The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-08-17
tSeiected for he Trginian J
THE OLD MANS DREAM.

THE OLD MANS DREAM
| IN short, We may conclude, TINT God, wh,
Is regular III his grcnt productions, acts viii
equal uniformity IN the little. lGoidsnuh.
But now the lame devil warned me I,
prepare for another flight. He took me by
the tip end 81 my iitIlc finger, and immcdi
ately We assembled Into the air, until, rs ho
uesl Sancho says, our mundane orb seemed
no larger than gram ot mustard seed, and
lts inhabitants almost as little rs haZle nuts,
Such and so rapid VAS our ascent, and
consequent descent. that had scarcely M
opportunity of observing the seven blue
sheep, aud thr two Ted rams. Almost m
an Instant, We hoyrrcd over "A considerable
luland town, Which requires as little de
serptIon AS til, one nhch lludibras had ia
his eye when he said
IN western climcs there is n town,
Veil known 10 those that dwell there
therefore, nothing more need hc sand here
Asmodlo, said my pleasant companion,
,o-day Sou have seen tn. waking dreams of
mankind, tonight liol / ight il now was, J
"u shall set Their Sleeping iapcies. But
gu well know, said /, that mortal eyes
w
you have ever consulted the hcathen mi
hoIogy, You have doubtless discovered
thhl Menus Was unsuccessful in pcrsuad
nG hls beticrs Ia place a window in the
east Of man. / am prepared for thal,
said he, and mutlelInp some words, which
did not understand, lie Immediately blew
Over me purple ,apour.
We flew from house 10 house, aud nv
vision pierced through the roof, even into
The lDnermost recess. saw the lovely
LYDIA, reclining upon a bed of down,
anectly dreaming Of Kisses, fragrant roses,
aud graceful youths. saw young anbi
ton, irradlng IN his sleep, The path of hon
or, directing the motion of the deep column
aud tn" heightened line, singly SCANNING
,hr tide II oattlt or like Hamilton, uni
'er5'1ly great, lie was playing with the
eve wreath passing all Grrek, ind pass
ing all homan fame. saw the gloomy
inlsrr, us he turned in his ANXIOUS bed, and
thought OF his III got gains, and dreamed of
mountains ol gold. In short, you would
have concluded that old Somnus had open
cd the horn aud the wrong gates, aud gwen
permission 10 his troop of Visions To play
their vagarrs "tor this night onIy.n
But MAS particularly struck with the
dream Of an o!d man, whose hair was white
with the frost ot that winter to which there
- no spring. lie dreamed he was a--cnb
hase plant. Thousands of those Emphc
merae," ho are said 10 be born, Ia continue
theIr kind, and die within the space of five
minutes, had assembled upon one 81 his
leaves, iol the purpose OF hearing a philo
soi'hlcal lecture. After the confusion oI
the mob was somewhat over, a vencrabl.
lttle fellow addressed them in these words
My brethren, listen to the voice of on,
whose passions are chilled, aud whose wis
dom is maturcd, by the age of scyera
minutes. Whether The cabbage plant has
hrrn created, or whether it is eternh IS il
mol the great deity himself, furnishing II.
AT .nce With life, food and shelter are ,lurs
uons, concerning which philosophers hav,
been divided, from the existence of philo
sophy IL the present day. This much i
CERTAIN, that we my consider il "a one vas
mansion, where Ephcmerae may dwell il
harmony and love, aud which they are ad
mIlted To cnJey, 10 admire and be grateful
, III Is not eternal, II may, and one day vi Ill
| be destroyed. Yes, brethren, the time vii
assnredly come, When, according To tn,
traditions hg our fathers, even the brigI
cabbage Of the sky, vii sink down into tn
west; and all nature shall rest in universal
! darkness md destruction. Even in M,
time, II has rcrpetually moved towards ii
inevitable destiny ; and
llooktd around IL request the genius I,
continue his flight hat the first rays ot tn,
morning sun had touched him =; for a mo
mtnt he appeared Ia stand on its bp,ns
then purple mist arose about him, and h
Was gone.