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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
throwing off some of the passengers. We had to keep stopping to get
on our passengers and baggage, or repair the track. We seemed to
work some time and to make little or no headway. We were indeed a
sorry-looking set of travelers.
“All at once we came to a turntable, large enough to take on the
whole train. Brother and sister white were standing there and, as I
stepped off the train, they said: ‘this train is going all wrong. It must
be turned square about.’ They both laid hold of cranks that moved the
machinery turning the table and tugged with all their might. Never did
men work harder propelling a handcar than they did at the cranks of
the turntable. I stood and watched till I saw the train beginning to turn,
when I spoke out and said, ‘it moves,’ and laid hold to help them. I
paid but little attention to the train, we were so intent upon performing
our labor of turning the table.
“When we had accomplished this task, we looked up, and the
whole train was transformed. Instead of the low, ill-ventilated cars on
which we had been riding, there were broad, high, well-ventilated cars,
with large, clear windows, the whole trimmed and gilded in a most
splendid manner, more elegant than any palace or hotel car I ever saw.
[602]
The track was level, smooth, and firm. The train was filling up with
passengers whose countenances were cheerful and happy, yet wore
an expression of assurance and solemnity. All seemed to express the
greatest satisfaction at the change which had been wrought, and the
greatest confidence in the successful passage of the train. Brother and
sister white were on board this time, their countenances lit up with
holy joy. As the train was starting, I was so overjoyed that I awoke,
with the impression on my mind that that dream referred to the church
at battle creek and matters connected with the cause there. My mind
was perfectly clear in regard to my duty to go to Battle Creek and lend
a helping hand in the work there. Glad am I now that I have been here
to see the blessing of the Lord accompanying the arduous labors of
brother and sister white in setting things in order.
“J. N. Loughborough.”
Before we left Monterey, Brother Loughborough handed me the
following account of another dream which he had about the time of
the death of his wife. This was also a matter of encouragement to me.
“‘The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream.’
Jeremiah
23:28
.