LUCY AIKEN’S MISSION.
In relating to you these incidents in illustration of the work of the
spirit, and its influence upon mortals, you are not to suppose that they
are fictitious,—truth is ever stranger than fiction; and the events of
daily occurrence in the lives of human beings are more marvelous, more
significant, in their bearings toward the mission and destiny of
individuals than any tale of novelist can possibly seem to be; while, in
reality, he who weaves his web of fiction, filled with startling scenes
and incidents, with which to regale his readers, finds the foundation of
all that is most real, startling and beautiful in his romance in the
passing events of daily realistic life.
Yet another instance will we relate to you of the earnestness, depth of
feeling, intensity of power, and persevering patience displayed by
spirits in the pursuance of the work they have to perform for the
benefit of mortals.
A terrible accident had happened in one of your large cities. A factory
boiler exploding had dealt destruction all around; but by far the
saddest result of the catastrophe might be seen in an upper room of a
tenement house not far away. A man, once strong and active, but now
reduced to a mere skeleton, lay breathing the hours away in misery and
pain.
His spine had been seriously injured from the effects of the explosion,
rendering him a helpless, hopeless invalid, but not mercifully
inflicting upon his body a fatal injury. Ah, no! Doomed to live, in
agony and pain, deprived of strength, the days rolled by bringing no
cheer to his soul save the blithesome presence, at morn and evening, of
his cheery-faced young daughter, who, in her frail person, alone stood
between him and starvation.
This young girl of sixteen summers was employed in a cotton-mill, where,
from morning till night, she toiled for the small sum of four dollars
per week, out of which she was compelled to buy food for herself and
parent, pay the rent of their humble tenement, and provide medicine for
the invalid. After this had been accomplished, it would seem that
nothing could remain for clothing, and yet Katy was always neatly clad
in clean but coarse garments of her own manufacture.
Time passed, and our cheerful young friend found herself wearing out and
breaking down under the burdens imposed upon her. Health gave way, her
strength became exhausted, and at length a distressing cough set in,
which the dispensary doctor, who attended her father, declared to be the
herald of incipient consumption. It seemed that her work at the mill
must be given up; but if this was done, what would become of her invalid
father, as well as of herself? Ah, who could tell!
UNSEEN HELPERS.
Thus matters stood with those of whom we write at the commencement of
our story. Katy still kept at her post, in spite of pain and fatigue,
and despite the remonstrances of physician and others; and it was found
that she could accomplish as much labor, and perform it as
satisfactorily, as the strongest and smartest hand in the place. The
cause of this amount of endurance on the part of a fragile girl, whose
every breath was fraught with pain, was a mystery to all who knew her;
but not so to the angels. They brought her the power, day by day, to
accomplish her work to the satisfaction of all; they magnetized her
weary frame night after night, thus holding the ravages of disease at
bay, even though they could not deliver her from suffering and pain.
The humblest of God’s children have spirit friends and attendants, as
well as the highest and grandest; spirits who watch over, guide, and
direct those under their charge are with the poor and lowly as well as
with the wealthy and great; none are forsaken, none forgotten, all are
cared for and blessed with angel ministrations.
In this case, the spirit mother of Katy brought strength and power to
the girl, aided by wise and good magnetic physicians of spirit life, who
loved to benefit the needy and soothe the suffering. And the father,
upon his bed of pain, was enabled to behold his daughter attending to
his wants, ministering to his necessities, and caring for him in every
loving way. Surely a sight to cause rejoicing among the angels, who
delight to behold good deeds and noble acts performed for others.
A SPIRIT’S EFFORTS TO REACH HER FATHER.
Katy’s father met with the disaster that had injured him for life at a
factory, or rather a mill, owned by a corporation, the president of
which, a stern, overbearing man, had but a few years before lost a
lovely and only daughter of fourteen summers. This beautiful spirit had
long sought to influence her father, in order to convince him of her
continued existence, but all in vain, until now she had turned her
attention to the needs and necessities of the lowly and suffering, and
had entered heart and soul into the work of relieving their distress.
For ten weeks following the accident the corporation of which we write
paid the expenses of the suffering man; but at the expiration of that
time all help from that quarter ceased, and, as we have said, there was
no resource but Katy’s scanty earnings for the needs of the invalid and
herself.
Lucy, the spirit daughter of the rich man at the head of the mill, had
become cognizant of these facts, and, being strongly attracted to Katy,
sought in every possible way to lighten her burdens.
She now redoubled her efforts to reach and influence her father, for she
felt that something must be done for the relief of the young working
girl and the suffering man. As yet her efforts were uncrowned with
success; but still she continued them unceasingly, for she felt that it
was her mission to penetrate the crust of worldliness that had gathered
around her father’s spirit, and to draw him upward toward the higher and
the better life.
Time passed. In spite of all that attending spirits could do, Katy was
surely breaking down under the wearing labor imposed upon her; for the
physical system could not withstand the strain brought to bear upon it.
