Each day spirit Lucy Aiken visited Katy Morrow, whom she had chosen for her medium, and through her instrumentality was enabled to come into spiritual communion with her beloved parents, although as yet they had no thought of such a thing. Already had the sweet spirit performed a wonderful work. By the influence she exerted upon her father, she had strengthened his higher nature and given it power to rise above the slough of worldliness, self-interest and cold indifference to others, in which it had been long submerged, and had so sweetened and mellowed his spirit, and caused it to blossom out in deeds of kindness and even loveliness, that Katy Morrow expressed herself, in contrite tones, to her friend Dr. Jones, for “ever daring to think of dear, kind Mr. Aiken as unkind and hard-hearted.”
As for the good physician, he was all wonder and amazement at the unaccountable change which had been wrought in the disposition of the wealthy merchant; but he took good care not to express his opinion before others, for he felt that here was something he could not understand.
Nor was this the only labor accomplished by the sweet spirit. Hitherto, Mrs. Aiken had been a restless, nervous, easily-excited creature,—one who often declared nobody understood her since her dear Lucy died, and who had many times made her husband unhappy and uncomfortable by her forlorn repinings. But since she had come into communication with Kate Morrow and her invalid father, and had witnessed their patient endurance and fortitude under suffering, as well as felt the influence exerted upon her being by the spirits gathered in their humble home, this unhappy lady seemed to be a new creature. She became calm and tranquil, and in her care and solicitude for others forgot to remember self or to complain of her many trials. Thus did the work of the spirit spread, until it included these two humans in its loving embrace; the husband and wife seemed to understand each other once more. In these days they grew together, and, from consulting each other over the case of their humble friends, they began to counsel with each other over home affairs, until at last they appeared to be once again one in perfect harmony of thought and intention.
It had been decided that, after the death of Mr. Morrow, his daughter Kate should enter the home of Mrs. Aiken as companion and private maid to that lady, a decision that was agreeable to all parties, and which filled the mind of the dying man with content when he learned of it.
ANGEL VISITS NOT FEW NOR FAR BETWEEN
Three days had passed since the death of the worn-out body, and it had just been consigned to the bosom of mother-earth, there to rest forever. Katy Morrow and her friends, Mr. and Mrs. Aiken, were seated in their private sitting-room. The girl looked pale and exhausted from the effects of the trials of the last few days. Mrs. Aiken was just thinking of advising her to retire to rest, and was looking at her for that purpose, when she was startled at beholding a change steal over the face of the girl. At first, the lady thought Kate had swooned; but in a moment she was undeceived. The face became transfigured and shone with an unearthly light, assuming the cast of features and expression of a man’s countenance. Slowly they developed, until they appeared plain and unmistakable. It was the well-known face of Mr. Morrow, whose mortal lineaments had but a few hours before been covered up from sight.
The lips moved, and Mr. Aiken, whose attention had been directed to the scene by the frightened gestures of his wife, and who had started forward, caught these words: “I come to tell you I am happy; all pain is removed; tell Kate I am with her mother now; we bring our love, our blessing; we will care for her; we bless you all.”
In a moment the scene changed; the features of the sleeping girl resumed their natural appearance, but for an instant only. Before any word could be spoken by the astonished spectators, they beheld a sight which electrified their souls, and—as soon as they could comprehend it—filled them with the keenest rapture: none other than the well-remembered face of their darling Lucy, whom they had long mourned as lost to them, gazed upon them with an expression of the most angelic love and peace.
In a little while the spirit gained power to speak to her parents, assuring them of her presence with them from the day of her physical decease,—of her endeavors to announce herself to them, relating scenes in the spirit world, and speaking of her home of light there. Thus did she continue until the shades of doubt, perplexity, and incredulity faded from the father’s face, until the sensation of terror vanished from the mother’s heart, when, with a tender caress to both parents, she bade them adieu. You can imagine the rapture and happiness which dawned upon that household at this revelation of life and love from beyond the grave. Words fail to express the joy they felt; it must be experienced to be fully appreciated.
In a little time it became almost a daily occurrence for Kate Morrow to be controlled by some dear spirit from whose lips the Aikens received many lessons of instruction and benefit. Their darling child was enabled to explain the past, and her efforts to reach them. Not only did this bright spirit, and Mr. and Mrs. Morrow, come with messages of love and advice, but other dear ones also manifested their presence, until it seemed that the gates of heaven were indeed opened and the angels thronging through.