Swedish prophet, who had opened the eyes of
his Inner-Man and brought him to a life in conformity with the decrees
from On-High. He sought for an Angelic Spirit among women; Swedenborg
found her for him in a vision. His bride was the daughter of a London
shoemaker, in whom, said Swedenborg, the life of Heaven shone, she
having passed through all anterior trials. After the death, that is, the
transformation of the prophet, the baron came to Jarvis to accomplish
his celestial nuptials with the observances of Prayer. As for me, who
am not a Seer, I have only known the terrestrial works of this couple.
Their lives were those of saints whose virtues are the glory of the
Roman Church. They ameliorated the condition of our people; they
supplied them all with means in return for work,--little, perhaps,
but enough for all their wants. Those who lived with them in constant
intercourse never saw them show a sign of anger or impatience; they were
constantly beneficent and gentle, full of courtesy and loving-kindness;
their marriage was the harmony of two souls indissolubly united. Two
eiders winging the same flight, the sound in the echo, the thought in
the word,--these, perhaps, are true images of their union. Every one
here in Jarvis loved them with an affection which I can compare only
to the love of a plant for the sun. The wife was simple in her manners,
beautiful in form, lovely in face, with a dignity of bearing like that
of august personages. In 1783, being then twenty-six years old, she
conceived a child; her pregnancy was to the pair a solemn joy. They
prepared to bid the earth farewell; for they told me they should be
transformed when their child had passed the state of infancy which
needed their fostering care until the strength to exist alone should be
given to her.

"Their child was born,--the Seraphita we are now concerned with. From
the moment of her conception father and mother lived a still more
solitary life than in the past, lifting themselves up to heaven by
Prayer. They hoped to see Swedenborg, and faith realized their hope.
The day on which Seraphita came into the world Swedenborg appeared in
Jarvis, and filled the room of the new-born child with light. I was told
that he said, 'The work is accomplished; the Heavens rejoice!' Sounds of
unknown melodies were heard throughout the house, seeming to come
from the four points of heaven on the wings of the wind. The spirit of
Swedenborg led the father forth to the