Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1875-11-25
AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY.
A Virgin Mother and q white Dove Witness
From the Muscstine (Iowal Tribune.


From the Muscstne (Iowal Tribune.
Some months ago, a Muscatine
young lady accepted situation as a
teacher in a school few mile from
the city. Returning home recently,
she was taken sick and physician
was called An examination by him
revealed the fact that she was aboat
TO became a mother The terrible
opinion fell like thunderbolt upon
the parents; but it smote the heart OF
the girl with a grief and terror and
amazement which no language can
describe She could not nor would
not believe her physician. Her pale
| lips asserted ard reasserted the most
positive innocence of any aud eli
circumstances leading to such re-
suit She as solsmnly affirmed her
ignorance of her condition until in
formed by the physician. On in
curing into her relations with the
family boarding her, it was ascer-
tianed that there we're two grown up
sons, but there was no circumstance
showing the least improper intimacy
between either of them and the
teacher, or between her and any
other party in the neighborhood.
Her department in the district had
been most scrupul)usly correct.
That she must have been drugged
was the only remaining explanation
of the case To this solution exam
ination was directed, and the girl
stated that on one occasion one of
the sons above mentioned advised
her to keep tie door of her chamber
locked at night. Up to that time
the had not locked her door, but did
subsequently. No other circumstance
was elected to throw any light upon
the mystery. The farmer with
whom she boarded was summoned
to the city, and, being informed of
the case, was greatly astonished. and
PROPOSED the deepest sympathy. He
could not believe that either of his
sons couli be guilty of the crime;
nor did be think them at all qualified
by their knowledge of drugs for it's
accomplishment. 1t has since been
learned that one of the sons had
spent some months in drug store,
and we conclude our story of the
crime by mentioning that the child
at its birth, was taken by the farmer
to his home for adoption.
After the birth Of the child the
young mother solmenly raised her
head and called God TO witness that
she knew nothing of it's conception
or fatherhood la spite Of these
impressive asseverations more or lees
suspicion still clouded the gills in
nocence' This suspicion was of q
nature that involved questions of
medical science. But last Sunday u
new witness appeared in the case.
While a number were in the sick
room, white dove appeared at the
window and beat his bill against the
panes in a vain endeavor to enter.
Barred from admission at this point,
the bird disappeared and immrdi~
ately sought anothtr place of en-.
trance, which it found at the back
door of the dwelling Here it
entered and made it's way to the
sick-room, when it flew to the bed,
perched for momrnt on the foot
board and then made it's way to the
PROSTATE head of the poor patient,
where it nestled in perfect security,
and was only removed by hand!
How will the world view this sungu
lar incident? Is it Judgment from
heaven pronounced in favor of the
innoceuco of the girl? You may
laugh at this idea, but you must con-
cede that the visitation of the white
dove was unnatural supernatural
Neither this bird nor any dove had
ever been domesticated at the house,
or had their cote in the neighbour
hood The visit was no sequence of
anything going before. 1t was
flash from dark q ess, and to darkness
it returned. The white dove for
ages has been symbolic of purity.
1t is so treated ia the sacred word
Had it this meaning for her, who has
no witness for her innocence, and
whose situation was as much a mys.
terry to herself as TO her friends2