We may be entering the 3rd part of his vision...
"George Washington's Vision"
This afternoon, as I was sitting at this table
engaged in preparing a dispatch, something seemed to disturb me.
Looking up, I beheld standing opposite me a singularly beautiful female.
So astonished was I, for I had given strict orders not to be disturbed,
that it was some moments before I found language to inquire the cause
of her presence. A second, a third and even a fourth time did I repeat
my question, but received no answer from my mysterious visitor except a
slight raising of her eyes.
By this time I felt strange sensations
spreading through me. I would have risen but the riveted gaze of the
being before me rendered volition impossible. I assayed once more to
address her, but my tongue had become useless, as though it 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 seemed as if it had become filled with sensations, and
luminous. Everything about me seemed to rarefy, 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
sensations which I have sometimes imagined accompany dissolution. I did
not think, I did not reason, I did not move; all were alike impossible. I
was only conscious of gazing fixedly, vacantly at my companion.
Presently I heard a voice saying, "Son of the
Republic, look and learn," while at the same time my visitor extended
her arm eastwardly, I now beheld a heavy white vapor at some distance
rising fold upon fold. This gradually dissipated, and I looked upon a
stranger 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, and
between Asia and America lay the Pacific.
"Son of the Republic," said the same
mysterious voice as before, "look and learn." At that moment I beheld a
dark, shadowy being, like an angel, standing or rather floating in
mid-air, between Europe and America. Dipping water out of the ocean in
the hollow of each hand, he sprinkled some upon America with his right
hand, while with his left hand he cast some on Europe. Immediately a
cloud raised from these countries, and joined in mid-ocean. For a while
it remained stationary, and then moved slowly westward, until it
enveloped America in its murky folds. Sharp flashes of lightning gleamed
through it at intervals, and I heard the smothered groans and cries of
the American people.
A second time the angel dipped water from the
ocean, and sprinkled it out as before. The dark cloud was then drawn
back to the ocean, in whose heaving billows in sank from view. A third
time I heard the mysterious voice saying, "Son of the Republic, look and
learn," I cast my eyes upon America and beheld villages and 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 mysterious voice say, "Son
of the Republic, the end of the century cometh, look and learn." At this
the dark shadowy angel turned his face southward, and from Africa I saw
an ill omened specter approach our land. It flitted slowly over every
town and city of the latter. The inhabitants presently set themselves in
battle array against each other. As I continued looking I saw a bright
angel, on whose brow rested a crown of light, on which was traced the
word "Union," bearing the American flag which he placed between the
divided nation, and said, "Remember ye are brethren." Instantly, the
inhabitants, casting from them their weapons became friends once more,
and united around the National Standard.
