Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-06-30
A Child's Dream Of @ Star.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

There was once child, and he stroll
ed about good deal and thought Of a
number of things. He had sister,
who was a child too, and his constant
companion. These two used to wan
der all day long. They wondered at
the beuty of the flowers; they wonder
ed at the height and bluness of the sky;
they wondered at the depth of the wa
ter; they wondered at the goodness
and power Of God, who made the love-
ly world.
They used to say to one another
sometimes, "Supposing all the children
on earth were to die, would the flow
ers and the water and the sky be sor-
ry?" They believed they would be sor-
ry. For, said they, the buds are the
children of the flowers, and the little
streams that gambol down the hillsides,
are the children of the waters: and
the smallest bright specks playing at
hide and seek all night, must surely be
the children Of the stars; and they
would all be grieved to see the play
mates, the children of men, no more.
There was one clear shining star that
used to come out in the sky before the
rest, near the church spire, above the
graves. 1t was larger and more beau
tiful, they thought, than all the others,
and every night they watched for it,
standing hand in hand at,the window
Whoever saw it first cried out, Il see
the star!' And often they cried out
both together, knowing SO well when
it would rise, and where. SO they
grew to be such friends with it that be-
fore laying down in their beds they al
ways looked out once again to bid it
good night; and when they were turn
ing round to sleep, they would say 'God
bless the starn'
But while she was very young, oh
very, very young, the sister dropped,
and came to be so weak that she could
no longer stand in the window at night;
and then the child looked sadly out by
himself, and when he saw the star, turn
ed round and said to the patient, pale
face on the bed: II see the star!'' and
then smile would come upon the face,
and little weak voice used to say
"God bless my brother and the star !"
And SO the time came all too soon !.
when the child looked out alone, and
when there was no face upon the bed !;
and when there was alittle grave among
the graves, not there before: and when
the star made long rays down toward
him, as he saw it through his tears.
Now, these rays were SO bright, and
thew seemed 10 make such 2 shininu
way from earth to heaven, that when
the child went to his solitary bed, he
dreamed about the star; and dreamed
that lying where he was, he saw a train
of people taken up that sparkling road
by angels. And the star opening,
showed him a world Of light, where ma
ny more such angels waited to receive
them.
All these angels, who were waiting,
turned their beaming eyes upon the
people who were carried up into the
star; and some came out from the row
in which they stood, and fell upon the
peoples necks and kissed them tender
ly, and went away with them down av-
enues OF light, and were so happy in
their company, that lying in his bed he
wept for joy.
But, there were many angels who
did not go with them, and among them
one he knew. The patient face tha,
once had lain upon the bed was glori
fed and radiant, but his heart found ou
his sister among all the host.