Cupology: How to Be Entertaining Part 5

He has long been a kind and useful citizen, in precepts for the young, and an object lesson to many. A practical, reasoning benefactor of the race, as was the kindly Charles d.i.c.kens in the interest of child-life. So let us work. These times are infinitely larger, broader, and more full of promise to the world.

Our musical friend has left the shadows that were then gathering about her life. Gone into the more perfect light and life of her true inheritance, with G.o.d the loving parent of all human and divine joys.

CHAPTER VII.

SUPERSt.i.tION.

Do not hold to cowardice nor fear of death. The mad bull with the spade stands near by. Look into this strange cup of figures and graves. Some recent death and gloom has somehow filled your mind with renewed horror. You have also felt that you are about to die. Not a comfortable thought, madam, to be snuffed out of all earthly hopes! Abandon your cringing fears. Dread nothing. You must gain mastery over these crude forebodings, or you will be seriously handicapped. Most discouraging is fear.

The spirit of conscious life cannot be annihilated. Man is immortal. We should not doubt the word of G.o.d nor His prophecies.

Towers, trees, and large scenes are in evidence to aid you into a larger life career.

See you now the rubbish by the grave! enough to hopelessly entangle you. See the many wild animals in your path near the dung heap. Again the tears and the fears. You do not stand erect. Your ideas of the after-life seem to belie your professed creeds. One of your sincere friends and true helpers requests my candid service in your behalf as noting your vibrations. Thank you.

I will now proceed further with your sanction. Listen well: You belong to a cla.s.s who would send dinamic heart-beats to disturb your entire bodily system on the subject of death. Were it a necessity to perform even some slight operation, your death in this state might easily ensue from very fear.

Madam, how is one to overcome nature? I do not brag on my heroism as others do. I do fear death, the devil and his imps. I have often dreamed of him as pursuing me. There must be something to it, as my father believed likewise. I want the good time of life here. We don't know of the hereafter as promised.

Young man, your birth-right, your reason and education are at fault, if nineteen years of life's action has brought you no solace. You are not in life's true logic, nor is the profession of law well chosen for you by your relatives, neither is the ministry.

You now think you are in love with a good young girl. How will you comfort her when sorrows come to you? She, too, fears death and pain beyond the ordinary. A pair of simple young folks, indeed, both of you.

See, in this last cup the flame of destruction has come. You have both lost your heads. Death and loss have invaded the home. Everything is scattered about. No reason nor care remains. Indecision, crosses, and breaks are in promise. The good symbols are yet distant, though inviting you to their ample folds. You need first to be whipped into life's truer graces, as oft we are. Your parents were weak, sympathetic and selfish.

There were five of you in family. The figure in first cup was correct, though not an old man there, that is three years past!

and the one-armed man! that was long ago, too. Yes, but his letters yet lie near your family thoughts. Do not lose them, there is value attached. Yet there are imprisoned minds who do not know their real possessions. Now, these bars and unformed circles bespeak it. Behold the light on the obscure desk in the old square.

Oh yes, he was cheated out of his rights, years ago, yet father keeps the letters. There is nothing in them now.

Yes there is, several years hence, by the death of a child and a lost woman from near an ocean city. News sudden will come to you. Let your fancy concentrate a little on these letters.

How peculiar! There was one who died by water, that was a family connection.

You have now had three readings. Hold your true texts in mind.

Fear nothing but injustice. You will be tested. You will yet love the ocean, even the lightning's fierce flashes, though after sudden peril and loss you will make acquaintance with your higher self--not be so selfish nor material. Eight years of strange wanderings with indecision and betrayal by a false black hand, as shown you. Several gravestones and some sickness. After these experiences you will awaken from some of life's medley of dreams and fears. You will then meet a strong, true woman, who will dominate much of your n.o.bler, latent life, and aid you into position, if you do not mar your life's course in about three years. Your hand reads likewise. In this last cup of yours are spears and weeds, with knives and hidden crosses. Your dangers, as here read, are very many.

There are so many small lives filled with idleness, though some useful objects could oft be reached. Yours is largely among these. Yet I am pleased to state you could yet become a fine mind and life trainer by the age of forty, if wise enough to select your true helpers--good books. No one can work effectively alone. My mind has traveled with you up to these years, viewed the field of resource and its possibilities. You should win two helpful friends.

Only one comprehensive life-course reading has shown this entire evening. We do not gain the high art of holding the good which we gain, so profligate are we. Then we like to blame our friends or the fates for our poor judgment and our obtuseness.

Until we begin to work as though we belong to and believe in an immortal life, as an inheritance, the great human family cannot enjoy that useful cohesion that belongs to mankind as G.o.d designed life's distributives--our higher attributes.

