, 1860-10-26
A Curious Incident-Was ii a Miracle !

1t would seem from an incident recently
related to the editor of the Madison wis,
State Journal, on what is pronounced per
fectly reliable authority, that the age O.
miracles is not passed, and that as strange
things as the "Powel-street Ghost Story .
occur on the other side of the mountains
The writer Of the incident is well acquaint,
ed with the person who was the subject oI
the remarkable experience given below,
having known him personally for the last
twelve years; and though he has not met
him since his singular relief from a congen-
ital defect, has the particulars from per-
sons in every way entitled to credit, who
have seen him, and received the story from
his own lips.
Leaving our readers to determine for
themselves how far the intervention of a
miraculous aid may have contributed in the
matter, and how far it was the result of
natural or ordinary agencies, we give the
story as 1t was told 10 us:
The person in question is gentleman
residing in Beloit, Wisconsin. From his
birth be has suffered from lameness The
difficulty was in his right hip, the joint
seeming to be out of place. His right leg
was, in consequence, shorter than the other.
1t was shrunken and very weak; he always
wore boot with thick sole upon it, and
limped badly when he walked. In going
up stairs, he was obliged to step up one
stair at time with his well leg, and bring
the other up to it, instead of putting it for
ward to the next, as persons usually go up
stairs When fatigued, he was accustomed
to feel great pain in his hip.
Some two or three months ago he was
in Chicago attending to some business
matters which kept him for several weeks.
lie is a professor of religion, and while
there attended series of religious meet
ings, becoming very deeply interested in
the subject. On Saturday, suffering from
severe pain in his hip, he called upon q
surgeon to have it examined and to ascer-
tain whether something could not be done
to alleviate the pain. Some interruption
occurred, however, so that the examination
was postponed until the following Monday.
That night, after going to bed the pain
continuing it occurred to him whether or
not, if he'asked in the proper spirit, some
Divine assistance might not be vouched as
in the old time when the prophets and
apostles walked the earth. He arose from
his bed, procured light, and, taking his
Bible, opened by chance to a chapter in
the New Testament where Christ miracu-
lousy cures lame man. tt
After readingit, he proceeded to invoke,
in an earnest prayer, some similar inter
vention in his own behalf, and then, feeling
greatly cheered and supported by trust in
the Divine bene6cence, he again retired to
rest, and soon fell asleep. During the
night he dreamed that Christ came to him
accompanied by surgeon-the same upon
whom he had called during the day. The
surgeon examined his hip, and told him it
could be relieved, but only by an operation.
To this he raised some objection, desiring
that it should be postponed but the sur
geon seemed suddenly to seize and over
power him, and with some instrument laid
open his hip to the bone, and arranged the
joint in its proper place. During the ope-
ration be had the impression of suffering a
severe physical pain, as If really under the
knife Of a surgeon. After 1t, he had no
further remembrance of anything until
morning.
Upon rising be found, to bis utter aston
ishmeht, not only that his short leg was
heightened out so as to be even with the
other, and his hip all right, but that he
could walk without limping or inconveni-
ence. He walked about the room several
times, then put on bis clothes, and ran up
and down stairs to assure himself that he
was awake and no longer lame man, but
sound and whole. His joy and gratitude
canaot well be described. He immediate.
ly discarded the boot with the false sole,
which had hitherto been a necessity, and
put on pair that were mates. His leg
was yet weak, though limping slightly
from long habit, he could walk as straight
as any other man when he chose 1t has
since grown stronger, and his general
health is very materially improved He,
of course, considers the cure direct an.
swer to his applications. 1t is certainly
strange story, and we commend it to the
attention Of Robert Dale Owen as proper
incident to 6nd place in the next edition
of his " FOOTBALLS"
ri. - l