouttwofeetfromtheground——bothsearchersgaveastart,andstoodstillasifpetrified。Insidethegreattrunktheysawahead,and,onlookingmoreclosely,descriedAyrault\'sbody。Graspingitbythearms,theydrewitout。Thefacewaspaleandthelimbswerestiff。InstantlyCortlandtunfastenedthecollar,whileBearwardenappliedaflasktothelips。Buttheysoonfoundthattheireffortswerevain。
\"Thespirit！\"ejaculatedCortlandt。\"Dickmaybeinatrance,inwhichcasehecanhelpus。Letuswillhardandlong。\"
Accordingly,theythrewthemselvesontheirfaces,closingtheireyes,thatnothingmightdistracttheirconcentration。Minutes,whichseemedlikeages,passed,andtherewasnoresponse。
\"Now,\"saidBearwarden,\"willtogether,hard。\"
Suddenlythestillnesswasbrokenbythespirit\'svoice,whichsaid:
\"Ifeltmorethanonemindcalling,buttheeffectwassoslightIthoughtfirstIwasmistaken。Iwillhelpyouinwhatyouwant,fortheyoungmanisnotdead,neitherisheinjured。\"
Sayingwhich,hestretchedhimselfuponAyrault,workedhislungsartificially,andwilledwithanintensitytheobserverscouldfeelwheretheystood。QuicklythecolourreturnedtoAyrault\'scheeks,andwiththespirit\'sassistancehesatupandleanedagainstthetreethathadprotectedhimfromthestorm。
\"Yourpromisewasrealized,\"hesaid,addressingthespirit。\"I
haveseenwhatIshallneverforget,andlesttheanguish——thevisionofwhichIsaw——cometrue,letusreturntotheearth,andnotleaveittillIhavetastedinrealitythejoysthatinthespiritIseemedtohavemissed。Ihaveoftenlongedinthislifetobeinthespirit,butneverknewwhatlongingwas,tillI
experienceditasaspirit,tobeoncemoreintheflesh。\"
\"YouseethemercyofGod,\"saidthespirit,\"innotordinarilyallowingthespiritsofthedepartedtorevisitearthuntiltheyareprepared——thatis,untiltheyaresufficientlyadvancedtogothereunaided——bywhichtimetheyhavecometounderstandthewisdomofGod\'slaws。Inyourcasethelimitinglawswerepartiallysuspended,sothatyouwereabletoreturnatonce,withmanyofthefacultiesandsensesofspirits,butwithouttheiraccumulatedexperience。Itspeakswellforyourstateofpreparationthat,withouthavinghadthosedisguisedblessings,illnessormisfortune,youwerenotutterlycrushedbywhatyousawwhentemporarilyreleased。Whileinthetranceyouwerenotinhell,butexperiencedthefeelingsthatallmortalswouldifallowedtoreturnimmediately。Thusnolovercanreturntoearthtillhisfianceehasjoinedhimhere,ortill,perceivingthebenevolenceofGod\'sways,heisnotdistressedatwhathesees,andhasthecompanionshipofahostofkindredspirits。
\"Thespiritsyousawinthecemeterywereindeedinhell,buthadbecomesufficientlydevelopedtorevisittheearth,thoughdoingsodidnotrelievetheirdistress;forneitherthedevelopmentoftheirsenses,whichintensifiestheircapacityforremorseandregret,northeirinvestigationsintoGod\'sboundlessmercies,whichtheyhavedeliberatelythrownaway,cancomfortthem。
\"SomeofyourancestorsareonCassandra,andothersareinpurgatoryhere。Thoughafewfaintlyfeltyourprayer,nonewereabletoreturnandanswerbesidetheirgraves。ItwasatyourrequestandprayerthatHefreedyourspirit,butyouseehowunhappyitmadeyou。\"
\"Isee,\"repliedAyrault,\"thatnomanshouldwishtoanticipatetheworkingsoftheAlmighty,althoughIhavebeenunspeakablyblessedinthatHemadeanexception——ifImaysocallit——inmyfavour,since,inadditiontorevealingtheresponsibilitiesoflife,ithasshownmetheinestimablevalueandloyaltyofwoman\'slove。Ifear,however,thatmyreturntoearthgreatlydistressedthewatereroftheflowersyoushowedme。\"
\"Shealreadysleeps,\"repliedthespirit,\"andIhavecomfortedherbyadreaminwhichsheseesthatyouarewell。\"
\"Whenshallwestart？\"askedBearwarden。
\"Assoonasyoucangetready,\"repliedAyrault。\"Iwouldnotriskrunningshortofenoughcurrenttogeneratetheapergyneededtogetusback。IdaresaywhenIhavebeenonearthafewyears,andhavedonesomethingforthegoodofmysoul——which,asItakeit,canbeaccomplishedaswellbyadvancingscienceasinanyotherway——IshallpineforanotherjourneyinspaceasInowdotoreturn。\"