One day she fainted at her work, and it was a full hour before she was
brought to her senses by the efforts of the frightened girls who
clustered around her; then, weak and pallid, she was taken home, to be
placed under the care of a physician who was in attendance upon her
father. This was a time of sore trial to the members of that little
family; but, although they knew it not, spirit helpers were working for
their benefit.
Two weeks had passed since the day that Katy had left her work at the
mill. Mr. Aiken, the president, was in the counting-room as the working
girls filed in to receive their week’s wages. Carefully he scrutinized
each face at the little window until the last one had disappeared, when
he turned to the book-keeper and inquired for “Morrow’s girl,” whose
ever-cheerful, modest, and smiling demeanor had often attracted his
attention. He was told that she had left the mill because of failing
health, and the matter was dropped for the time being. But the spirits,
particularly gentle Lucy Aiken, and anxious Mrs. Morrow, were determined
that the obdurate heart of this dignified man of wealth should be
softened, and they were steadily working to accomplish their purpose.
Weeks lengthened into months, and still Mr. Morrow languished upon his
bed of pain, and still Katy drooped in her seat by the window where she
sat striving to perform some needle-work which one of her mill
companions had procured for her, and which she persisted in doing,
despite the protest of the doctor whenever he came to visit his
patients.
THE LAST PENNY AND THE LAST APPEAL.
Many times did the work drop from the weary fingers of the sick girl,
while her frame shook with the spasmodic cough which seized upon her,
until at length this kind of work had to be laid aside, and our young
friend was obliged to remain idle altogether. In a very short time,
every penny of the carefully-saved, hard-earned little store of means
was exhausted, and cold and hunger settled upon the little household. It
was at this time that the dispensary physician, Dr. Jones, determined to
see Mr. Aiken in behalf of his patients.
The doctor found Mr. Aiken alone in his office, and made his errand
known at once. He, the kind physician, related the fallen fortunes and
present misery of Mr. Morrow, and his brave daughter Katy, to the
stern-eyed man of wealth, who listened to the recital in silence. When
he had concluded his story, he said, after waiting a moment in vain for
word or comment from the millionaire: “And, so, Mr. Aiken, I have come
to see what you can do for this man who met with the injury that has
made him a hopeless, helpless invalid while in your employ.”
“I do not see that I am called upon to do anything,” responded the man
of means; “the rule of the corporation is to pay all expenses of an
injured employee for ten weeks after the accident. This rule has been
complied with in Mr. Morrow’s case, I believe.”
“But, Mr. Aiken,” interrupted Dr. Jones, “consider the circumstances of
this peculiar case, for only a moment, and I am sure your sense of
justice will prompt you to do something more for this unfortunate man.
He was a steady, faithful, and conscientious workman, always at his
post, ever discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity. Through
no fault of his own, an explosion occurred, depriving this man of the
use of his limbs, and rendering him an invalid for life. True, the
corporation paid his expenses for a time, but health did not return to
him, and when that supply ceased, his daughter, a young girl, nurse,
companion, and housekeeper in one, entered the mill, and labored early
and late until her health gave way, and she, too, became an almost
confirmed invalid I feel——”
THE INFLUENCE OF THE SPIRIT BEGINS TO SHOW ITSELF.
“There, doctor, that will do,” interrupted the rich man, “I cannot
listen longer, as I have an engagement to meet in just five minutes.
Here are ten dollars; give them to Mr. Morrow, and perhaps—not
positively, mind you, but possibly—I may make it in my way to call upon
him before many days.”
The doctor took the money tendered him, and retired from the presence of
the great merchant with a sigh, thinking to himself: “Ah, well, it is
true that ‘corporations have no souls,’ and it seems to me that the
individuals who form these corporations have very little ones. The
pitiful sum he has given me will provide for the wants of my patients
for a few days only, and I must cast about in some other quarter for
assistance. I will again make application for their admittance to the
hospital before the money is exhausted; they will have to be separated,
but it cannot be avoided;” and so musing he passed on his way.
Sweet, gentle, Lucy Aiken! Mild and benign spirit, working for a
father’s enlightenment, striving to elevate the soul of a beloved parent
above the selfishness of worldly interests and personal grandeur! She
had no thought of allowing the matter to rest here, and she lingered by
the side of that parent, filling his mind with thoughts of the suffering
and destitute family whose circumstances had been so eloquently
presented to him that day by his visitor, Dr. Jones, and causing him to
turn in spirit toward that humble home many times, until at last, “to
get rid of the thing,” he murmured, Mr. Aiken ordered his carriage and
was driven down to the humble neighborhood of Morrow’s tenement.
