Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-11-15
A cHILD's DREAM OF A STAR.

strolled about a good deal and
thought number Of things. lie had
u sister, who was child too, and his
constant companion. They wonder
ed at the beauty of the flowers ; they
wondered at the height 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 themselves,
sometimes, Suppose all the children
on the earth should die, would the
stars be sorry?" They believed they
would be sorry. For said they, the
buds are tho children Of the flowers,
and the little playful hills that gam
Dol down the hill sides are the chill
dren of the water and tho little
smallest bright specks playing at
hide and seek in the sky all night,
must surely be the children Of the
stars; and they would grieyo to see
their playmates the children Of men
no more.
There was one clear shining star
that used TO como out in the sky
before the rest, and near the church
spire about the graves. 1T was larg-
or 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 first cried out, II see the star!"
And often they cried ont together
knowing SO well when it would iise
and where. s. they grew 10 be such
friends with it, that before laying
down in their bed they always looked
but once again 10 bid it good night
and when they turned round to sleep,
they used 20 say, "God bless the star"
But while she was still very young.
oh. very young, the sister dropped,
and came TO be so weak that she
could no longer stand in the window
as night and then the child looked
sadly out by himself, and when be
saw the star, turned round and said
to the patient pale face on the bed,
III soc the starl" and then q smile
would come upon the face, and
littlo weak voice used to say, "God
bless my brother and tho star"
And SO 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 q little
grave among the graves not there
before and when the star made long
rays down towards him as he saw it
through bis tears.
Now these rays were SO bright,
and they seemed to make such a
shining way from earth TO heaven,
that when the child went to his
solitary bed he dreamed about the
star and dreamed, that lying where
he was, he saw a train of people
taken up that sparkling road by
angels. And the star opening show
ed him a great world of light, where
many more such arch angels waited
to receive him.
All these angels who were waiting
turned their their golden beams upon
the people who were carried up into
tho star; and some came out from
the long rows in which they stood,
and fell upon the peoples necks and
kissed them tenderiy, and went
away with them down the long ave-
nues of light. and were SO happy in
their company that laying in bed he
wept for Joy.
But there were many angels who
did not go with them. aud among
them one he knew. The patient face
that once laid upon the bed was
glorifed aud radiant, but his heart
found out his sister among all the
host.
His sisters angel fingered near the
entrance Of the star, and said to the
leader among those who had brought
the people thither:
"Is my brother come ?"
And he said "no"
She was turning hopefully away.
when the child stretched out his
arms, and cried, ooh, sister I am
here Take me-" and then she turn
ed her beaming eyes upon him, and
it was night, and the stars were
shining into the room, making tong
rays down towards him as he t.asy it
through his tears.
From that hour forth the child
looked out on the star az the home
to which he was to 90 when his time
should come and he thought he did
not belong to earth alone, but TO the
star too, because his sisters angel
had gone before.
There was a baby born to the
brother Of the child and while he
was yet so little that be had never
yet spoken q word, he stretched his
tiny form out on the bed and died.
Again the child dreamed of the
open star, and of the company of
angels, and trains of people and the
rows Of angels, and their beaming
eyes all turned upon the peoples
faces.
Said his sisters angel to the leader,
"Is my brother come?
And he said
"Not that one, but another"
And the child beheld his brother
angel in her arms he cried, "Oh
sister, / am here, take mel and she
turned and smiled upon bin, and the
star was shining.
He grew to be young man and
was busy with his books, when an
old servant came to him and said
FIhy mother is no more. | bring
her blessings on her darling son r
Again at night he saw the star,
and all the former company. Said
his sisters angel to the leader:
as my brother come 2"
And he said
"Thy mother"
A mighty cry of Joy went forth
through all the star, because the
mother was reunited to her two chill
/. dren. And be stretched out his arm:
and cried:
COB, mother, sister, brother, an
here take me !"
And they answered "not yet" ant
; ] 81 Il