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I do not know whether it
is owing to the anxiety of my mind, but this afternoon, as I was sitting
at this table engaged in preparing a dispatch, something in the
apartment seemed to disturb me. Looking up, I beheld standing opposite
me a singularly beautiful being. So astonished was I... that it was some
moments before I found language to inquire the cause of the visit. A
second, 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.
Gradually, the
surrounding atmosphere seemed to fill with sensations and grew luminous.
Everything about me seemed to rarify, the mysterious visitor also becoming
more airy and yet more distinct to my sight than before.
[The First Peril]
Presently, I heard a voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and
learn," while at the same time my visitor extended an arm eastward.
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... then it moved slowly westward until it enveloped America in
its murky folds. Sharp flashes of lightning gleamed through... and I
heard the smothered groans and cries of the American people. [Some have
interpreted this as a vision of the Revolutionary War, then taking
place.]
[The Second Peril]
A second time the angel dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it
out as before. I cast my eyes upon America and beheld villages and towns
and cities springing up one after another until the whole land from the
Atlantic to the Pacific was dotted with them. From Africa I saw an
ill-omened specter approach our land. The inhabitants presently set
themselves in battle array against each other. I saw a bright angel on
whose brow rested a crown of light on which 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."
[This could obviously be interpreted as The Civil War.]
[The Third Peril]
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 cloud. And I dimly saw these vast armies
devastate the whole country and burn the villages, towns and cities
which I had seen springing up. As my ears listened to the thundering of
the cannon, clashing of the 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." Where 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 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 overcome, but who immediately
taking courage again, closed up their broken ranks and renewed the
battle. Again, amid the fearful noise of the conflict I heard the
mysterious voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and
learn." As the voice ceased, the shadowy angel for the last time
dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it upon America. Instantly the
dark cloud rolled back, together with the armies it had brought, leaving
the inhabitants of the land victorious." [Is this a prophecy of
things yet to come for the U.S.?] |
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