"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie
down with the kid; * * * and a little child shall lead them. They
shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain for the earth shall
be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the
sea."--_Isaiah 11:6-9._
The next day Paulus with his two visitors walked about the city. He
described and explained the many deeply interesting scenes, and answered
the numerous questions directed to him. The foreigners did not fail to
note the wonderful advances made in the arts and sciences and their
practical application to everyday affairs. They had thought their own
country not behind in improvements, but here their own were far
surpassed.
"We will ride out on the ether-line to one of our schools," remarked
Paulus. "You will be pleased with the children."
"This is an improvement on electricity," said their director, as seated
in an elegant car, they were carried through the city without noise or
jostle. "This line is rather crude yet. I was reading in the newspaper
the other day that some very important improvements were shortly to be
made. You have noticed, ere this, our method of heating and lighting.
Don't you think it is an advancement on the old way?"
"It certainly is, though we use some steam and considerable electricity
yet in our country."
"I suppose so--but here we are."
Although nothing in the city was cramped or crowded for room, the place
where they now alighted was planned on an unusually large scale. Immense
buildings stood upon a large tract of land, planted with trees, grass,
and flowers. Here were breathing room and playground. A number of
streams of clear water flowed through the grounds, and small ponds were
alive with fish and swimming birds. Fountains played, and statues of
marble gleamed through the foliage.
"See, what is that?" exclaimed Remand, as he caught sight of a huge,
shaggy beast lying under a tree.
"Just a brown bear," said Paulus. "We have some lions and few of the
rarest animals on these grounds--but I am forgetting that these scenes
must be strange to you. In Poland you have not wholly shaken off the old
world and its way. It takes time of course."
"Well," replied Remand, "although the enmity between man and beast is
nearly gone, we have not yet adopted bears and lions as pets for our
children to play with."
"Well, we have, you perceive."
A bevy of children came dancing through the grounds. Beautiful children
they were, full of life and gladness. They caught sight of bruin,
stretched under the tree, and with a shout they stormed him. The animal
saw them coming, and extending himself at full length on the ground,
seemed to enjoy the children's tumbling over his shaggy sides. When they
patted him on the head and stroked his nose, he licked their hands.
"We haven't reached quite that far," remarked the king.
"Neither do we behold such sights," added his companion, as he pointed
to a tiger crouching on the grass, and gazing with no evil intention at
a lamb quietly feeding by.
"You will in time," said Paulus. "The earth is being filled with the
knowledge of God. Hate, envy, and destruction are fast disappearing, and
you see the natural results: the wolf lying down with the lamb, and
children playing with once savage beasts. In this way, Satan is being
bound, and the whole earth will soon be released from his power."
They came to another group of children, gathered on the shore of a small
lake, who were eagerly listening to a man in their midst.
"We will hear what the lesson is today," said Paulus, and they went up
to the group. The instructor was holding up a flower which he had
plucked from the margin of the water, and was illustrating some
peculiarity of vegetable formation to the class.
"It is botany today," said Paulus. "I hoped that it would be his
favorite theme."
"And what is that?"
"The improvements on these grounds are the work of his planning and
supervision, and he delights to give lessons on earth and water
formations. He often sets a class to digging trenches and waterways. He
says that he learned all about such things when he went to school,
meaning when he was on the earth before."
"Is he a resurrected being?" asked Remand in a low voice.
"He is," was the reply. "Many of our instructors are. You will
understand without argument the advantages they have over others."
"Certainly, certainly."
"I see he is through with the recitation. Let us speak to him."
As they came up, the children recognized them with a smile and a salute,
and the instructor said:
"Welcome, brothers, welcome, Brother Paulus."
"You are dismissed. Go to your next lesson," he said to the children,
and they quietly walked away.
"Now," said he, "I have some leisure. Will you all come with me into the
reading room? I have something to show you, Paulus, and it may interest
our visitors."
"Need we no introduction?" asked the king, as they followed into a large
building.
"Not at all. He knows who you are."
The reading room was a compartment beautifully adorned and furnished. It
was filled with tables, chairs, bookracks, etc. Hundreds of children
were there reading. Perfect order reigned, though no overseers or
watchers were seen. The three followed the instructor into a smaller
room, seemingly arranged for private use. Chairs were placed, and then
he opened a newspaper which he spread on the table.
"Have you seen the last edition of today's paper?"
None of them had.
"Well, I found something here of more than usual interest. It seems that
some workmen, excavating for a building, came across the ruins of a
nineteenth century city. In a cavity in a stone they found some coins of
that period, also a number of newspapers. It was a common practice in
those days to imbed such things in the corner stones of buildings.
Extracts from those papers are reproduced here, and they are of interest
to the children of today in showing the condition of the world when
under the influence of that fallen spirit who rebelled against God in
the beginning. Let me read you a few extracts, principally headings
only."
"'Yesterday this city was visited by a most destructive fire. One-half
of the business part was swept away. Thousands of dollars of property
were lost, and it is supposed that about fifty persons have perished in
the flames.'
"'The great strike. Thousands of workmen out of employment. Children
crying for bread. Mobs march through the streets, defying the police,
and demolishing property. The governor calls out the state militia.'
"Here is another:
"'War! War! England, Germany, France, Russia and the United States are
preparing!'
"Yes, you have read your histories. You know all about that. What do you
think of this?"
"'Millions of the people's money have been expended by those in office
to purchase votes. A set of corrupt political bosses rule the nation.'
"Still another:
"'A gang of tramps capture a train--'"
The reader did not finish, but laid the paper down and looked out of the
open door. He did not speak for some time; then turning, said:
"Brothers, thank God that you live in the Millennium of the world. My
heart grows sick when my mind reverts back to the scenes of long ago. I
passed through some of them. I learned my lessons in a hard school; but
God has been good to me. He has known me all along, and has given me
just what I needed. Shall we visit the buildings? Shall we see the
children who grow up without sin unto salvation? Come with me."
From room to room, from building to building, they went. Children,
children, everywhere--bright, beautiful children. Oh, it was a grand
sight! Hark! They sing--a thousand voices; and such music!
"Are there special visitors today?" asked Paulus.
"Yes; come let us go outside and see them."
They stepped out on to a portico where they could see the throng of
children standing on a large lawn outside. They were singing a song of
welcome, and through the trees could be seen three men approaching. The
children made way for them, and they walked through towards the
building.
"Look well at them as they pass," said the instructor; "you may
recognize them."
They walked with the sprightliness of youth though their hair was white
as snow. They smiled at the children as they passed.
"Two of the faces are familiar," remarked Remand, "but the third is
strange. Surely, surely--"
"Surely you did not expect to see George Washington and Martin Luther in
the flesh, walking and talking as other men?"
"Never."
"It is they."
"And the third?"
"The third is Socrates of old."
"What is their mission?"
"They are about to speak to the children. They have been at the school
of the prophets all morning, and now they come from the high school
yonder. You see what advantages today's students of history have."
"Has the knowledge of God exalted men to the society of resurrected
beings?"
"Your senses do not deceive you," was the reply.
"Now I must go," said the instructor. "Farewell, and peace be with
you."
He went into the house again, the three following directly, but they saw
nothing more of him.