Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-05-24
TPROPRIETORS.


beamed with humble and overfowing joy
that so much had been added to the happiness
Of his fellow immor,als both here and there.
Very many Of those who stood at the right
Of my dear s., and behind her, then point
ed downward to the right and far in the dis
tan,. She clasped her hands with gesture
of great sorrow. and lifted up her eyes with a
counienance full Of hope. wy ss
Still could not see at what the spirits point
ed. They looked at me, and then in the d-
reciion in which their hands were outstretch
ed; as if they were saying to me, 60 and
see" %
AT length was permitted TO look where
they directed me. and oh! what sight be
held! lnaumerabe spirits were there, engag.
ed IN perpetual pursuit of each other. They
were dark and sombre in appearance, and the
vilcst passions were most apparent.
There saw the murderer. with his drawn
dagger, with fendish hate pursuing his victim
until he struck him to the heart. When 10 his
blow had alighted upon the impalpable air,
and he he'd missed the darling object Of his
pursuit. Rage and despair devoured him at
his failure, and he fled bowling, his intended
victim pursuing him in tuln, with revenge and
hatred ranking in him. ,s'r.e- s.. 9-rll
saw the adulter, pursuing the object Of his
raging lust, with fury that was frightful to
behold. He caughtthe object Of his pursuit,
and in her found willing participant in his
unhoy love. But it was nought but empty air
that he embraced and threw her from him with
loalhing that was unutterable, while she turned
from him with scorn at his impotence, and a
Gendish gladness at his suferings. 0
saw the miser, unheedng all TINT was a.
round him, sitting on the ground. groveling in
the soil of that unholy place, and gathering
up sparkling atoms, and laying them careful
y in heap by his side. AT length he turn
ed to his cherished and piled UP treasure and
found that it had tnrned to dust. He threw
himself IN despair PROSTATE upon this useless
emblem of his wealth and howled wildly IN
the madness Of his disappointed cupidity.
saw the hypocri,e essaying. and, as he
fancled, successfully, to hide the diabolicu
purposes of his heart; yet as he approached
his victim, he felt and knew that his every
thought was revealed He fed in horror at the
picture which himself had made. And learn
ed that he was ever engaged in the same fruit
less eflort-ever deceiving himself with the
same belief in his success-ever meeting the
same terrible disclosure of himself
| saw the seducer approach with bland and
subtle arts. and when on the point of success,
his arms were filed with nothingness, and his
heart riven with the reproachful looks of be-
trayed affection before which he writhed and
fell down.
| saw the warrior heading an army, which
roting in wild confusion, refused to obey him,
and in the vain pursuit of an enemy that was
no where to be found.
| saw the suicide bound still to the earth
which he had quilted in his impious despair,
still bound there by the spiritual umiblicaI
cord wich hefound timpossble to sever.
l saw the assassin, attended ever BY the
spirits Of those whom his violence had slain
ever presenting to his view their misery caus-
ed by him-ever reproaching him. and he a.
gain and again, but in vain seeking by the
same violence to rid himself Of their presence
saw the hard and callous man of the world,
who had carried with him into the spirit land
the selfish disregard for others which had mark
ed his earthly career. l saw him approach,
he was an outcast even in that horrible place.
His cold sefshness stood out upon him in bold
relief and all, even there. abhored and shun-
ned his company. Wearied with the utter de-
ISOLATION, to which he was condemned, he per.
sisted in thrus,ing himself upon that society,
hendlsh and revolving as it was, and they turn
ed upon him in their wrath. Abandoning each
his iavorite pursuit, they with one accord drove
him from their presence with shouts and wells
of execration. -s .
Amid the turmoil and confusion, saw
good spirit approach. He was one, thought,
whose enthusiasm was stronger than his iudg-
ment, and he approached that awful society in
the vain hope that he might be able to wean
them from their evil ways. The contrast be.
tween the brightness Of his appearance and the
darkness of theirs, was most striking. He
seemed like solitary star shining amid the
blackness Of midnight. His presence was
beyond measure offensive to them. They ar
rested his progress in crowds. They met his
advances with bold and impudent looks. They
received his entreaties with derision, and laugh
cd his remonstrances to scorn. They insisted
he should leave them, but he refused They
then turned and fled his presence with shouts
and laughter. All SO fed--all save one And
he was observed by that spirit prostrate in The
dust. The good spirit approached him and
lifted him up, and spake words Of comfort to
him. 1t was one who had begun to progress
in goodness-whose eyes were beginning to
open to the evil of lis ways. Ii was one who
had begun to repent.
Instantly the announcement sped through
heaven, with the celebrity Of thought, that
fallen man might be saved; and in crowds the
good spirits Aocked to the scene, and welcom-
cd the rising hope that was in him. s51
They took him in their arms, and bore him
in triumph from that evil place, to their own
happy mansions There an apartment was
assigned to him; and while he was not pro-
gressed enough yet to associate with those
who had redeemed him, he was at least secure
from the intrusion and influence Of his former
unhappy companions.
There he is now, attended by that enlhusi-
astic good spirit, with humility, gentleness,
a kindness and patience. to be found, alas on
ly in Heaven. The promptings ofthe despair
of that unhappy one are soothed; the wayward-
ness of his temper are patiently endured and
his newborn aspirations for good are cheered
and borne along. aaA
IL is the parent welcoming the return Of
prodgal child: 1t is mother, nursing into
eternal life an infant immortal. God speed the
work! ee
Such was the vision impaired to me alone.--
Subsequently,, at one Of the circles. where |
had read it. it was said to me from the Spirit.
world, Think you, my dear H, that the
vision was heavenly onel 1t is but the faint
est ray compared with what is in store for
you" II
At anott q, t;rno acJ ,co,b o.~,.nJ. ~ -