The Voice from the Top of the Stairs

*A retelling for children, based on **Portals to Freedom** by Howard Colby Ives (George Ronald, 1937).*

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A man named Howard Colby Ives wrote down this story about 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His visit to America.

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It was late at night, and a car was bringing 'Abdu'l-Bahá home. It had been a very tiring day. That evening He had spoken at a gathering with great energy.

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In the car, He grew very, very weary. He relaxed and became so weak and still that the friends with Him were frightened. When they got to the house, they almost had to carry Him inside and up to His room.

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The friends waited downstairs, worried about Him.

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But within fifteen minutes, they heard 'Abdu'l-Bahá's voice ringing through the whole house. He was calling for His secretary. Ives wrote that His voice had "even more than its usual energy and power." Then 'Abdu'l-Bahá came to the top of the stairs, smiling and strong, just as He always was.

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How could this be? Ives believed the answer was in something 'Abdu'l-Bahá Himself had said about His long journey to America: "At certain times the spirit must assist the body."

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*This is a retelling for children. For the fuller account, see ["The Strength That Came from Elsewhere"](/stories/pf-the-strength-that-came-from-elsewhere).*

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