The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1862-09-13
for the 9ihle folks,
THE DREAM.

"Mother," said little Cha rlie Lee,
4 had dream last highland 1 want
YOU TO tell me what it meant"
Let me hear it, my son; perhaps
can tell you some,hig about it.and
perhaps not. Dreams generally
have no meaning-,hey are merely
unconscious thoughts. But tell me
yours"
81 saw a number Of boys al play,
and they all seemed to enjoy them
selves very much until one Of them
happened TO catch his foot in some
thing and stumble upon another SO
hard that they both fell down.
Neither of them was hurt much ;
but The boy that tho other had fall
Ell against became very angry, and
wanted to fight, and most of the 9TH
err boys cried fight fight Hit
him, Bill! hit him. and otherlike talk.
"But the other boy did not wish
to fight; tried to explain the accident.
but the rest would not hear him, and
cried out, He is coward! Strike
him, Bill, and make him fghtr And
one said, George, | wouldn't be call.
ed a cowardr
"'I was ANXIOUS to see what George
would do, and expected to see him
get angry; but he only said:
al had much rather be called
coward than to engage in fight be-
cause boys gave me names; for then
| should know l WAS a coward "a
moral coward, fearing even false
accusation more than to do wrong.
But ] am not a coward
"'You are! You sre!' shouted the
other boys; and then saw the blood
mount to Georges face and for mo-
ment he seemed to be angry, but he
said not word, folded his arms
across his breast,and stood still while
the others, and especially Bill, bera-
ted him.
"Just then | looked above, and
exactly over Georges head lowered
bright and beautiful angel. Itdrew
near and smiled upon him, and en-
deavored to throw its wings SO as to
shield him from harm.
"Then | looked over the heads of
the other boys. the rude ones, to see
if there were angels there, too: but
lcould see none at first; all above
them appeared misty and dark; but
as looked more closely, l saw the
dim outlines of some kind Of beings,
who looked very ugly. They had
wings, bat they were black and din.
Gy; their faces were swarthy, and
there was an expression ON the coun
tenance which made me shudder.-
But they were evidently delighted
with the conduct Of the boys, and
particularly with Bill, around whom
they gathered.
"The angel over George grew
brighter, and seemed happier as h,
calmly stood and bore the taunts o
the other boys. Pretty soon other
joined it. and then they all drew
near to some of the other boys, who
did not say much, and as they ap
preached the dark ones retired. =
Then those boys wentover toGeorgt
and took his part, saying he wa
right; and in short time all ths
boys quieted down, the angels going
near them as fast as they ceased tt
be rude and noisy; and the black
spirits left as the Others advanced
Presently all the boys went over tt
George, and Bill asked his pardon
Then all the beautiful angels were
glad. and as they glanced smiles a
each other their faces became so IA
diant they shined with brightness
snow, mother, what am | to thinl
OF such wonderful dream ?"
"WelI, my child, you may learn
from it, that it is noble to do right
that the angels in heaven rejoice te
see good boys; that it is wicked tc
do wrong, and that evil spirits take
pleasure in seeing bad boys fighr
and quarrel, and give all the aid in
their power to such evel doings.
"You may also learn that God
sends bis angels to protect the good
and help them to do right, while
wicked spirits, sent no doubt by the
Evil One, are striving to lead you
astrav.
"Whenever you are tempted te
fight, 10 tell an untruth, or do any
thing that is wrong, remember the
good angels do not love sin, and vii
not protect you with their shining
wings when You are in the way O.
evil-doing. but that there the dark.
faced spirits will hover near aud a.
round. to help you along in the way
to destruction.
"Alwavs live and act so that the
good angels will smile upon you,
and the evil ones go far from you.
"This is the moral of YOUR dream,