The injured man lay stretched upon his couch in a passing paroxysm of
pain as the merchant entered. By his side, leaning back in an easy
chair, sat his daughter Katy, so pale, wasted and wan in appearance that
she seemed more like a wraith that would vanish away at a touch than a
human being. Mr. Aiken was startled at the sight that met his gaze,—the
suffering inmates, the extreme destitution, yet cleanly surroundings of
that humble home, spoke more eloquently to this man rolling in wealth,
and wrapped up in self-sufficiency, than a hundred sermons on the poor
could have done; and, strange to relate, while questioning the pallid
girl concerning her own and her father’s condition, his lower lip
actually trembled with emotion.
THE SPIRIT DAUGHTER’S PRESENCE.
Ah, this was a place where spirits could gather and perform their work,
and Lucy Aiken came so near to Katy Morrow at this time that her
presence quite overshadowed the features of the invalid, and reflected
its expression and influence upon them, causing the face of the mortal
girl to assume a striking likeness to the well-remembered features of
the spirit, the loved and loving daughter of Mr. Aiken. It was this
sight that thrilled the visitor with emotion, and caused his eyes to
grow dim with unshed tears.
At that interview with the invalids—Mr. Morrow and his daughter Kate—the
proud heart of Mr. Aiken became softened as it had never been before;
the time, place and circumstances exerted a strange influence upon him,
for which he could not account, and he left, promising to send
assistance, and also to come again, which promises were faithfully kept.
A strong and capable female nurse was engaged to attend the sufferers,
and arrangements were made with the proprietors of various stores to
supply the family with whatever they required, without stint or
question.
Mr. Aiken found himself unable to remain long away from that humble
abode; again and again was he to be seen in the home of Mr. Morrow,
questioning the suffering man concerning his malady, conversing with the
invalid daughter in relation to her ailments, or speaking words of cheer
to both. At each visit the likeness between Katy Morrow and the
long-lost darling of his heart grew upon him. Ah, little did he know
that it was the presence of his angel child that caused the marvelous
likeness, and that at every visit of her father the spirit gained power
to come closer and closer to him; or, indeed, that it was herself, dear
Lucy Aiken, who filled her parent’s mind day after day with the desire
to visit these humble but worthy people.
HAPPY RESULTS OF SPIRIT EFFORTS.
In a little while, under the generous treatment and kindly care bestowed
upon them, both invalids began to show signs of improvement in their
condition, and soon good Dr. Jones—who still continued to visit them,
and who looked upon the visits and assistance of the proud capitalist
with silent but approving amazement—declared that, with the approach of
early spring, it would be advisable to remove them to some country place
where they could enjoy the fresh air and mellow sunlight. Accordingly,
Mr. Aiken took it upon himself to provide such a place.
A few miles from the great city there is a quiet, peaceful village,
where the flowers bloom and birds make cheerful music through all the
golden summer time. It is a lovely spot, where Nature dons her fairest,
freshest robes in which to charm the eye and delight the senses of those
weary travelers who linger there in order to gain strength and repose of
mind and body. In this pleasant spot, Mr. Aiken, the man of wealth,
makes his summer home; and it was here he determined to find a place for
Mr. Morrow and his daughter.
By this time, Mr. Aiken had enlisted the interest and sympathies of his
wife in the case of the invalids, and it was mainly through her
exertions that a pretty cottage located on a quiet lane, and partly
shaded by the branches of a magnificent old elm, was secured for their
occupancy.
In due time our friends were removed to this pleasant retreat, and it
really seemed that the change was calculated to work a marvelous cure in
the condition of both invalids, so rapidly did they acquire strength in
the genial atmosphere in which they now dwelt. In a little time,
however, it was seen that Mr. Morrow’s days in the form were numbered.
The spinal trouble from which he suffered became aggravated to an
intense degree, and all that could be done was to make his sufferings as
light as possible by skillful treatment and care. All that kindness
could do was done.
Mr. Aiken and his wife, who had grown wonderfully attached to Katy
Morrow, spared no pains to make his last days peaceful and happy; and
when his mortal eyes closed upon the scenes of earthly life, which they
did in the latter part of August, it was with a knowledge that kind
friends and faithful hearts were ready to care for the orphan child he
was to leave behind.
In the meantime, Miss Katy was slowly but surely regaining health and
strength in the glow of the new life which had come upon her. Skillfully
nursed and attended by her physician and waiting woman, petted back into
health by the loving sympathy of Mrs. Aiken and the thoughtful kindness
of the merchant, the roses began to show themselves once again on her
cheeks, her form and features became rounded out with new vigor, until
at length Dr. Jones declared her to be no longer an invalid, and said
that he would now restore her name to the lists of the hearty and
healthy ones of the land.
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.
No happier home is to be found anywhere than that of the Aikens. From
the experiences of the past they have learned many lessons. As
benefactors to the needy and suffering they are widely known, for they
delight to use their wealth for good, under the direction of their angel
friends; while Katie Morrow is looked upon by all as the favored
daughter of a most happy and lovable couple.