The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-10-29
Fr",n Mr Oiirr Rronrh.

'hfec times IN the face of the brave Nor
w'Slan commander who saved so many
form the wreck of the Central America is
one OF those strange problems that no lu-
man intellect can solve. May it not be,
that, becoming distracted with the sounds
of the dying, the little creature was directed
10y instinct to the living, in that pcrilous
storm, and thus, It's wings upborne on the
winds Of the night, it led to the rescue of
some precious lives. The old transmirra-
tion!stS would have held it as an indsputa-
blc evidence of the truth of their theory
that the souls of men enter the bodies Of
beasts and birds, and that this little crca-
turc was haplcss relative Of some one
among the pcri>ling
lie tha: as it may, Gods hand was in it,
FOR he directs all things
God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders t" Perform
lie plants his footsteps OH the sea,
And rides upon the storm"
The great men of ollcn times seemed to
have many warnings III dreams. God spoke
to them, moved and encouraged them in
that way. But it was always in connection
with son'e great event. There did not need
then to be dream books for Interpretation,
saying, "this means that thou wilt shortly
hear from friend" Thou art to receive
some money "Thou art to 60 forth on Il
journey" 1t was n " thus saith the Lord"
and the sublime forms of angelic beings with
mighty arms outstrclcled and robes duz-
zli"G rs the light, read the vision.
Columbus was sent to "uncllain the
ocean" by voice. lie lay on sick bed
near the river Bccm, exhausted and to lu-
man appearance, fatally i'll.
Suddenly there was heard through the
gloom Il mysterious voice" will cause
thy name to be wonderfully resoundcd
through the earth, and give thee the keys
Of the gates Of the ocean, which arc closed
with strong cl;.ins." Is it any wonder that
such a man rs Columbus should hear the
voice of IL spirit sent by the Almighty to
ioretell his ultimate greatness Besides
sucll revelations, the Messages sent 10y mod
ern spirits look meanly insignificant.
AS for the omcns that were once SO fire..
qnently discussed we hear but little of them
now, even in the back woods. Such pro.
gress has science made, that the compare
lively ignorant laugh at the prcjuIices that
once they admitted as facts true as gospel.
The baying dog is no longer an object of
terror the broken mirror blanclles no
check, even if somebody should happen to
die in twclvemonth We remember to
have been terribly frightened once when
trying on black Grape bonnet somebody
exclaimed" Oh ! how could you? Don't
you know that you will lose some friend af
ter that !'
"something is going TO happen-I heard
pistol go off last night, right at the foot
Of my bed" said an old grandame, not
many years ago, and she WIS absolutely
pale with fear.
Father laid down his knife and fork
His countenance expressed ludicrous
horror.
Grandma, is it possible that something
Is going to happen; can it be possible 3
Pray, could you tell us when %
The laugh that followed unlocked gran
danes wrinkles. She took to her bread
and butter chccrfully, and the ccre.look
vanished.
But mark the sequel.
An hour after, in come a three year
older with eyes as big as saucers (igura-
tively.)
~ say, grandma, it's happened it's hap
pened. A Whole basket full of little NEW
kittens up stairs"
We never heard the last of tho pistols
and the NEW kit,ics.
And yet-a friend of ours has lost four
children. Before the death of EACH, she
dreamed precisely the same dream; the
windows were shrouded in black and the
lamp went out, nor could she rcligbt it. 1t
may be that the first time, the vision i'm
pressed her so powerfully, taken in connec.
ton with the death of her children, that
when they were successfully visited with
illness, the dream REQUIRED, and in God.
providence the little ones were removed.
First impressions are sometimes quite
lady was impressed that certain stranger
who had tried to win her regards, was ,
murderer; and, although she knew nothing
Of the man, yet it was subsequently proved
that lie had shed human blood.
A celebrated preacher called upon
young lady, member of his congregation
previously not we'll known to him, to &c
some kind Of written statement. As sh
welcomed him and cl'atted, lie took no par
ticular notice Of her, but when she dippe