Spirit-Arrows

Autumn was in the air in Ontario! The breeze tasted crisp and clean to Jim as he ran across his Family's farmland to the edge of the field. His short legs scrambled up the fence, and he balanced himself carefully on the top.

Before him the railroad track stretched out forever across the land. The birds called loudly as they wheeled and swooped, winging their way south before the sun-warmed winds turned freezing and brought snow.

In the distance, a faint clack-clacking could be heard. It grew louder, and louder, and every once in a while, Jim could hear the howl of a train whistle. He looked far down the track and saw a grand puff of smoke, and finally the train came into view.

Such a long and handsome train! Jim watched as car after car passed by -- many more cars than he could count.

Suddenly, his eye was drawn to a figure in flowing, white robes. To Jim’s delight, the man in the robes began smiling and waving at him! In his excitement, Jim toppled right off of the fence!

That young boy was Alfred James Loft, a Mohawk Indian, and I’m sure that you've guessed who that man in the long robes was! ’Abdu'l-Bahà...

That September afternoon was Jim’s earliest memory - perhaps like you remember your grandmother's kitchen, or the first day at school. But isn't it strange to think that Jim didn’t even know about the Baha’i Faith until he was grown up and married, with children of his own, and his wife Melba became a Baha’i.

Although he had moved away from his Tyendanaga, Ontario home before he became a Baha’i, Jim returned there at Shoghi Effendi's request to

Source: Baha'i Stories for Children (https://bahaistoriesforchildren.blogspot.com/2022/11/spirit-arrows.html).

Various. *Baha'i Stories for Children*. https://bahaistoriesforchildren.blogspot.com/2022/11/spirit-arrows.html