ngs of His exalted pen, and on the head of each one of the
beloved in that bright region, He set a crown of imperishable glory, and
He robed each one with His bestowals and grace, and wrapped each one in a
mantle of spiritual perfections. Of them all He spoke the highest praise,
and to all He gave abundant blessings, as is proved by the text of His
scrolls and Tablets. And whenever that sacred King of all the world would
speak of _Kh_urasan, His being would stir for joy, and His luminous face
would grow still brighter with exceeding gladness. His bounties never
ceased, and from clouds of grace His favours continually showered down
upon that land.

Then came the era of the Covenant, and that full cup was passed from hand
to hand, and the Sun of the Covenant rose up, shedding abroad on the
horizon of unity the rays of servitude and thraldom, and lighting up the
hearts of humankind. New life was breathed into the body of the world, and
into the human soul came a fresh measure of delight. The hearts of the
people of Baha rejoiced to hear the glad-tidings from the Abha Kingdom,
and the minds of those who had sought shelter under the Tree of holiness
were illumined with beams of fidelity and faith. Once again, the loved
ones in that region were inebriated with the wine of the Primal Covenant,
and in their firmness and steadfastness and loyalty they led the field.
They showed forth such constancy as to astonish the mind, and they
manifested such power and endurance as to raze the piled-up doubts of the
doubters to the ground. Of the poisoned winds of violation there was no
trace left in all that land. The hopes of the disaffected were blighted,
and the centre of violation clearly witnessed the defeat of all his aims
and plans.

It is certain that those who have caught the fragrance blowing from the
Abha Paradise, those who have heard the nightingale singing from the
immortal gardens and taken delight therein, those who have trembled for
joy, and whose souls have been renewed when the breezes of holiness out of
the bowers of the All-Merciful were wafted over them--will find the raven's
croaking and cawing a wearisome thing, and can only turn from it and flee
away.

For thirty long years, from the hour of Baha'u'llah's ascension until His
own immaculate spirit passed into the light of the all-highest realm,
'Abdu'l-Baha rested neither night nor day. Single and alone, a prisoner, a
victim of tyranny, He rose up to reform the wo