The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-08-19
A REMARKABLE ..STONE.
Was It a:vision or a Dream?

Was It a::vision OF a Dream?
Editor Greenc;We Enterprise and Noun.
taineer: We have never met with salts.
factory explanation of the phenomena Of
dreams and visions. We have read many
theories on the subject, but they seemed
to be as visionary as the subject itself.
We have heard those who stand in the
sacred desk, tell with pathos and dramatic
power, of ministering spirits surrounding
the deathbeds of dying saints, of glimp
ses and visions into Paradise by those
who were on sick beds, or who in the
midst of deep troubles were seeking for
relief Some of these statements were
hardly orthodox as compared with the
creeds of the churches represented by
the speakers, yet they were evidently the
heart expressions of those who uttered
them, and had the desired effect on the
mind of the hearers. Personally, our
own experience and belief on the sub.
iect is that expressed by a son of the
Emerald Isle, viz, chat dreams always
20 by the contrary"
Considering dreams and visions in any
light we choose, the following told to us
by well.k known citizen of Piedmont has
something marvellous about it. The gen.
tleman of whom we write was just re-
covering from a severe attack of sickness
and was convalescent. One day not long
since, about the hour of twilight, he was
reclining on his couch and he states that
he was wide awake because he was con-
scous of what was going on about him,
and while lying thus, knock came at
the door and he bade the knocker enter,
and in moment beheld standing before
him an entire stranger. "Is this Mr..
-?" said the stranger. On being
answered in the affirmative, be informed
me that he had come as messenger from
my friend, Mr.. Pratt, I'VE use ticticious
names, who vas in Jerusalem. "He
has business of great importance for you
to attend to, and wishes you to come to
him at once" "But," said Mr.. 81
am sick; am not able to CO." "Oh,
yes you are," replied the messenger,
'just make up your mind that you will
go and you will find it easy enough" :"
Said Mr.. -, the man seemed so
affable and had such an attractive way
about him, he won my confidence; and
though under the circumstances the re-.
quest seemed to be unreasonable, I de-
termined to 90 with him. Iarose, clothed
myself as soon as possible and went out
of doors with him. In an instant of time
we were at the sea shore. How we ar
rived there do not know. We did not
seem to fly, but by mere yolition of the
will, space was annihilated, the journey
was accomplished, and we stood on the
brink OF the Atlantic Ocean. / thought,
shall we be enabled to cross this vast ex.
panse of water as easily as we have come
upon the land2 Just at this point my
guide handed me pair of shoes. of 3
most peculiar style. They were not of
unusual size, but were turned up at the
toes much after the fashion of an Indian
birch bark canoe. ], put them on my
feet and stood erect. There came rush.
ing, kissing sound like escaping steam,
and in the twinkling of an eye we were
at Jerusalem. We entered through the
gates into the city, and followed my
guide to building so large in its pro.
portions that none but they who saw it
could have any conception Of it's immense
size. On entering, / found myself in the
presence of millions of people. A
strange feature of this vast concourse,
was this: they were all young men and
women I myself being the only one
among them who was advanced in-years.
At one side of the house | discovered my
friend Mr.. Pratt, who, on beholding me,
came toward me. This movement on his
part attracted the attention of the rest,
and all gathered about us as if anxious
to learn what the result of our meeting
would be. Mr.. Pratt addressed me as
follows: II have sent for you, Mr.. -,
to get you to do very difficult piece of
work for me. It will take a great deal OF
skill and care, but l think you can do it.
/ want yout to polish this stone, lat the
same time taking stone from his pocket
half an inch square) Use the utmost
caution with it, and be sure not to mar
or take one atom of>substance from it.,
for the tinniest particle is of more value
than all,the wealth of the earth. If you
think you can polish it, explain to me
the method you are to follow in doing it"
I told him I thought I could do it, and
my plan would be as follows: ! would
take small block of soft white pine,
melt some sealing was on one end of it,
and while it was cooling set the stone
into it, then with piece of soft leather
the polish could be obtained without any
injury resulting. every WE'LL" said Mr..
Pratt, II think that will do." Where
upon, / arranged the wood, wax and
stone, and began the process ofpolishing.
I had hardly given dozen strokes with
the leather, when, wonder of wonders, a
light so powerful, 80 dazzling, so pene.
trating, came forth that was compelled
to shut my eyes, for the effect was as if 1
had looked straight into the sun when at
its meridian height. / also saw the great
multitude of people shut their eyes and
turn away their heads. 1t was marvel
Gus what space the rays Of light from
that little stone covered. 1t seemed to
me by comparison that it was as large as
the whole area covered by the United
States of America. With the greatest
difficulty succeeded in polishing every
side of it, pondering all the while in my
mind what kind of stone it could be-.
I had never seen anything like it..
Diamonds or rubies could not compare
with it. Finally, I saw that / had done
my best with the polishing and so stated
to Mr.. Pratt. He pronounced the work
satisfactory as far as the polishing was
concerned. "But," said he, IT now wish
to have you engraye some characters on
it, and will furnish you with a design" :"
II am sure I cannot do it," was my
answer. "It was as much as I could do to
polish it with my head turned away.
Even if had the ability to do the en-
craving, my eyes could not stand such
an intense light" Just at this point a
man of medium stature and with face
OF. SURPRISING loyeliness, took the stone
from my hand, saying as be- did $50 to
Mr.. Pratt: ."I will do the engraving"
Then with an iustrumenthe began tracing
mystical characters on one side of the
stone. | was. more amazed than ever
to see that these characters were seven or
eight feet in length. They stood sharply
defined amid the blaze of glory that sur.
rounded them. How could this be?
The stone only half an inch square and