The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-11-26
Was it or Was 1T Not?
A TRUE STORY.

a IhUE
have just read an article in the Review
of Reviews, on the scientific investigation
OF ghosts and other supernatural phenom
ena. 1t very wildly recalls to my mind an
incident, which occurred in my boyhood
days, that has made lasting impression
upon my mind and which l will now re
late. 1t happened in the winter of 1877 in the
state of v. in the quiet village of u,
my native town.
One stormy night was called upon to
60 to house over which hung the shroud
of death. to watch and care for the sick
The family consisted of husband wife and
several small children. They were of the
labOring class. and were even then tasting
the bitter dregs of poverty; the house was
bleak and cold, the fuel scarce and of the
poorest quality. We had been having one
OF the Severest snow storms experienced for
many year. Added to this the wind began
to blow hurricane. making the night all
the more dismal with the creaking of the
weather boards. the rattling of the windows
and doors, as If the very demon himself had
taken possession of the elements and was
determined to hold high carnival with all
that came within his grasp. Dreary was
the watch before me as l took up my vigil
| for the night. with my companion. young
man OF about my own age, caring for a lit
tie boy of about five years, who lay moan
ing and tossing upon his bed in all the
agony consequent upon fierce attack of
rheumatic fever. His oldest sister, beau
tiful child of perhaps thirteen years of age,
who had been sick for some days with
Icao LOT ho6 dio1 hat
about three O'Clock. AS l went into the
room of death with the grief stricken
mother, to see if everything was right for
the night. she told me the following story:
In the afternoon. as she was caring for the
little boy in another room, Mrs. S., for such
l shall call her, had heard little Alice call.
and on going to the bedside of the little girl,
and taking her little feverish hand in hers,
she asked if she wanted anything, when
little Alice asked her mama if she wouldn't
open the window and let the angel come in.
The little girl had scarcely spoken when in
through the window (althOugh it was
clOsed) came dove of the purest white
and perched upon the head of the bed over
the little sufferer, and the child went on
| saying. Mama, dear. 1 am going to leave
you. Jesus has sent his angels to take me
don't you see that beautiful dove, mama?
And l am going home to meet Him and live
with Him forever. [ want you. mama
and papa-and little brOthers-and sisters
to meet nae there I-am-gOing." A
gasp and the spirit of little Alice had de-
parted and gone to it's eternal home. and
with it departed the dove. which was the
emblem of Immortality distinctly seen. both
in coming and going by the mother and
other children.
am skeptic. and always have been. but
[ could not question that grief stricken
mothers belief in the visible manifestation
of this supernatural phenomenon. l might
perhaps, have dScOvered-if l had been
skeptical enough-a broken window pane,
for could feel the blast and see the little
drift of snow which was piled up upon the
casing and on the floor in all it's virgin pu-
rity-a fit emblem of the soul which had so
recently crossed the river OF death with its
companion of snowy plumage-but 1 felt
that perhaps the mothers belief was the
best even if it couldn't stand all the tests of
skeptical investigation.
There are many things in this world
which we may not be able to explain or ac-
count for; for we are none of us perfect,
but let us hope that we may meet in that
great beyond. when we shall know as we
are known. and I'VE shall be like Him for
we shall see Him as He ISL c.. w. K.
A Class Pleasure.