Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-10-27

tnCIc was IL SioWihS nv III thC Sldto (,
and he had thick wrapper over his
shoulders. "Sit down." continued he,
"and III tell you my dream, if can get
through without freezing us both into icy
statues.-"Go on" said |, seating myself
comfortably at the fire-"I apprehend-
ed no danger from the recital of your
dream.
"Well-last evening was all alone
twas bitter cold evening too-and |, as
usual-when the present is not partcu-
larly agree able, amused myselfby think
ing over the past. You cannot imagine
what world of memory passed before
me! But as the minds images thicken-
ed, they grew fainter, the dim light ofthc
lamp grew DINNER before me-thc
bowling Of the north wind died away in
my ear-and ! fell asleep in my arm
chair.
"For time my visions were broken
ard vague-yct they bore somewhat of
the impress of my waking ones-hall
formed, half-seen faces, once familiar,
stared around me-and dim and hurried
perceptions of familiar scenery passed
before me, like the changes of a phan-
tasmagora Suddenly the scene was
changed. | seemed wandering over
vast plain ofice-anon, struggling in the
rift of Swiss Avalanche, or riding on
the steep pinnacle of an iceberg, or
standing in a swift current Of cold water
with the raw wind blowing and the ice
stifening around my body; and then the
dimness and incohercnce passed away,
and new order Of visions came before
me.
was standing in familiar looking
dwelling, at least its proportions seemed
so-but it was entirely composed OF ice
cold, shining, unmelting ice. The
trees which stood without, knew them
by their gnarled limbs and STOPPING bod
les as familiar to my youthful days
were also Of ice, limbs and foliage, and
trunk of the same. was trcading upon
an icy hoor-the ceilng-the doors and
windows and household furniture were
ice-nothing but clear, glittcring ice,
] stood in the wntry parlor, shaking
with cold, when figure slow y approach
ed me. knew it in an instant. twas
the mother Of my first love-the Caroline
whom have told you of so often. There
were the same figure, proportion, dress,
&c.-the same pair Of huge-spectacles
on her face, which characterized her
thirty years ago. She came forward
and bowed, without relaxing muscle of
her countenance, and pointed to sofa
Office behind me. Hardly had | seated
my SELF when the door again opened, and
I Caroline herself entered; and advanced
slowly and without any sign Of emotion
towards me, although she evidently re-
cognizcd me, and held out her hand in
sort of mechanical welcome. rose and
clasped it in my own. Heavcns!-it
was cold-cold as winter tomb stone
and as the icy fingers fastened about my
own, | shuddered as if a spectre had
welcomed me to the world of shadows.
She was ice, like every thing around
her.
The Cottage, the old lady, and my
long-lovcd Caroline passed away, and
found myself in a beautiful mansion in a
far off land. d.-Thcre too, the spell Of
winter rested like death upon every
thing around me. The pillar-the spIen-
did galleries, ,ond magnificent apartments,
and the servants, and the attendants,
were all ice in that winter Of desolaton.
Yet, recognized the scene of my deep
est attachment-the dwelling of Aer,
whose beautiful image has never ceased
to haunt me, from the moment of our
first meeting. And | saw her-the
magnificent girl!-and she threw her
arms around my neck, and kissed me-
it was like the kiss of marble statue
the twining of the arms of the dead a
round the neck of the living-a cold and
icy communion. And then, seemed
myself to take the nature Of all around
me, and became as ice, all save my
heart, which still beat beneath its UNI
conscious body. And we sat down to-
gether, two icy statues, mocking one a.
mother with the look of warm and kindly
affection. And she would lay her cold
hand in my own, and bend her head with
its rich, but unmoving mass of ringlets
towards me: and her eye bcamcd con-
stantly with a smile like that with which
she always welcomed ne; and yet |
knew that it was an awful mocking; and
that the warmth and the passion of love
and life were not there.
l awoke. My lamp was like small
spark it had burned so low-thc fire had
gone out; and the moonlight as it stream
ed through the unshuttered windows, re-
vealcd the black and cold bars of the
CRATE before me; the doors were aiar,
and a current of mir hitter with frost was