University of Virginia Library

66. A Sick Boy Cured
BY JOHN BARNARD (1766)

IT pleased God that I should be taken with scarlet fever; through the raging of the fever, and a fierce pain at my heart, every breath I drew was as though a sword had been run through me. I was so ill that they thought I would not live.

On the third night, I think, it seemed to me that a certain woman came and brought me some small dark-colored pills. She told me to put one in my mouth and hold it there till it grew soft. Then I was to squeeze it flat between my thumb and finger and put it on my breast.

It would soak in, she said, and before I had used them all so, I should be well. I did as I was told, and when I had used the third pill, my pain and fever left me, and I was well.

My tender father, very early the next morning

came into my bed-room to ask how I was. I told him I was quite well and intended to get up soon. I said the pills Mrs. Baird gave me last night had entirely cured me.

He said to me: "Child, I believe she was not here; I heard nothing of it." To satisfy him I said: "Sir, I have the other four pills now in my hand." I put my hand out of the bed to show them, but they dropped out of my hand into the bed.

I then raised myself up to look for them but could not find them. He said to me: "I am afraid, child, you are out of your senses." I said to him: "Sir, I am perfectly awake and in my senses, and find myself truly well."

He left the room, thinking I was delirious, and I saw by his face that he feared I would die. He then asked of all the house whether that woman had been at the house the day or evening before. They all let him know that they had not seen her here. He went to his own room, and in about an hour came to me again.

I was firm in the story I had told him. He talked to me of some other things and found by my answers that I was thoroughly awake. He was better satisfied, and left me with a more cheerful face.

By noon I got up and was perfectly well of my sickness. I thought I would have given ever so much to know what the pills were, that others might have the benefit of them. Finding that the woman had not been at our house, and I was perfectly healed, I could not help thinking that a merciful God had sent a good angel to heal me.

And to this very day I cannot but think it was more than a common dream, or the wild ideas of a

feverish mind. It seemed to me a dream from God And what else can you make of it?

Thus has God kindly helped me. Forever blessed be his name.