The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-19
THE DREAM WIFE.


Rev. John +. Van Herrich. formerly rec
tor Of St Clements parish. in this city.
and now of Wichita. Kan. sends to the
Posr-iSrELIIGESoEE the following poem.
which he SAYS is founded on what he
knows TO be facts:
In . low-ceiiinged hut, on the shores OF Brazil.
Where the soonaay Is searching and the mid
And the rank growths Of nature seem to bear on
their breath
The poison OF fever-shs shadows OF death.
Lay fever-tosssd patient, from whose dreamy
eye.
Lies fire was fitckering-iss fame passing By:
For the priest had just said. "My son. have no
I commend thee to God. for the end il now
near."
And had left with blessing for the dying and
dead.
The last rites were ovsr--she last prayer said.
The nurse, worn with watching and shrinking
with lear,
Seemed to feel that the angel Of death lowered
near.
But exhausted and weary. had fallen asleep
And failed for moment her vigil to keep:
when into the hut there giided a form,
Whose every slight movement Of culture
seemed born
woman whose face was OF sweet. classic
mold,
And her hair seemed to simmer like tressss
OF gold
In her hand was goblet - blue ~ the skies:
When sho touched the dull sleeper he opened
his eyes
With wild eager iook-with . gasp OF sur
prise
"Drink all of this quickly. for must not de-
lay"
He soon drained the vessel-she glided away.
hA
And asked for the woman-ths vision-the
spell
Or whatever It was. that strange. beaussous
sight,
That had brought back his life in the dead of
the night
His hearers they smiled. for to them It did seem
But the play OF deiirium-the freak of q dreami
1t was six long years after. whom passing Q
In the suburbs OF Matches. he saw that same
face.
That same slender figure and same golden hair:
She stood in the pathway-so sweet and % fair.
'My God. 1t is she of that far-sway land!'
There she stood in the fesh. with q rose in her
He spoke to his friend. who thought him quite
wild.
Or possessed Of . fancy unworthy child.
But he soon sought way-they stood face to
face.
And their spirits went hack to that frst meeting
place:
To that low ceilinssd room. whore their soul.
had once met.
For the light seemed to nash-in lams-in .
jet
From the past They stood for . moment b.
wilcered-amaxed;
They looked scarcely conscious, they both
seemed 90 daxed:
Yet never u word OF that past did they speak,
Though the strange recognition seemed to nush
on each cheek.
Then he wooed and 10 won all the love Of her
heart:
The love OF life, which seemed strange part
OF his own past existence, his very own life.
He wooed and he won this ideal for his wife
-
It was after the marrlsge-when at last BY
themselves,
She wen, to a cabinet. ana from one o, tn.
shelves,
She took down goblet a. blue ~ the skies.
OF queer. antique pattern, aud with sweet.
eager eyes
She said ''On this place 10 . we'll OF marvellous
power
Which works wonders In isvsra Well, one mid.
night hour.
Some six years ago-in vision or dream.
went to hut with this cup In my hand.
To some distant country, some strange foreign
land:
saw you there dying or near unto death.
With your eyes wild and staring. with quick.
gasping breath:
touched your pale forehead. you looked in my
eyes
A. you drank from :his goblet with searching
surprise.
Next morning woke-the dream fingers yet
And there stood this cup with the water Sill
wet.
On how vivid tina, picture: even now recall
Every object about you. each rude cut on the
wallr'
Amazed aud astonished. he suddenly cried:
''iou saved me. my dream wife, bat Tor you
had died."
Oh, marvel OF mystsries-whas can Il meant
The acme OF wave thought!-was IL vision or
dream?
Did her soul so to him in that far away land7
hand?
And though years have now passed they are
wondering stu
BRAZIL
Can the mind lesve this body and wander ATARI
Does II travel through space Ike the light from
q starr
But Whatever the mystery, she had once saved
his life:
He had met years before with his precious
dream wife:
And though holy their love they are pondcring
still
How her soul left her body aud went to B,sxii!