0.0 – Christian Science Publication Contents

               VOICES NOT OUR OWN 

 1	    Many peculiar circumstances and events connected
  	with my childhood throng the chambers of memory. 
 3	For some twelve months, when I was about eight years
  	old, I repeatedly heard a voice, calling me distinctly by
  	name, three times, in an ascending scale. I thought this
 6	was my mother's voice, and sometimes went to her, be-
  	seeching her to tell me what she wanted. Her answer was
  	always, "Nothing, child!  What do you mean?" Then
 9	I would say, "Mother, who did call me?  I heard some-
  	body call Mary, three times!" This continued until I
  	grew discouraged, and my mother was perplexed and
12	anxious. 
  	    One day, when my cousin, Mehitable Huntoon, was
  	visiting us, and I sat in a little chair by her side, in the
15	same room with grandmother, — the call again came, so
  	loud that Mehitable heard it, though I had ceased to
  	notice it. Greatly surprised, my cousin turned to me and
18	said, "Your mother is calling you!" but I answered not,
  	till again the same call was thrice repeated. Mehitable
  	then said sharply, "Why don't you go? your mother is
21	calling you!" I then left the room, went to my mother,
  	and once more asked her if she had summoned me? She
  	answered as always before. Then I earnestly declared
24	my cousin had heard the voice, and said that mother
 
  
  Retrospection and Introspection --- Voices Not Our Own               9


 1	wanted me. Accordingly s...he returned with me to grand-
  	mother's room, and led my cousin into an adjoining apart-
 3	ment. The door was ajar, and I listened with bated
  	breath. Mother told Mehitable all about this mysterious
  	voice, and asked if she really did hear Mary's name pro-
 6	nounced in audible tones. My cousin answered quickly,
  	and emphasized her affirmation. 
  	    That night, before going to rest, my mother read to me
 9	the Scriptural narrative of little Samuel, and bade me,
  	when the voice called again, to reply as he did, "Speak,
  	Lord; for Thy servant heareth." The voice came; but
12	I was afraid, and did not answer. Afterward I wept, and
  	prayed that God would forgive me, resolving to do, next
  	time, as my mother had bidden me. When the call came
15	again I did answer, in the words of Samuel, but never
  	again to the material senses was that mysterious call
  	repeated.

18	     Is it not much that I may,
  	   With naught my spirit's breathings to control,
  	 And feel His presence in the vast and dim
21	   And whispering woods, where dying thunders roll
  	 From the far cataracts?  Shall I not rejoice
  	 That I have learned at last to know His voice
24	   From man's? — I will rejoice!  My soaring soul
  	 Now hath redeemed her birthright of the day,
  	 And won, through clouds, to Him, her own unfettered way!  
27	                                                                 — MRS. HEMANS
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