The parent tree will mourn its shade,
The winds bewail the leafless tree;
But none shall breathe a sigh for me.

My life is like the prints which feet
Have left on Tampa's desert strand.
Soon as the rising tide shall beat
All trace will vanish from the sand.
Yet, as if grieving to efface
All vestige of the human race,
On that lone shore loud moans the sea.
But none, alas, shall mourn for me.

A VISION

There remains to be told the story of my conversion and how I came to
write the foregoing history of my life.

In 1875 I was taken sick. I thought I was going to die, and I promised
the Lord I would serve Him if he would only spare my life. When I got
well again, however, I forgot all about my promise. Then I was taken
sick again. It seemed I had to go through a dark desert place, where
great demons stood on either side. In the distance I could just see a
dim light, and I tried to get to this light, but could not reach it.
Then I found myself in a great marsh, and was sinking. I threw up my
hands and said, "Lord, if Thou wilt raise me from this pit, I will
never fail to serve Thee." Then it seemed as if I mounted on wings
into the air, and all the demons that stood about made a great
roaring. My flight ended on the top of a hill. But I was troubled
because I could not find the light. All at once, at the sound of a
loud peal of thunder, the earth opened, and I fell down into the pits
of hell. Again I prayed to God to save me from this, and again I
promised to serve Him. My prayer was answered, and I was able to fly
out of the pit, on to a bank. At the foot of the little hill on which
I sat were some little children, and they called to me to come down.
But I could not get down. Then the children raised a ladder for me,
and I came down among them. A little cherub took me by the hand and
led me in the River of Badjied of Jordan. I looked at my ankles and
shoulders and discovered I had little wings. On the river was a ship.
The children, the cherub and I got into the ship. When we reached a
beautiful spot, the little cherub made the ship fast, and there opened
before us pearly gates, and we all passed through into the golden
street. The street led to the throne of God, about which we marched.
Then the cherub conducted us to a table where a feast was spread. Then
the children vanished. The cherub took me by the hand, and said, "Go
back into the world, and tell the saints a