The Seen and the Unseen 



narrations which quite defies transla- 

 tion into common speech. You could 

 not tell anyone else all they say to you 

 if you tried each one of all the languages 

 heard at the abandoned construction 

 of the tower of Babel. Their presence 

 may be revealed to you by the merest 

 whisperings, but if your heart be 

 properly attuned its strings will vibrate 

 instantly in sure response. We have 

 always these dear house-guests with 

 us, and of course they help to drive 

 away the wicked little bogie-men in 

 blue who sometimes gain admission 

 even into the happiest of lives. 



There is another mystery about it 

 all: these spirits speak only of the 

 absent. Let any one of those they 

 know and recognize appear in person, 

 and they fly away. It is only after a 

 familiar face is gone that these friendly 

 little folk come out and chat. They 

 may perch upon the mantel over the 

 fireplace. They may be seen some- 

 times around the book-shelves or the 



[17] 



