The Press., 1892-06-23
For The Press.) A MIDSUMMER DAY DREAM.


 A MIDSUMMER DAY DREAM.
 It was near the close of a bright June day. had been visiting friend and set out early to return, that I might have plenty of time to enjoy the pleasant walk |, and rest and gather flowers by the way side. The road for some distance lay along the summit of hill, commanding an extensive and charming view. Direct ly below me lay the forest valley, beauti- full in it's varied greenness, the dark son. bre shades of the pines blending with the pie, with here and there & field of waving grains Be4ond this, and stretching far away in the distance, lay the forest crown ed hills and smiling valleys, dotted with white and brown farm houses, and fram- ing in beautiful lake.
 Descending into the valley the view be- came less extended, though rendered quite as romantic by the wild scenery around the "Lake of the Lillies," and the Valley ruins, passing directly by which we commence the ascent of another hill, which surpasses in its quiet beauty any other part of the way Here in the midst of the forest, as it would seem by the deep silence that reigned around, though it is not far from pleasant farmhouse, sat dawn to rest beneath the spreading branches of an old beech tree, on a messy rock, Reside which & cool spring gushed out and ran merrily down the hillside, over the fallen logs and among the rocks and ferns into the lake stream below. Thinking to rest here awhile amid the quietness of nature I took book from my pocket and commenced to read a beautiful allegory, but the heat of the ing, soon caused drowsy feeling to come over me, and the music of the gently rip bling water and the songs of the birds in the branches overhead soon sent me fast asleep. seemed to stand in the midst of an extended plain, and by my side the I dearest friend of my girlhood days. We ehAd been rambling around gathering the I flowers which grew in great beauty and luxuriance, and were now forming them into boquets and garlands, when we noticed what ill our eagerness in flower gathering we had not before observed that beyond the plain rose vast noun tain, green and beautiful, it's summit crowned by city, whose gates and tow. CTS seemed in the dim distance to be all pearls and gold, such radiance was over all.
 Hand in hand we set out to cross the the plain towards the golden city, but found our progress difficult in that direc tion. The ground, which before had looked like beautiful green moss, now seemed a vast Sponge saturated with wa. ter, which at every step would press uE around our feet Occasionally small streams would cross our pathway, and many times we were obliged to turn aside for the hidden obstacles that hindereG our progress. We were about to give uI in despair the idea of trying to reach ever the foot of the mountain, when we were reused by sweet voice saying, "Despai1 not, mortals, though the way is hard Hope can cheer and Faith guide you uI the mountain of holiness, even to the eternal city which is. before you.
 Cheered by this voice, though coming from some invisible source, we again put forth our efforts, but were often tempted to turn back on account of the difficulties in the way, but the sweet voice was evel urging us onward. At length the way be came much easier and little in advance I we could perceive two figures with shin ing wings, and now we knew that these were Hope and Faith that had guided us thus far on our journey. Hope carried two shining crowns, which she said would be ours if we succeeded in reaching. tht city, which Faith was pointing out to us with one hand, while i'm the other she helt chart which directed the right road te enter the gates.
 We had now approached so. near tha we could see the angels with their white wings and happy faces, and hear the mu sic of their golden harps and songs O praise. Hope turned towards us her ra diant face and was about to speak whel suddenly I awoke, so dazzled by the part ing rays of the sunshine that was beam ing over me from between the boughs that could not at first realize that was not in the beautiful land I had seen il my dreams.
 The most beautiful earthly scenes will quickly fade away, as did that summer sunset, which was fast merging into twi light, as I walked slowly homeward musing on that glorious vision l had hat of that beautiful land, which Hope whis pers may yet enter if I follow the di rections given in the book which Faitl held up before me.
 | Stafford, Conn MRS. J. c. CRAWFORD.