AND THE VISION OF THE FUTURE OF THE UNITED STATES
"From the opening of the Revolution we experienced
all phases of fortune, now good and now ill, one time victorious and another
conquered. The darkest period we had, I think, was when Washington, after
several reverses, retreated to Valley Forge, where he resolved to spend
the winter of 1777. Ah! I have often seen the tears coursing down our dear
commander's care-worn cheeks, as he would be conversing with a confidential
officer about the condition of his poor soldiers. You have doubtless heard
the story of Washington's going into the thicket to pray. Well, it was not
only true, but he used often to pray in secret for aid and comfort from
God, the interposition of whose Divine Providence brought us safely through
the darkest days of tribulation. "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 engaged in preparing a dispatch, something seemed to disturb me. Looking
up, I beheld standing opposite me a singularly beautiful female. 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 into the cause of her presence.
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
her eyes. By this time I felt strange sentiments spreading through me. I
would have risen, but the riveted gaze of the being before me rendered volition
impossible. I assayed once more to address her, but my tongue had become
useless, even thought itself had become 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 as though becoming filled with sensations and luminous. Everything
about me seemed to rarify, the mysterious visitor herself becoming more
airy, and yet more distinct to my sight than before. I now began to feel
as one dying, or rather to experience the sensations which I have sometimes
imagined accompany dissolution. I did not think, I did not reason, I did
not move; all were alike impossible. I was only conscious of gazing fixedly,
vacantly at my companion. "Presently I heard a voice saying, 'Son of
the Republic, look and learn,' while at the same time my visitor extended
her arm eastwardly. I now beheld a heavy white vapor at some distance rising
fold upon fold. This gradually dissipated, and I looked upon a strange scene.
Before me lay spread 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 the 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 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 hand he cast some on Europe. Immediately
a dark cloud raised from these countries and joined in mid-ocean. For a
while it remained stationary, and then moved slowly westward, until it enveloped
America in its murky folds. Sharp flashes of lightning passed through it
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 was then drawn
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 towns and cities springing
up one 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.' "At this the dark, shadowy angel turned his
face southward, and from Africa I saw an ill-omened spectre approach our
land. It flitted slowly over every town and city. The inhabitants presently
set themselves in battle array against each other. As I continued looking,
I saw a bright angel, on whose brow rested a crown of light, on which was
traced the word "Union," bearing the American flag, which he placed
between the divided nation, and said, 'Remember ye are brethren.' Instantly
the inhabitants, casting from them their weapons, became friends once more
and united around the National Standard. "And again I heard the 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 countries arose thick, black
clouds that were joined into one. And throughout this mass there gleamed
a dark red light by which I saw hordes of armed men, who, 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 that I beheld
were springing 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 heard again 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 the dark cloud
which enveloped America. At the same moment the angel, upon whose head still
shone 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. "Then once more I beheld the villages, towns,
and cities springing up where I had seen them before, while the bright angel,
planting the azure standard he had brought in the midst of them, 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
on which was blazoned the word "Union," he placed it 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 disappearing, I found myself once more gazing upon the mysterious
visitor, who, in the same voice I had 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 is the third, passing which the whole world
united shall not prevail against her. Let every child of the Republic learn
to live for his God, his land, and the Union.' With these words the vision
vanished, and I started from my seat, and felt that I had seen a vision
wherein had been shown me the birth, progress, and destiny of the United
States." "Such, my friends," concluded the venerable
narrator, "were the words I heard from General Washington's own lips,
and America will do well to profit by them." |