\"HowIwishIwereengaged,\"saidBearwarden,glancingatCortlandt,andoverjoyedatAyrault\'srecovery。
Accordingly,theyresumedtheirmarchinthedirectioninwhichtheyhadbeengoingwhentheyfoundAyrault,andweresoonbesidetheCallisto。Cortlandtworkedthecombinationlockofthelowerentrance,throughwhichtheycrawled。Goingtothesecondstory,theyopenedalargewindowandletdownaladder,onwhichthespiritascendedattheirinvitation。
BearwardenandAyraultimmediatelysetaboutcombiningthechemicalsthatweretoproducetheforcenecessarytorepelthemfromSaturn。Bubblesofhydrogenweregivenofffromtheleadandzincplates,andtheviscousprimarybatteriesquicklyhadthewirespassingthroughavacuumatawhiteheat。
\"Iseeyouarenearlyreadytostart,\"saidthespirit,\"soI
mustsayfarewell。\"
\"Willyounotcomewithus？\"askedAyrault。
\"No,\"repliedthespirit。\"Idonotwishtobeawayaslongasitwilltakeyoutoreachtheearth。TheCallisto\'satmospherecouldnotabsorbmybody,sothat,shouldIleaveyoubeforeyourarrival,youwouldbeburdenedwithacorpse。Imayvisityouinthespirit,thoughthedesireandeffortforcommunionwithspirits,tobeofmostgood,mustneedscomefromtheearth。Erelong,myintuitiontellsme,weshallmeetagain。
\"Thevisionofyourowngrave,\"hecontinued,addressingCortlandt,\"maynotcometrueformanyyears,buthoweverlongyourlivesmaybe,accordingtoearthlyreckoning,rememberthatwhentheyarepasttheywillseemtohavebeenhardlymorethanamoment,fortheyarethepersonificationoffrailtyandevanescence。\"
Hehelduphishandsandblessedthem;andthenrepeating,\"Farewellandahappyreturn！\"descendedashehadcomeup。
Theairwasfilledwithmistyshadows,andthepulsatinghearts,luminousbrains,andcentresofspiritualactivityquiveredwithmotion。Theysurroundedtheincarnatespiritofthebishopandsetupthesoft,musicalhumthetravellershadheardsooftensincetheirarrivalonSaturn。
\"Inowunderstand,\"thoughtAyrault,\"whythespiritsImetkeptrepeatingthatIshouldbehappy。TheyperceivedIwastobetranslated,andthoughtheydoubtlessknewwhatsufferingitwouldcause,theyalsoknewIshouldbeawakenedtoasenseofgreatrealities,ofwhichIunderstoodbutlittle。\"
Theydrewuptheladderandturnedonthecurrent,andtheCallistoslowlybegantorise,whilethethreefriendscrowdedthewindow。
\"Good—bye！\"calledthespirit\'spleasantvoice,towhichthemenrepliedinchorus。
Thesunhadsetonthesurfaceoftheplanetwhiletheymadetheirpreparations;butastheCallistorosehigher,itseemedtoriseagain,makingthesidesoftheircarshinelikesilver,and,carefullyclosingthetwoopenwindows,theywatchedthefast—recedingworld,somanytimeslargerandmoremagnificentthantheirown。
CHAPTERXV。
MOTHEREARTH。
\"Thereissomethingsad,\"saidCortlandt,\"abouttheendofeverything,butIammoresorrytoleaveSaturnthanIhaveeverbeenintakingleaveofanyotherplace。\"
Whenbeyondthelimitsoftheatmospheretheyappliedthefullcurrent,andweresoononcemorecleavingtheetheratcometaryspeed,theirmotiontowardsthesunbeingaidedbythatgreatbodyitself。
Theyquicklypassedbeyondtheouteredgeofthevastsilveryrings,andthencrossedoneafteranothertheorbitsofthemoons,fromthelastofwhich,Iapetus,theyobtainedtheirfinalcourseinthedirectionoftheearth。Theyhadanacutefeelingofhomesicknessforthemysteriousplanetonwhich,whileyetmortal,theyhadfoundparadise,andhadcommunedwithspiritsasnomodernmeneverdid。
Withoutdeviatingfromtheiralmoststraightline,theypassedwithinamillionmilesofJupiter,whichhadgainedinitssmallerorbitonSaturn,andafewdayslatercrossedthetrackofMars。
Astheearthhadcompletednearlyhalfarevolutioninitsorbitsincetheirdeparture,theyhereturnedsomewhattotherightbyattractingtheruddyplanet,inordertoavoidpassingtoonearthesun。
\"Onsomefutureexpedition,\"saidAyrault,\"andwhenwehaveasupplyofblueglasses,wecantakeatriptoVenus,ifwecanfindapossibleseasoninheryear。Comparedwiththisjourney,itwouldbeonlylikegoingroundtheblock。\"
Twodayslatertheyhadroundedthesun,andlaidtheircourseinpursuitoftheearth。
