a journey in other worlds-第59章
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spirit； 〃for the reward in the resurrection morning will vastly
exceed all your labours now。
〃O； my friends；〃 the spirit continued most earnestly； addressing
the three； 〃are you prepared for your death…beds？ When your eyes
glaze in their last sleep； and you lose that temporal world and
what you perhaps considered all； as in a haze； your dim vision
will then be displaced by the true creation that will be eternal。
Your unattained ambitions； your hopes； and your ideals will be
swallowed in the grave。 Your works will secure you a place in
history； and many will remember your names until； in time；
oblivion covers your memory as the grass conceals your tombs。
Are you prepared for the time when your eyes become blind； and
your trusted senses fail？ Your sorrowing friends will mourn； and
the flags of your clubs will fly at half…mast； but no earthly
thing can help you then。 In what condition will the resurrection
morning find you； when your sins of neglect and commission plead
for vengeance； as Abel's blood from the ground？ After that there
can be no change。 The classification； as I have already told
you； is now going on； it will then be finished。〃
〃We are the most utterly wretched sinners！〃 cried Ayrault。 〃Show
us how we can be saved。〃
〃As an inhabitant of spirit…land； I will give you worldly
counsel；〃 replied the bishop。 〃During my earthly administration；
as I told you； people came from far to hear me preach。 This was
because I had eloquence and earnestness； both gifts of God。 But
I was a miserably weak sinner myself。 That which I would； I did
not； and that which I would not that I did； and I often prayed my
congregation to follow my sermons rather than my ways。 I seemed
to do my followers good； and Daniel thus commends my way in his
last chapter： 'They that turn many to righteousness shall shine
as the stars forever and ever；' and the explanation is clear。
There is no surer way of learning than trying to teach。 In
teaching my several flocks I was also improved myself。 I was
sown in weakness； but was raised in power； strength being made
perfect in weakness。 Therefore improve your fellows； though
yourself you cannot raise。 The knowledge that you have sent many
souls to heaven； though you are yourself a castaway； will give
you unspeakable joy； and place you in heaven wherever you may be。
Yet remember this： none of us can win heaven； salvation is the
gift of God。 I have said as much now as you can remember。
Farewell。 Improve time while you can。 Fear God and keep His
commandments。 This is the whole duty of man。〃
So saying； the spirit vanished in a cloud that for a
time emitted light。
〃I am not surprised；〃 said Bearwarden； 〃that people took long
journeys to hear him。 I would do so myself。〃
〃I have never had much fear of death；〃 said Cortlandt； 〃but the
mere thought of it now makes my knees shake； and fills my heart
with dread。 I thought I saw the most hateful forms about my
coffin； and imagined that they might be the personification of
doubt； coldness； and my other shortcomings； which had come
perhaps from sympathy； in invisible form。 I was almost afraid to
ask the spirit for the explanation。〃
〃I saw them also；〃 replied Bearwarden； 〃but took them to be
swarms of microbes waiting to destroy your body； or perhaps
trying in vain to penetrate your hermetically sealed coffin。〃
Cortlandt seemed much upset； and spent the rest of the day in
writing out the facts and trying to assign a cause。 Towards
evening Bearwarden； who had recovered his spirits； prepared
supper； after which they sat in the entrance to the cave。
CHAPTER X。
AYRAULT。
As the； night became darker they caught sight of the earth again；
shining very faintly； and in his mind's eye Ayrault saw his
sweetheart； and the old； old repining that； since reason and love
began； has been in men's minds； came upon him and almost crushed
him。 Without saying anything to his companions； Ayrault left the
cave； and； passing through the grove in which the spirit had paid
them his second visit； went slowly to the top of the hill about
half a mile off； that he might the more easily gaze at the faint
star on which he could picture Sylvia。
〃Ah！〃 he said to himself； on reaching the summit； 〃I will stay
here till the earth rises higher； and when it is far above me I
will gaze at it as at heaven。〃
Accordingly； he lay down with his head on a mound of sod； and
watched the familiar planet。
〃We were born too soon；〃 he soliloquized； 〃for had Sylvia and I
but lived in the spiritual age foretold by the bishop； we might
have held communion； while now our spirits； no matter how much in
love； are separated absolutely by a mere matter of distance。 It
is a mockery to see Sylvia's dwelling…place； and feel that she is
beyond my vision。 O that； in the absence of something better； my
poor imperfect eyes could be transformed into those of an eagle；
but with a million times the power！ for though I know that with
these senses I shall see the resurrection； and hear the last
trump； that is but prospective； while now is the time I long for
sight。〃
On the plain he had left he saw his friends' camp…fire； while on
the other side of his elevation was a valley in which the insects
chirped sharply； and through which ran a stream。 Feeling a
desire for solitude and to be as far removed as possible； he
arose and descended towards the water。 Though the autumn； where
they found themselves； was well advanced； this night was warm；
and the rings formed a great arch above his head。 Near the
stream the frogs croaked happily； as if unmindful of the long
very long Saturnian winter； for though they were removed but
about ten degrees from the equator； the sun was so remote and the
axis of the planet so inclined that it was unlikely these
individual frogs would see another summer； though they might live
again； in a sense； in their descendants。 The insects also would
soon be frozen and stiff； and the tall； graceful lilies that
still clung to life would be withered and dead。 The trees； as if
weeping at the evanescence of the life around them； shed their
leaves at the faintest breeze。 These fluttered to the ground；
or； falling into the tranquil stream； were carried away by it；
and passed from sight。 Ayrault stood musing and regretting the
necessity of such general death。 〃But；〃 he thought； 〃I would
rather die than lose my love； for then I should have had the
taste of bliss without its fulfilment； and should be worse off
than dead。 Love gilds the commonplace； and deifies all it
touches。 Love survives the winter； and in my present frame of
mind I should prefer earth and cold with it to heaven and spring。
Oh； why is my soul so clogged by my body？〃
A pillar of stone standing near him was suddenly shattered； and
the bishop stood where it had been。
〃Because；〃 said the spirit； answering his thought； 〃it has not
yet power to be free。〃
〃Can a man's soul not rise till his body is dead？ asked Ayrault。
The spirit hesitated。
〃Oh； tell me；〃 pleaded Ayrault。 〃If I could see the girl to whom
I am engaged； for but a moment； could be convinced that she loves
me still； my mind would be at rest。 Free my soul or spirit； or
whatever it is； from this body； that I may traverse intervening
space and be with her。〃
〃You will discover the way for yourself in time；〃 said the spirit。
〃I know I shall at the last day； in the resurrection； when I am
no longer in the flesh。 Then I shall have no need of your aid；
for we； know that in the resurrection they neither marry nor are
given in marriage； but are like the angels of God in heaven。 It
is while I am mortal； and love as mortals do； that I wish to see
my promised bride。 A spirit may have other joys； and perhaps
higher； but you who have lived in the world and loved； show me
that which is now my heart's desire。 You have shown us the tomb
in which Cortlandt will lie buried； now help me to go to one who
is still alive。〃
〃I pray that God will grant you this；〃 said the spirit； 〃and make
me His instrument； for
