Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-01-05

Annie's Dream.



al might just as well go out as you but
no | must stay in the house just because
mother fancies have got cold. It's too
bad, that Il is % And little Annie Smith,
aged ten. threw herself down on the hearth
rug, and began TO tie hard knots in the
strings Of her hood.
You ought to be ashamed, Annie, TO talk
50 about mother" said her little brother, as
he buttoned mp his overooat
You hush, Johnnie Smith it's none Of
your business how | talk. guess If you
had 10 stay in, and saw me going out, you
would be rs mad"
No, would not, either. should just
get my playthings out and be real good
boy, | would" said Johnnie, stoutly.
" / hate good people they are always
meddling in what does not concern them"
answered Annie, tying another knot, and
screwing up her little mouth very tight in
deed. ." amt going to be good any more,
no, not as long as ever ! live"
90, Annie How can you talk so you
are very naughty"
"Dont care said Annie, kicking kitty
yiciously with her foot, and making faces at
her baby sister, who bad just awakened from
her afternoon nap "Now that horrid fat
baby will crv, aud mother will call out An
But won't, and if She cries, I'll slap her,
sure"
"Then mother will send you to bed"
81 won't go. I'm going to run away and
be a gypsy What do You think Of that,
Johnnie Smith 2"
al will go right away and tell mother,
aud you'll see what you will get, miss"
What will | get 2" said Annie pulling
! kitty's tail very hard.
"You won't get any tea, and you win have
10 60 to bed"
You said would get something. That
| isn't getting something; besides, if you tell
mother, she'll make you stop in, too for it's
showing worse and worse"
But shant tell her until come back"
90, ] shall be gone by that time"
Johnnie waited forno further parley lie
ran out, ylamming the door behind him. and
Annie sprang mp TO watch him down the
white avenue O how she did long TO be
out in the snow Never had the flakes
seemed so large and soft and white never
had the shouts of the boys aud girls sounded
so merry and joyful. | am not sick she
murmured, land if was, itwould make me
well to 60 out in such lovely weather. It's
a shame to treat me 500 and in a passion of
tears Annie flung herself down on the rug.
bered; but she fell asleep at last, and dreamed
beautiful dream She thought an angel
came to her and said, " Annie you wish TO
90 out. Come with me-" And he took her
by the hand and led her into a large garden,
in the midst of which stood fair human
soul and it troubled Annie that its hands
and feet were sorely fettered by an ugly vine
which bound them with manifold teudils.
She also saw that the garden was full of
weeds, but that beneath them flowers of the
loveliest colors and sweetest fragrance were
striving to grow.
And the angel said Annie, look be-
hind this black weed. which is called False
hood, and you will see the beautiful white
flower Of Truth aud beneath this thorny
plant, which is Impotence, see the fragrant
purple yolets Of Content. Understand this
nettle, which is Evi-speaking; see, struggling
/ for life, the star-like flowers of Love and
Charity And 50 he took hsr over the
whole garden, and showed her that beneath
every weed some exquisite flower was try
ing to bloom into life and purity.
, But Annie was most sorrowful for the
beautiful soul in the midst of the garden
bound hand and foot by the evil smelling vine
and the angel showed her that it was the
, vine of Selfshness, and that, faint and sick
unto death, at its feet were the beautiful flow
ers which bloom only for those whom God
loves. And as Annie wopt for the fading
blossoms the angel said "Do you under
stand, dear child? This is your soul ant
/ this garden all run to weeds and waste j,
/ your life When the Lord Of Paradise shall
7 come down into Ills garden, to the beds o.
B. spices, to feed in the garden, and to gathe
4 lilies will lie find in it nothing but weeds
r Annie?"
just then she was awakened by two arm
about her neck, and Johnnie saying " O
e Annie You didn't run away and be
e gypsy, after all. | was so afraid you would
that | came home again You amt mae
now, Annie are YOU 2"
4 No, ! amt Johnnie" said Annie, yer,
decidedly, as she rose TO her feet but
2 did 20 away. Sit down here and will tel
Z you all about it," So they sat down to
e gether and Annie told her dream. WheI
I she had finished both children sat full o
thought for few minutes; then Johnnie
. spoke out cheerily: Say, Annie Sup
I pose we begin right away to cut down tn
o weeds and give the flowers a chance"
q And there, before the nursery fire, witt
n their arms about each other, the brothe
b and sister knelt down. and prayed for hell
to make the garden of their lives fair an'
{ beautiful for the Master to walk in.-C Chris
e. tan ~ Work.