The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-05-16
WHERE
BY R. PENSTOCK.

OANAO1 0HOOAOA anu uOrrlu0Q aG HIS pas
sionate outburst.
Mr.. Lawrence, for that was the
name of the dying man, had been sick
for several weeks with a complication
OF diseases occasioned by exposure and
lndefatigable labor, also by years of
dissipation. He was what the worldly
class would denominate a moderately
moral man, though one in whom the
church could see nothing good.
had informed Mr.. Lawrence of his
approaching demise some hours pre-
vious, but it did not seem to disturb
him the slightest. He had lain perfect
ly quiet for some time, and I was Just
becoming interested in a small volume
which l found lying on the table, when
the terrible words given above rang
shriekingly out on the deathlike still
ness, like some mad anguishing appeal
from the inferno.
'Mr. Lawrence, what can I do for
you7" I asked, taking him by the hand
and trying to reassure him by my pres
ence, for l observed his nerves were
in a very excitable state.
"Save me! help! save mel" he
shrieked again, I'm going to hell! I'm
-Tm"-before he could finish the sen
tence a severe hemorrhage filled his
mouth with blood and cut off further
articulation.
Quickly summoniDg the nurse, 1 set
about giving him relief, and in a very
short time succeeded, but not until he
lay completely Frustrated from loss of
blood.
Administering an opiate, I soon saw
him sleeping heavily. Thinking he
would remain asleep FOR an hour or
more 1 dismissed the nurse and re-
sumed my reading,
Isuppose I had been reading Is or 20
minutes, when l was again interrupted
by a slight movement of my patient.
CHANGING toward the bed 1 was startled
to find Mr.. Lawrence sitting bolt up
right, and reckoning me to him. Drop
ping the book I hurriedly approached
to the bedside, but ere 1 could utter a
word he spoke. He seemed to be in a
semi conscious state, and his eyes bore
that peculiar expression often seen de-
picted by somnambulists. Though a
strong man mentally and physically I
completely unnerved by the
ghastliness of the scene, and sank help
lessly into a chair.
Doctor" he said, and his. voice was
calm and strong, II have just had a
glimpse of the intermediates, or hell,
as biblical translators designate the
place of future torment, and it is even
worse than depicted in holy writ"
He paused a moment, but seeing I
made no attempt to interrupt him,
continued.
Eyes, it is horrible, but I am re
court and condemned, even to my..own
sense of right and equity, justly. Be-
fore I leave this shriveled body let me
describe my destination-the place OF
my future existence. He'll and heaven
are on a planet not a great distance
from this one. They are one and the
same as to location. Demons and angels
associate and o-mingle with each other
constantly. To the eye this hell heaven
is a paradise-a land of beauty, of
pleasure, of everything that would
tend to make man happy and con-
tented, but in reality it is all that is
claimed for it by the most fanatic
stickler to the doctrine of future pun
ishment. I see you are credulous. You
and a place of torment can be one and
the same, Let me tell you what I saw
and experienced while I lay asleep. I
thought I died, and in q twinkling l
was ushered into a beautiful garden
where bands Of music discoursed the
sweetest melody; I was surprised that
the notes grated upon my ears How
it be, I murmured. Then I remem-
bered that during life upon the earth I
had smothered out all love of music
from my soul, because it softened my
heart and tended to make me more
kind and considerate to others. What
I was DESTROYS of accomplishing upon
the earth, death did for me, for
my soul abhorred music. l began to
thirst, and going to a fountain of clear
water I drank %copiously, but
without assuaging my craving in the
least. Ny appetite called for whiskey,
for some alcoholic beverage, but no
thing but water was to be had. o the
of that burning appetite-that
ceasing craving-to be borne