Page:Dealings with the dead.djvu/105

 for almost on the very instant that this sacrilegious thought took possession of my soul, my mind lost its clarity, my vision became dim and misty, my equanimity was lost, and was succeeded by a state entirely different—a sort of childliness of feeling. Almost instantly my soul lost sight of the magnificent field just opened to its inspection, and was forced by a power not then understood, to turn completely round, and direct its gaze earthward. Resistance being vain, I did so, and observed directly opposite the point of attack upon the sphereal wall, a window-like opening, through which I looked down the vista of a lane of light, bounded on either side by an impenetrable amorphous wall. One end of this lane terminated on earth, the other in the Soul-world; and from the peculiar nature of the lesson shortly conveyed, I became aware of two things: first, that neither knowledge nor joy ever flow into the secret chambers of the soul, unless the receptacle vessels therein are duly prepared to receive them; for although knowledge may become a thing of memory, yet it can only remain stored up like corn in a granary, and never become of positive value, or serve as soul-food, until that soul itself is in a condition to digest and assimilate it. Secondly, there could no longer be a doubt but that I was being practically instructed by an invisible being of masterly wisdom and accomplishments; and from the nature of the emotions within me, to which this thought gave rise, there was but little if any doubt that this invisible teacher was the mysterious 'Him' to whom Nellie had so mischievously alluded, when she invited me to come with her. If a woman is loved, no matter where she be, no