The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-06-04
4 CH!laiS DREAM OF A STAR.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

Der Oh tulO6S. Nc udu S'Se0A, ""o ""e
a child too, and his constant companion.
These two we're used to wonder all day
long. They wondered at The beauty of
the flowers they wondered at the highth
and blueness of the sky; they wondered
at the depth of the blue water; they won
dered at the goodness and power OF God
who made the lovely world.
They used to say to one another, some
times, suppcsins all the children on earth
were to die, would the flowers, and the
water. and sky be sorry? For. said they,
the buds are the children of the flowers,
and the little playful streams that gambol
down the hill side are the children of the
water; and the smallest bright specks
playing at hide and seek in the sky all
night must be the children of the stars !;
and they would all be grieved to see their
playmates, the children of men, no more.
There was one clear. shining star, that
would come out in the sky before the rest,
near the church spire, above the graves.
1t was larger and more beautiful, they
thought, than all the others, and every
night they watched for it standing hand
in hand at the window. Whoever saw it
frst criod out, g see the star" and often
they cried out both together, knowing so
well when it would rise and where. So
:hey grew to be such friends with it, that,
before lying down in their beds, they al
ways looked out once again, to bid it good
nj cht: and when they we're turned around
to sleep they use to say, God bless the
star :"
Bat while she was very young, oh, very.
very young, tic sister dropped, and come
to be so weak that she could no longer
stand in the window at night aud then the
child looked sadly out by himself, and
when he saw the star, turned round and
said to The patient pale face on the bed.
a sec the star :" and then smile would
come upon the face, and little weak voice
used TO say, q Cod bless my brother anl
the star
And 50 the time-all too soon when
the child locked out alone, and when
there was no pale face on The bed and
when there was littlc grave among the
graves ret there before and when the star
maze long rays down toward him, as lie
saw ii through his silent tears
Vow, these rays were so bright, and
they seemed to make such shining way
from earth tn heaven. and when the child
went to his solitary bed he dreamed that
lying where he was, he saw train Of peo-
pie taken up that sparkling road by angels
And the star opening, showed him great
worid of life, where many more such an-
gels waited to receive them.
Ali :hese angels who we're waiting,
.urned their beamiug eyes upon the peo-
pie who were carried up iato the star AMI
solle came out INTO the long rows in which
they stoo'!. and fell upon the people
necks, ard kissed them tenderIy and weni
away with them down avenues Of light,
and We're So happy in their com mpany, that
lying in his bed he wept for joy,
But there were many angels who did
not 20 with them, and among them one he
knew. The patient face that once had lain
npon the bed was gloritied and dient, but
his heart found out his sister among all the
hosr.
His sisters angel fingered near the en-
trarce of the star. and said to the leader
among those who had brought the people
hi;her:
- Is my brother Gomez"
And he said no
She was turning hopefully away, when
the child stretched out his arms, and
cried, 30, my sister, | am here. Take
me" And then she turned her beamine
eyes upon him, and it was night, and ;hc
star was shining into the room, making
long rays toward him as he saw it through
his tears.
From. this hour forth, the child look ed
out upon the star az the home he was tC
90 to, when his time should come and h,
thought that he did not belong to thu
earth alone, but the star too, because of BIZ
siters angel gone before.
There was baby born to be brother
to the child; and while he was 40 littl
that he never yet had spoken word, h.
stretched bis tiny form upon his bed AM
died.
Again the child dreamed of the opel
star, and of the company of angels, and tn
train of people, and the row of angels wit
their beaming eyes all turned upon thos
peoples faces.
Said the sisters angel to the leader
Is my brother here ?"
And he said: g Not that one, but an
other"
IS the child beheld lis brothers angj
in his arms, he cried: '' o sister, al
here take ME And she turned an
sngiied on him, and the star was shinin!
He grew to be young man, and wa
busy a, his books, when an old servar
came TO him aud said
s. Thy DlotEcr is no more. bring he
blessing upon her darling SON."
Again. at nigh, he saw the star and a
the former company.
Said his sisters angel to the leader
q Is my brother come 2"
And be said, "Thy mother"
And mighty cry Of joy went fort
through all tfat star, because the mOtht
wa reunited to her two children. An
he cried; o, mother, sister and brothe
am here take me !" And thew an
,wersd him, Not yet," and the star W:
shining.