1
After selling the farm at Tunbridge, we moved only a short distance, to the town of Royalton.
2
Here we resided a few months, then moved again to Sharon, Windsor county, Vermont.
3
In the latter place, my husband rented a farm of my father, which he cultivated in the summer, teaching school in the winter.
4
In this way, my husband continued laboring for a few years, during which time our circumstances gradually improved, until we found ourselves quite comfortable again.
5
In the meantime, we had a son whom we called Joseph, after the name of his father; he was born December 23, 1805; I shall speak of him more particularly by and by.
6
¶ We moved to Tunbridge; here we had another son, whom we named Samuel Harrison, born March 13, 1808.
7
We lived in this place a short time, then moved to Royalton, where Ephraim was born, March 13, 1810.
8
We continued here until we had another son, born March 13, 1811, whom we called William.
9
¶ About this time my husband's mind became much excited upon the subject of religion;
10
Yet he would not subscribe to any particular system of faith, but contended for the ancient order, as established by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and his Apostles.
11
¶ One night my husband retired to his bed, in a very thoughtful state of mind, contemplating the situation of the Christian religion, or the confusion and discord that were extant.
12
He soon fell into a sleep, and before waking had the following vision, which I shall relate in his own words, just as he told it to me the next morning:
13
¶ I seemed to be traveling in an open, barren field, and as I was traveling,
14
I turned my eyes towards the east, the west, the north and the south, but could see nothing save dead, fallen timber.
15
Not a vestige of life, either animal or vegetable, could be seen;
16
Besides, to render the scene still more dreary, the most deathlike silence prevailed; no sound of anything animate could be heard in all the field.
17
I was alone in this gloomy desert, with the exception of an attendant spirit, who kept constantly by my side.
18
Of him I inquired the meaning of what I saw, and why I was thus traveling in such a dismal place.
19
He answered thus: This field is the world, which now lieth inanimate and dumb, regarding the true religion, or plan of salvation;
20
But travel on, and by the wayside you will find on a certain log a box, the contents of which, if you eat thereof, will make you wise, and give unto you wisdom and understanding.
21
I carefully observed what was told me by my guide, and proceeding a short distance, I came to the box.
22
I immediately took it up, and placed it under my left arm; then with eagerness I raised the lid, and began to taste of its contents;
23
Upon which all manner of beasts, horned cattle, and roaring animals, rose up on every side in the most threatening manner possible, tearing the earth, tossing their horns, and bellowing most terrifically all around me,
24
And they finally came so close upon me, that I was compelled to drop the box, and fly for my life.
25
Yet, in the midst, of all this I was perfectly happy though I awoke trembling.
26
¶ From this forward, my husband seemed more confirmed than ever, in the opinion that there was no order or class of religionists that knew any more concerning the Kingdom of God, than those of the world, or such as made no profession of religion whatever.