Coincidences

The following incidents are narrated in the life of Rev. Dr. Wayland, just published, of his own mother:

One or two circumstances in the life of Mrs. Wayland were sufficiently remarkable to merit recital. No explanation of them is attempted. At the time of their removal to America, it was the design of Mr. Wayland and his wife to return in a few years to visit the relatives whom they had left behind, especially the mother of Mrs. W. This purpose they often spoke of to each other. But one morning, after they had been some years in the country, she said to him on waking, “I do not wish to return to England. My mother is dead.” No previous intimation of her ill health had been received. He, unknown to her, made a minute of the time of her declaration; and a subsequent arrival brought the news of the event, which had occurred at about the time at which her mind was thus impressed.

When her son–the subject of this memoir–was expected home from New York, after attending medical lectures there, during the winter of 1814-15, Mrs. W., who was sitting with her husband, suddenly walked the room in great agitation, saying “Pray for my son; Francis is in danger.” So urgent was her request that her husband joined her in prayer for his deliverance from peril. At the expected time he returned. His mother at once asked, “What has taken place?” It appeared that while coming up the North River, on a sloop, he had fallen overboard, and the sloop had passed over him. He was an athletic swimmer, and readily kept himself afloat till he could be rescued. Was it the unspeakable power of a mother’s love that imparted a vision more than natural?