Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1849-05-03
MONTPELIER, VERMONT, THURSDAY

with about two thousand dollars in silver and
gold, slowed away in my saddlebags. After
having travelled one afternoon till nearly sunset
without seeing single hut or inhabitant, and
while anxiously casting about for some shelter for
the night, had the good luck, as then esteem
ed it, to overtake very honest looking suuatter,
Of whom enqured the distance to TAVERN
He said it was fifteen or twenty miles, quite to
far for me to think of going that night, but if
would 90 with him to his cabin, which was
mile or so off the road, I should be welcome to
such Accommodations as he and his wife could
furnish me. Being taken by the plausible and
apparently kind manner of the man, thankfully
accepted his offer, accompanied him to his log
hut, and was Hospitality provided with refresh
ments; when retired to my bed, which was on
the lower floor, and adjoining the room occupied
by nv entertainers. With my saddlebags which
had unwisely let tasagan handle, placed under
part Of my pillos, sO6E fell asleep with feelings
of the utmost security, having no sort of suspi-
cion that my entertainers wore not kind and
worthy people. After sleeping awhile, l awoke
restless and uneasy, why | know not II thought
must be sick, and fell to examining my pulse
&c. but could detect in myself no symptoms of
illness. Besides soon found my uneasiness
was not like that of any physicalillness. twas
feeling of apprehension vague, yet strong
impression that some great evil or danger was
impending over me. | tried to reason myself
out of such folly; but instead of succeeding,
soon found the strange feelings growing too In
tense to permit me to keep in bed any longer
And accordingly arose, crept seathily to the
door opening into the other room and listened. |
soon could distinguish the voices Of the man
and his wife, who seemed to be engaged in
low and somewhat furried conversation, of
which at length caught enoughto convince me
they were planning my death, and the manner of
disposing Of my body afterwards. | hastily crept
back, dressed myself, and, drawing out my pistols,
sat down on the bed and awaited the result. -
Presently the door was cautiously opened, and |
caught glimpse of the man entering with an
axe in his hand, and approaching OIL tp-toe tow
ards me. Instantly cooking my pistols, called
to him to stop or would shoot him dead on the
spot. He was evidently taken by surprise; for
lacking about with the quickness of thought, he
hastily skulked out of the loom. After watch
ing with my pistols in my hands, till the first ap-
pearance of daylight, | made my escape unhcald
from the house, mounted my horse and depart
ed with all possible speed. Gaining the road, |
rode on, and in about five miles, instead of III
teen, came to tavern, where | ascertalned that
the man at whose house bad stayed, was strong
" susPeetod Of having decoyo. @,,ner he had me
travellers to his cabin, 10 the H
and murdered them for r4eis money"
! The foregoing instances of prescntiments, sc
lected from the hundreds of others which nigh
be cited, not only because they were remarkable
and striking in themselves, but because they &C.
cured to men whose characters for frmness an(
intelligence clearly exempted them from all sus
picion of having been the victims of any o
those mental infrmites which lead to so many
false presentimenls or groundless foreboding'
among those of an opposite character,-the fore
going instances, must drive all candid and re
fecting minds, we think, to one of two conclu
sions, either, first, that the presentnent is an in
tmation of coming events which Providence
directly, or through the agency of his specia
spiritual messengers, gives to mortals to war;
them of the threatened evil, that they may avoit
it, or that they may have an opportunity to pre-
pare to meet the fate which they are not to b.
permitted to escape or Second, that these pre-
sentiments are caused by the operation of thos
mysterious spiritual sympathies by which on
mind, it is said, sometimes becomea ap
prsed of, or at least, affected by what is 81
lentIy passing in another mind so that one ma
may thns be darkly informed of the plotting
which are going on against him in the mind @
another, and even 10 Vie eAtchI mat mOrta
may, in the same manner, receive impressions {
approaching evil from attendant spiritual being;
who may be lowering around, and looking upo
US in commisseration, in view of the doom whic
they see is about to overtake u.s.
These are the two conclusions from which W.
at least, find oursef compelled to choose
: Which is the most correct one? While most {
q, those who are guided by the simple faith of tn
Christian, in its literal teachings, will probabl
adopt the one first named, there are many W
apprehend, inclined to believe in the co
rectness of the latter, conceiving it to be
! accordance, probably, of some fixed law
u Providence, which, though but imperfecty r,
vealod to us, may be equally well calculated
u carry out his designs. And who can say that
is not SOL
4 "For knowledge strives in vain to feel her way
~ Amidst these marvels of the mind"
J MzIzaH4as1AsA----