“Then she finally delivered him over for the sake of the future?”
“The offense was committed in the field and was reported by the Agent, as it should have been by whomever witnessed the relapse.
“All feared the most disastrous effect upon our community. You may not fully understand that such manifestations act as carrion, attracting from lower atmospheres those ravenous thought-creatures, bred by evil-doers, and called by some of your inspired writers, ‘Elementals’, who swarm around unhealthy humanity, endangering the welfare of every sensitive organism within their reach, in their senseless frenzy to prolong a shadowy and useless existence.
“Bereft of filth, they gradually lose their electrical vitality and power to harm; and finally disintegrate into crude matter.
“This father was uniformed in red and delegated to the School of Philosophy for one entire season. There he was also subjected to the influence of most refining music, and his reformation was complete; for we have not a more patient and conscientious father or husband in the city.
“He was restored to his paternal colors and is a much better man than ever, for his victory over the parasites that were sapping his life.”
During the conversation, we had been slowly traversing the length of the valley, noting as we passed, elastic health and unalloyed happiness upon every side. Most strongly were we impressed by the vigorous girlish beauty of the matrons, who were at regular intervals, as fondly absorbed in their nursing darlings, as the most devoted of Earth mothers.
During these brief intervals, when the Nursery knolls were thronged with mothers, attention was called to occasional workers, who though resting, like the others, from their field labors, were busily writing in small volumes suspended from their girdles.
“Government Agents who keep the Time accounts that the mothers may not be harassed or disturbed; they only of all the field workers are not parents.”
“Why, if salaried and free, are they timed?”