"I was standing upon the margin of the lake near my own dear home. Far out on the waters I heard a sound, low and musical as angels' whisperings. I could not catch the words; still its melody enchanted me, and filled my soul with rapture. Nearer and nearer it approached, and louder and louder became those strains, until the mingling of ten thousand angel voices seemed to make the very waters dance with rapturous delight. My brain grew dizzy, and I sank upon the ground. I raised my eyes, and gazing through the mist, tinted with rainbow hues reflected from the rays of the golden sunset, I saw a thousand fairy forms gliding from point to point, and trilling forth their lays. And on the brow of each I saw emblazoned forth the magic word of _Liberty_! The sight revived me, and springing up, I cried: 'Who are those lovely beings who come forth with my country's jewel glittering on their brow?' A voice replied: 'They are Columbia's daughters--their fetters have been broken--they are free again!' 'Let me embrace them--they are my sisters!' I cried, but at that moment I was seized by an iron hand, and borne from the spot. So rapidly was I whirled along that my senses fled. When I returned to consciousness, I found myself enveloped in a dismal cloud, while at my feet a thousand hissing serpents, which resembled lightning, coiled around, but could not harm me. I heard the dreadful thunders, as they burst over me, but still I feared not. I raised my eyes, and as a cloud rolled by it revealed to my astonished gaze the form of a man standing upon the very edge of a dark cloud, while below him was a precipice, millions of feet. My blood was chilled within me lest he should fall. I heard his cursings, and I saw him reaching forward. I looked farther, and upon another cloud I saw _my_ sister standing. She was clothed in white, and on her brow a golden wreath was shining. The clouds were rolling fast together, and he, that fiend-like form upon the other side, was reaching forward, and exulting in the thought how soon he would have her in his grasp, and hurl her down that awful chasm. My brain was reeling, and my heart bursting within me as I gazed upon this scene. I tried to speak, but terror held me dumb. She was almost in his grasp, when my sister raised a dagger, I heard a voice exclaim, 'Hold fast that steel!' I looked, and emblazoned on its polished blade, read the word _virtue_! The villain saw it, and sprang back with a cry of terror. I saw the cloud on which he stood turning to blood, while that upon the other side was tinged with glorious beauty. The thunder rent the dismal pall, and breaking it in pieces, I saw the villain hurled into the depths below, while hideous fiends held their orgies around him. And then commenced the strains I heard upon the lake. My sister joined the chorus, and gazing on me, smiled. Columbia's daughters came and bore that loved one to my heart, and as I clasped her close, I woke, suffocating with excessive joy!"