Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-05-23
A Child's Dream of Heaven.

beautiful dream my little girl had a
while ago about heaven, and ask them,
after they have read it, il they will not
60 to the blessed Jesus, and ask him to
make them lambs of his fold, and when
they die, take them to that beautiful
home above.
But before I tell You the dream,
think must tell You little about my
daughter and her home, then you will
understand it better. She is q very
thoughtful, delicate child and gave her
heart to God before she was six years
old. This made her very happy child,
and she loved to read and talk about
heaven. One of her brothers had been
there some years, and although she had
never seen him, she heard SO much of
his happy life and death that of course
lie was not stranger to her. and she
often longed to join him in his home
above.
But now we were in deep sorrow.
We had given our first born, our great.
est earthly treasure, at his country's
call, to suffer, and perhaps, to die.
Nobly had he done his part, and just
when we we're almost daring to hope
that after victory he would soon come
back to us again, came the news, "Your
son is dead - We laid him in O SOL
dier's grave, and with stricken hearts
went back to desolate home, strug-
Cling through our tears to sing, 1--WE
shall know each other there A few
mornings after, very early, my daughter
came creeping softly to my bed, laid
her finger in my mouth and said:
Please, ma, don't speak. have had
such beautiful dream am so afraid
I shall forget it, that want you to help
me keep it. I dreamed I had been
very sick, and pa carried me down to a
river, and you both kissed me, and
cried because you could not go over
with me. 1t was not very wide but the
water was black. and my feet seemed to
stick in the mud but on the other side
of this river, at the top of the hill, was
hearen. l could hear music and sing
ing, and by the light could see the
gates of the city, and I was trying hard
to get there. When l reached the
other side of the river. was SO dirty
and some evil.looking people told me
it was no use for me to climb the hill,
for nothing unclean entered there.
But was determined to try, and at
last came to the gate. and asked the
keeper to let me in. He looked at my
dirty clothes. and told me he would
see, but did not think it was any use.
o, how / wanted to join in the singing;
and to be SO near and then not go in,
was more than I could bear. All at
once the thought came to me, and l
sprang up and sung, "Jesus loves me,
this know. for the Bible tells me so"
And voice inside the gate answered,
" Yes, love her, let her come in"
The keeper opened the door, and
there stood the blessed Savior. o, ma,
1 wish you could have seen him you
would not wonder that he came down
to die for us his look was so full of
love. He put his hands upon me to
bless me, and as he did so, all my
clothes and dirt were gone, and l was
dressed in white robes, and felt strong
and we'll and full of Joy. tried to
thank him, but the words would not
come. He beckoned to two beautiful
children, told them to be my compan-
ions, and teach me to sing.
/ cannot half tell you how beautiful
every thing was. They took me to see
the flowers, and am sure God must
have gathered the prettiest from all
parts of the world. Then we went to
groves. The trees were laden with all
kinds Of fruit, and singing birds were
among the branches, and everything
seemed full of Joy. The children l
was with were so sweet.
You cannot tell how good it is to be
all love. Among the trees were foun-
tains of pure and sparkling water.
While we were looking, at once we
heard the sound of music, and they
told me it was the hour of worship, and
we must go to our own home-for every
family group had home Of its own
there. f o.
As we turned to go, saw my brother
NJ, with Willie leaning on his arm.
He threw his arms around me- and
kissed me, and seemed surprised to see
me there. He then introduced me to
Willie ; for you know he did not know
me. They both wore long white robes,
and their hair hung in loose curls upon
their shoulders, and looked SO hand
some and good.
You know how poor and sad NJ
looked utter the battle of Gettysburg
that look is all gone now. They took
me between them till they reached the
place prepared for us. Every family
has a half circle, and facing it are
two thrones or seats higher than
the circle. These are for the parents,
while the circle is for the children.
Some circles we're filled in others
there was q mother or father with the
children but no one looked lonely.
In the centre, and higher than the rest,
was the throne of God, and seated upon
it was the Savior. .t[{a{4tF ~ III
AS soon as I had taken my seat with
the boys, they brought me my harp,
and the angels that were nearest the
throne commenced singing Worthy
is the Lamb that was slain !" and all in
heaven Joined the song. o. how glori-
GUS the Savior looked l cannot de-
scribe the beauty of his throne of pearl
and gold, and rays of light surrounding
it !; but it was the Savior himself who
filed us with joy; he had done SO
much for us. q, how loved him
felt could look on him forever
Arkz. 81, or1 <,1,o ann, n