The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-02-27
yrRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
I'm of Hollywood.

of January Stb, and after listening to the i'm
pressive discourse of Dr. Plumer, on GAL Ill:
Is, Christ hath redeemed us from the curse
of the law" &c.
e hearty amen to every word you say, L
replied. Surely we have been fed this day
with food convenient for us And as | no
ticed how the people listened to their dear old
pastor, after these long years since we saw his
face, and how they met him, often with tears,
after the sermon was over, could not but feel
how tender is the tie that binds such together
Probably you have observed that this feeling
never comes out more than upon these meet
ings at intervals, for years after the relation
has been dissolved. | believe that after all
the ups and downs which good and faithful
preachers meet with, the pastoral tie has more
that is precious than any other outside of the
household
Il fully agree with the last part of your re-
marks" said my friend; and as to the at
tention of the whole assembly, it was certain
ly very deep and solemn. Let us hope and
pray that precious seed was sown this day
whose frui> I'LL be gathered in heaven. But
! for my part, l was somehow most struck with
the remarks DIR. Plumer made in his short
comments on parts of that sad chapter he
read, especially where it is said concerning Pi-
late that on the very morning of the cruel
fxion, 'his wife sent unto him, saying.
Have thou nothing to do with that just man;
for have suffered many things this day in
dream because of him. "
Il too thought they were very striking, but
as my memory is so bad and yours so good, [
will thank you to repeat them, for | wish to
tell those at home what was said
81 can myself remember only part, but
he said "There is many man now in hell,
because he would mt listen to the advice of his
pious wife. And there is also many man in
hell who was led there by the bad example of
| his ungody wife.
81 believe in Dreams he added, "that is
| believe that men have Dreams and that it is
very unwise to make light of them when they
inculcate what we know to be duty, or warn us
against what we know to be sin.
By this time we had crossed the street to
the corner of St. Paul's Church, where my
friend took her course down towards Franklin,
and keeping my way up Grace to the corner
of -, and thence on little farther, was
soon within my own quiet home The streets
were sheet of ice, so that | did not again
venture out, but spent most of the afternoon
around my cheerful fire, trying to remember
the Sabbath day, and to keep it holy" 1
thought, and l hope with grateful heart
how many mercies were still mine, amid all
my trials and of the promises of Him who is
the God and husband of the widow. Within
these few dreadful years what sorrows, be-
reavements, desoations have swept over my
hearth like food of fire, until sometimes my
heart has been "smitten and withered like
grass. But let me never deny the sustaining
grace of Him who has said: 81 will never
leave thee, nor forsake thee" felt lonely
indeed, but felt also how blessed it was to bow
down that evening and say: I" 1t is the Lord. y
"Shall not, ~ Tge of all-the7 earth do
| right?" II know, % Lord, that in faith
fitness hast afflicted me-
But what | would at this time mention is
that every now and then | found my mind re-
turning to the topic of conversation with my
| friend at the moment of parting. That dream
of Pilates Wife The responsibility Of wives,
mothers, sistersl These and kindred topics
were with me when my pillow was sought
they came up afresh with the return of morn
ing In fact the subject has become an alb
sorbing one ever since. Not in all my life has
any thing so taken possession of my thoughts
by day and by night. No effort availed to
shake it off
If ga dream cometh through the multitude
of business" that is by having ones mind
deeply absorbed, there is no wonder | should
have been thus visited short time ago, and
at an hour when deep sleep falleth on men. :"
So, then, from thinking so much about that
terrible dream of Plate wife, it has happened
Inc to have one of my own. | will tell it as
well as | can, and let others judge as they
think right.
THE DREAM
l dreamed that | was among the graves in
our beautiful Hollywood in the sweet month of
June, a time when the robe of our mother
earth is ever lovelieSt 1t was in the stiffness
of night, but not in its darkness, for the moon
was full orbed inthe heavens, and altogether
a night of more brilliant beauty l never be-
held. To be there at such an hour, let me
say has been to me more than dream [ am
not morbid repiner nor do | love to brood over
sorrow with useless melancholy But heart
still bleeding under the burial of earth dearest
hopes-the loss Of such husband and such
son as the most favored Of wives and mothers
can seldom call theirs-precious lives poured
out in the costly sacrifice of our afflicted land,
and their dust resting within this hallowed en-
closure lis it wonder that with single friend
for protection, have more than once sought
the mournful sweetness and silence of mid
night visit to spot more dear than any other
upon earth, and where [ expect my own flesh
soon to rest in hope?
But now [ was entirely alone-for dreams
care little about actual customs, and the
strangest occurrences seldom give surprise.
had passed through the entrance gate and
down into the vale below, and turning to the
right, up the hill, had reached the summit of
the burial grounds. After spending some time
where my hearts treasures lie garnered for the
resurrection, l was walking slowly around,
reading the inscriptions on the grave-stones of
many l knew and loved, when suddenly my at
tention was awakened by rumbling noise to-
wards the gate. Turning around quickly,
perceived it was caused by long train of car
riages moving in funeral procession. 1t soon
passed through the gate and down the hill,
and then l saw it coming up in the direction