FILLMORE AND FERN.
For Fillmore Flagg, a never-to-be-forgotten week has passed since the
interview with Fennimore Fenwick, noted in our previous chapter. He is
still at Fairy Fern Cottage, busy with preparatory work for his coming
tour. Momentous events, which have radically changed his life, have
followed each other in quick succession. Hours have passed as moments
fly, in absorbing interviews with his spirit father and mother. His
store of questions in relation to their experiences in spirit life, have
all been answered: these answers have in turn suggested many more, until
now he is satisfied. For him, the two worlds have been united--the
continuity of life beyond the grave has been established as a verity
past contradiction. As conscious individuals and loving parents
in the realms of spirit life, his father and mother are as real
to him as mortals. With each succeeding interview this conviction
has grown, until, fully conscious of their loving sympathy and
support, he begins to comprehend the connection between life and
immortality; the stupendous meaning of immortal life--of never-ending
progression--overshadows and dominates all other thoughts. In profound
reverence he repeats to himself:
"How noble, how sacred, how wonderful is life! A few years, comparably
brief as moments, on the mortal plane of existence, to be followed by an
endless Eternity, spent in gleaning wisdom and happiness from the rich
fields of infinite progression. By the measure of immortality, who shall
attempt to describe or limit the destiny of a human soul? As the epitome
of the planet, the universe, and the universal cosmos, it must follow
that the human soul is the repository of infinite possibilities. This,
then, is the spiritual heritage of all. Sin and suffering, selfishness
and greed, crime and vice in the transitory stage of the mortal, might
stain and retard his spiritual growth, but they could never destroy the
glorious possibilities of the final unfoldment."
This broad conception of the possibilities of human life, here and
hereafter, came to Fillmore Flagg as a revelation of the most sacred and
marvelous character: in the light of such a revelation, the hideousness
of selfishness stood revealed like a grim and warning monster. Now he
saw the path of duty plain before him. On the higher, broader plane of
unselfishness, he must strive to develop new powers and new aspirations
to aid him in making better conditions for a more perfect protection and
unfoldment of human life. To satisfy his highest ideal, he must devote
himself to this work. The inspiration of the two worlds was upon him!
His love for Fern Fenwick, the personification of all that was noble
and beautiful, urged him forward; intensified and developed his highest
aspirations for good; permeated, glorified and dominated his entire
being. Love and life!--the former, the mystery and the crowning glory of
the latter.
Hours of self communion, alone in his room, had for Fillmore Flagg a
hitherto unknown charm. The crowding memories of the happiest and by far
the the most important week of his life, with a tenacity like fever-born
visions, passed through and occupied his mind again and yet again. The
bright image of Fern Fenwick was the central figure of each event, her
grace and beauty was its chief point of interest.
At her unrivaled cottage home he had been the honored guest to whom she
had paid her undivided attention. Thanks to her wonderful mediumship, he
no longer felt himself an orphan--the gateway of death was also the
gateway of life. His father and mother had been restored to him, joined
again to his life--his heritage of immortality assured! The truth had
been made plain to him that the people of the two worlds were joined by
everlasting ties of love and sympathy into the one great flood of
humanity, all human beings, all immortal spirits, incarnate, excarnate.
Again, to Fern's mediumship he owed his acquaintance with Fennimore
Fenwick, whom he had learned to know, to admire, to love and respect as
the highest type of a wise, great and noble man. How fortunate he was in
having so many opportunities for learning from such a great master! He
prophesied then and there, that the gratitude of coming generations was
to bear witness to the power, wisdom and eloquence of Fennimore
Fenwick's teachings.
How the memory of all these things swelled the tide of love for Fern
Fenwick, in the heart of Fillmore Flagg. How bright and amiable, how
gloriously beautiful she was. How kind and gracious she was to him, and
what a delightful deference she paid to his opinions! Would he ever
again experience another week so full of unalloyed happiness? He had but
to close his eyes--a radiant vision of Fern Fenwick was before him,
thrilling his heart with hope, urging him forward to the goal of duty.
