Near the close of my earthly life, I fell into a swoon, and I saw what was more evidence to me of a future life, than all I had ever heard or read. I saw my wisdom isolated, and torn in fragments. There came near me one whom I loved in my youth; one who was dear to me when I was in my years of prime; and who cherished an attachment for me, which even death had no power to dissolve. She had passed away. I had wept over her grave. I had mourned her death as the severest of all possible calamities. We were united. Nothing but the form of marriage was wanting to make us one in the sight of the world. We were married. I loved her as I never loved another. She was my idol; and never was homage more sincere and fervent than that which I gave her; never was my soul so willingly captivated as when I enjoyed her affection. Never was my distress equaled as when I saw her coffined for the grave. Oh, sadness! thou hast no wisdom for the bereaved! From that day to the period above related, I had no music like hers to cheer me onward through the night of my corroded sympathy, nor was there hope that we should meet on the plain of conjugal affinity which we now enjoy. In that swoon, I saw her as in the bloom of her virgin innocence. She came to me and said, “Thomas! be of good cheer, I am with you.” “Half wise am I to believe in an apparition, or have I lost my reason that I should see a ghost by my bedside?” I wondered to myself. “Be not deceived. Do you not see me? Here is my hand, and here the ring with my name engraved, and do you not know my voice?” she replied. “Indeed, your voice I know; I know all; but what are you?” may I ask. “I am your betrothed, your confiding companion. I have watched over you with more care than you would have deemed necessary, had I been formally united with you in marriage. I have come now as a spirit to remove your doubts, and conduct you to a circle where the weariness of the world will disturb no more.” “A spirit! a spirit!” I said in amazement. “Yes, a spirit, a spirit you mourned as dead, is with you.” “Is it possible? it is not--no, it is not.” “It is possible. Never question what you know, Thomas.” “I doubt not my senses, but my sight.” “Then take my hand, as you once plighted your love to me, and bear me witness that what you feel is not a delusion, nor my speech a mockery of heaven.”