Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-14
Gales aud Sketekes.
A RIvER-DREAM.
Continued from yesterday

listened, the silvery inarticulate sounds
resolved themselves into words.
Child" the river said softly,
1.-THE sweet spirits that live be-
| meath my waves and in the woods and
trees there. brought you to me in. your
| sleep. and we tried to comfort you +"
why did you not bring my brother too
and comfort him? ?" the girl said. "He's
sore in need > 4.,.t- -~
'He would not Sleep" the river said.
But take him some OF my water to drink
and he will sleep, and you will both come
to me in your dreams, and will cure him
and make him we'll" ars
"Ah you will ?" cried the girl-a beau
tiiul light aud brilliant smile waking her
face into a wonderful beauty II wuIl 90
to him at once't. Where be the spirits
who talked so kind to me last night P''
| oh, said the river-and it seemed to
smile and ripple all over in the moonlight
you will see them again when YOU
come with your brother in your dream
The girl retiIled her jug. nodded bright
| ly to the river, and FASTENED home with
hope and love. She found her brother
awake and gasping for breath. "Harry,
Harry !" she said. tenderly leaning over
him. and raising him in her arms. ..See
I've brought 20 some water, all fresh and
pure out of the river"
His faded eyes frightened, and he ca
gerly drank it, and then with smile Law
back on her breast. "That's fiue= and
NICE" he said. How dds 90 so far ?
"Thou's good lass, to 90 for me-"
"Yo didna miss me whiles were gone,
did 70, Harry" e'.i q0n.
The boy looked up at her with loving
smile and tear-filled eyes: II alus miss
20, little sister. when yo's not wi me. "
| She bent over him and passonately kissed
his pale lips. e.
| "An' now she said. ..you nun go t.
sleep; an I'll 90 too an you'll wake
up right an fine an well to-morrer, an
you'll never be sick no more" 'ef'>
"WullI no P' said the boy. smiling up
at her eager face. "Yo looks lovely to-
night-like an angel" he said and. added
after minute, still smiling Il can sleep
now. Yo nun lie down by me-so, an
put your arm rOun' me-so; an'inOw kiss
me. little ssterr' sa..ias
The moon streamed in on them as they
lay, clasped in one another's arms, fast
asleep, their lips almost touching, and the
brown and gold OF their hair shining
in the light. ..s, fs....-
Harry woke first in dreamland to find
himself sitting on the bank Of the river in
the moonlight, waiting for bis sister. and
as he waited, all nature seemed TO wake
just to welcome him. The trees that
wayed their stately arms and silvered fol-
iage above him, whispered: Welcome
elcome." t..s.. .........r
The little pollard willows down by the
water all nodded and spoke to him some
CHEEKY word; the sleepy flowers'who sat
swaying and nodding on their stalks,
opened their brilliant eyes to smile at him;
and even the long graceful. grasses and
rushes rustled and bent and bowed towards
him, and did all they conld to express
their goodwill. The very frogs stopped
croaking to look kindly at the sick boy,
with their bright eyes; and the crickets
ceased rubbing their legs for minute.
"Oh. how could it do feel to be here ~
he sighed, and fairly laughed for joy and
nature seemed to take up the echo and
laugh to for company; and The frogs and
crickets croaked and chrruped louder than
ever and the bats took up the falsetto
parts in the chorus; and the nightingale
sang a solo that thrilled him with its
beauty
His sister came then. wandering along
by the river, bright aud happy, and sat
down by him. 'Harry, she said, kissing
his thin cheek. ''yo wull get all we'll again
now; wull not yO?" lal.
And the river answered, tossing Tiny
wreath of shining spray on to her lap:
Yes. yes he will, he will !"
Harry" said the girl, clasping her
hands together. and looking up at the blue
dome over where the stars were shining
and twinkling-"I feel so happy now, that
it seems somehow c'ud die Just for moth
in but joy. Be 70 not happy too ?" and
she laid her soft cheek against her broth
ers. sh
at be all just so sweet an glorious,
sister, that cannot find the words to put
it into--I can only feel it here" and he
clasped his hands to his heart.
Get up. get up sang the river, .and
come with me-"
So they got up and followed the twi,t-
ings and bendings of the stream hand-in-
hand The girl noticed that every step his
walk became lighter and more buoyant: a
warmer tinge flushed into his pallid
cheeks; and his eyes seemed to have
caught the radiance Of the stars. As for
her, she went bounding and dancing along
by his side, a very impersonation OF youth
and health and happiness. In their joy
Gus progress they were never left alone
From behind every tree they passed. and
from the tender heart OF every flower. and
up from the silvery water. beamed the
CHEEKY faces OF drysd and hamadryad. ELF
and water-nymph, and every lace had .
blessing in it. As for the river itself il
chattered and pratlled and laughed all the
way. There never was such a laxative
river. It's spirits were so high that every
time The wind murmured and rushed q
kindly wish through the trees, It curved
and coquet,ed and dashed up arrowy sill
yer pointed darts OF water all round and
about the boy and girl.
At last. after wandering for long hap
py while beneath the stars. they came to
lovely moss-and. flower carpeted dell in
the wood, overarched by branching trees,
whose foliage made a wonderful lacey
pattern against the gold-spangled blue
above. and in whose lap the river lay. q
clear deep emerald pool, on whose trans
lucent surface bloomed numberless water.
lilies. open tonight against their custom.
To do them honor and whOsc ptIre Whifa