Recovery. 57 



sting, O grave, where is thy victory — thanks be to 

 God who giveth us the victory, through our Lord 

 Jesus Christ." I wished for nothing more, and I 

 cheerfully resigned myself, and all that was mine, to 

 that Great Being, who holds in his hands the keys 

 of life and death, and who goes with his children 

 through the lonely grave even to the resurrection of 

 the just. 



In the mean time, another physician had l)een 

 called in. My distressed sister-in-law, Miss Martin, 

 considered it all over with me, and gave the sad 

 intelligence to my family in Charleston. 



The kindness of friends, the skill of Physicians, 

 the prayers of Ministers, seemed all to be of no avail, 

 till on the night of the 23d of August. 



I began to feel an unusual burning in the back 

 of my neck. All night I was in excruciating pain, 

 and, when the light of the morning broke into my 

 chamber, — Great God — I could seel I looked, and 

 looked again, and the light seemed to come upon me,, 

 like an angel's visit, to bid me live. l" looked 

 around my chamber, and every well known object 

 became familiar. I tried to rouse myself to ascer- 

 tain whether all was not delusion, but Miss ^lartin 

 and Miss Cross, came in at that moment, and I saw 

 every feature in their countenances. They noted 

 the change, and their hearts overflowed with joy 

 and gratitude. 



Yes. it was the will of heaven that I should live. 

 That I should look again on the charms of earth 

 and heaven; that I should go on the mighty waters; 

 that I should mingle in the family circle, embrace 

 wife and children, and enjoy that heaven on earth — 

 domestic felicity ! It appeared to be the will of God 

 that I should again minister to my people, and 

 preach the everlasting gospel to a sinful world — 

 teach truth, integrity, justice, and mercy to man^ 



