At this point of the conversation a young lady entered the room. Her face showed a depth of thought unusual in one so young. She looked at them for a second to see if she would be interfering with the conversation, but as they seemed to be on the same subject she commenced:
“Father, is it necessary for me to continue my efforts to reach the planet Earth?”
“Why, my dear, surely you are not going to complain also. Your brother has just told me that he would like to give it up. It would grieve me sorely if either of you do.”
“Oh, brother, you don’t mean it? Men are so strong, they ought not to give in so soon.”
“It is all very well to say so, but I have not had any peace since I took it up, sister mine. I don’t understand why I should give up so much of my life to what seems such a hopeless task.”
“Well, children, sit down and tell me what you have accomplished.”
“Father,” the young lady replied, “I have accomplished nothing, absolutely nothing that I can see.”
“Well, tell me what you saw.”
“It is so discouraging that I hate to talk about it. The last time I used the instrument I could not only hear all they said, but see them. One of the first things that I saw made me so ill that I can hardly sleep. I saw a woman who lived in a city, in a part of the world they call America, burning her children to death. You know I had asked to take that part of the world because I was told it was the home of freedom. I couldn’t see what the term ‘Freedom’ meant when little children could be left at the mercy of a lunatic. I tried to get away from the instrument, but I was fascinated. Then I directed the instrument to a home, not fifteen minutes’ walk away, and saw the other extreme. I saw women and girls dressed for a reception in beautiful gowns and quantities of jewels; they actually had on their persons enough wealth to support twenty such families for the rest of their lives.”
“Well, I should think that is all the more reason that you should persevere in trying to reach those and make them hear you.”