Again, shun the man with the fire-arms and bottles. Behold the weapons. The dark pit lies near him with many cross-bars, cages and clouds. An evil combination--_imprisonment_, though your sunlight has only been dimmed. If so, your will, patient labor and strong desire can yet win for you. The flag of victory is now so limp. This fear of kindly death or h.e.l.l is the enemy of mankind. Do not again thus cringe to this fair angel of life to all men eventually. You can live to old age and follow streams, fishing as pastime. This old man symbolizes your dear self now calmed in mind--not so dead as in youth. So, hold your true texts for ready action, and become a brave man to enjoy the true life here promised to you.

If we have stimulated in any heart some lofty resolves, which will unfold their fragrance for other lives, we are then well repaid, as trusting in the Infinite All Good.

A pilgrim on the path.

CLARA.

[Ill.u.s.tration: calligraphy flourish 3]

CUPOLOGY.

_Significance similar to Psychic Readings, Clairvoyant Symbols, or Dreams_.

If high up in the cup--Early consummation.

If chained to the bottom--Delayed desires.

Uncle Sam--American matters. Statesmanship--Waving flags; Hopeful signs.

Arm--Proffered aid Accordion--Primitive talent Apples--Health, Knowledge Atlas--Sight, Seeing Bats--Moral blindness Bees--Thrift Bed--Illness or need of rest Birds--News, Singing, Joys Bridge--Some event in life Broom--Industry Bread--To be sated Cooks--Learning Cake--Luxury Cats--Jealousies Children--Good omen Cavern--Near danger Circles--Fine realizations Cow--Good nutriment Crescent--Love token Cattle--Thrift Children at play--Universal good Crosses--Some trials Chair--To preside Chicks--Cares Chickens--Gains Crowing c.o.c.k--Ambitious, Victory Crows--Intrigues Ditch--Dangers ahead Dogs--Friends Door--Some opening Dots--Letters, Papers, News Ears--Listen well Elephant--Some imposition Eggs--Gains Eyes--To observe Feet--Traveler Feet, bare--Poverty Fish--Money, Gains Fish, headless--Losses Flowers--Joy, Pleasure Floods--Sickness, Sorrow Fountain--Public benefit Fruit--Health Forests--Nature loving Fox--Cunning Hearts--Artistic love of Unity, Friends, Home Hand--Friendship Horse--Much news, Friend Horse, vicious--Angry friend Houses--Home building Jewel-Box--Wealth Jumping--Vitativeness Lock and Keys--To be put in trust Lion--Moral courage Ledger--In accounts Lighted Lamp--Great success Lock--A secret Moon--Honors Monkeys--Evolution--Darwin Medals--Diplomas News-Boys--Public excitement Nuts--Problems Oxen--Patient toil Palms--Restful victory Palm-Trees--Tropical scenes Park--Benevolence Platform--Oration Pitcher--To receive Public seats--People's joy Quills--Old parchments Rats--Thieving Ring--Contract Near heart, Wedding With child or flowers, Bliss Road--An outlook Rabbit--Timidity, Cowardice Rainbow--Sublime promise Saw or Scissors--Vexations Scales--Love of justice Star--Hope, Promise Squares--Realizations Sunlight--Vital life, Health Ships--Commerce Sinking Ships--Perils and loss Spring--Wisdom, Peace Snake--Enmity, Lies Staff--Aid Sofa--Social or Courtship Spiders, or-- Scorpions--Illness, Venom Sky-scenes--Sublimity and Peace Tiger--Onslaught Tall Shaft--Ill.u.s.trious dead Table Set--Feasting Trees--Lofty thoughts Tower--Strength Urns--Veneration, Retrospection Wells--Wisdom and drawing forth good Wheat--Plenty Whirlwind--Distraction Wavy lines--Vexations Weeds--Petty trials Window--In a new light Monks, Nuns, Priests or Ministers--betoken sectarian controversies Scattered objects--Lack of harmony and no propitious time for action

Keep the mind well centered in reading. Thus only will the transmitting powers of soul expand the descriptive faculties.

[Ill.u.s.tration: calligraphy flourish 4]

GIRLHOOD.

[AMELIA E. BARR.]

An exquisite incompleteness, The theme of a song unset; A waft in the shuttle of life; A bud with the dew still wet; The dawn of a day uncertain; The delicate bloom of fruit; The plant with some leaves unfolded, The rest asleep at the root.

POPULAR TOASTS.

[Ill.u.s.tration: American flag]

_Our Flag:_ The beautiful banner that represents the precious _mettle_ of America.

OUR COUNTRY'S EMBLEM.

The Lily of France may fade, The Thistle and Shamrock wither, The Oak of England may decay, But the Stars shine on forever.

The standard of Freedom floats proudly on high, It's the bright waving Banner of Light, Fair symbol of Liberty born of the sky, True emblem of Union and Might.

WEBSTER'S MOTTO.

Liberty and Union, now and forever, one and inseparable.

SHIP OF STATE.