r departure; but again I
was doomed to disappointment. The boat came, but not for me this time
either; another friend must go before me, one whom the Father thought
more weak and needy than I. And as He saw me begin to grieve and fret,
He sent me another comforting message, saying: "I will not leave the
comfortless, in the sixth trial; and in the seventh, I will not leave
thee nor forsake thee." Then again my soul replied, I will fear no
evil; in God alone will I put my trust. When I found I had to wait
awhile longer, I thought I would look around on this side of Jordan,
for I had been so anxious to get home to my Father's House, and so
busy looking beyond, that I had not noticed anything on this side so
much; and in the glory of light that beamed across the river, I had
not noticed the poisonous flowers that spread their baneful influence
over all the land, or the muddy, filthy pools, sending up their
miasmatic odors, poisoning the air; and while I was looking, with
shame let me say it, poisonous as were those flowers, noxious as was
the vapor from the pools, I began to be interested in them, and to
seek after them; so much so, that my guide said softly in my ear:
"Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." (Matt. xxvi., 41.)
But I was so engrossed with the flowers, and the whisper came so
softly, that I did not heed it, but kept on going farther away from
the river, losing sight more and more of my Father's House. Again my
guide called after me, but this time in louder tones: "Therefore be ye
also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man
cometh." (Matt. xxvi., 24.) But still, strange as it may seem, and as
ungrateful as it appears after the pleasant view I had had of my
Father's House, and the soothing promises he had given me, such is
perverse human nature, that I paid but little heed, but still wandered
on, plucking flowers, now here, now there, 'till I had gone quite
away; but still my loving Father would not leave me, "for whom the
Lord loveth he chasteneth," and on looking up I saw my