Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 May 1877 — What a Little Girl Saw While in a Trance. [ARTICLE]

What a Little Girl Saw While in a Trance.

The following singular story comes from Monroe, Wis., and is vouched for as strictly true by prominent residents of that place: Nellie Blackford is thirteen years old, ard never has been a robust child. Some two months ago or more she supposed her mother to be dying, and ran nearly two miles for neighbors to be present. She returned exhausted, was taken down to the bed with illness, suffering greatly for many weeks afterward. A physician gave all possible attention, but she continued to grow worse. The doctor finally declared that no human pqwer could save her, and that she must die. Nellie, too, expressed a desire not to live, saying that she wished to go to God and the angels, ere her dear afflicted mother left her a helpless orphan. On Monday afternoon, the 16tli ult., the friends and neighbors assembled to see.lier pass away. •About three o’clock her extremities became very cold, and they thought her gintly and happily passing “over the river.” All at once a change passed over her features, a sv/eet smile illuminated her countenance, and the most intense delightseemed portrayed and lingered on her face till it fairly shone. Words fail to express the happiness, contentment and glory there depicted. A continual change seemed passing over her quiet face, all telling of something bright and beautiful passing before her enraptured eyes. All at once, to the astonishment of all, she raised her little hands in the attitude of listening intently, changing her position continually, and seeming to listen with all the power of her being. She continued in this state for very nearly three hours, seemingly perfectly unconscious of all surrounding objects and sounds. She seemed to gently rouse from this condition. She opened her eyes, aud, seeing her mother standing near, a sweet and heavenly smile passed over her face. Her mother stooped and asked her if she heard sweet music. Nellie had spoken before of hearing music when in her sinking spells. And now comes the strange and miraculous story of this little daughter of affliction as related by herself: “ I seemed as though I was walking through a pleasant country till I camo to a place that surely was heaven. There were streets all paved with gold, and such beautiful fountains as clear as crystal that seemed to rise up and then fall in bright sparkling drops. I laid down on a soft, grassy bank to rest, near a fount ain, where uiy grandpa, who has been dead six years, came to me, and said I should go back to take care of my little sister till she was large enough to take care of herself. My little brother, whom I had never seen, came to me and told me he was my brother, and he played such sweet music for me on a golden harp. A' crown of gold encircled his head. He was all dressed in gleaming white, and so was grandpa. And he did not look so old as when here, and his eyes were perfect, not blind of the one he used to be. His voice sounded so familiar. “Then, oh I lean hardly tell; I saw Jesus all robed in white, a dazzling crown upon His head. He sat on such a bean* tltul high seat that was on a raised platform. All seemed of gold, and there were beautiful trees, flowers, streams and fountains of clear water around tbe throne and everywhere. Angels, were flying around, bright crowas upon their heads and golden harps in their hands, and they played the sweetest music that I ever heard. I felt so sorry at first when grandpa told me I should go back and take tbe place of my dear mother, and she should come. When I first seemed to get to this beautiful place, the sweet word Welcome! Welcome! echoed all around. I saw so many things that words fail to tell them now. The angels said they would cure me, that 1 should take no medicine, and I know I shall get well.” Nellie- Blackford, it is said, has greatly improved since her trance vision, and seems in a fair way to get entirely well.