The weekly ledger., 1857-10-03
For the Weekly Ledger
THE PRISONERS DREAM.
By N. c. BRIGGS.


By N. c. BRIGGS.
Cold and windy was the night The whist
ling blast moaned and shrieked around my
strong dwelling, and anon came streaming in
through the iron lattice of my dark cell, which
confined me from the walks of freedom.
was prisoner, and for dark and murderous
crime had long been thus confined with no
covering save an old and worn blanket to pro-
tect me from the wintry blast, l laid me down
upon my bed Of straw to sleep, if perchance
the Angel Of Rest could visit the abode of
one thus cnrsed. She did, and soon the
stormy blast was forgotten; was transferred
to the land of dreams. And methought
was youth again, and the fond and endeared
home of childhood arose before me, in all its
former beauty and fertility. 1t was a CEN
trail spot in a lovely valley, surrounded by high
and wooded hills, upon which roamed in free
dom the wild game Of the forest. and at
whose feet gushed forth the living stream of
pure and crystal water, fertilizing and beau
tifying that peaceful spot, where pleasure and
happiness alone could dwell And here was
born and bred in the midst of my earthly
Paradise, the home of my childhood. | tho't
| was a child again, playing as of yore amid
the green fields, with my gentle blue-eyed sis
ter and laughing brother and heard again
their sweet voices ringing in accents Of pleas
ure as we chased the golden butterfly, or leap
ed the little brook in race for the beautiful
| lilly that grew upon It's bank. The same sill
yer brook ran by our cottage home, watering
the plants and shrubs that around it grew
And we again played among the flowers and
inhaled their sweet perfume, and breathed
the balmy air of health and innocence. When
our feet were weary with youthful sports, we
entered that ever welcome home, and received
that mild and pleasing look and sweet kiss
from that ever kind aud afiectionate mother
and those words of truth and learning from
that honored father. Those indeed were the
days of my happiness no sorrow clouded my
brow or peIplexed my mind to WEAKNESS, but
all were bright summer days, with no wintry
clouds to darken the abode of youthful and
innocent pleasure. In my dream, time flew
on; those happy days were passed, and
stood upon the brink of manhood, preparing
TO leave that parental roof, those green fields
blooming flowers, and the scenes of youth
never to be erased from my memory. My fa
ther was now growing old time had left his
mark in those silver locks and that wrinkled
brow gave evidence of departed youth; yet
his step was light, and the words which fell
from his lips were still mbued with wisdom
and announcement. The effects of age had
also fallen upon my kind mother, and those
raven locks were bespriukled with the frosts
of years; her tolls for her children were still
unceasing, aud her heart beat as fondly as
ever for our welfare and success in life. Wonlo
that had language sufficient to clothe my
thoughts in expressing what is due my kino
mother, but language cannot express such
feelings, and pass them by deeply engrayeI
upon my heart That playful sister was now
grown to womanhood, and stood by my side
in all the innocence of a lovely maiden. My
brother, too, with manly form and manner
was there; his every feature and actions were
the same as that kind father, whose protect
i've arm had extended over us so long. AnC
now | thought the time had arrived when W,
should part My father took my hand in his
and raising his eyes to Heaven, invoked Goo
to bless and protect me from the evil ways o
the world. My mothers heart was overflow
ing with grief; she laid her aged head agains
my own, and we mingled our tears togethe
for the last time She spoke not word, bu
raised her eyes to heaven and in that silen
look was prayer far more eloquent thai
language can express. My sister wept, ant
the tears ran down those ruddy cheeks, sooth
ing heart such as even women seldom pos
sess No tears moistened the eyes Of my
brother, no sigh escaped his lips; that cain
aud impressive look, and heaving breast, told
Of an aching heart within. | thought | rush
ed from the painful scene but stopped to tak'
one last long look at the home of my you'll
and all that was dear to me. And | though
: in my dream / was waited from that endeare(
spot to deep dark dungeon, and with chain
about my body, weighed to the ground Ant
| thought the darkness grew intense; behelt
through the grated door the shining as of tel
thousand lights in the far-off distance, aud
J heard the clanking of chains, and fendsl
+ wells as of demons let loose from the loves
pit of torment Nearer and nearer they ap
preached, and their frightful yisages met m,
view; my blood chilled in my veins, my rea
son fled, / recoled and shuddered as the tho
of an encounter with such horrible being
crossed my mind Still on they came an