ching
tributes to those things that testify to her exalted position among the
members of their Family, that proclaim her as an example to their
followers, and as an object worthy of the admiration of all mankind.

I need only, at this juncture, quote the following passage from a Tablet
addressed by 'Abdu'l-Baha to the Holy Mother, the tone of which reveals
unmistakably the character of those ties that bound Him to so precious, so
devoted a sister:

'To my honoured and distinguished sister do thou convey the expression of
my heartfelt, my intense longing. Day and night she liveth in my
remembrance. I dare make no mention of the feelings which separation from
her has aroused in my heart, for whatever I should attempt to express in
writing will assuredly be effaced by the tears which such sentiments must
bring to my eyes.'

Dearly-beloved Greatest Holy Leaf! Through the mist of tears that fill my
eyes I can clearly see, as I pen these lines, thy noble figure before me,
and can recognize the serenity of thy kindly face. I can still gaze,
though the shadows of the grave separate us, into thy blue, love-deep
eyes, and can feel in its calm intensity, the immense love thou didst bear
for the Cause of thine Almighty Father, the attachment that bound thee to
the most lowly and insignificant among its followers, the warm affection
thou didst cherish for me in thine heart. The memory of the ineffable
beauty of thy smile shall ever continue to cheer and hearten me in the
thorny path I am destined to pursue. The remembrance of the touch of thine
hand shall spur me on to follow steadfastly in thy way. The sweet magic of
thy voice shall remind me, when the hour of adversity is at its darkest,
to hold fast to the rope thou didst seize so firmly all the days of thy
life.

Bear thou this my message to 'Abdu'l-Baha, thine exalted and
divinely-appointed Brother: If the Cause for which Baha'u'llah toiled and
laboured, for which Thou didst suffer years of agonizing sorrow, for the
sake of which streams of sacred blood have flowed, should, in the days to
come, encounter storms more severe than those it has already weathered, do
Thou continue to overshadow, with Thine all-encompassing care and wisdom,
Thy frail, Thy unworthy appointed child.

Intercede, O noble and well-favoured scion of a heavenly Father, for me no
less than for the toiling masses of thy ardent lovers, who have sworn
undying allegiance to thy memory, whose souls have been