I do not know whether it is
owing to the anxiety of my mind, or what, but this afternoon, as I was sitting
at this table engaging in preparing a dispatch, something in the apartment
seemed to disturb me. Looking up, I beheld standing opposite to me a singularly
beautiful being. So astonished was I, for I had given strict orders not to be
disturbed that it was some moments before I found language to inquire the cause
of the visit. A second, a third, and even a fourth time did I repeat my
question, but received no answer from my mysterious visitor except a slight
raising of the eyes.
By this time I felt strange
sensations spreading through me. I would have risen but the riveted gaze of the
being before me rendered volition impossible. I tried once more to speak, but
my tongue became useless, as if paralyzed. A new influence, mysterious, potent,
irresistible, took possession of me. All I could do was to gaze steadily,
vacantly at my unknown visitor.
Gradually the surrounding
atmosphere seemed to fill with sensations, and grew luminous. Everything about
me seemed to rarefy, the mysterious visitor also becoming more airy and yet
more distinct to my sight than before. I began to feel as one dying, or rather
to experience the sensations I sometimes imagine accompanying death. I did not
think, I did not reason, I did not move. All were alike impossible. I was only
conscious of gazing fixedly, vacantly on my companion.
Presently I heard a voice say,
“Son of the Republic, look and
learn,”
while at the same time my
visitor extended an arm eastward. I now beheld a heavy white vapor at some
distance rising fold upon fold. This gradually dissipated, and I looked upon
the strange scene. Before me lay, out in one vast plain all the countries of
the world — Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. I saw rolling and tossing
between Europe and America lay billows of the Atlantic, and between Asia and
America lay the Pacific.
“Son of the Republic”, said
the same mysterious voice as before,
“Look and learn.”
At that moment I beheld a dark
shadowy being, like an angel, standing, or rather floating in mid-air, between
Europe and America. Dipping water out of the ocean in the hollow of each hand,
he sprinkled some upon America with his right hand, while with his left he cast
some over Europe. Immediately a cloud arose from these countries and joined in
mid-ocean. For awhile it remained stationary, and then it moved slowly
westward, until it enveloped America in its murky folds. Sharp flashed of
lightning gleamed through at intervals, and I heard the smothered groans and
cries of the American People.
A second time the angel dipped
water from the ocean and sprinkled it out as before. The dark cloud drew back
to the ocean, in whose heaving billows it sank from view.
A third time I heard the
mysterious voice saying,
“Son of the Republic, look and
learn.”
I cast my eyes upon America
and beheld villages and town and cities spring up one right after another until
the whole land from the Atlantic to the Pacific was dotted with them. Again, I
heard the mysterious voice say,
“Son of the Republic, the end
of the century cometh, look and learn.”
And this time a dark shadowy
angel turned his face southward. From Africa I saw an ill omened spectra
approach our land. It flitted slowly and heavily over every town and city of
the latter. The inhabitants presently set themselves in battle array against
each other. As I continued look I saw a bright angel on whose brow was traced
the word ‘Union.’ He was bearing the American flag. He placed the flag between
the divided nation and said,
“Remember, ye are brethren. ”
Instantly the inhabitants,
casting down their weapons became friends once more, and united around the
National Standard.
Again I heard a mysterious
voice saying,
“Son of the Republic, look and
learn.”
At this the dark, shadowy
angel placed a trumpet to his mouth, and blew three distinct blasts; and taking
water from the ocean, he sprinkled it upon Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Then my eyes beheld a fearful
scene. From each of these continents arose thick black clouds that were soon
joined into one. And throughout this mass there gleamed a dark red light by
which I saw hordes of armed men. These men, moving with the cloud marched by
land and sailed by sea to America, which country was enveloped in the volume of
the cloud. And I dimly saw these vast armies devastate the whole country and
burn the villages, towns and cities, which I had seen spring up.
As my ears listened to the
thundering of the cannon, clashing of swords, and the shouts and cries of
millions in mortal combat, I again heard the mysterious voice saying,
“Son of the Republic, look and
learn.”
When the voice had ceased, the
dark shadowy angel placed his trumpet once more to his mouth, and blew a long
and fearful blast. Instantly a light, as of a thousand suns shone down from
above me, and pierced and broke into fragments of the dark cloud, which
enveloped America. At the same moment the angel upon whose head still shown the
word ‘Union,’ and who bore our national flag in one hand and a sword in the
other, descended from the heavens attended by legions of white spirits. These
immediately joined the inhabitants of America, who I perceived were well-nigh
over come, but who immediately taking courage again, closed up their broken
ranks, and renewed battle.
Again amid the fearful voice
of the conflict I heard the mysterious voice say,
“Son of the Republic, look and
learn.”
As the voice ceased, the
shadowy angel for the last time dipped the water from the ocean and sprinkled
it upon America. Instantly the dark clouds rolled back, together with the
armies it had brought, leaving the inhabitants of the land victorious.
Then once more I beheld the
villages, towns and cities springing up where I had seem them before, while the
bright angel, planting the azure standard cried with a loud voice:
“While the stars remain, and
the heavens send down dew upon the earth, so long shall the Union last.”
And taking from his brow the
crown, which blazoned the word ‘Union,’ he placed it down upon the standard
while the people, kneeling down said, ‘Amen.’
The scene instantly began to
fade and dissolve, and I at last saw nothing but the rising, curling vapor, I
at first beheld. This also disappeared, and I found myself once more gazing
upon the mysterious visitor who, in the same voice I heard before said,
“Son of the Republic, what you
have seen is thus interpreted: Three great perils will come upon the Republic.
The most fearful for her is the third. But the whole world united shall not
prevail against her. Let every child of the Republic learn to live for his God,
his land and Union.”
With these words the vision
vanished, and I started from my seat and felt that I had seen a vision wherein
had been showed me the birth, progress, and destiny of the United States.”