With a sigh he thought of the coming journey. For one blissful week, in
the light of her angelic eyes, in the radiance of her loveliness, in the
subtle charm of her magnetic presence, he had basked as in the sunshine
of paradise: now the hour of parting was approaching, he must not allow
himself to be despondent, that would be unmanly; he must hope, wait, and
work. Surely his star of destiny augured well for his future. Doubt he
could not; doubt he would not! Yes, he would banish all thought of
parting. He would think of the work, of its demands, of how Fern had
helped him to prepare for it. Oh how proud he was of the peerless girl
that had grown so dear to him! As he recalled the many hours they had
spent together in discussing the plans of Fennimore Fenwick; as applied
to the several stages of development of the model farm, how he had
admired and appreciated Fern's brilliant ideas, her pertinent
suggestions, her wonderful power to foresee administrative difficulties
and to provide most efficiently against them. How well these
accomplishments attested the high order of her intellectual training;
how perfectly they demonstrated the astuteness of her power of thought,
when applied to practical subjects. With such mental and spiritual
attributes, supplemented and intensified by the deep inspiration and the
awe inspiring majesty of her mediumship, how immeasurably superior she
appeared when compared with other women. What problem in life so knotty
that she could not solve? With the aid of such a matchless woman, how
could he fail in the work before him?
Together Fern and Fillmore had examined many maps for the purpose of
deciding on the particular states to be inspected during the coming
tour. The great south-west seemed to offer the best field for choosing.
The Indian lands, just coming into market, were not to be ignored. They
were located in a climate that would promote the growth of a large
variety of crops, therefore were especially desirable. Much time was
spent by them in going over these important questions very carefully.
Fennimore Fenwick, from time to time, had given his opinion on many
doubtful points. Now everything was settled. Tomorrow Fillmore Flagg was
to start for the rich lands of the great west and south-west, with
careful instructions to keep Fern Fenwick informed, by frequent letters,
of his progress and whereabouts. Whenever a particular plot of ground
was selected, Fern was to send him a certified check for its purchase.
This plan was to be followed until all of the desired plots had been
secured. The preparatory work on the model farm was then to be
commenced.
On the eve of his departure, Fillmore Flagg in reviewing these
arrangements, began to perceive that many days must pass before he could
hope to see Fern Fenwick again. The intensity of his love for her urged
an immediate declaration, that he might know his fate before commencing
his long journey; on the other hand, prudence counselled a more patient
waiting and wooing as the only safe and honorable course for him to
pursue, as to declare his love at this time would be, under all the
circumstances which had made him a guest at the cottage, taking an
unfair advantage of the confidence and hospitality of his charming
hostess, who had become so inexpressibly dear to him. Yes, he would take
up the burden of his work, full of confidence in the wisdom and
watchfulness of his guiding star. Hope whispered in his heart: "Fern's
destiny is so closely interwoven with thine own, that no fear of the
future need disturb thee; in peace and contentment await thou the
fulfillment of thy brightest hopes."
Meanwhile, in the heart of Fern Fenwick, the impression left by the
events of the week, were marked and apparent even to herself. A change
in her regard for Fillmore Flagg was manifest. He was so capable, so
loyal to her, and to her interests; and withal so intensely in love with
her, that in turn her admiration for him grew apace--in fact she did not
attempt to hold it in check. She adored an honest frankness as much as
she despised smooth deceit. She knew that Fillmore Flagg was the soul of
honor and that she could trust him under all circumstances, else her
father would not have chosen him to be her worthy and trusted assistant
in the work. In manly beauty he was very near to her ideal; in nobleness
of heart, intellectual development and training, he was her equal:
therefore it was but natural for her to bestow glances of encouragement
on a lover so attractive, so cultured, so unselfish and so ardent.
Perhaps she had met her fate! However, before dismissing the subject,
she decided at the first opportunity to call the attention of her father
and mother to the matter and ask their advice, which would govern her
course in the future. She felt that whatever the advice might be, in any
event, it would not mar or blight her true happiness.