Thattheastronomersinthedarkhemispherewereattheirpostsandsawthem,wasevident;forabrilliantbeamoflightagainflashedforth,thistimefromapointalittlesouthofthearcticcircle,andaftershiningoneminute,telegraphedthismessage:\"Rejoicedtoseeyouagain。Hopeallarewell。\"
Sincetheywerenotsufficientlynearthemoon\'sshadow,theydirectedtheirlight—beamintotheirown,whichtrailedoffononeside,andanswered:\"Allwell,thankyou。Havewonderfulthingstorelate。\"
Themenatthetelescopesthen,asbefore,readthemessage,andtelephonedthelightthisnextquestion:\"Whenareyoucomingdown,thatwemaynotifythenewspapers？\"
\"Wewishonemoresightoftheearthfromthisheight,bydaylight。Wearenowswingingtogetbetweenitandthesun。\"
\"WehaveerectedamonumentinVanCortlandtPark,andengraveduponit,\'AtthisplaceJamesBearwarden,HenryChelmsfordCortlandt,andRichardRokebyAyraultleftearth,December21,A。
D。2000,tovisitJupiter。\'\"
\"Addtoit,\'Theyreturnedonthe10thofthefollowingJune。\'\"
SoontheCallistocamenearlybetweentheearthandthesun,whentheastronomerscouldseeitonlythroughdarkenedglasses,anditappearedalmostasacrescent。Thesightthetravellersthenbeheldwassuperb。Itwasabout11A。M。inLondon,andEuropewasspreadbeforethemlikeamap。Allitspeninsulasandislands,enclosedblueseas,andbayscameoutinclearrelief。
GraduallyRussia,Germany,France,theBritishIsles,andSpainmovedtowardsthehorizon,asingrandprocession,andatthesametimetheWesternhemisphereappeared。Thehourofdayatthelongitudeabovewhichtheyhungwasaboutthesameaswhentheysetout,butthesunshonefarmoredirectlyupontheNorthernhemispherethanthen,andinsteadofbleakDecember,thiswastheleafymonthofJune。
Theywereloathtoendthelovelyscene,andwouldfainhaveremainedwheretheywerewhiletheearthrevolvedagain;but,rememberingthattheirfriendsmustbythistimebewaiting,theyshutofftherepulsionfromtheearth。
\"Weneednotapplytheapergytotheearthuntilquitenear,\"
saidAyrault,\"sinceagreatpartofthetopspeedwillbetakenoffbytheresistanceoftheatmosphere,especiallyaswegoinbasefirst。Wehaveonlytokeepasufficientlystrongrepulsiononthedometopreventourturningover,andtoseethatourspeedisnotgreatenoughtoheatthecar。\"
Whenaboutfiftymilesfromthesurfacetheyfelttheexpectedcheck,andconcludedtheyhadreachedtheupperlimitsoftheatmosphere。Andthisincreased,notwithstandingthedecreaseintheirspeed,showinghowquicklytheairbecamedense。
WhenaboutamilefromtheearththeyhadtheCallistowellinhand,andallowedittodescendslowly。Thegroundwasalreadyblackwithpeople,who,havinglearnedwheretheCallistowastotouch,hadhastenedtoVanCortlandtPark。
\"Iamoverjoyedtoseeyou,\"saidSylvia,whensheandAyraultmet。\"Ihadthemostdreadfulpresentimentthatsomethinghadgonewrongwithyou。OneafternoonandeveningIwassoperplexed,andduringthenighthadaseriesofnightmaresthatI
shallneverforget。Ireallybelievedyouwerenearme,butyournatureseemedtohavechanged,for,insteadofitsmakingmehappy,Iwasfrightfullydistressed。ThenextdayIwasveryill,andunabletogetup;butduringthemorningIfellasleepandhadanotherdream,whichwasintenselyrealisticandmademebelieve——yes,convincedme——thatyouwerewell。AfterthatdreamIsoonrecovered;butoh,theanguishofthefirst！\"
Ayraultdidnottellherthenthathehadbeennearher,andofhisunspeakablesuffering,ofwhichhershadbeenbuttheecho。
Threeweekslateraclergymantiedtheknotthatwastounitethemforever。
WhileSylviaandAyraultwerestandinguptoreceivethecongratulationsoftheirfriends,Bearwarden,inshakinghishand,said:
\"Remember,wehavebeentoneitherUranus,norNeptune,norCassandra,whichmaybeasinterestingasanythingwehaveseen。
Shouldyouwanttotakeanothertrip,countmeasyourhumbleservant。\"AndCortlandt,followingbehindhim,saidthesamething。
Shortlyafterthis,Sylviawentup—stairstochangeherdress,andwhenshecamedownsheandAyraultsetoutontheirjourneytogetherthroughlife,amidachorusofcheersandashowerofrice。
CortlandtthenreturnedtohisdepartmentatWashington,andBearwardenresumedhisdutieswiththeTerrestrialAxisStraighteningCompany,inthepresidentialchair。