The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-04-14

VIII eaftn give love IKE yonfs egolnt
Sweet mother. let me weep!
To those who are addicted to indulging
In gentle slumbers at church, we commend
'he following dream as "caution."
MY LAST DREAM AT CHURCH.
BY SOLOMON sYNTAx, ESQ.
II was fine Sabbath morning in june
Our village bell had rung once, and was ex-
pected to soon ring again, when sailed
forth to hear our Parson, Mr.. Aimwell,
He was good man, very sound in the faith,
and took special pains to instruct his peo-
pie in all the minutie of technicalites, that
they might know what to believe and what
to reject. He was sometimes dull and pro-
sy. This seemed TO be emphatically the
case on the day which | allude TO. His
text was, "Your adversary the devil, as a
roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom
he may devour." listened attentively un-
Ill he had closed his exordium, and given
us the heads OF his discourse, when began
to feel drowsy; thinking could safely trust
our good parson and his sermon to those
who felt more interested, quietly settled in
my seat to take nap. The monotonous
tones of our parson, combined with the buzz
zing of insects in the windows, soon lulled
me 10 sleep. From gentle slumber soon
passed into horrible terrific dream. tho't
! was in large open field, and saw sold
hornie' approaching in the shape Of lion
with enormous horns and teeth, and fiery
tail that lashed his long, lank sides. There
was no object near, behind which could
find shelter; attempted to run, but flight
was impossible and in an agony of terror
awaited the approach of my foe. Fortu-
nately succeeded in reaching club, and
with such a weapon against such foe
endeayored to make the best stand could.
The monster had now approached within
afew feet, stand then came the tug of wal" "
With all my strength belabored him over
ihe head and shoulders with my club; but
the repeated blows seemed to make no more
impression upon my adversary than the
soft summer breeze upon mountain OF
granite. Against all my resistance he pass.
ed forward TIL his long horns almost touch.
ed me. Summoning all my strength ! gave
him terrible blow across the eyes, which
made the monster reel and shrink back.
now thought victory secure, and was press
ing forward to follow the advantages already
gained when my enemy suddenly assumed
the form of large giant. By this unex-
pected manDuvre / was completely nom
plussed. Not expecting such lranslorma-
tion was totally unprepared to meet that
hideous form. The cold blood seemed to
siagnate around my heart; darkness covered
my ayes, and the chilIs of death came over
me, As my last hope, sprang forward,
closed in with my adversary, and grasped
him round the body. He uttered terrible
yeil-that yell broke my slumber.-Judge
what must have been my astonishmeni
when I awoke--the eyes of the whole con-
gregation were turned upon me: the minis
Ter was standing in the desk, and ] was
grasping Miss Emily Turner around the
neck! II was her shrek that awoke me
from my slumber. Scarcely knowing where
was or what did relaxed my hold. The
violence of the grasp brought coPious
hemoHhage from the young lady's nose,
and her white dress was soon spotted with
blood. sunk down in my seat and wish
ed myself dead. When the service closed
stole out Of church ss soon as possible,
and have not entered il since. II was sew
eral days before could trust my feelings
sufficiently to apologize to Miss Emily, and
when was ushered into her presence felt
faint and sick at heart
Years have passed away, but they have
not efaced the remembrance Of that day.
And whenever the sound Of the ''church
going belP' rolls along the valleys, or rever-
beraies from the hills it recalls to my mind,
with al the freshness Of living reality, the
recollection ofmy last dream al church.