Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-12-21
A CHRISTIANS DREAM,

In dream / was transported into
the world that lies beYond-the beau
titul heaven opened to all mankind
by the blessed Christ-child.
That hell that lies underneath
heaven you have doubtless heard of'
Naturally the holy dead sse and hear
nothing of the pains of the lost, Tor
that would entirely spoil the Joys OF
paradise for them, but now and then
i believe onrc a ye6~-~it - .iven to
look down into hell. There is, how
ever, one condition in particular at
tached to this privilege. When the
dome which conceals hell from the
sight OF the angels is opened, 1t is Tor
the relief of the condemned.
God in his mercy has decreed that
the saints shall look down into the
abyss in order to tell st. Peter II they
see among the damned any one from
whom they have received any benefit
or OF whom they have ever heard
any good. II the keeper OF heavens
gate is pleased with the generous
action which the lost soul performed
while on earth, he has the power OF
shortening the time Of punishment or
can even pardon it altogether and
bid it enter into paradise.
AS for me, l arrived in paradise on
a day when hell was open to view and
came to know thereby many strange
things.
1t was granted to me to look into
the place of torment, and the things
| saw there were awful. Picture it to
Yourself as you will When | recoy-
cred from the horror that fell upon
me, l recognized many men and
women whom l had known on earth.
Among the latter noticed woman
whom had know well on earth, and
who deserved to be among the lost, l
thought. | had never anticipated
any other sentence for her. Although
she had possessed more than was
needed to crafty her own wants, she
could never be moved by the most
touching appeals Of the poorest to
relieve their distress.
There is no chance OF voice being
raised in her favor" said to myself.
But was wrong, for at that moment
lovely angel-child flew past me on
it's blue aud white wings. Without
any sign of fear it flew directly to st.
Peter, who looked formidable enough
with his long beard and great keys,
a nd pointing with its little forehnger
to the hard hearted woman cried,
''She once gave me handful OF nuts. "
Really" answered the keeper Of
heaven, That was not much, and yet
AIN surprised, for that woman would
not part with so much as a pin during
her life. But you, little one, who
were you on earth p
Little Hannele was my name,
answered the angel. Il died OF star
walton, and only once dld any Que
give ME anything in my life to make
me happy, and that was that woman
yonder."
Marvellous, answered Peter, strok-
ing his white beard. No doubt the
nuts were given as miserly payment
of some service you did her"
mo, no !" the angel answered decid-
edly.
well, tell us how it happened,
then" the apostle commanded, and
the dear little soul obsyed.
my sick mother and l lived in the
city all alone. for father was dead
Just before Christmas we had nothing
more to eat, so mother, though she
lay in bed and her head and hands
were burning, made some little sheer
of bits of wood and cotton, and / car
ried them to the Christmas market
There sat on some steps and offered
them for sale to the passersby, bu'
nobody wanted them. Hours passed
and it was very cold. The open wount
| in my knee, which no one saw, paine(
me SO, and the frost in my fingers ant
toes burned dreadfully.