Chapter 4

ONE YEAR LATER.

Being patient and obliging, said a young lady, has cheated me out of my rights so many times. I was to have a reading that night at the home of Mrs. M. C. for I served with hopes and glad expectations into each dainty cup of aromatic coffee that I poured, yet, as usual, did not get my reading. Never have. I had either palm reading, cup or solar biology forecast, though promised each. Oh, I was so disappointed, for it was my desire to learn your special, catchy methods, and to note the sensations cast upon me as under the magic spell. I cannot formulate the things you do, though my friends praise me unstintingly.

You shall not be longer denied, said the adept. Get a cup of coffee or tea, if not too coarse in leaves, after we lunch. I will read them, as we can be alone with our atmospheric thought advisers and our higher selves. I know that your life and labors will abound in good. Many excellent things await your efforts, yet do not now think that my auto thoughts will be my full guides.

Oh, thank you. How nice the conditions are to be alone with one's future expectations. No one can then pervert what is promised. I am now most expectant, am glad I have waited for this propitious time. I love this little room with its dainty furnishings.

FIRST READING.

You possess fine spiritual gifts; are morally high-toned; you build many castles--just see the _mountains_ and _balloons_, the _tower_ in the distance. You could study palmistry and occult laws to fine advantage. It has become so respectable, too, you know. Yet few do excel, though many attempts are made. Try it, you are very susceptible to every personality; you have a very retentive memory with large formative powers. Just the requisites with your mentality for doing good to poor humanity. As a wise teacher you could excel.

SECOND CUP.

Flurries of wind and storms--confusion in your home and heart-- _crooked lines_ with a _crude cross_ and a _sodden log_, out of which will rise a _broken anchor_--lost hopes or wishes. Now, an ugly thing is discerned. See the _spitting_ of _cats_ and the _angry dog_. That is some disagreeable quarrel between friends of yours. A gentleman will pass through cruel loss and change. Nothing good is yet promised to present wishes. _Serpents_ are lying low in the grass--see their heads, you will suffer thereby--your head now lays low in some severe illness. Fate is silent and sad for a time, as in mourning for the sorrows of the good and true. See you the _shaft_, draped like a funeral pall across the cup? You are also to bury a friend, a worthy minister. The people mourn. Now let us invoke the kindly powers to a solution of the many evils cast by contending conditions of jealousies and spite. Let your soul be possessed and purified, for now I know that you are truly one of the chosen few who are tried by the fierce fires and floods of life. This is a retrospective day for your soul--growth beyond your realization of [sentence is unfinished].

FINAL INFLOW.

A seriousness had fallen over both of them as touching on the live issues of frail, human hopes and fears, so that each felt the need of that great unseen, yet ever-living power divine. What a strange cup-reading it was in the end! Wonderful to both of them, yet they somehow tarried, as though fearing to reveal the certainty chapters, as you now know the third is designated, yet the soul was sated.

Wealth, in some physical form, I find is the great desire, more even than love or friendship, so that I repeat the golden words of the poet, though knowing the need of money for worthy purposes. There will be for us just enough of the pure coin, not this "God of greed."

THE GOLDEN GOD.

[THOMAS HOOD.]

Gold! gold! gold! gold! Bright and yellow, hard and cold; Molten, graven, hammered and rolled; Heavy to get and light to hold; Hoarded, bartered, bought and sold, Stolen, borrowed, squandered, doled; Spurned by the young, but hugged by the old To the very verge of church-yard mould, Price of many a crime untold; Gold! gold! gold! gold!

Then said the psychometrist: Now, look with me into this cup. Let us, together, trace the final symbols, now that we are united as true friends.

The form of a woman--see her head and her garments blown forward, the wind is at her back. She goes now with some strong, public tide. That is well. In this clear field there is recognition for you. An _electric street light_--that, too, is some public good in process for your sharing;--and here is like a flowing stream. The mountains are, also, again in view. Each effort holds in a life-reading like this. Some rubbish before reaching the heights.

