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


been reading, and lying back upon the
lounge, gazcd 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-shc had
been silent and meditative beyond her
wont, and now, when she at last spoke
her remark was prefaced with long
drawn sigh.
Grandmother, do you think there is
any truth in dreams2"
"That depends replied her grand
mother. "If you dream tonight that
you go out blackberrying with Cannon's
folk s tomorrow, as heard you promise
Rose Cannon that you would do, 1 think
it very likely your dream will come
true"
'Oh, l don't mean every-day 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 warningsW
"Cortainly; as 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
momentary pause in the quick, glanc-
N Iac ha sA1
Tell me first, my dear, why you
ask"
Nanny sighed again.
81 had such horrid dream about the
home-folks last night thought NAM
ma and / were making up the children's
bed, and we came across a 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, aud
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
straight story of it, if l were to try to
tell it; but woke up crying and feeling
dresdfully. told Sally about it when
] came down, and she said that it was
always considered very unlucky to dream
about snakes that it was a sure sign of
trouble. You Just can't guess, grand
mother, how badly l have been feeling
all day. 1t seemed as though must 60
home, Dut was afraid you would laugh
at me if l told you what was thinking
about.
Tears were in Nanny's eyes, and her
distressed face left no doubt of the real
unhappiness she was suffering.
"You need not have feared that, child,n
said the old lady, kindly. ~ 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
find 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 came home pretty tired, didn't
you2"
''Yes, indeed; tired and hot and hun
cry. Don't you remember joking me
about the big supper atel And then |
was so tired, went to bed as soon as it
was dark. l see what you are aiming at,
grandmother. You think there was a
physiological reason for my bad dreamsl"
. eyes, and dare say you think so too
now. A tired body and overworked
stomach will amply account for bad
dreams, aud 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
ing or reading about snakes lately Per
haps you saw one during your walk yes
terdayYn ~
~ did did r' cried Nanny, eagerly.
Grandmother, you are a real mind
reader. We came across a snake lying
across the path the other side of Mitch
ellis Creek. We thought 1t was a crooked
stick till we got close up to it, when it
raised its head with hiss, and glided
of into the bushes. 1 was dreadfully
startled, though / knew it was harm
less thing. Herb Cannon wanted to 90
after it to kill it, but Rose and would
not let him. OF course that accounts for
my dream. How silly have been to al
low such a thing 10 worry mel don't
believe should have thought so much
about it if it hadn't been for what Sally
said.p
''Sally is an excellent cook, but l
don't have much faith in her cabalstic
powers, said the old lady, dryly.
"NO, of course not Nanny said,
laughing little, but blushing too Her
face had regained its usual happy Sc
renity, but she sat quiet for some time be-
ore she spoke again.
''You are very old, grandmother; six
ty-fve, aren't you9 A whole halfcenturY