Arsène Gautier.

Mrs. S…, of Cherbourg, transmitted to us the following account:

A sailor of the navy, named Arsène Gautier, returned to Cherbourg fifteen or sixteen years ago, very ill, in consequence of fevers acquired on the African coasts. He came to the house of one of my sons-in-law, whom he knew to be a friend of his brother, a captain of the merchant marine, who was expected within a few days at that port. We received him well and, as he was ill, my daughter J…, then fourteen or fifteen years old, asked me to call him to warm himself at our hearth and to take a tisane, which would not be given to him at his inn, until his brother arrived. This girl had compassionate cares toward him. He died upon reaching his home; afterward no one thought any more of the matter. His own name, written at the beginning of the spontaneous communication that we received on the 8th of March last, through my daughter J…, today a medium, had not reminded us of him. We recognized him only by the details into which he entered. He was a man of very limited intelligence and his life had been very difficult. Deprived of the affection of his own, he had resigned himself to everything. Here is his communication:

“Arsène Gautier. You forgot me long ago, my friend, but I have not lost sight of you since I left the Earth, because you are the only person, the only sympathetic Spirit I met in this land of sorrows. I loved you with all my strength, when you were but a child and had for me only a sentiment of pity, owing to the terrible infirmity that was to carry me off. I am happy… This was the first existence that God had given me. As my Spirit was still new and knew no other Spirit, I attached myself the more to you. I am happy and about to return to the Earth to advance toward the Lord. I have hope in my heart; the path, so difficult for some, seems to me broad and easy. A good beginning like my past existence is so great an encouragement! God will help me. You will also pray for me, that my trial so near may be as profitable to me as the other. Unfortunately I am not advanced, but I shall arrive.” We still had not the least idea of the Spirit who had given that communication, and we asked one another who it could be.

The Spirit answered:

“I am the brother of a former captain of Nantes, who was a friend of one of your relatives.” (This awakened our memory and the Spirit continued): “Thank you for remembering me. I lament only one thing, in glimpsing the trial that approaches: to be separated from you for some time. Farewell; I love you very much.

Arsène Gautier.”

Observation. – Having read such a communication at the Society of Paris, we asked one of our spiritual guides whether it was possible that that had been, as the Spirit said, his first incarnation. The guide answered:

“His first incarnation on Earth, it is possible; but, as a Spirit, no. In their first incarnations, Spirits find themselves in an almost unconscious state, and this one, although little advanced, is already far from his origin; but he is one of those good Spirits who have followed the path of good. His progress will be rapid, for he will have to divest himself only of his ignorance, nor to struggle against the bad tendencies of those who trod the path of evil.”