True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-04-05

However, after that period he reCoyere
much faster butit was about Il month
before he was completely restored, ATTIC
5 be was able to walk around, on Snnda
/, afternoon, his sister, who had strayed fror
church to attend to him, was reading i
!, the Bible, when he took notice Of it, an
asked her what she had in her hand. Sh
/ answered that she was reading in the Bi
. BILE. He replied, What is the Bible?
J know not what you mean. This al
/ fected the sister SO much, that she burs
, into tears, and Informed him that he wa
once well acquainted with it. On her re
porting this to the brother when hereturn
ed, Mr.. Tennent was found, upon examina
ton, to be totally Ignorant of every trans
action of his life previous to his sickness
!, He could not read single word, neither
did he seem to have an idea of what il
meant As soon as he became capable Of
attention, he was taught to read and write.
as children arc usually taught, anu after
wards began to learn the Latin language
under the tuition of his brother. Oneday
as he was reciting lesson in Cornelius
Nepos, he suddenly started, clapped his
hand to his head, as if something had hurt
him, and made pause. His brother ask
ed him what was the matter He said that
he felt a sudden shock in his head, and it
now seemed to him as if he had read that
book before. By degrees his recollection
was restored, and he>could speak the Ian
guage as fuently as before his sickness
His memory so completely revived, that he
gained a perfect knowledge of the past
transactions of his life, as if no difficulty
had previously occurred. This event, at
that time, made considerable noise, and
afforded not only mates of serious contem-
plation to the devout Christian, especially
when connected with what follows in this
narration, but furnished a subject of deep
investigation and learned inquiry to the re-
al philosopher and curious anatomist.
The writer of these memoirs was greatly
interested by these uncommon events, and
on favorable occasion, earnestly pressed
Mr.. Tennent for minute account of what
his views and apprehensions were while he
lay in this extraordinary state of suspend
ed animation He discovered great reluc-
tance to enter into any explanation of his
perceptions and feelings at this time; but
being importunately urged to do it, he at
length consented, and proceeded with
solemnity not to be described:
while I was conversing with my broth
err said he, 'on the state of my soul, and
the fears had entertained for my future
welfare, l found myself, in an instant, in
another state of existence, under the direc-
tion ofa superior Being, who ordered me
to follow him. was accordingly waited
along, I knew not how, till l beheld at a
distance an ineffable glory, the impression
of which on my mind it is impossible to
communicate to mortal man. | immedi-
ately reflected on my happy change, and
thought: Well, blessed be God 1 am
safe at last, notwithstanding all my fears.
| saw an innumerable host of happy be-
ings surrounding the inexpressible glory,
in acts of alteration and joyous worship;
but l did not see any bodily shape or rep
resentation in the glorious appearance
| heard their songs and hallelujahs of
thanksgiving and praise, with unspeakablo
rapture. l felt joy unutterable aud full of
glory. l then applied to my conductor,
and requested leave to join the happy
tbrong-on which he tapped me on the
shoulder, and said, you must return to the
earth This seemed like sword through
my heart In an instant recollect to have
seen my brother standing before me, dis
putting with the doctor. The three DAYS
during which had appeared lifeless, SEEM
ed to me not more than ten or twenty min
utes. The idea of returning to this world
Of sorrow, and trouble, gave ME such
shock, that tainted repeatedly He ad-
ded, Such was the effect upon my mind of
what had seen and heard, that, if it be
possible for human being to live entirely
above the world and the things of it, for
some time afterwArd | was that person.
The ravishing sound of the songs and hale
lujahs that | heard, and the very words
that were uttered, we're not out of my ears,
when awake, for at least three years. All
the Kingdoms of earth were in my sight as
nothing and vanity and so great were my
ideas Of heavenly glory, that nothing which
did not in some measure relate to it, could
command my serious attention.
PITIFUL.
Governor Matteson, of Illinois, who was
himself the democratic candidate for the