The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-12-31
CHAPTER ".

CHAPTER ".
TWAS bat dream,
Yet, did my wakeful spiri: shrink with
fear
And apprehension; twas so sad and
drear.
Tell me not that dreams are basaless
Fabrics, built of mist and air;
That the realm Of sleep ID painless
Plan nor resson enter tbeIe.
Sleep is freedom; dreams are gleamings
From the silent, mystic shore
ManV-voic4d prophetic meanings.
Hints. in whispered spirit lore.
! Christmas at the old sexbon's was
observed in the usual quiet manner.
Seth Morton did not approve of
noisy and unseemly merry-making.
A few most intimate friends were
invited, and they enjoyed them
selves in their own sober way.
OF course, the most prominent
among them was Edwin-Ellen's
Edwin When the little party
broke up, Seth rose to his feet,
filed up the ale glasses, and said !:
"NOw, neighbors, we will drink to
the merry Christmas that is passed,
and to the New Year that's coming;
and may it be happy one to US
all! And, mind, [ shall expect to
see you all on New Years eve; and
after we have had such good cheer,
as the dame can muster, we will to
the old church, and watch the old
| year go out, and the near year
come in"
Edwin was the last to go; and as
he seemed inclined to tarry in
his seat beside his beloved Ellen.
the old man said: "Come, come, we
will to bed; it's Christmas night,
and not late; we'll leave the
children to chat awhile"
The good wife threw some wood
upon the fire, sRuffed the candle, and
with a hearty goodnight, the worthy
couple retired.
When left alone, the lovers sat
q few minutes in silence; then Ed
win, turning toward the lovely girl,
murmured in low and tremulous
voice" Ellen, 1 do not know why
it is, but I feel so gloomy tonight.
Something seems to weigh upon my
spirits, and makes me feel melan-
choly and sad" He paused a few
moments and then continued 81
| had a dream two nights ago - a
dreadful dream! that filled me with
| hOrrorl " After another pause
"When your father said, just now,
we will watch the old year out anC
the new year come in cold shud
|, der ran through my veins, and {
!, like feeling to that which | had il
J my dream, came over me-" Arc
the young man looked so serious aEt
grave, that Ellen became fright
J ened at his words, looks, and man
ners. And drawing close up to him
she took hold of his hand, and fondly
soothing his cheek, said: "0l deal
Edwin, do not talk and look like
, that. You almost brighten me
, What can happen to you-you, WhC
are so good and brave?" And SHIT
| gazed lovingly into his face.
"No, my love" he answered, sit il
! not for myself that l am troubled
, my dream did not refer to me. /
was about you - you, dear Ellen
Oh, Ellen! it makes me trembl
/ when 1 think of it. I saw you
: Ellen, an out-caSt; wandering
wretched and homeless; exposed tt
: the cold winter st0rIa; shiVering
, with thin clothing. And I hearl
, voices hooting after you; and-oh
horrible! l thought [ heard then
say, murderer Oh, Ellen! VIVA
can it mean? And the you'll
buried his face in his hands, as i
to shut out some terrible vision
2 while his strong frame shook wit
emotion. Ellen, poor child, wa
2 utterly beWildered, and not known
t what to do or say to this strange re
. cltal, burst into tears. At thi
momehk the door of an adjOiDin
l room opened and the sexton at
S peared.
crying! and, Edwin, what's tina
/ you were saying? / thought
heard you say murder!
go, come here, father, and spea
to Edwin; he's had a dream an
a he's in great trouble about it"
' GA dreami" exclaimed the oil
' man. I" What you Edwin, trouble
' about a dream? Why; I've had
z thousand dreams, and l never kneN
one of them ever come true. Come
: come, my boy; do be more of ma
a tbor tbat We loft van fO6nIhp-
4 thinking you might have somethin
7 pleasant to say to one another; an