The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-04-10
THE TIMES NEW BLOOMFIELD, PA, APRIL 10, 1877

would have pushed the matter, but Mr..
Meekmore finally shook his head more
solemnly than ever, said that he would
rather forget the dream II he could
When the mlssionary's horse was at
the door, and the owner was prepared to
start off, he informed us that he was
bound toward the Canada line, and that
he might return that way. OF course
we told him that our door would always
be open to him: and he promised that he
would abide with us again If he had the
opportunity.
In two weeks Mr.. Meekmore came
back. He had received o summons, he
said, from the home board, to return to
Boston and make immediate prepara-
tions for a winters campaign in the
West
The second evening in the society of
the reverend gentleman we enjoyed more
than we had enjoyed the first. His fund
of anecdote and adventure was literally
exhaustless, and yet an odor of sanctity
and delicacy pervaded oil his speech
We urged that he should spend a few
days with us, but he could not. He said
it would give him great pleasure SO to do
but his call to new field of labor in
the West was pressing and imperative.
On the next morning, at the breakfast
table, our guest was even more sedate
and thoughtful than on the previous oc-
casion; and when questioned on the
matter he told us that he had been visit
ed by the same strange dream again.
"This time" he said, "the vision
came with wonderful distinctness, 1 not
only beheld the vast chambers of virgin
silver, but saw an exact profile of the
overlying territory. 1t was a wild, des-
olate spot, by deep ravine, through
which the snow of winter seem to find
release in spring, rushing down a craggy
hillside to dark and wide-stretching,
swamp below. This would not impress
me so seriously were it not that once be
fore dream of the same import proved
a startling reality"
We conversed further on the subject,
and after breakfast Mr.. Meekmore took
pencil, and upon the blank leaf of an
old atlas he drew picture of the spot
he had seen in his dream and he point
ed out where, beneath the roots of an
old, stumpy pine tree, he had seen an
out-cropping of the precious metal.
He had drawn the picture, he told us
to show us how vivid his dream had
been; but he advised us to think no
more of it. Even if it were possible
that the dream had substance, the body
of the mine was far below the surface; !;
and, moreover, the Lord only knew
where the spot was located, even allow
ing that such spot existed.
For once in my life had allowed my
cupidity to get the better of my outspok-
en- honesty. I allowed the reverend
guest to depart, and did not tell him that
1 knew where there was spot exactly
the original of that which he had pic
tured, even to every rock, shrub, tree
and ravine. And that spot was upon
the wild lot which had been purchased
by John Twist, and which John Twist
owned still.
That very afternoon, armed with an
old ak and pick, sailed forth to the
rough outside of the Twist lot. knew
exactly where the pictured lot was to be
found, and when had reached it was
more than ever struck by the faithful
npeS of Mr. Mapls m Oraic drift Tho az
curacy in detail was wonderful. And
when reflected that this draft had been
made by one who was an utterand abso-
Lutte stranger to the place,-made from
the simple impressions of a dream,-is
it marvel that was strongly and
strangely influenced. 1 found the old
tree which the reverend old dreamer had
particularly designated, and went to
work at its roots.
And ere long my labors were rewarded.
Beneath one of the main roots found
a lump of pure metal as large as hens
egg; and upon further chopping and
digging 1 found several more smaller
pieces. They had evidently been broken
from molten mass, and upon rubbing
off the dirt / found them all pure and
bright.
That night slept but little. / could
only lie awake and think of the vast
wealth that lay buried in that bleak hill
side. But what could / do? The lot
was not mine, and l should run great