drank from a certain cold spring, which really flowed at a remote corner
of his farm and was a great favorite both with him and his whole family,
and that it almost immediately restored him. Delighted with his dream,
he no sooner fairly awaked than he called up his eldest son and sent him
with a bottle, to the spring. He did not now _plead_, he _commanded_.
The son returned in due time, with a bottle of water. He returned, it is
true, with great fear and trembling, but he could do no less than obey.
The demands and commands were peremptory, and the father was almost
impatient.

"Now, my son," said the father, "bring me a tumbler." It was brought,
and the father took it. "Now," said he, "pour some of that water into
it." Samuel could do no other way than submit to the lawfully
constituted authority, though it was not without the most painful
apprehensions with regard to the consequences, and he kindly warned his
father of the danger. Nor were his sufferings at all diminished when the
father, in a decided tone of voice, ordered him to fill the tumbler
about half full.

Whether he had at first intended to drink so large a draught and
afterwards repented, is not known; but instead of swallowing it all at a
draught, the son's distress was greatly mitigated when he saw that he
only just tasted it, and then set down the tumbler. In a few minutes he
drank a little more, and then after a short time a little more still. He
was about half an hour drinking a gill of water. When that was gone, he
ordered more; and persisted in this moderate way till morning. By ten
o'clock, when his physician arrived, he had drunk nearly a quart of it,
and was evidently better. There was a soft, breathy perspiration, as
well as more strength.

The physician no sooner saw him than he pronounced him better. "What
have you been doing?" he said, rather jocosely. The sick man told him
the simple story of his rebellion from beginning to end. The doctor at
first shook his head, but when he came to reflect on the apparent good
consequences which had followed, he only said: "Well, I suppose we must
remember the old adage, 'Speak well of a bridge that carries you safe
over,'" and then joined in the general cheerfulness.

The patient continued to drink his spring water from day to day, and
with increasing good effects. It acted almost like a charm; it was not
only food and drink to him, but also medicine. Doubtless his great faith
in it was not without it