Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-04-18
A Strange Dream.

As illustrating the manner in which
impressions of the past may emerge from
the brain, shall here furnish an instance
bordering closely on tho supernatural,
and fnrly representing the most marvel
ous Of these psychological phenomena. Ii
occurred to Il physician, who related it, in
my hearing, to II circle whose conyersa
tion had turned on the subject OF person
al fear. What you are saying he re.
marked, may be very true; but can as
sure you that the sentiment Of fear, in its
utmost degree, is much less common than
you suppose; and though you may be sur
prised to hear me say it, know from per
sonal experience that this is certainly so.
When was five or six years old, dream
ed that was passing bya large pond Of
water in very solitary place. On the
opposite side OF il there stood IL great tree
that looked as II 1t had been struck by
lightning, and in the pond at another part
IN old fallen trunk, on one of the prone
limbs OF which there was Il turtle summing
himself. On sudden wind arose,
winch forced me into the pond, and in my
dying struggles to extricate myself from
It's green and shiny waters awoke,
trembling with terror.
About eight years subsequently, whlle
recovering from nearly fatal attack OF
scarlet lever TINS dream presented ltsell
to me, Identical in all respects, again.
Even up TO THIS time think l mad never
seen living tortoise or turtle, but lndls-
tinctly remember that there was picture
OF one IN the first spelling-book that had
been given me. Perhaps on account OF
my critical condition. this second dream
Impressed me more dreadluIly than the
first.
A dozen years more elapsed. haa be
come II physician, and was now actlVely
pursuing my professional duties IN one OF
the Southern States. 1t so fell out that
one July afternoon had TO take Il long
and wearisome ride on horseback. 1t was
sunday and extremely hot; the path was
solitary, there was not mousse lor miles,
The forest had that intense silence So
characteristic OF this time OF the day; all
the wlld ANIMALS and BIRDS had gone &c
lLelr Eetreats 10 DC rld OF tIle neaI VI l,'I
sun suddenly at one point OF the ROAD
came upon great stagnanC water pool
and casting my eyes across 1t, there $1,000
plne-tree blasted by llghtnlng' ana On
loS tllat was nearly even WIN Ile surl"c'
= turtle was baskinS IN The sun. inc dream
OF my infancy was upon me; lhe b' iuII
, 1ell from my handS, an unulteraole IeaI
t oVerShadoWed me- ana SUNK away iron
the arcursed place.
Though business occasionally aller"ar'
! would nave drawn me that way, L coul'
/ not summon resolution to 60, and actnall.
e have taken roundabout paths IL seemed
4 to me profoundly amazing that lhe dreali
f that had had should alter twenty year
be realized, without respect to dlltertnc
/ OF scene' or climate or age A gooa clel
S gyman OF my acquaintance tooK 'he op
porlunlly OF improving the clrcumstanc
T. 10 my spiritual advantage, anu IN MS KIN
4 enthuslasm-lor he knew mat had nee
n more than once brought TO the polnl {
s death by such tevers-lnterpreted m
dream that | should die OF marsh mlasm
Most persons nave doubtless observe
lhat tlley suddenly encounter eVehIs Vi
trivial nature, IN Their course OF me-
v which they have an indlstlnct recoIlectlo
i = that they have dreamed before, For
~ ~ long time it seemed to me that TINS Was
- case OF that Kind, and lhat IL mlghI oe st
10 down among the mysterious ana una'
II colntable. How wonderful II is That W
lc so often fail to see the simple eXplanatio
ls of things. when that explanation is actut
=. ly intrndng itself before us And so
= this case; it was long before the trul
cleaned in upon me, before my reasonln
y powers shook off the .delusive impression
~ of my senses. But it occurred III last II
10 said to myself, is it more probable III
:, T. such IL mystery is true, OF that l NAY
~ ~ dreamed Tor the third time that which
N had already dreamed OF twice peior,
VI u Have | really seen the blasted tree an', J.!
y, summing turtle? Are weary ride OF II
"II "I ly miles, the noonllde heat, the slIen'
=" that could almost be felt no proVocallC
- to tlream9 | have ridden under SUI
I'll circumstances Enuy IL mile fast aslee
le and have awoke and known 1T and So
III resolved that if Yer circumstances carrie
= m to those parts again, would salts
IL 10 Myself rs to the matter
" Acc 'rdinglv, after II few years, when
> incident lei me to travel there. visit
ne the woll-remembered scene. There W
-. " still the stagnanL pool but the blas''
~ pine tree was gone; and alter had p"s
VI, vi ed my horse lhrou h the marshy thick
If rs far as | could force hInl' anu 'Iich ~
u .. mounted and pursued close investigate
" on foot in every direction around the sp.t
IN. IN, | was clearly convinced that no pine-tr
t he had ever grown there; not stump II
IT. ne any token of its remains could be see
-. 5eI and so now have concluded that ut t
It's glimpse of the water, with the readnt
!s 'ea Of those who are falling asleep, ! h
rS i'S adopted IN external fact into dreal
M nf that it had aroused the trains OF thoo4
es, WIFI VII .Lit - iU ~; Gna ,ho mvst.rv wns nlI