"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; * * * and a little child shall lead them. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea."--_Isaiah 11:6-9._
The next day Paulus with his two visitors walked about the city. He described and explained the many deeply interesting scenes, and answered the numerous questions directed to him. The foreigners did not fail to note the wonderful advances made in the arts and sciences and their practical application to everyday affairs. They had thought their own country not behind in improvements, but here their own were far surpa.s.sed.
"We will ride out on the ether-line to one of our schools," remarked Paulus. "You will be pleased with the children."
"This is an improvement on electricity," said their director, as seated in an elegant car, they were carried through the city without noise or jostle. "This line is rather crude yet. I was reading in the newspaper the other day that some very important improvements were shortly to be made. You have noticed, ere this, our method of heating and lighting.
Don"t you think it is an advancement on the old way?"
"It certainly is, though we use some steam and considerable electricity yet in our country."
"I suppose so--but here we are."
Although nothing in the city was cramped or crowded for room, the place where they now alighted was planned on an unusually large scale. Immense buildings stood upon a large tract of land, planted with trees, gra.s.s, and flowers. Here were breathing room and playground. A number of streams of clear water flowed through the grounds, and small ponds were alive with fish and swimming birds. Fountains played, and statues of marble gleamed through the foliage.
"See, what is that?" exclaimed Remand, as he caught sight of a huge, s.h.a.ggy beast lying under a tree.
"Just a brown bear," said Paulus. "We have some lions and few of the rarest animals on these grounds--but I am forgetting that these scenes must be strange to you. In Poland you have not wholly shaken off the old world and its way. It takes time of course."
"Well," replied Remand, "although the enmity between man and beast is nearly gone, we have not yet adopted bears and lions as pets for our children to play with."
"Well, we have, you perceive."
A bevy of children came dancing through the grounds. Beautiful children they were, full of life and gladness. They caught sight of bruin, stretched under the tree, and with a shout they stormed him. The animal saw them coming, and extending himself at full length on the ground, seemed to enjoy the children"s tumbling over his s.h.a.ggy sides. When they patted him on the head and stroked his nose, he licked their hands.
"We haven"t reached quite that far," remarked the king.
"Neither do we behold such sights," added his companion, as he pointed to a tiger crouching on the gra.s.s, and gazing with no evil intention at a lamb quietly feeding by.
"You will in time," said Paulus. "The earth is being filled with the knowledge of G.o.d. Hate, envy, and destruction are fast disappearing, and you see the natural results: the wolf lying down with the lamb, and children playing with once savage beasts. In this way, Satan is being bound, and the whole earth will soon be released from his power."
They came to another group of children, gathered on the sh.o.r.e of a small lake, who were eagerly listening to a man in their midst.
"We will hear what the lesson is today," said Paulus, and they went up to the group. The instructor was holding up a flower which he had plucked from the margin of the water, and was ill.u.s.trating some peculiarity of vegetable formation to the cla.s.s.
"It is botany today," said Paulus. "I hoped that it would be his favorite theme."
"And what is that?"
"The improvements on these grounds are the work of his planning and supervision, and he delights to give lessons on earth and water formations. He often sets a cla.s.s to digging trenches and waterways. He says that he learned all about such things when he went to school, meaning when he was on the earth before."
"Is he a resurrected being?" asked Remand in a low voice.
"He is," was the reply. "Many of our instructors are. You will understand without argument the advantages they have over others."
"Certainly, certainly."
"I see he is through with the recitation. Let us speak to him."
As they came up, the children recognized them with a smile and a salute, and the instructor said:
"Welcome, brothers, welcome, Brother Paulus."
"You are dismissed. Go to your next lesson," he said to the children, and they quietly walked away.
"Now," said he, "I have some leisure. Will you all come with me into the reading room? I have something to show you, Paulus, and it may interest our visitors."
"Need we no introduction?" asked the king, as they followed into a large building.
"Not at all. He knows who you are."
The reading room was a compartment beautifully adorned and furnished. It was filled with tables, chairs, bookracks, etc. Hundreds of children were there reading. Perfect order reigned, though no overseers or watchers were seen. The three followed the instructor into a smaller room, seemingly arranged for private use. Chairs were placed, and then he opened a newspaper which he spread on the table.
"Have you seen the last edition of today"s paper?"
None of them had.
"Well, I found something here of more than usual interest. It seems that some workmen, excavating for a building, came across the ruins of a nineteenth century city. In a cavity in a stone they found some coins of that period, also a number of newspapers. It was a common practice in those days to imbed such things in the corner stones of buildings.
Extracts from those papers are reproduced here, and they are of interest to the children of today in showing the condition of the world when under the influence of that fallen spirit who rebelled against G.o.d in the beginning. Let me read you a few extracts, princ.i.p.ally headings only."
""Yesterday this city was visited by a most destructive fire. One-half of the business part was swept away. Thousands of dollars of property were lost, and it is supposed that about fifty persons have perished in the flames."
""The great strike. Thousands of workmen out of employment. Children crying for bread. Mobs march through the streets, defying the police, and demolishing property. The governor calls out the state militia."
"Here is another:
""War! War! England, Germany, France, Russia and the United States are preparing!"
"Yes, you have read your histories. You know all about that. What do you think of this?"
""Millions of the people"s money have been expended by those in office to purchase votes. A set of corrupt political bosses rule the nation."
"Still another:
""A gang of tramps capture a train--""
The reader did not finish, but laid the paper down and looked out of the open door. He did not speak for some time; then turning, said:
"Brothers, thank G.o.d that you live in the Millennium of the world. My heart grows sick when my mind reverts back to the scenes of long ago. I pa.s.sed through some of them. I learned my lessons in a hard school; but G.o.d has been good to me. He has known me all along, and has given me just what I needed. Shall we visit the buildings? Shall we see the children who grow up without sin unto salvation? Come with me."
From room to room, from building to building, they went. Children, children, everywhere--bright, beautiful children. Oh, it was a grand sight! Hark! They sing--a thousand voices; and such music!
"Are there special visitors today?" asked Paulus.
"Yes; come let us go outside and see them."
They stepped out on to a portico where they could see the throng of children standing on a large lawn outside. They were singing a song of welcome, and through the trees could be seen three men approaching. The children made way for them, and they walked through towards the building.