hers, with two exceptions, were to young men,
and five of these were addressed to blind young men, three having found
the true Light of this Day.

"The first supplication by a Japanese in Japan to 'Abdu'l-Baha, was sent
July, 1915 from a young student(12) in Tokyo who wrote his supplication in
Japanese on a scroll. The following is the translation: 'O my Master
'Abdu'l-Baha!... Although I am a base and poor youth in this world, I have
been awakened and bathed in the ocean of Thy mercy and am so happy that I
pity the king and the prince who are wandering about in the dream of
temporal variance. Accept, O Master, my deep thankfulness from the bottom
of the heart. I am very sorry though, when I think of our fellow men who
take no thought of real happiness and do not rely upon the warm hand of
Thy love. O my Lord, water me forever from the fountain of Thy mercy; I
will never refuse Thy command whatsoever it may be. Forgive my sins and
allow me to awaken my fellow men.'

"In February 1917 a reply to this supplication was received in Japan from
'Abdu'l-Baha. It had come in the contents of a letter from 'Abdu'l-Baha's
secretary and had been passed by the censor. This was the first Tablet
received addressed to a Japanese resident in Japan and is the first herein
published.

"The second supplication to 'Abdu'l-Baha was sent September, 1916 by a
blind young Japanese(13) who wrote in Esperanto. After receiving a reply
from 'Abdu'l-Baha, the second Tablet herein published, he wrote again
supplicating in English. The following words are a portion of his
supplication: 'O my 'Abdu'l-Baha whose image so calm and peaceful I
dreamed of and it cannot be effaced from my heart; whose Name makes my
withered heart fresh and strong and who makes the fountain of love and
light spring up in the bottom of my heart whenever I think of Thee. Make
my heart to be always thirsty for the Fountain of Life. Make me strong
enough to be able steadily to hold Thy torch of love firm and high. I
confess to Thee that my heart sometimes withers like a flower in the day
of summer, and loses its whole strength, nevertheless, my beloved Lord,
give to me power that I can throw away every kind of prejudice and
ignorance from my heart. Make my heart as pure and fresh as green grass of
the spring pastures and let my soul grow more and more by Thy shower of
Mercy!' In answer to this blind young man's supplication, 'Abdu'l-Baha
revealed a Tablet which is the third pub