Encouraging Providences
99
a letter giving directions regarding their arrival at Utica, where some
of the brethren might meet them. Soon, however, Mrs. White felt
burdened and oppressed. Her husband, seeing her distress, burned the
letter they had just written, knelt down, and prayed that the burden
might be rolled away. The next day’s mail brought to them a letter from
Brother Belden, of Rocky Hill, Conn., containing means sufficient
to enable them to move to Connecticut, and urging them to accept
the invitation. Elder and Mrs. White saw in this hearty invitation the
manifest providence of God, and decided to go, believing that the Lord
was opening the way before them.
]
In June, 1849, Sister Clarissa M. Bonfoey proposed to live with
us. Her parents had recently died, and a division of furniture at the
homestead had given her everything necessary for a small family to
commence housekeeping. She cheerfully gave us the use of these
things, and did our work. We occupied a part of Brother Belden’s
house at Rocky Hill. Sister Bonfoey was a precious child of God. She
possessed a cheerful and happy disposition, never gloomy, yet not light
and trifling.
[124]
Living Waters—A Dream
My husband attended meetings in New Hampshire and Maine.
During his absence I was much troubled, fearing he might take the
cholera, which was then prevailing. But one night I dreamed that while
many around us were dying with the cholera, my husband proposed
that we should take a walk. In our walk I noticed that his eyes looked
bloodshot, his countenance flushed, and his lips pale. I told him that I
feared that he would be an easy subject for the cholera. Said he, “Walk
on a little further, and I will show you a sure remedy for the cholera.”
As we walked on, we came to a bridge over a stream of water,
when he abruptly left me and plunged out of sight into the water. I was
frightened; but he soon arose, holding in his hand a glass of sparkling
water. He drank it, saying, “This water cures all manner of diseases.”
He plunged in again out of sight, brought up another glass of clear
water, and as he held it up repeated the same words.
I felt sad that he did not offer me some of the water. Said he:
“There is a secret spring in the bottom of this river which cures all
manner of diseases, and all who obtain it must plunge at a venture. No