“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 class 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 God in the beginning.  Let me read you a few extracts, principally 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.’