Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1868-01-30
The Consumptive's Dream.

Itwas q modest and lowly cottage
wherein resided Mrs Hastings and
her two daughters. 1t was low
though neat and comfortable room
in which the younger now lay on her
death bed. Pure and spotless as
were the simple bed clothes. they
were not more so than the heart Of
Mary Hastings. No evil ever found
a home therein. Well had its portals
been guarded, and if, perchance,
some evil thoughts came, as they will
to all, they had not been encouraged
10 enter,and abide therein.
This dag eighteen years ago, life
first dawned upon her pathway; and
this very birthday was to have been
tue bridal one Alb, more the bride
of Heaven looks she now than for
one Of earth. O, God! spare her yet
q little while.
"Mother!' called q sweet, low
voice
In moment the mother stood be-
side her, softly parting the hair from
the broad. pale brow that she had so
often kissed in infancy and childhood.
'What, my child?'
The neither voice trembled as she
spoke. There was heart culver in
it. though the source was overflow
ing with tears.
"Do not laugh at me mother, dear,
when l tell you my last night S
dream. l had lain quietly thinking
of Edward, and this that was to be
our bridal day. l yearned, oh, so
earnestly, to see him but once again,
only once, mother, that might re-
ceive his parting kiss and his last,
fondly spoken good bye All at
once a strange sensation came over
me. felt as strong and well as ever
and, mother, as surely as l now
speak to you, / heard his voice dis
tinctly saying in the dear old tone !
loved so well, Mary, morrow is
Our bridal day. l come, oh. l come
for my long promised treasured
The voice died away in sweet, low
cadence. Nay, mother, don't weep
l know shall see him once again
and be elapsed to his fond and faith
full heart. Oh, my mother, dom
weep so when / am so unspeakabiy
happy. Oh, do not mar my perfect
joy"
While the weeping mother shu
back the tears in her strong and Low
ing heart, a strange, thrilling ano
startling fear crept in with them.
'.Lie still, my child, and try to res
now. You are excited with talking
Sleep, and it will refresh you"
"Not now, mother. Oh, do no
ask me to sleep when he is coming
Remember, it is our bridal day, ant
he claims his bride. l must be read,
mother. There is no time for delay
You know ten o'clock was the hour
appointed. Bring my dress mother
and my bridal veil. Call sister; sh
will assist you, for her hands helpe'
to arrange them all"
The mother hesitated, gazing earn
estly at her worn, faded child. Sh
thought her delirious, so earnesu.
and strangely had she spoken. Mar
seemed to read her thoughts, for i'm
mediately she added
mo, mother, am not delirious-
l am perfectly sane. But know m
words are true"
The mother hesitated no longer
Summoning Lizzie, they again er
tered the invalids room. She ha
raised herself in bed, and was bus
arranging her long, fair, glossy curl'
of late so much neglected.
"See, Lizzie" she exclaimed, rur
ming her tapering fingers slowl
through them, "see how tangled an
disordered they are-those curls b
loved so we'll How often has b
dear hand caressed and praised then
Will you help me, dear Lizzie, to a
f range them as of yore?'
With a trembling hand, and voit
she did not dare trust herself to US
the elder sister did as she was requi
ed. A strange strength and enere
seemed to be diffused through Mary
, frame. She never once complaint
of fatigue, though for days she hi
not been able to make the slighte
exertion, but had lain helpless as {
infant, passively acquiescing in
her mother and sister saw fit to {
for her.
"And now bring me my brid
robes, dear ones, and help to arr
me in them. Edward must not fl
me laggald on this eventful ds
and it is now nearly ten O'Clock.
Will you help to make me ready5"
They hesitated no more. Th
would do her strange bidding, be t
result what it would. With trem
ling hands and aching hearts the s
labor was completed.
Three years before Edward Gl
/. ham had left her whom he loved,
IS IS home in the gold regions. Duri
X all that time they had faithfully a
y steadily held correspondence. o.
in one thing was he deceived, q
that was because Mary had deceiv