Life and labor in the spirit world: Being a description of localities, employments, surroundings, and conditions in the spheres.Longley, Mary T. (Mary Theresa)
Religion
Life and labor in the spirit world: Being a description of localities, employments, surroundings, and conditions in the spheres.
Longley, Mary T. (Mary Theresa)
Spirit writings; Spirits
When the children of these islands have studied a certain lesson, or
practiced a particular work for a little time, they are permitted to
change their attention to some other interesting labor, or to find
recreation in some pastime that is pleasant to them. This is so that
their minds and bodily powers will not become wearied, and that their
duties may not become distasteful to them. These little folks are
provided with all the appliances necessary for their health and
enjoyment. They have boats, swings, ærial cars, and other conveniences
for their amusement. Musical instruments abound, and many of the pupils
are fine vocalists. The children laugh, shout, romp, plash in the water,
and act generally as do the children of earth when bent upon having a
good time. They never push nor injure each other in any way, because the
first lesson they learn in this school, and one they never forget, is
gentleness to one another and love to all people.
Wherever there are children in the Summer-land, no matter what the name
of their home,—whether it be Fairy Nest or Happy Valley, Golden Nest,
Rocky Nook, or Sunny Isle,—will be found beautiful sights and sweet
sounds; for the expression of childhood is beauty, and in heavenly life
the little spirits are provided with the surroundings and conditions
that harmonize with their own interior life. The methods of instruction
at the different homes may vary, but all are calculated to perform their
work well and faithfully.
Every child in the Summer-land is taught that labor is ennobling, and
all are anxious to learn some branch of employment. They love to work,
for they know that true happiness is found in activity; and as each is
allowed to follow the especial pursuit which pleases him or her best,
and to choose what it shall be, all are contented in their occupation.
The child on earth who is busy leaping, running, shouting, using its
limbs, is happy, while the little one who is obliged to remain quiet or
be idle is sad, discontented, and miserable. This shows that idleness is
unnatural, and that activity is the true condition of life. In the
Summer-land, the natural is always allowed to have free and full
expression.
Now, my little friends, if you do not understand what I tell you about
these things, please ask your kind mother or father to explain it to
you; for I wish you to gain a clear comprehension of the real, natural,
and beautiful manner in which the children of the spirit world live,
study and amuse themselves, so that you may think of them as busy little
workers who are as alive and active as yourselves.
The occupations of these young residents of the higher life, and also
their studies, are various; but whatever each undertakes to learn to do
is accomplished with earnestness and by diligence. We have no dull
scholars, because all delight to study; and we have no loitering idlers,
because each takes pleasure in practicing or experimenting in some line
of labor for themselves.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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