ach readily from likenesses I had seen on earth.

Lord Byron's countenance is much handsomer and more spiritualized in
expression than any portrait of him extant. I noticed that the deformity
of his foot, which had been a severe affliction to him on earth, was no
longer apparent.

Scott looked as good and as jovial as ever, and Tom Moore, the very pink
of perfection and elegance.

As for the Countess, when I last saw her on earth I thought her
incomparable. But whether it was through the cosmetic influences of the
spirit air, or from other causes, she had now become bewitchingly
beautiful.

After we had conversed awhile on general topics and I had answered their
questions in regard to the changes which had occurred in certain
terrestrial localities with which, they were familiar, the Countess
invited us out to survey the landscape from her balcony.

The view from this point was extremely romantic. Just beyond the spacious
park extended a lovely lake, whose waters were of a rich golden-green
color. Upon its limpid bosom several gondolas floated, and gay parties
waved their handkerchiefs to us from beneath the silken hangings as they
passed.

"Countess," said I, after my eye had surveyed the fine landscape and
noble residence, "I am but a wandering Bohemian, and you must excuse my
audacity if I ask how it, is possible that in this "world of shadows" you
have surrounded yourself by so much that is beautiful and substantial?
You could not bring your title and your lands with you from earth. Your
jewels and costly raiment you must have left behind; then whence comes
all this wealth and luxury?"

The Countess smiled. "Ah," said she, roguishly, "you did not study your
Bible lesson well if you did not learn that you could 'lay up treasures
in heaven.' Why, all the time I was living on earth I had friends working
for me--admirers who had been drawing interest from my youthful talent
and had laid it up to my account. We go upon the tithe system here, and
'render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's."

She told me that works of interest which are published on earth are
reproduced in the spirit world and the author credited with a tithe of
what accrues from them.

Byron, Scott, and Moore have also been doing double duty while on earth,
and have been recompensed for their industry in the spirit world.

Byron, she privately informed me, had been united to the Mary of his
early love, and under her sweet womanly influen