But look! Oh, behold the _moon_ behind the hills. See, it is surely beginning to rise. Let your mind now concentrate on its sublime glory. It is the best kind of promise. Honors await yourself and another member of your family. A full moon signifies that other events have poured their treasures into conditions which have required time. Your moon is not yet over the full scenes of your life. The sunrise, too, appears! How sublime! Here is the stout man--your future husband with a child at his side. A man of affairs, with the _triangle_ and a _ship_ of _state_, and here are the roses growing. You will be greatly beloved. The _key_ and the _ring_ are in the bottom of the cup. You will become equal to your high social duties as mistress of the _castle_, and mother of two well endowed children, who will bless and survive you. The latter years of your life will be the most richly frought. See, the bottom of the third cup, also, has the clear streams.

I shall expect you to wed with this stout, dark complexioned man, whose wife lies in the little grave that was in the second toss of the cup. We can now join the parts fittingly together, by noting first, second and this final. We may now attach other straying symbols as holding them in mind.

Thank you, ah, so much. I have gained real knowledge from this very interesting object-lesson reading, which stimulates my higher mental action with courage and purpose. Some things delineated I now believe as true. The first _cups_ were a veritable marvel, yet too sadly comprehensive. I am greatly indebted to you for this most infatuating pleasure, proving the old adage, that the last do sometimes come first, by their patience. We all need just such talks sometimes. These are beyond the mere realms of pastime, said the reader, who was then inspired of God.

HALLOWEEN REVELATIONS.

THE ENERGETIC MAN OF HIGH PURPOSE POLITICALLY.

Here is an important cup. A long bridge. You are now in comprehensive touch with a subject-matter that ought to lead you with your family into ease and prominence. Have patient care after you have reached the seeming goal, for, see here still the danger signal from the broken cart of past obstruction with the cross-ties. Do not retreat in dismay. A bridge is of good significance unless you fall between, or it is broken while you are facing it or are thereon. You must be strong. In your trials, being magnetic, your forces will bring help to aid you by mental suggestions.

But see this elephant, tossing about at the end of the bridge-- some imposition upon your family. See, the house being in touch, you will lose by the elephant, as letters with many lines mean vexation--strayed or stolen letters--and dead birds are on the ground. The rabbit is some coward. Do not mind this, you will yet gain significant prestige by the aid of an old man on the new path. See him nearing the _trees_ in luxurious foliage--a true friend.

Now we sum up gains. You have striven. See the three rings or wreaths, the sunburst, and the distant tower clearly defined in the light. Victory over loss and cowardice of friends. You are happy and secure.

The summing up represents the home several years hence. Many scattered objects have cleared away the defeats belonging to your life, in order to round it out symmetrically. There is good cheer. Think of the toiling masses as becomes a true disciple of the Christ. You will be in position to manifest to the world some vital principle. Be not then enslaved by time-serving, selfish man. Stand by the flag of your nation in honest and worth. Your star shines high.

WOMAN OUT OF THE SHADOWS.

FACTS FORETOLD.

Many streams--mental changes. Though here is a great symbol, that of the ancients--the serpent--being wisdom. This one is of different significance. See how its long body has taken up space. The tail is three-forked and downward, the head being turned around, sharpened like a shepherd's crook, lower than the body. Deception--intrigue--house of sickness--see the crosses and losses? The one tossing such a cup has been assailed in various ways. Look now well to the above outlines which still hold a splendid promise. Arches overhead--cannot be vanquished.

SYMBOLS FOR A JUDGESHIP.

FATEFUL SPITE-LINES WITH WOMAN.

Appearances do oft deceive, good reader, though the cup figures hit my case correctly, beyond words of mine, as to past and some present events. May the future be as well verified, and I somehow believe it will be. You say the flame is now on after twenty-two long years of defeat; I also cross the water often, as you read, am soon to locate in a large eastern city. May this flame you describe possess my mind and heart as now.

And your conscience, sir, the Holy Spirit within the higher self. Your symbols urge you to noble deeds, yet you will never be blessed by woman's love, nor aid. Do you see the standing well-poised form of a woman? Rising power--creative force. See she has her feet firm on the back of the monster snake. You will soon become master of your higher destiny. I feel inspired by a mighty impulse. You will stand before many people--see the tall, straight ladder of fame--I should say that you are holding some still-cherished, mighty plans, despite many of life's defeats.

Now, as this is all free play, will you please tell me if this leading figure defines any of your conditions truthfully, as to politics? You deeply impress me with the ideas of large affairs.

Will see you later, madam.

Thank you cordially.