“O thou who art honored and dear!...”

O thou who art honored and dear!

Thy letter was received and was the source of pleasure, for thou hast not forgotten this imprisoned one and remembered Acca. Although thy days here were few, as they were pleasant, they will count as years; a real intimacy between thee and all the family was formed which will not be forgotten in the passing of the years.

I desire of God that thou wilt be heavenly, angelic and spiritual; and as a torch, become illumined with the love of God in the kingdom of existence.

In regard to the question thou askest about the picture of this oppressed one, say that it was much spread in America: Know that this imprisoned one never had a picture taken except in youth, and that one also on account of the command and will of Baha’o’llah, I merely consented so as to obey His command. Therefore I do not like it to be great spread.

I desire of God, that the traces of the spiritual likeness, which are attributes and qualities, will remain eternally.

Source: 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas (1909). Public domain text from Project Gutenberg eBook #19312.

'Abdu'l-Bahá. (1909). *Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas*. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/19312/pg19312-images.html