Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1868-01-25
A ChiId's Dream OF q Star.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

was a child too, snt~-tlis cOnsian, COM
panion. These Two esed 10 wonder all
day long. They wondered at the beauty
of the flowers they wondered at the
height and blueness Of the sky /; they
wondered al the goodness and the pow
er OF God, who made he lovely world.
They used 10 sse one 10 another,
sometimes, supposing all ihe children
upon earth were 10 die, would The flow
efs, and the water, snd ibe sky be sorry
They believed they, -',9Hld be sorry.
For, said they, N, s.,Gn .,,Gn ne children
OF The flowers, sead r. VIi''le playful
Streams thai gamboI iowa tie bili-sides
are The children OF tie water and the
smallest brigh, specks playing at hide
and seek in the sky all night, must sure
ly be the children Of lhe stars and they
would all be grieved 10 see their play
msles, the children Of men, no more.
There was one clear shining star that
used 10 come out in the sky before The
rest, near the church spiTe, above The
graves. 1t was larger. and more beautiful
they thought, than all ,ns others, end ev-
cry night they watched for it, standing
hand in hand al window. Who ever
saw it first, cried out, 81 see the star y
And often they cried out both together,
knowing so well when il would rise, and
where. So they grew to be such friends
with it, that before lying down in their
beds they always looked once again, to
bid il good night and when they were
turning round 10 sleep, they used 10 say,
"God bless the star y
Blu. while she was sill very young,
oh, very, very young, tie sister dropped
and came 10 be SO week that she could no
longer stand in The window al night and
when the child looked sadly out by him
self, and when he saw the star, turned
round and said tolhe patient, pale face on
the bed,"I zee the star p and then asmile
would come on the face, and lille voice
used 10 say, God bless my brother and
the star
And the time came all TOO soon ! when
the child looked out all alone, and when
there was no face on the bed and when
there was little grave among The graves
not the before and when the star made
long rays down towards him, he saw II
through his tears.
Now, these rays were so bright and
they seemed to max sgch lshlnng way
I ! 80. - .,,,s.ssS ss%--Oh ohe. ;hc
child wen, TO bis solIsfy bed he dreamed
about the star and dreamed, lying where
he was, he saw train Of people taken up
iha, sparkling road by angels. And the
star, opening, showed him great light,
where many such angels waited to re-
ceive them.
All these angels who were waiting,
turned their beamng eyes upon the peo.
pie who were carried up into the star; and
some came out from the long rows in
which they stood, and fell upon the peO-
ple's necks, and kissed them tendeTly,
and went away with them down The ave-
nues Of light, and were so happy in their
company, that lying in his bed he wept
for JOY.
But there were many angels who did
not 60 with them, and among them one
he knew. The patien, face that once had
lain upon the bed was gloriied ard radi-
ant, but his heart found out his sister
among all the host.
His sisters angel fingered near the en-
trance of the STAR and said to the leader
among those who had brought the people
thlIher:
"ls my brother come y
And he said "No."
She was turning hopefully away, when
the child stretched out his arms and cr'ed,
10, sister, am here ! Take me = and
then she turned her beautiful eyes upon
him, and it was night. and the star was
shining into the room, making long rays
down towards him as lie saw through his
tears.
From that hour forth, the child looked
out upon the star as on the home he was
10 20 10, when his time should come !;
and he thought that he did not belong to
the earth alone but 10 the star, ioo' De-
cause Of his sisters angel gone before
There was a &ssY bQn 10 be broth
| eT 10 Inc CDllO anu b"''' "c ~"
lie tha, he never yeI had spoken word,
he stretched oui his tiny form on his bed
had died.
Said his sister angel TO the leader:
''Is my broihes come !"
And he said, "Noi iha, one bu! anoIh-
er."
And the child beheld bis bro!her's an
gel in his aims. he cried, 20, sister, |
am here Take me y And she turned
and smiled upon bin, and The star was
shining.
He grew up TO be a young man, and
was busy al his books when an old ser
want came 10 him and ssld
"Thy mo,herris no more, ! bring her
blessing on her darling SON.
Again al night he saw the star and sll
,ha, former company. Said his sisters
angel TO The leader:
ais my brother come !"
And be said, "Thy mother J"
A mighty cry Of JOY went forth through
all the star. hecsuse her mother was re-.
turned 10 her children. And be stretched
out his arms and cried, 20. mother, SIS
Ter and brother, am here y Take