fascinating smile to receive me. How like and yet how unlike the famous
man I had known on earth! The gray hair of age had given place to the
abundant glossy locks of youth. The intellectual eye beamed with a new
life and his whole person sent forth an effulgence most attractive. Those
of my readers who knew him on earth will well remember the peculiar
fascination of his sphere, but they can form from the remembrance but a
slight idea of the attractive aura he sheds forth in this existence. I
immediately felt myself drawn by an invisible power toward him. He
grasped my hand with the frank cordiality and grace of former days, and
leading me thus, we arose together and, passing through one of the arched
compartments of the upper tier, entered another portion of the building.
As we moved on I seemed to live portions of my earthly life, long past.
The gorgeous and fantastic architecture which everywhere met my eye
reminded me of the halls of the Alhambra. Swiftly passing, we emerged
through a spacious arch upon an open arbor, where were congregated the
priests whom I had been invited to meet. I started back with a shock of
delight when I beheld, in the centre of the group, the immortal figure of
George Washington. I knew him instantly, partly from the likenesses which
had been extant on earth, and partly from the noble spirit which emanated
like a sun from his person. The group parted as we entered and I
immediately felt, resting upon my shoulder like a benediction, the soft,
firm hand of the Father of his Country. "Washington!" I exclaimed,
fervidly grasping his hand. "At length we have met!" he responded, and a
smile of ineffable joy lighted his countenance. He then spoke of the many
changes through which the United States had passed since his removal to
the spirit land. I was surprised at the extent of knowledge he displayed.
Not the slightest variation in the scale of political economy had escaped
his notice. He expressed himself pleased especially at the great progress
and development of the people within the last twenty years. He alluded to
their rapid march through the western territories; the founding of new