My companion replied, “The end is not yet. Progressive developments of wisdom will appear, when the dark cloud of superstition shall be removed, so that the light of heaven shall not involve those on whom it falls in the trouble of wicked men. The spirits of this sphere have waited for the coming of that day, and come it will, when opinions shall not triumph over facts, and truth shall not be rejected because it disagrees with the errors of religionists.” But to return to my exit. When my companion gave me her hand, I faintly said, “God be praised,” and languished into life. There was no other spirit near me, when I closed my race on earth. I was not without her presence a moment, though a short interval elapsed in which I saw no one. She saw me in my chamber, and she came to conduct me to wisdom which I had not known. As a dear spirit, I loved her; but when I found myself where I could see the body I once bore, and the countenances I was well acquainted with, it was a scene so wholly unexpected, that I was overpowered with joy, and my whole nature suffused with intense gratitude to that divine Being, whose name and mercies I had derided in my weakness and ignorance. The first object which I saw was my companion. She smiled and said, “Thomas, thou hast passed over the valley; fear no evil; I am with thee.” I could see what they were doing with my body, when I was conversing with her. It was not over an hour after I left it, till my spirit was conscious of all that was passing in the house. I saw the woman, who occupied the house, interested in preserving my features from discoloration, and bathing my mortal casement with wet cloths. She was not well satisfied with the physician. He wanted her to ask the minister to make a prayer, but she refused. He told her it was customary on such occasions to invite the minister to pray. She said “he would soon need something more, and I am not in a condition to pay him for his services.” He told her that he would settle all, if she desired. “I will not make a mock of the thing,” she replied; “but to tell you the truth, doctor, I do not believe in praying over the dead.” The next wonder, which I was permitted to see, was the spirit of my mother. She was a mother; I was now a spirit, and she came to me, and said: “My son, my child, I call you, my child. The storm of contention has passed. The angry tempest is now gone by. Here, my son, are the realities of happiness. I have labored to make you wise in the wisdom of nature, but alas! I was not successful, only in a degree. I have now an opportunity to conduct you where wisdom will be unfolded in measureless profusion.” So saying, she bade me follow her.