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George
Washington's Vision
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I
essayed once more to address her, but my tongue had become useless. Even
though itself had become paralyzed. A new influence, mysterious, potent,
irresistible, took possession of me. All I could do was to gaze steadily,
vacantly at my unknown visitor. Gradually the surrounding atmosphere filled
with sensations,and grew luminous. Everything about me seemed to clarify,
the mysterious visitor herself becoming more airy and yet more distinct
to my sight than before. I now began to feel as one dying, or rather to
experience the sensation which I have sometimes imagined accompanies dissolution.
I did. not think, I did not reason, I did not move. All, alike were impossible.
I was conscious only of gazing fixedly, vacantly, at my companion."
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"Presently I heard a voice say, ?'Son of 'the Republic, look and learn!" while at the same time my visitor extended her arm eastwardly. I 1(joked and beheld a heavy white vapor rising at some distance, fold upon fold. This gradually dissipated, and I looked upon a ,strange scene. Before me lay spread out in one vast plain all the countries of the world--Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. I saw rolling and tossing between Europe and America, the billows of the Atlantic Ocean, and between America and Asia lay the Pacific. "Son of the Republic," said the mysterious voice as before, "look and learn." |
"At that moment, I beheld a dark, shadowy being like a angel standing, or rather floating in midair between Europe and America. Dipping water out of the ocean with his right hand, he cast it upon America, while that in his left hand went upon the European countries. Immediately, a cloud arose from these countries and joined in mid ocean. For awhile it remained stationary, and then it moved slowly westward, until it enveloped America in its folds. Sharp flashes of lightning gleamed through at intervals; and I heard the smothered groans of the American people. A second time the angel dipped water from the ocean and sprinkled it as before. The dark cloud was then drawn back to the ocean in whose heaving billow it sank from view. A third time I heard the mysterious voice say, "Son of the Republic, look and learn." |
"I cast my eyes upon America and beheld villages, towns, and cities springing up one after another until the whole land, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, was dotted with them. Again I heard the voice say, "Son of the Republic, the end of the century cometh. Look and learn." |
"And with this the dark, shadowy figure turned its face southward, and from Africa an ill-omened spectre approached our land. |
"It flitted slowly over every town and city of the land. The inhabitants presently set themselves in battle array against each other. As I continued to look I saw a bright angel, on whose brow rested a crown of light on which was traced the word, "Union," place on an American flag between the divided nation, and say, "Remember, ye are brethren." Instantly, the inhabitants, casting from them their weapons, became friends once more, and united around the National Standard. |