The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-08-04

with my eyes, butt II seemed to SET
them thus, as they glowed and waved
and blended; then separated, then re-
formed themselves in new combina-
tions, and danced and laughed with
brilliancy far exceeding the rainbow's
painting or the pr1sm's power.
This gorgeous scene began to fade
away, and my next transition was in
to a sea of light, not the light of the
sun, or such a light as is made by any
chemical combination, but light of
dazzling, glowing, glorious whiteness
and purity, of which my own mind
seemed to be a part. 1 now began to
observe my own condition ; knew
that my whole body was growing cold
and rigid, the only ~preceptible warmth
being in my heart, and L wondered
how long it would be before that too
should become cold like the balance,
and I should certainly die. 1 even
speculated upon the severity of the
pain i should have to endure when
that spot did grow cold--but l never
knew. While L thus took note of the
physical condition, my mind with
grandly increased power was fully 0
cupied Before me in review, and
then gathered around me, were all the
transactions-of good or evil of life;
there was nothing forgotten-nothing
absent. l saw them all, knew and re-
cognized them all; even minute and
Insignificant circumstances, which at
the time had made no Compression on
mn 1unrn han, +1oro onJ 7 Eaoo~o FIJI
iy aware of the fact that this sentient
being which had animated my body
would not die, but would live on, and
on eternally, and eternally surrounded
by and in companionship with all the
transactions of physical life. Ever
lasting life was as conclusively shown
to me al if the spirit of Him who had
been dead a thousand years had spoken
to the fact. But how was / to exist,
where should L exist? L knew 1 was
not a part of my body; in fact, L de-
sired to entirely sever the connection
with it, and impatiently waited until
the warm spot of my heart should
grow cold Had 1 been at liberty to
accept OF reject an offer of return to
vitality, / should have rejected it. In
vain 1 scanned the light around me
for a revelation of my future condition.
In vain 1 applied all the brilliant
powers of my purified mind to pierce
the future, even to fully comprehend
the present. recalled my early in
structions, and sought for yawning
gulf and crystal gates, but on the M
hand 1 found no %devouring fiends, and
on the other l saw no,gleaming. char
lots / heard neither songs of Joy nor
wailings of woe, nor found any other
being than my OWN, o / existed in my
own former life, and so far as l could
discover, would continue to-exist there
forever. This was not desirable, but
from it l saw no way of escape.
1 have no idea of the time passed in
this condition, but it must have been
all the time required by medicai judg-
ment to deprive me of life, for in the
midst of my speculations I.became
aware of the removal and handling Of
my body. / remember l thought they
were about to bury me, and as 1 was
not dead, I wished to protest against
it. 1 loathed the dea of being incar-
cerated in the grave with my body, OF
having any further companionship with
it. l did not know what was being
done, but 1 felt myself in motion for
n time, then the motion ceased: then
there was a quick, sharp, rending pain
a fearful shudder of my whole physical
powers, a writhing, an anguish far
worse than the anguish of death,
and sensibility and sense slowly re-
turned to me; once more my heart,
which had never grown cold, throb-
bed, my vital functions were partially
re-established and again l became bur
dened with the cares, anxieties, and
sorrows of life. To me it has been
one long sorrow, and with joy or hope
l await the time when l shall once
more battle in hat sea of light, once
moro gather around me the radiance
of life everlasting.
My resuscitation was the result of
an application of electricity and the
skill of a surgeon. For a few days,
until 1 had partially recovered my
strength, l was concealed, and then
fled the country.