The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-09-01
GRANDMOTHER'S DREAM.
BY NJ. r. HoUsEKEEPER.

! Nanny Wilton closed the book she had
been reading, and lying back upon the
lounge, gazed ransively upon her grand
mother, who sat with her knitting at the
open window, enjoying the waning light
! of the summer day.
1t was very unusual thing for Nanny
to maintain silence when she was neither
reading nor sleeping, but this evening"
and, indeed, throughout the whole day.
! as her grandmother had noticed-she had
been silent and meditative beyond her
wont, and now, when she at last spoke.
her remark was prefaced with a long
drawn sigh.
"Grandmother do you think there is
any truth in dreams7n
''That depends replied her grand
mother. "If you dream tonight that
you go out blackberryiug with Cannon's
folks tomorrow, as l heard you promise
Rose Cannon that you would do, 1 think
it very likely your dream will come
true"
"Oh, don't mean everyday dreams
like that; but strange uncommon dreams:
dreams that make very deep impress
SION on you. Don't you think they are
ever sent as warnings2"
certainly; a warnings that you have
eaten something for supper which in fu-
ture you would do better to refrain
from"
mo but earnest, grandmothcr-
you are only joking now; should like to
know what you think about it,"
The old lady glanced sharply over her
spectacles at the inquirer, and there was
a momentary pause in the quick, glanc-
ing needles, as she replied:
Tell me first, my dear, why YOU
ask" 1'O
Nanny sighed again.
81 had such horrid dream about the
home-folks last night! l thought man
ma and were making up the children's
ped, and we came across nest of snakes
at the foot of 1t. Mamma was trying to
get them out, and they were twisting
themselves all around her arms and neck,
and she could not get them off. and | |
was so frightened l couldn't help her.
There was lots more of it, but it was all
SO mixed up that 1 could not make a
straight story of it, if were to try to
tell 1T; but l woke up crying and feeling
dreadfully. told Sally about it when |
came down, and she said that it was
always considered very unlucky to dream
about snakes; that it was sure sign of
trouble. You Just can't guess, grand |
mother, how badly have been feeling
all day. 1t seemed as though l must 90 |
home, put l was afraid you would LAUGH |
at me if told you what was thinking
about"
Tears were in Nannys eyes. and her
distressed face left no doubt of the real
unhappiness she was suffering.
You need not have feared that, child -
said the old lady, kindly. II have not
lived this long without learning that
immaginary troubles are almost as hard
to bear as real ones. Let us see if we can
lind any cause for this unpleasant dream
nearer at hand than your sixty-mile dis
tant home. You walked all the way to
Oak Grove and back yesterday afternoon.
you?"
"Ies, indeed; tired and hot and hun
cry. Don't you remember Joking me
about the big supper l atel And then
was so tired, went to bed as soon as it
was dark. see what you arc aiming at.
grandmother. You think there was
reason for my bad dreams.n
yes, and dare say you think so too
now. A tired body and overworked
stomach will amply account for bad
dreams, and if you study the matter a
little further, maybe you will be able to
account also for the particular form your {
bad Dream took. Have you been talk {
ng or reading about snakes latelyl Per. ]
naPs you saw one during your walk yes {
.erday2n ,
81 did l didm cried Nanny, eagerly. I
Grandmother, you are a real mind
eader We came across snake living I
lcross the path the other side of Mitch {
Ills Creek. We thought it was a crooked /
tick till we got close up to it, when it I
aised its head with hiss, and glided f
vi into the bushes l was dreadfully '
tartled, though | knew it was harm '
ess thing. Herb Cannon wanted to 90 +
.fter it to kill it, but Rose and would /
lot let him. OF course that accounts for |
ny dream. How silly have been to al |
ow such thing TO worry me don't r
'elieve l should have thought so much Q
bout it if it hadn't been for what Sally
aid" 9
''Sally is an excellent cook, but f
ion't have much faith in her cabalistic I
'owers, said the old lady, dryly. f
'Ao, of course not, Nanny said. n
aughing little, but blushing too. Her s
ace had regained its usual happy Sc a
entity, but she sat quiet for some time be- I,
ore she spoke again. /,
you are very old, grandmother; six Il
y-tye, aren't your A whole half-century I,