The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-07-06
Criminal Aoern.
A FRAGMENT OF A VISION.
A Dream That Was Dreamed.

A Dream That was Dreamed.
Written for the Democratic Advocate at the reques
of Rev. J. K. White, by o. c. Shipley.
81 had dream which was not all dream."-Byror
Sleep was on me- walked plain-before
Me a dark and gloomy valley lay;
saw no mortal shape nor form, and Ger
The wide expanse there beamed no sunny ray.
Spellbound stood, as one entranced, until
silver came DER me like one in fear,
AMI wonder-my senses struggling with my will
Babe me return to earth, nor larry here.
And is this death I cried the spirit land,
Where dwell immortal souls. invisible, unseen,
Chaos and darkness deep on every hand
The land of ghosts, where mortal ne'er hath been
But whence this light that suddenly breaks Ger
Ny sinful vision-whence eometh these sounds
Ofmusic, undreamed of on earths dark shore?
Which, as think of now, my spirit bounds,
One grandly swelling chorus, new song
Indeed-which fifty pen may not portray
To human mind; such strains only belong
To seraph choir, from earthly scenes away.
looked again. and 10 swung half ajar
The gates ofpearl-o, wondrous light revealed
Imagination caunoI grasp IT. we arc
But mortals alI-'tis best it were concealed.
thought to enter there-nay, nay, not yet!
/ GaH the voice, rather than heard; turnd
Sadly away. o, can e'er forget
The sight or how my Utmost spirit yeaned?
Blinded strove then my steps to retraee,
Aud turned again toward earth's dim, dark sphere
When from the portals saw an earth known face
Prepare to follow me, sitting tear.
Whence goeth thou? a voice was heard to say;
want my loved ones. was falteringly replied;
An, love is strong, stronger than death-away
fain would HE, and bring them Ger the tide.
And then, perforce. thrust him back, and
Turned rapidly from the scene away;
Fell darkness vast and iIlimitable, no sky
Was seen, chaos dark and deep-no light, no ray.
A change came Ger the spirit of my dream
Music's sublimest strains were heard again
Hast e'sr WANDERED alone by winding mountain
stream
At eve, when twilights shades fall DER the plain
Hast listed the notes from out the dark green pines
When zephyrs sway their branches Hast heark
end to
The voice Of nature-natnre's God-when sou
defines
The undesirable heaven Just in view?
Ifso you'll family comprehend the notes
Borne in upon my soul; family realize
The scene-the chorus from the millions threats,
The grand sweet strain, which seemed to rend th'
skies.
And there was light, Aud was back once more
Again fsmilisr scenes and things Of earth
erected my 'visiOn-hari by the streanlet's shore
> 1 saw the cottage with the desolate hearth
where death, The uuveleOme guest had been !
heard
The widows. orphans sobs-I marked the gloom
Pervading all that home. The wounded bird
Covers and coneeals the dart that proves is doom
saw them gathered round the evening board
But father was not therel on and anon
Sorrows are sent in mercy; with them Is Pour'd
Refining ire the human heart upon
A change came Ger the spirit Of my dram;
saw Gethsemane-I heard the prayer
Father. let this cup pass-Iiis agony extreme
Yet not my win. but Thine be done o. where
Nay pain. may love ike This be found. Cor those
whom else were losss Hehroke the bands Ofdcaii
And robbed him fhis serrors. and for our woes
Compassion fee.s-forgave with dying breath.
All this and more I saw, as In dream.
For portions OF the xoudrous scene were dim
would that my pen could justice do the themc.
That might win at leaSs one soul 10 Him.
That might eonsecrase 10 Him nay being,
So when my barque shall rim tall sarrows o'cF)
The veil. my soul exult in seeing
The eternal glory OF that beanteons shere
Lisbon, M. Jaae, 1850.