Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-04-21
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A Child's Dream.

though an angels beauty was on her brow,
a human sorrow was in her heart. The
hands were clasped convulsively, tears roll
ed down her cheeks, (those bitter tears
we forget to wipe away as she wrestled
with the angel of the covenant for a bless
ing. At length she arose comforted, ex-
claiming How sweet it is to say, thy
will be done !"
Near an open window, on a sofa, sup
ported by pillows, lay a boy apparently
about six years of age. Dark curls clus-
tered round his brow, the fringed %curtalns
Of his eye-lids rested on a cheek flushed
with fever one little hand lay on his breast
as he slept, rising and falling to a heavy,
quick respiration. The weeping mother
seated herself with her bible beside him.
She gazed on her child with looks which
seemed to pour fourth a hearts treasure IN
a glance. Her hands again were clasped
in PRAYER, as she reclined In her chair
The sun sank to rest; the stars cane out in
a dark blue sky the moon began her cir
cult in the heavens, and poured her silver
light into the room, giving the tracery OF
each leaf or moving branch in delicate
pencilings on the floor. The mother sat in
holy quiet--in hopeful submisSion--com-
muniDg with the Father of her spirit
At length she rose and bent over the boy.
The peace and the blessedness of heaven
seemed reflected on his countenance
Was ever anything so surprisingly love-
ly y she exclaimed, as half doubling that
it were herown nursing, she passed her
hand gently over his forehead. lie opened
his eyes -" Oh mother where am IL. Is
this my room2 1t must have been a dream
Oh why Gid l wake /"
What was it, my love? Cannot you
tell me 2"
The child remained wrapped in thought.
Cannot tell me, dear one 2 said the mother,
bending down and kissing him.
Il will try hope never to forget it,
dear mamma You know | was very tired
sitting up, when you laid me on the sofa
the soft wind came cool over my face,
. and the honey-suckle smelled very sweet.
l think l must have slept. Ny head be-
came better, my breathing easier; at length
| felt quite MISUNDERSTANDING
pier oh much happier than ever was
before Everything looked. SO beautiful a:
and without knowing it, l was moving
upward through the air, in a bright path
way of light. with clouds of rose color, and
crimson, and purple, and gold, piled up or
either side, so high-oh so high | coul {
see no end to them.
Then | began to hear music and saw
angels in the air and approached a city
so glorious-the new Jerusalem, mamma
A.. that you were reading about-aIh saw ma
ny persons walking all clothed 10 white
with something of a silvery brightness
oh | am in heaven at lastp [ said
How ! have prayed to be here Yes, som
Que replied, who seemed to be standin
beside me but so glorious l could s~carccl
look at him, 'those prayers are all recorc
ed here p laying his hand on a large bool
Had they anything to do with my g%ettin
here |? 'Much they were presented by ii
great Intercessor.' oh who is that
bright aud beautiful? 2 Samuel, the propl
ct of the Lord He does not kneel
prayer now.' l said. No here prayer
lost in praise
cannot describe to you, mamma, Il
beauty and the glory of che place-the lo'
and the JOY | felt oh that dear MANN
was here 7 | cried. All in Gods COZ
time the glorious being said, as he la
his hand on my head. Then | awoke
Oh what joy to be forever there, whe
there is no sickness, or sorrow, or pain,
tears Butt must wait Gods own tin
too. Mamma, will you place my 'pictu
of Samuel where | can always see it y
The summer had passed away, and t
gorgeous tlnts of autumn were beginni
TO appear. The tears of night hung hea
on the flowers. which threw their fragran
in the chamber of the dying child. Ea
day had seen him become more puriG,
more ethereal, more meet for heaven.
The body perfect in youthful beauty seem
to fade away without pain or sutferil
while the bright spirit within, shed "a ref,
tive glory over every feature. The mi
active, intelligent, spiritualized--feeli
It's redemption near, seemed to battle its
in the bright hopes and sweet promises
the Gospel. Every Gay his mother read
him, and at his request, he was laid on
sofa that be might see " brighter worlds
high )" and enjoy. the beautiful Wis
which St. John beheld on the Isle of PATH
One Sabbath afternoon, the Scriptu
read to him seemed more than usually 7
cious " now lay me on the sofa, moth,
The dropping head was pillowed with c
aud love, the fragile limbs laid in easy
pose with holy reverence and closed e
he said /" Now sit down, mother, and
us think Of heaven perhaps | may see