Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-03-19
Old Mother Marguerite at the Gate of
Heaven.

l am poor old woman without any re-
Iatlons-Old Marguerite, from lighthouse.
l have done nothing in this world-not
anything, at least that can make it look
brighter for me here. 1t is verify an act
of the grace of God if I get permission
to get inside the gate!
How | left this world do not know. /
was sick and miserable in the last years
or suppose would not have crept out of
bed and come in the frost and
cold outside. 1t has been hard
winter, but now / am over that. 1t
was very calm a few days, but bit
terly cold; the sea was covered with
ice as far as one could see. All the
people from town went out on the ice
when there was what they call skating
and dancing, / believe. There was music
and plenty Of refreshment out there. /
could hear 1t all where / was laying in
my poor room. 1t was like this toward
evening: the moon was up but not yet
IN power; saw from my bed through a
window tar out on the sea, anO out there
on the horizon, just between heaven and
sea, saw q curious white cloud ascend
ing. L was lying there looking on it,
looking on the black spot in the
center, which became larger and
larger, and then / knew what it meant
l am old and experienced; though one
does not see this token often, / knew it.
and became Mortified. | have seen this
token come twice before in my lifetime.
l knew there would be fearful storm,
followed by spring flood that would
come over the poor people out there, who
now drank and danced in their JOY, young
and old. All the people from town were
out there. Who should warn them, if no.
body else saw and knew what | knew. |
became so frightened, and more excited
than | have been for many years, that
got out of bed and reached the window,
but was not able to get any further !
opened the window and could see people
running and dancing out there on the ice;
see the beautiful flags, hear the loud huz-
zas, and the girls and young men singing,
all being merry. But higher and higher
rose the white cloud with the black spot
in the center. / called out as loud as
could, but nobody heard me; was too
far off. The storm would soon begin, the
ice break to pieces, and all out there sink
without assistance. They could not hear
me, and did not have strength enough
to reach them. Could only get them
ashore! Then the Lord gave me this
idea: to put my bed on fire
Rather let the house burn down
than so many should so miserably lose
their lives. I lighted the candle, then
set fire to my bed, saw the red flames, and
went out of the door; but there [ was in
despair. Icould do no more. The flames
blew out after me, out of the window, and
up over the roof. They saw it from out
there, and all ran as fast as they could to
assist a poor woman whom they all be-
lieved was burning up. There was not
one who did not run. [ heard them
come, but heard also how the storm
commenced. l heard it thunder like
heavy cannon shot; the spring flood
lifted the ice and broke it to pieces; but
they all reached the lighthouse, where
the sparks were flying all around me- l
saved them all. But suppose l could
not stand the cold and the fright that
came over me, therefore | am come up
here to the gate of heaven. They say it
will be opened for such poor thing as |
am. And now have no home down at
Digi. That does not, however, give me
any admission here
then the gate of heaven was opened,
and the angel carried the old woman in.
She lost a straw of her mattress outside
that had been in her bed which she set
on fire to save so many, and it became
pure gold.-Hdns Christian andersen.