About four or five weeks ago, during my absence from home, our house was entered by burglars. Relatives, who were left in charge of the house, were confronted by a man holding a pistol, and demanding money. Nothing was taken however, and all were protected. But a few nights later the same man was arrested and imprisoned for the burglary of other houses, and was sentenced to the Penitentiary.
On arrival home, my first thoughts were, seemingly, terrible fear, though sweet whisperings of Love and Truth stood sentinel, and always ready with the contradictory and positive statement of Good. But the seeming conflict grew fiercer and wilder for three days and nights, at the expiration of which, came these thoughts,— "There is nothing but Love working, 'deceived sense' only can say otherwise. Love is guiding and directing in all things. This man is a brother, seemingly lost in the darkness of sense, following what, to error, is greed of gain, but understood according to the infinite light of Love, it appeared a reaching out for the true wealth, the gems and jewels rightfully belonging to every idea of God." Then came the words of Love,— "You have these precious gems, these priceless jewels go, give of my boundless treasures, clothe, feed, and comfort my little ones!" At first it seemed a, difficult task, but as the great, glorious Love-light came surging into thought with all its effulgence and beauty, all sense of a task disappeared, and only gladness to rise up and do the Master's bidding, remained, willing to follow wherever it might lead, even though it be behind iron prison bars, there to shed its bright, glad light, and proclaim liberty and freedom to the captive.
The hunger and thirst were great and Love and Truth cast down every barrier, and liberated its own. Iron bars, to that man, no longer meant imprisonment. After drinking of the living waters, partaking of the "bread" which satisfies, came consciousness of freedom. But let his own words testify:— "I would not, to-day, change places with anyone, outside this prison, who has not this great Truth, Christian Science."
