The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-10-30
JoHN MENTIONS DREAM.

Can we take il upan ourselves TO saw that
God never speaks 10 " IN dreams and Wis.
ions Of The n,ghts Arc not these sometimes
among The pruyidential dispensatioas which
exert designed influence IN restraining US
from the commission OF sin, and teaching Us
20 pause in our career Of maduess AMI folly?
The distinguished John Ne~toa relates
that while he was plunging deep into DISH
pated life. it happened to HIN on one occa-
sion TO be in the harbOr Of Venice, 10 which
port he had gone as a sailor. tie said that
he bad dream in which it seemed TO him to
be night. 1t was his watch. aud as he was
pacing the deck. suddenly there appeared to
him an individual from whence be came he
did not know-bearing in his hand ling,
, which he gave to him. bidding him 10 keep
il by all means. While he had il prosperity
should attend him. but when il passed out uf
his hands he should be certainly oserwhelm-
ed 10 distress The ring was accepted on
these conditions. and the utmost confidence
cherished that no temptation should induce
him to part with 50 valuable possession.
While he was admiring the beauties OF his
costly gift, and congratulating himself on his
ability 10 keep il, a. second person made bis
appearance. After some general consersa-
tiOn. his attention was drawn 10 the ring;
and he proposed several inquiries about il.
The dreamer al once expatiated on its won
derful properties, and seemed to be proud
that he was the possessor Of so valuable a
gem. A smile Of incredibly sat on the coun-
tenance Of his listener, aud he gave express
lou to his wonder that so sen.ible persnn
should suffer himself 10 he so sadly deIuded.
At length he went 50 far as TO urge the own
er Of the ring to drop il into the sea. sug-
gestion which at FIRST was. received with a
positive refusal 70 comply with il. At length
ridicale and solicitation gained the victory.
The ring was drawn from the finger and
hurled into the sea.
The mes, direiul consequences followed
the act. To the dreamer il seemed a. i frar-
ful eonhsgrstion broke forth from The distant
mountains which rose in the rear of Venice.
He sag the smoking hills. They seemed to
be all on ERE. Too late he sav his folly. and
his taunting tempter told him. with smile
Of bitter contempt. that all the mercy God
bad foe him. was suspended on his keeping
the ring which had been given hin. yonder
flames. he wss told, were kindlrd fpr his de-
sirsetion, and % them he must be borne BY
him who had persuaded him 10 part slth the
ring. Terrific indeed vas his agony. and il
was a wonder that he did not swske. He
Was about. TO be borne asay TO the funeral
pile, when The original donor Of the ring sp.
peared 70 him again, and demanded the c.use
Of his grief. With andisgsissd frsnkness
he tod him al that had happened, and. de-
ploring his unhappy coadit'en. abandoned
himself 70 the wretchedaess Of despair. A.
look Of pity beamed from the eouatenAnce
Of bis benelset0r. aud thsagh he feproved
h,m for bis vaysardness, he veniured TO ask,
II the ring vas restored To him would he now
Keep IL. Before he could answer the q1es.
tisn, he who proposed il DISAPPEARED for
moment. having Owed down the depths into
which the ring had been dropped. Present.
IL be rose 10 the surface with the ring in bis
hand. No soonSr bad he touched The .es-
sells deck than the fire on the distant hills
vent ost and the q scom6tted sedseer de-
plrtej from him. HIS tear departed. and
with Joy and praise he held our his hand
20 receive the lost ring. BIT ne ~ VI,
rot 70 be entrusted 70 hin sgta. is friend
assured him We was too wsax IN purpose %
Erep 20 valuable a treasure, that ~ would
kst5 4 Tor hin, snd ia the titne II need. Ne
I'D prodBee il for him.
Me- fen tells Us 10 his own language, !" Up.
= ihis ! awoke in a state d mind not easy
x y seribed. ! could hardly eat or sierp
q rama nv necessary business for Two o.
cree DAYS." And though he immediate in.
p.-s.iaf wore Of. yet shen. 10 sfier yssr,.
- called him By rs grace. be vas
Ssmi 81 q his dream. II had ia effect up
o. bon. re saw how weak he had been 10
kespiss II. treasure God had eammi,i,d 70
BIN. paftily with il - easily Sbeu his pfin
spies g been undermine /, and coar.s ri1.
srui1 had jJre i,s work on bis SOL. He saw
f,ef y y. awful destiny whieh seemed ia
asa 80 The old despair came over him,
$50 : 49, jvss ready 70 sink, wasp is.u..
- q, s5peared for him, and pi,,iig
.skSess, having ffgtssn him III sia.
ks 800 raw nsdy - promise II lsep TIA,
mEeb, Win ~ eUn snas.stsd strs NTH ~
-sid hsTsr keep himself. Il "a bi...si
t,ter. nd lie never iofgnt il - III dying