Page Content (OCR)
It was a wonderful day when we knew that we could now put up a small building which would contain one fair-sized room where | could talk with my visitors in inclement weather, and a smaller room for a proper office. We knew of a contractor in a small city about twenty-five miles distant who was honest and dependable, and we got in touch with him. The kitchen unit had been built entirely by ourselves and our good friends, some of whom had been my pupils in the instruction of universal law for many years. That first small unit will always mean a great deal to me because of the friendship and loyalty that made its achievement possible. Now we could have a real contractor! He proved to be a very fine man and became interested in my work. The little cottage was quickly completed. We had enough money left to furnish it in attractive comfort. And here were two small lavatories with a shower between! Although we had no electricity until just a few weeks since the time of this writing, the water ran through the pipes, and what matter if it were cold?and a mere trickle! The long wait for the electricity which now gives us heat and has made our candles and kerosene lamps obsolete was just one more delight, and worth waiting for. While we were working our way toward our present comfort, we managed to support quite a bit of animal life in the style to which it was accustomed. These included two dogs and six cats, not to mention frequent well-conducted visits from their fellow creature, the skunk. These much maligned animals are disposed to be social and amiable when not antagonized, and they know friends when they see them. They drink milk from the cats? bowls and share meat with the dogs, seldom under protest from any animal. Occasionally, when one of the dogs decides to make an issue of it and rushes the interloper, yapping loudly, Mr. Skunk merely retires up the mountain side with grace and some speed, the upraised tail proving nothing at all. Between lecture engagements which took me into the Middle West, New York and Canada, | worked on the premises in every capacity for which | was fitted, stopping only to talk to my friends and the many strangers who came to see me. Although | had lecture engagements scheduled for the East Coast, and in England, while in Canada | became very fatigued and lost my voice. The lectures were very close together and | seem unable to learn how | can save my strength when discussing the subjects closest to my heart. In addition to the formal lectures, many of my listeners naturally wanted to ask questions later. Somehow, | could not heed what | knew to be good advice in respect to leaving the lecture hail before these good people could get at me! As a result, | couldn?t talk any more, and my doctor ordered cancellation of both the Eastern and the English lecture engagements, and a complete rest for at least six months. This edict was a great disappointment to me for obvious reasons, but one to which | was forced to bow. Soon after my return to the mountains | love, | regained my voice and at least insisted on using it when visitors arrived. | fear | must be a very troublesome proposition to those who try to make me behave with what they call some sense.? Probably | simply have none. In any case, whatever | may spend of myself in giving as | can to those who have sought me out, | know that | receive far more in many ways.