The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-03-12

it dreams, we form no adequate conception of
passing time, 30 it was with me in the present
instance. BY an abrupt transition imagined
myself rapidly descending through the yield
ing air, sensation, MT altogether like that of
drowsiness, began to exert its influence over
me. knew, for was not totally deprived
of reason, that was fast sinking away into
that oblivious stupor from which, feared,
there would be no awakening. Deeply imbu-
ed with sense of my condition and clinging
to tbe hope of life with instructive energy,
called into exercise every faculty Of my ma
ture that was not already parallzed by the cold.
But could not move muscle. An incubus
was upon me that would not be shaken off,
could not have been more destitute OF the
physical ability to act, if had been chained
as erst Promethius was, to the cold rocks;
and with the fostering links" imbedded in
my body, doomed to motionless silence forev-
er! How long this fearful struggle lasted,
God only knows. believe, however, that it
was very brief. Ifelt no bodily pain; the
deadly conflict was in the mind, and no matter
how brief its existence. its progress seemed to
linger through ages OF interminable agony
At length midnight darkness began to gath
er all around me. Each mental image be-
came confused and indistinct. The hope of
life, powerful as were its manifestations be-
fore, lost its fascinating influence. Every eie-
ment Of the soul, whether of the affections or
the intellect fingered for a moment, trembling
upon the verge Of an unknown abyss, and then
oblivion, with its canopy of gloom settled
darkly over the scene. ri ..#
Iawoke again to consciousness. I was no
longer cut upon the cold prairies: but I was
lying on bed, and sympathizing strangers
were around me. Like ministering angels,
they had been busy in their kind Offices, and
| was recalled 10 life. But my sufferings from
the cold were nothing compared to the acute
pain experienced in reviving. NV whole
frame was convulsed with agony, and weeks
elapsed before Twas qualified to engage in bu-
siness. Mr.. Bridgeman, too, by miracle,
was reste red. but his whole system was ruin
ously wrecked. He will be cripple for life;
and now while am writing this imperfect
sketch of our suffsrings, il is exceedingly prob
able that the sunshine of the coming Spring
will rest upon his grave. Crushed in body
and bowed in spirit, the hope Of earthly enjoy.
meat with him has passed forever. .-.aa
One word Of explanation, respecting the
manner Of our deliverance, and am done: II
was near ten O'Clock when odr horses, having
wandered indefinitely through the storm, drove
up 20 solitary house away out on the prairie.
A part of the family, hearing them, came to
the door; and finding that no one spoke, or
made an effort to get out of the sleigh, they
app cached it, and soon ascertained our help
less condition. We had fallen among good
SainarIiars; aud to the impulses of their noble
hearts, sustained by their promptness and in
telligence. attribute under God, our restoi a.
ton tp the society of friends, and the bless
ings of existence. 1t appears that we were
about four hours exposed to the tempests of
that tperlous night. What an experience con-
fined within the limits Of four brief hours!-
When in my future history, may be called
10 pass th ough scenes of danger and suffering,
il will stimulate me to renewed hope and cour.
age TO remember my night-ride on the stormy
prairies. and to remember too, that in the dark
est hour Of human anguish and human agony,
a hand divine may guide US to hope and to re.
denpiion.