A delightful evening: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá told stories, peals of laughter by the friends, children clinging to Him from room to motor

Just before our dinner, Mr. Alfred Lunt arrived in Mrs. Tatum’s motor which is to take ‘Abdu’l-Bahá away in the morning. Mrs. Pumpelly sent her motor, and our carriage was also here to take all of us to their house this evening to hear Mr. Pumpelly tell an Indian story. Jeffrey would not go, but Mr. Lunt and most of the suite came. When Mr. Pumpelly had finished his story in which there was description of much killing, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá asked some questions scientific ones but this Mr. Pumpelly was unable to do.

Then ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was asked for a story and I begged for the “Story of Ios,” which is the only story I ever heard of His telling. It is a pretty story with a moral which He of course told well, and the people liked it, but when it was finished He said: “Now let me tell you an Arabian story! It isn’t going to be a sermon.” This He did, to the accompaniment of peals of laughter, repeated again and again as climax after climax was reached. Needless to say, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá brought out every subtle point in the brilliant story, and the mental picture of this beautiful Oriental telling the story with all the enthusiasm of the story tellers of old, is one never to be forgotten. After this success fou [French: lit. mad success] He arose to go, with the Smythe and Cabot children clinging to Him from room to motor.

On the way home when we were expressing our pleasure in the evening made delightful by Him, He said with the simplicity of a child, “Now are you all pleased with me.” Oh that drive home! He was so unutterably kind, and made so happy these last moments at Dublin.