urselves. Presently he rose, and said: "You
are dear to me. I want to do something for you! I cannot cook for you (he
had previously seen us busy in the kitchen) but here is something for your
fund." He went round the circle to each, with a beautiful smile, shaking
hands with all, and giving the Baha'i greeting: "Allah'u'Abha!"

Later on he walked in the village, and many poor children came to him, and
mothers with sick babies and men out of work. He spoke to them all,
through an interpreter. At tea-time other friends joined us. 'Abdu'l-Baha
liked the cottage garden at Vanners, the little orchard and the roses. He
said: "This is like a Persian garden. The air is very pure."

On leaving for London he presented every one with a purple heartsease from
the garden, and said again and again: "Good-bye" in English.

On the 28th September, 'Abdu'l-Baha again visited Vanners, the little farm
house on the old royal manor that dates back to the time of Edward II. He
motored down from London and stayed over night, returning on the evening
of the second day.

'Abdu'l-Baha was much struck during the drive by two detachments of Boy
Scouts tramping the road. When told of the Scouts' motto, "Be Prepared,"
and that an act of kindness each day is one of their laws and that some of
these boys had put out a fire and assisted at a recent railway accident,
he said. "This makes me very happy."

Arriving at Vanners, he found a large, strangely mixed crowd, assembled
about the gate to welcome him, from the quite poor to the wealthy who had
motored over from their country places. A great number followed him and as
many as could do so pressed into the garden and sat down around him. The
silence was most impressive. The same attention and eagerness to hear was
noticed among the people each time 'Abdu'l-Baha appeared in the village.

After expressing his joy at being with them, he began to speak to the
little group in answer to a question about the elaborate civilization of
the West.

THE CAPTIVITY OF MAN

'Abdu'l-Baha said:--"Luxuries cut off the freedom of communication. One who
is imprisoned by desires is always unhappy; the children of the Kingdom
have unchained themselves from their desires. Break all fetters and seek
for spiritual joy and enlightenment; then, though you walk on this earth,
you will perceive yourselves to be within the divine horizon. To man alone
is this possible. When we look about us we see every other creat