ifficult to undertake this service, even harder to
succeed in it. I hope that thou wilt acquit thyself well in this most
important of tasks, and successfully carry the day, and become an ensign
of God's abounding grace; that these children, reared one and all in the
holy Teachings, will develop natures like unto the sweet airs that blow
across the gardens of the All-Glorious, and will waft their fragrance
around the world.

("Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha", Sec. 106, pp.133-34) [56]

"57: Blessed art thou, since thou art engaged in rendering a service which
will..."

Blessed art thou, since thou art engaged in rendering a service which will
make thy face to shine in the Abha Kingdom, and that is the education and
training of children. If one should, in the right way, teach and train the
children, he will be performing a service than which none is greater at
the sacred Threshold. According to what we have heard, you are succeeding
in this. You must, however, struggle unceasingly to perfect yourself and
win ever higher achievements.

At all times, I implore Almighty God to make you the means of illuminating
the minds of those children, of bringing their hearts to life and
sanctifying their souls.

(From a Tablet--translated from the Persian) [57]

"58: It is the hope of 'Abdu'l-Baha that those youthful souls in the..."

It is the hope of 'Abdu'l-Baha that those youthful souls in the schoolroom
of the deeper knowledge will be tended by one who traineth them to love.
May they all, throughout the reaches of the spirit, learn well of the
hidden mysteries; so well that in the Kingdom of All-Glorious, each one of
them, even as a nightingale endowed with speech, will cry out the secrets
of the Heavenly Realm, and like unto a longing lover pour forth his sore
need and utter want of the Beloved.

("Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha", Sec. 107, p. 134) [58]

"59: O thou handmaid of God!..."

O thou handmaid of God!

Do thou establish a heavenly school and be thou a teacher in that house of
learning. Educate the children in the things of God; and, even as pearls,
rear them in the heart of the shell of divine guidance.

Strive thou with heart and soul; see to it that the children are raised up
to embody the highest perfections of humankind, to such a degree that
every one of them will be trained in the use of the mind, in acquiring
knowledge, in humility and lowliness, in