The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-11-04
A DAY-DllEAM.

| ~ DLS l.DltIIIt We
From the hall-door here. the frs
object which strikes the eye, be
You'd the lawn. is Il magnificent fel,
of clover. yet but slightly touched
with frost. and all illuminated will
the soft golden rays of the god of day
now sinking down luXuriously into /:
| couch of crimson clouds. Beyond
the clover is II field of fallow ground
whose mellow-brown gives pleasing
variety to the landscape. Still farther
on come woods and brown stubhle
iirlds-now growing gray us the
autumn is waning-and above I'LL. in
the distance. rise maiestically the
lofty Alleghanies.
| II Is sunset in OctObcr-and what
do not these words convey! The
brilliant orb has run his daily course,
and now he is gradually descending.
to light another hemisphere, amidst
his retinue of gorgeous attendants.
Gold and crimson mingle well, es,
pccially in the sunset, Far over
there in the distance is Il solitary
trec-a noble oak--which has with
stood the shocks of II century's
storms. TO the patriarch of the
forest ! often turn my steps ut the
soft hour of sunset: and when there |
often find myself indulging in the
widest of fancies, or dipping. in
memory, into the long past, or, per-
chance, wandering into the dreamy
future, specializing upon the destinies
Of men around me, and Of--myself.
The path leading to this tree.
where ] humor my day-drcams. is
not Il difficult one; there are no stones,
no fences in the way, but all is
smooth--it is delightful walk.
And even 50 is our childhood. From
the time we first see the light, until
We commence orr dreams of the
future and begin to cherish memories
of the past, we have no bitter regrets,
no deep-rooted sorrOws-all is Joyous.
hnd now / have reached the foot
of the great old century oak, and
fo thwith | commence dream.
ri st penetrate into the past with
aN ordering step; but soon return, us
on who lost his way, and commence
cropping into the light and shadow of
the dim future. What various scenes
has this tree passed through! How
many Of our ancestors have stood
beneath its wide.spreading branches,
AMI perchance dreamed as | dream
now. Those dreams of the past and
future, when the present has no ex.
istcnce, are far sweeter than any real
ity in life. In the past your dream
is sometimes Swallowed by scenes of
sorrow, but not so in the future.
My dream returns, and ! am soon
in the far-distant years of futurity.
What II happy life / will lead with
Kate! have long felt the influence,
and reveled in the sunshine of boy.
love-youthful alteration! Why do
love Kate! can not tell; | only
wonder that everybody does not love
her. The bland smile, those heaven.
" eyes, and that angel-like voice
the silvery laughter which gushes
sparkling forth-all these have
wrought their effect upon me.
! wonder if Kate loves me! But
no-alas! lam wandering again into
the past. She does not love me.
Those bright plans which l so de.
lighted to dwell upon are no more.
In company | would never show, in
my language, ut least, that Kate held
any place in my heart. But did ]
think that there was no language IN
the eye! Can not, and do not eyes
speak Il silent language, and are they
not far more eloquent than lips car
be! All! love is an uncomfortable
passion. My eyes said, kate, an
rapt up in yOu!" and my lips said
1T is absolutely ridiculous to say
am in love with Kate"
| was singularly constant land nov
my dream rambles into the past ant
future in turn. loved Kate TO
years with u devotion rarely to b.
met with. ] knew nothing of he
feelings towards me; | had neve
seen her alone. What bright thought
of future, made joyous by the uniol
of our destinies, have occupied m
mind, and here, in the shadow of thi
very oak! Then my dreams were al
brilliant; but alas! would that l ha
never seen that day!
] was at the BarOny-a fine oil
, country mansion in Virginia-spend
ing q few days, some ten miles froi
the seat of another relation, wher
Kate was soiourning.
] heard that Kate WAS anXiOns t
see me, and j was soon on my wa
to Ainwick. ! was in ectasies!
|, found Kate, Cousin Sue, and all, lool
ing beautiful, but Kate she was lool
!; ing more angelic than ever l SAY
u her before. She wore q thOughtfl
= expression, not quite melancholy.
I thought her manner to me was COLI
and suggested as much to Cousin Sui
She told me that was mistaken, til,
Kate really loved me. This cheere
me beyond everything ! had evt
heard. For q long time l could n,
get an opportunity to converse wit
her alone, but at last it came. sa
her, one evening sitting alone und,
moss covered rock Overhanging
magnificent sheet of water-a mo
romantic spot. She was gazing v
cantly ut the sunset; for 1t was TIL
. same hour at which | am recallil
these memories Of the past.
approached her and setting at h
feet, ] took her little hand in min
8. pressing it to my lips commenced
talk with her. We talked of we
lis ding!
1t led from this to the time of we
dings. Kate preferred this tin
. beautiful October, with its gold
= sunsets. At last ! poured out !
real feelings, my very soul, in p