And under cover of departing day, slunk hunger stricken Doubt away, and with its departure came back once more the light of reason and passed within my door. Again strange shapes I did behold in clay, and one came forth and licked my hand; it was a DOG! And of the Potter I did ask, why sunk so low at birth was such a faithful soul? The Potter merely turned his wheel and there upon the further side of a beauteous vase I beheld a wondrous design, executed with great skill. It was a Temple to the Great and holding one of its main supports was a DOG! And at its base was carved these words in bold relief: "PILLAR OF FAITHFULNESS TO MAN I GAVE; DOG WAS THY NAME ON EARTH, BUT FAITHFULNESS IN HEAVEN." 82 Some of the shapes were large, some small, and some were rough and some were smooth, and as the Potter turned the last, I saw it was a MAN. Out of the earth had he been wrought, by experience he was taught; out of the VOICELESS came he here, into the VOICELESS will he once more pass. OH, THOU WONDROUS VESSEL, THOU! LEARN TO KNOW THAT GOD IS MAN. 83 Shaped as a man again a vase I saw; it looked so smooth, so bright and tinted with colors rare, All looked harmonious without, a beauteous vessel one would say, but to the Potter's knowing eye it was a FRAUD!! And taking a mallet in his hand he beat it back to dust again. And when I questioned why he had thus done, he paused and answered "It's not true." This was the life of one on earth who never had his second birth; all things wished for had he there BOUND TO GREED! A SLAVE TO FEAR!! Then the Potter a vase of modest form did show, but oh, how exquisite was it in comparison with the former ware. The Potter answered "THE SAME SOUL DWELLS HERE NOW IN PEACE SUPREME." THUS PASSED TO GREATER THINGS THAT SOUL OF YORE. 84 Then a beautiful vase of a maid I saw and by it standing in the gloom and shade was another of a man! Both were covered deep in dust; it was a LESSON THUNDERED BACK TO EARTH, how both of them from LUST HAD DIED and destroyed the purpose of their lives. And on a column reaching high these words burst forth in fiercest flame: "THE CURSE OF LIFE IS LUST OF SEX AND THE COMMITTING OF ACTS UNLAWFUL AND UNFIT." 85 And in the corner of the Potter's shed stood a mighty vase, in shape a BULL, and this was written o'er his head: PILLAR OF ENDURANCE cast in clay, thy name on earth is BULL; as a SIGN in the heaven I placed thee there that all on earth might read That when thou bathed in the Sun's bright rays the Spring Time would begin, So let men their trials with endurance meet and begin their Spring Time here, And let the Fruits of Life mature and be RIPENED FULL BY FALL. 86