第 3 节
作者:      更新:2021-03-08 19:26      字数:9321
  stay   a   considerable     time   beyond     the  usual   hour;   concludes     that  some
  misfortune must needs have happened to him; or he would certainly have
  been at home before。          In short; she went immediately to all the places he
  was wont to frequent; but nothing could be heard or seen of him till the
  next morning;  when   a   young   man;  as he   was going to   work;  discovered
  him; and went home and told his sister that her brother lay in such a place;
  under a tree; and; as he believed had been robbed and murdered。
  The   poor   woman;   who   had   all   night   been   under   the   most   dreadful
  apprehensions;   was   now   frightened   and   confounded   to   the   last   degree。
  However; recollecting herself; and   finding there   was no   remedy; she   got
  two or three of her neighbours to bear her company; and so hastened with
  the young man to the tree; where she found her brother lying in the same
  posture that he had described。
  The    dismal    object    at  first  view    startled  and    surprised    everybody
  present; and filled them full of different notions and conjectures。 But some
  of the company going nearer to him; and finding that he had lost nothing;
  and that there were no marks of any violence to be discovered about him;
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  they conclude that it must be an apoplectic or some other sudden fit that
  had surprised him in his walk; upon which his sister and the rest began to
  feel   his   hands   and   face;   and   observing   that   he   was   still   warm;   and   that
  there were some symptoms of life yet remaining; they conclude that   the
  best way was to carry him home to bed; which was accordingly done with
  the utmost expedition。
  When   they   had   got   him   into   the   bed;   nothing   was   omitted   that   they
  could    think   of  to  bring   him   to   himself;   but   still  he  continued    utterly
  insensible for about six hours。          At the sixth hour's end he began to move
  a   little;  and  in  a  very   short   time   was    so  far  recovered;    to  the   great
  astonishment of everybody about him; that he was able to look up; and to
  make a sign to his sister to bring him a cup of water。
  After he had drunk the water he soon perceived that all his faculties
  were returned to   their  former  stations; and though his   strength   was very
  much abated by the length and rigour of the fit; yet his intellects were as
  strong and vigorous as ever。
  His sister observing him to look earnestly upon the company; as if he
  had something extraordinary to communicate to them; fetched him a pen
  and ink and a sheet of paper; which; after a short pause; he took; and wrote
  as follows:…
  〃Dear sister;
  〃I have now no need of pen; ink; and paper; to tell you my meaning。 I
  find the strings that bound up my tongue; and hindered me from speaking;
  are unloosed; and I have words to express myself as freely and distinctly
  as   any   other   person。   From   whence   this   strange   and   unexpected   event
  should proceed; I must not pretend to say; any farther than this; that it is
  doubtless the hand of Providence that has done it; and in that I ought to
  acquiesce。 Pray let me be alone for two or three hours; that I may be at
  liberty   to   compose   myself;   and   put   my   thoughts   in   the   best   order   I   can
  before I leave them behind me。〃
  The poor woman; though extremely startled at what her brother had
  written; yet took care to conceal it from the neighbours; who; she knew; as
  well as she; must be mightily surprised at a thing so utterly unexpected。
  Says she; my brother desires to be alone; I believe he may have something
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  in   his   mind   that   disturbs   him。  Upon   which   the   neighbours   took   their
  leave and returned home; and his sister shut the door; and left him alone to
  his private contemplations。
  After the company were withdrawn he fell into a sound sleep; which
  lasted from two till six; and his sister; being apprehensive of the return of
  his fit; came to the bedside; and; asking softly if he wanted anything; he
  turned about to her and spoke to this effect: Dear sister; you see me not
  only recovered out of a terrible fit; but likewise that I have the liberty of
  speech; a blessing that I have been deprived of almost sixty years; and I
  am satisfied you are sincerely joyful to find me in the state I now am in;
  but;   alas!   it   is   but   a   mistaken   kindness。 These   are   things   but   of   short
  duration; and if they were to continue for a hundred years longer; I can't
  see how I should be anyways the better。
  I know the world too well to be fond of it; and am fully satisfied that
  the difference between a long and a short life is insignificant; especially
  when I consider the accidents and company I am to encounter。                        Do   but
  look   seriously   and   impartially   upon   the   astonishing   notion   of   time   and
  eternity; what an immense deal has run out already; and how infinite it is
  still in the future; do but seriously and deliberately consider this; and you
  will find; upon the whole; that three days and three ages of life come much
  to the same measure and reckoning。
  As soon as he had ended his discourse upon the vanity and uncertainty
  of human life; he looked steadfastly upon her。               Sister; says he; I conjure
  you   not   to   be   disturbed   at   what   I   am   going   to   tell   you;   which   you   will
  undoubtedly find to be true in every particular。             I perceive my glass is run;
  and I have now no more to do in this world but to take my leave of it; for
  to…morrow about this time my speech will be again taken from me; and; in
  a short time; my fit will return; and the next day; which I understand is the
  day on which I came into this troublesome world; I shall exchange it for
  another; where; for the future; I shall for ever be free from all manner of
  sin and sufferings。
  The good woman would have made him a reply; but he prevented her
  by   telling   her   he   had   no   time   to   hearken   to   unnecessary   complaints   or
  animadversions。        I   have   a   great   many   things   in   my   mind;   says   he;   that
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  require a speedy and serious consideration。              The time I have to stay is but
  short; and I have a great deal of important business to do in it。                Time and
  death are both in my view; and seem both to call aloud to me to make no
  delay。    I   beg   of   you;   therefore;   not   to   disquiet   yourself   or   me。 What
  must be; must be。        The decrees of Providence are eternal and unalterable;
  why;     then;  should    we    torment    ourselves    about    that  which    we    cannot
  remedy?
  I   must confess; my  dear sister; I owe   you many obligations for   your
  exemplary fondness to me; and do solemnly assure you I shall retain the
  sense of them to the last moment。              All that I have to request of you is;
  that I may be alone for this night。          I have it in my thoughts to leave some
  short   observations   behind   me;   and   likewise   to   discover   some   things   of
  great weight which have been revealed to me;  which may perhaps be of
  some use hereafter to you and your friends。                What credit they may meet
  with     I  cannot    say;  but   depend     the   consequence;       according     to  their
  respective periods; will account for them; and vindicate them against the
  supposition of falsity and mere suggestion。
  Upon   this;   his   sister   left   him   till   about   four   in   the   morning;   when
  coming   to   his   bedside   to   know   if   he   wanted   anything;   and   how   he   had
  rested; he made her this answer; I have been taking a cursory view of my
  life; and though I find myself exceedingly deficient in several particulars;
  yet I bless God I cannot find I have any just grounds to suspect my pardon。
  In short; says he; I have spent this night with more inward pleasure and
  true satisfaction than ever I spent a night through the whole course of my
  life。
  After he had concluded what he had to say upon the satisfaction that
  attended   an   innocent   and   well…spent   life;   and   observed   what   a   mighty
  consolation it was to persons; not only under the apprehension; but even in
  the very agonies of death itself; he desired her to bring him his usual cup
  of water; and then to help him on with his clothes;