Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-07-13
lloutb's Department.
A cHlLD's DREAM OF A STAR.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

% NAAhhfA nlNkENa.
There was once child, and he strolled
about good deal and thought of number Of
things lie had sister, who was a child too,
and his constant companion. These two used
20 wonder all day long. They wondered at
the beauty Of the flowers they wondered at
tho height and buoness Of the sky; they
wondered at the depth Of the bright water
they wondered at the goodness and power OF
God. who made the lovely world.
They used to say TO one another sometimes.
"Supposiug all the children on earth were to
die, would the flowers and the water and the
SKY be sorry" They believed they would DO
sorry. For, said they, the buds are the chill
dren of the flowers, and the little playful
streams that gambol down the hillsidos, are
the children of the water and the smallest
bright spocks playing at hide and seek in the
sky all night, must surely be the children Of
the stars; and they would all be gricvod to
see their playmates, the children OF men, no
more.
There was one clear shining star that used
20 come out in the sky before the rest, near
the church spire, above the graves. 1t was
larger and more beautiful, they thought, than
all the others, and every night they watched
for it, standing hand in hand at the window.
W hoover saw it FIRST, cried out ~ SEQ the
star! And often they cried out both together,
knowing so well when it would rise, and
wDero So they grew to be such friends with
it. that, before lying down in their beds, they
always looked out once again. to bid it good
night; ana whom they were turning round to
sleep, they would say God bless the star -
But while she was sill very young, oh
very, very young, tho sister dropped, and
came to be weak that she could no longer
stand in the window at night, and then tho
child looked sadly out by himself, and when
he saw the star, turned round and said to the
patient pale face on the bed ~ see the star !"
and then smile would come upon the face,
and a little, weak voice used to say : God
bless my brother and the star g.
And so the time came all too soon when
the child locked out alone, and when there
was no face on the bed and when there was
little grave among the graves, not there be-
fore and when the star made long rays down
toward him, as he saw it through his tears.
Now, these rays were 80 bright, and they
seemed to make such a shining 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
train OF people taken up that sparkling road
by angels. And the star. opening, showed
him a great world Of light whore many more
tHtA Angels M4liol 10 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 long rows in which they stood. and
fell upon the peoples necls, and kissed them
tendcrly, and went away with thom down
avenues Of light, and were so happy in their
company th"t lying IN his bed he wept for
But, there were many angels who did not
80 with them, and among them ono he knew
he patient face that had once laid upon the
bed was glorihed and radiant, but his heart
found not his sister among the host
His sisters angel fingered near the entrance
Of the star, and said to the leader among those
who had brought tho people thither-
lis my brother come r
And he said mo"
She was turning hopefully away. when the
child stretched out his arms. and cried. 90
sister, ! am here Take me !" and then she
turned her beaming eyes upon him, and it was
night and the star shining into his room,
making long rays down towards him as he saw
it through his tears.
From that hour FORTH the child looked out
upon the star as on the home he was TO 90 TO-.
when his time come, and he thought that he
did not belong TO the earth alone, but to the
star too because Of his sisters angel gone
before.
There was baby born to be brother to the
child and while he was so little that he never
yet had spoken a word, he strotchod his tinv
form out on his bed and died.
Again the child dreamed of the opened stsr
and Of the company Of angels, and tho train
OF people, and the rows OF angels with their
beaming eyes all turned upon those people =
faces
Said his sisters angel to tho leader
lis my brother come Z"
And he said "Not that one, but another &"
As the child beheld his brothers angel in
her arms, he cried, 80, sister. am hero :
Take me y And she turned and smiled upon
him, and the star was shining.
He grew to be young man, and was busy
at his books when an old servant came TO him
and said
Thy mother is no more. ! bring blessings
on her darling SON."
Again at night be saw the star. and all that
former company Said his sister 5 angel to
the leader
lis my brother come -
And he said, "1hy mother 90
A mighty cry Of Joy went forth through all
the Star, because tho mother Was reunited to
her two children. And he stretched out his
er, am here Fake mer' And they an
sweied mot yet, and the star was shining.
lie grew 70 be a man, whose hair vas turn
ing grey, and be was sitting in his chair by
the hreside, heavy with grief, and with his
face beloved with tears, when the star opened
once again.
aeid his sisters angel to the leader lis my
brother come Z"
And he said, NAY, but his maiden daugl.
tor"
And the man. who had been the child, saw
ms daughter ncwly lost to him. celestial
creature among those three, and he said, any
daughter head 10 on my sisters bosom. and
her arm Is round my mothers neck, and at
hef ieet there Is the baby of old time and |
bear the parting from her, God be praise :"
And the star was shining
Thus the child came to bee an old man, and
his once smooth face was wrinked, aud his