The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-16
Death-Bed Visions.

mOtQeF ulcuJ lcdNih6 NSSP..y-, =,
ed husband and beautiful little child
about three years of age. -,
The child, though apparently health
ly. was suddenly taken sick q few
weeks after his mothers death, and
died after brief illness. A few mo,
ments before he breathed his last, and
as he lay like beautiful marble stat,
ute upon his bed, where the agonlzed
father and friends were watching over
him-scarcely being able to tell wheth-
er the little spirit had taken its flight
all at once the closed eyes opened
wide. and, with what seemed to be al
most superhuman effort, the dying
child partially raised its head from the
nilloW. reached out his little chubby
arms, and, looking up with q smile on
his face. said, mamma p' and fell
back upon his pillow with q last
Who shall say that that fond mother
had mot left the radiant throng to
clasp within her arms once more her
baby and take him back with her to
that deathless shore? Could that In
fant mind? Nay, was 1t not rather a
blessed reality?
One of the most remarkable instances
of a similar kind was that of a little
girl. named Edna Coe, to whom we
were greatly attached, and whose par
ents at the time of her death were
neighbors of ours. They had three
children-Edna, between seven and
eight years of age; Walter, four years
old, and baby Annie, about two.
A few years since, during one win
ter when q maglignant tybe of dip
liberia was prevalent in that vicinity,
the little boy, Walter, was suddenly
attacked with it, and died after few
hours sickness.
About week afterwards little Edna
was similarly attacked and lived only
about two days.
When dying she said to her mother
"Mamma, am dying. Little Annie
will have to 20 to school alone now,
when she gets old enough to 60. l am
sorry for her sake, for she will be lone
ly. I used to think she would have
me to 60 with her." -
She referred to the distance that she
had been obliged to walk to school,
living at that time in small country
village.
Then she added: "But I am going
to be with Brother Walter. Oh, mann.
NAL wish you could all see what l
see! Such a bright circle of people,
all dressed in white, and all SO happy,
and singing so beautifully! Brother
Waiter Is there among them. see
him! I want to 60 and be with
them"
She seemed for a time exhausted,
but, reviving again said: "Give all
my toys and books and pretty things
to baby; leave them for her. But
what are they all compared to this ?'
She seemed to realize that what ap-
peared to her vision could not be seen
by those about her bedside, for she
frequeuently repeated, "How I wish
YOU could all see what I seev
Her mother, thinking her mind
might be wandering, said, "Do you
know me, darling ."
Looking up into her mothers face
with bright smile of surprise, she re-
piled "Why, yes, mamma, of course
I know you all This Is my own dear
mamma, that is papa, that is DR.. Hol-
comb, that is Mrs. Brown" and 80 on,
mentioning and pointing to the differ
ent persons in the room, and repeat
ing, "Ah, yes, I know you ALL"
The last words that were uttered
were in a whisper, her faltering lips
close to her motner's ears-"Ah, that
--bright-circle of people! Walter
is there lam - going - with
them. Mamma-don't-cry-you-
have-baby-left. I-want-you-
and-papa-to-"
The sentence was never finished
There was gasp, brief stuggle, and
the beautiful eyes closed forever.
This is no sketch Of the Imagination
The instances herein narrated are
strictly true. We had them directly
not only from the lips of this afflicted
mother, a devout Christian, who the
following summer lost her only re-
naming child, and is now a childless
widow, but from others who witness
ed this very remarkable death-bed
scene, particularly remarkable in 9
child of that age, it being more what
one would expect, in language and ex
perience, from an adult.
We may say that such instances are
of rare occurrence. Perhaps they are
not as rare as we think. Who shal
tell who are passing from us, yet upon
whose lips Death is setting his seal?
Enough has been witnessed tc
strengthen the belief that glimpses O
heaven may sometimes be gained
through the gates ajar before reaching
the potial.
nj