e, was soon able to
comfort me; to make me realize that she was not dead, but still near me
with all a mother's love and tender care. From time to time she directed
Mrs. Bainbridge how to manage the pressing business that came up. She
told me that she had long known that I was endowed with wonderful
mediumistic power, which must now be fully developed for her sake, as a
necessary and natural channel of communication so desirable to her,
which she should prize very highly. Also as a source of comfort for
myself and my father, especially as a joyful surprise for him when he
came home. Therefore it was decided between us that I was to sit one
hour each day with Mrs. Bainbridge for development. My mother seemed to
feel sure that I would make an excellent trumpet medium, and encouraged
me by predicting my speedy development as such. Strangely enough, so it
proved. My progress was rapid. In two weeks time my mother could speak
to me through the trumpet without difficulty and much to my delight. I
began to appreciate the great value of my wonderful gift and to
understand what it meant. Our dear family circle, which in my despair I
had thought broken forever, was now reunited. Father, mother, daughter!
just us three as of yore. And--the wonder of it--I, the youngest, the
weakest and the least wise of the trio, was the instrument! When I
thought of the possibilities, of the joy and consolation it would bring
to my father and mother, my heart swelled with gratitude and
thankfulness that this mighty power had come to me. The power to destroy
the dread of death; to demonstrate the continuity of life; to prove that
the binding love of family ties, kindred, and cherished friends still
shone with untarnished lustre beyond the shadows of the silent grave.
How beautiful, how wonderful, how glorious it was! And with this power
came the solemn charge that I was to cherish it with care and keep it
pure and holy. Yes, I resolved that I would do this conscientiously. It
should be my highest ambition to ever use my mediumship with my best and
most unselfish aspirations, to keep it apart from the grosser things of
life, to dedicate it to good and to good alone. And thus it was that my
mediumship continued to develop and grow in perfection. My mother could
talk with me as often as she wished and as long at each sitting as she
desired. I was no longer alone or despondent, my darling mother still
could be, and was really, my mentor, friend, parent,