ion to the other houses in the city, as beautiful as gold, silver,
precious stones, fine woods, silks, and other fabrics could make it.
Most of the rooms were furnished, as if in readiness for occupancy.

"I delight in statuary," was explained to the visitor, "and my wife
delights in paintings. You see, I have catered to both our tastes, and
especially hers. Those panels are the work of the famous Rene, and this
ceiling was painted by the best artist in the city. Here, what do you
think of this?"

They paused before a large painting hung in the best light. It showed
traces of age, but the colors indicated the hand of a master. It
represented a scene where grandeur and beauty mingle; in the distance,
blue hills; nearer, they became darker and pine clad; in the foreground
loomed a rocky ledge; encircled by the hills, lay a lake, around whose
shores were farms and farm houses with red roofs; and in the foreground
of the lake was an island.

"A fine picture," said the visitor, "and an old one."

"It is a scene in old-time Norway, by one of Europe's best painters.
Here is another. This is new, hardly dry, in fact. You observe that
there are no pines on those hills. The farm house and the orchard in the
foreground are as natural as life. She will recognize them at once."

They passed out.

"I have not had time to collect much in the way of statuary. I work a
little at that art myself. Here is an unfinished piece, a model for a
fountain."

They sat on a bench within sight of the falling water.

"Tell me about your family."

"I have a wife and four children yet in the spirit world. It is not long
as we count time since I left them, and they are soon to follow; but I
am impatient, I think. Oh, but she is a good woman, brother, good and
true and beautiful; and my children are noble ones--two boys and two
girls--even if one has been wayward. He will come back in time. Yes, my
wife first taught me the knowledge of God, in the second estate, and
opened to me the beauties of our Fathers' great plan. I had fallen low,
and was in danger of going lower, when she came--God sent her--and with
her pure, strong hand drew me up from the mire, God bless her." And the
speaker smiled at the splashing waters.

"Then in earth-life I left them so suddenly, and she struggled bravely
on to the end. It was all for the best--we know that now. I had a work
to do in the spirit world, and God called me to it. I did it, and was
accepted of the