Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-06-06
From the Boston Olive Branch.
Presentiments.

We know not what to think exactly of
presentiments. Most persons say after any
thing ofimportance has occurred, that they
were warned of it, that they felt mystic
rious consciousness that something was
going to happen People have told us
that before death in the family they have
heard strange sounds, as of pistol going
off, door splitting from top to bottom,
seeing balls of fre-dreaming the lamp
went out and could not be relig GIFTED; dream
ing the teeth fell from the head, that ia
vorite ring broke, &c.
Mankind is naturally superstitious and
it's we'll Gross materialism alone dele
gates no power to the unseen, the supernat-
ural We who are Christians believe in
the spirits of just men made perfect, be-
lieve in the sweet influence of ministering
angels, although we cannot join credulity
with our faith and hear them in raps and
rattles, in bells and books thrown at mate
rial heads, fddles scraped and tables set to
dancing.
We shall not speculate upon the subject
for that were time worse than lost. We
will merely give two or three instances as
we heard them, and which can easily be
received as truths, explainable perhaps by
merely natural causes, though these provi.
dences are they not all referable to the
constant care and watchfulness of our Faith.
er which is in heaven, without whose know
ledge not sparrow falls to the earth?
A lady of our acquaintance came from
party late one evening and proceeded tc
her dressing-room. It was intensely ho
weather, aud as she laid aside her outer gar
ment, she fancied the air of the room wa
exceedingly close. Every window wa
open, yet still that faint odor was perceptibl
and--very Objectionable. All at once sh
went towards a lounge, but had hardl,
seated herself before she was seized with
fit of trembling so violent that she wa
alarmed.
She Immediately hurried to the cham
Der of her little son, where the air SCENE
clearer, and sat down with him until sh
felt better. She then returned to the roor
thinking she would merely rest on the ou
side of her bed, but no sooner had sh
touched it but she again encountered
shock of the nerves, added to horror tn;
almost overpowered her.
Scarcely knowing what she did she SCI
for male friend (she was alone.) Tv
persons came Immediately and going to Il
chamber, the door was found fastened {
the inside. It was burst open. Marks
great hurry were observable-a long, sha
bladed knife laid under the couch and Il
search ended in the discovery of a. hug
murderous negro, who had concealed hil
self to rob, perhaps to kill. The lady b
in her room large sum of money.
The second was related by gentlema
A friend who had not for gears been out
his house later than ten, was induced
stay with him one night till after twel,
His friend had also left for his inspecti
!, a very curious knife which he had boug
at auction and on which he had just mark
the initials of his name. After the frie
, was gone, our narrator pondered on I
strangeness of the circumstance
> He thought how singular it was tha
: man SO generally punctual should SO
a infringe upon his unvarying rules.
. soon he grew drowsy and sought the
. but the moment he laid down be seemed
! hear the click Of pistol, and started
4 wide awake. He searched every par
: his room as he thought; no one was Wis
\ and again he essayed to lie down. Click
o heimagined went the pistol again. Cove
4 with perspiration, for the feeling was '
ii vivid and horrible, he sprang on the f
Al the second time, and stood there, W
there came such terror over him thai
lie hurried from the chamber calling for b