The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-01-17

"We do not live in dreams and visions,
Anna" was replied.
She answered hnrshly: mo: and don't
intend you shall"
The sisters looked ut each other, and re-
mained silent
The sccoud day passed as the first Anna
was gloomy and moody, and her sisters,
from pity and anxiety were unhappy. The
third morning, she again entered on the day
as one who loathed the light; who had no
object in living, and to whom the lapse of
time or the prospect of fnturity brings
neither comfort nor hope.
AS her sisters looked on her, one of them
suddenly said:
"Anna, what WAS your dream?"
"Hal what was it? You would give the
world to know, but 1 shall not tell you.
thought you did not believe in Dreams
Neither do we, i'll general. We know
them to be the offspring of disordered
stomach, confused images and funcies,
when reason is dormant, and the memory
of them passes away as soon rs we are en-
gnged III our daily avocations; yet there is
no doubt some dreams are no more sent in
vain than any other aflliciion or warming
There is n verse in Scripture which men
tions God as speaking lin the visions of the
night, when deep sleep faleth upon man."
She laughed again.
''You have q verse in the Bible for every
thing that suits you, but do not choose to
be warned In such q manner, and there is
no doubt shall get it out of my head in n
day or two"
''Anna, we do beseech you to tell us; if
you really have had n dream from Heaven,
you surely would not wish to forget it, and
if not, we will help yov laugh it Off ="
She answered: "Well, if 1 must tell you
must; no doubt it was very extraordinary
and very frightful; L should have thought
it the effects of the ball, but that never
saw anything anywhere tho least like it.
II thought l was i'll the wide street of Il
great city. Many people were walking
there besides myself, but there was some
thing in the air which Immediately struck
me. They seemed thoughtful and cheerful
neither occupied with business nor with
pleasure, but having about them such Il
dignity of repose, such. high and settled
purpose, such grace and purity, us never was
stamped before on mortal brow. The light
of the city was also strange. 1t was not the
sun, for there was nothing to dazzle; it was
not the moon, for all was clear as day. 1t
seemed an atmosphere of light-calm, lovely
and changeless The buildings seemed ali
palaces, but not like palaces OF earth. The
pavvements were all alike, of gold, bright
and shining, as clear rs glass. The large
and glittering windows seemed like divided
rainbows, and were made to give and trans
NIT none but the rays of gladness 1t was,
indeed. II place to which Hope may bend,
anu wherein Charity might dwell l could
not help eXclaiming, as 1 passed along:
These are the habtations of righteousness
and truth All was beauty, bright and
perfect. 1 could not tell what was wanting
to make me wish for an eternity in such
place, and yet its very purity oppressed me.
1 ,1
kindness met me in every face of that
happy throng 1 felt nothing Responsive;
returned in silence their friendly greet
lngs and walked on alone, oppressed and
sad. l saw that all went one way, and
followed, wondering the reason.
cat length, I saw them approach build
ing much larger and finer than all the rest
L saw them descend its massive steps, and
enter beneath its ample porch, but felt no
desire to go with them farther than to the
foot of the steps 1 approached from curl
oslty. L saw persons enter, who were
dressed in every variety of costume of the
nations, but they disappeared within the
porch, and then crossed the hall in white
Oh! that l could describe that hall to you!
1t was not marble, it was not crystal, it was
not gold; but light, pure light consolidated
into form. 1t was the morn, without its
GOODNESS; it was the sun, without his daz-
zling ray; and within was staircase mount
ing upward. all of light, and L saw it
touched by the snowy feet and white and
spotless garments of those who assembled.
1t was, indeed, passing fair, but it made
me shudder, and turned away
"As turned, saw, on the lowest step,
one looking at me with an interest so in
tense, and a manner 80 anxious, that stop
ped to hear what he had to say He asked
me, in a voice like liquid music:
Why do you turn away? Is there
peace elsewhere? Is there pleasure in the
works of darkness?