The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-08-16

ment, and there has never been an,
reason to discredit it in the smalles
particular, being very tired he and hi
partner retired early. They slept to
gether My brother soon fell into {
troubled sleep, much disturbed by
dreams, in one of which he fancieC
that the devil, or some kindred hob
goblin, was after him, and that he was
fleeing from him for dear life.
In his fight he found himself run
ming along that crosspath that led FROM
the village to Goss' every foot OF
which, was perfectly familiar to him.
He ran and ran, closely pursued by
the demon, until he came to "A spot
about half way between the two points,
when, in little hollow beside the
path, he came suddenly upon a man.
This SO startled him that he imme-
diately awoke, with the circumstances
of his dream much impressed upon
his mind, so much SO that it was a
long time before he could again close
his eyes in sleep.
When he did again drop off, it was
only to dream the same thing over
again, and to awaken as before with a
great start, on discovering the man be
side the path.
On awakening this time he found his
mind very much disturbed over what
he had now seen twice in his dreams.
He was thoroughly impressed that
there was some one at the place he had
seen, in sore Distress, and that he
would surely perish unless some one
went to his relief.
Try as he would, my brother could
not drive this apparition out of his
mind, and he lay long debating with
himself, whether or not it was his du-
ty to go to the relief of that man.
In the meantime his young partner,
llerrick, was calmly sleeping beside
him, that perfect sleep that comes to
bless the strong and hcalthful.
My brother did not awaken HIM, to
tell him his dreams, for fear he would
laugh at him.
AS ! said before, on that particular
night my brother was very tired. and
as thus far his disturbed mind had
given him but little rest. tired nature
at last again prevailed and he sank once
more into slumber, but as before, DIES
tined not to be peaceful
1t was now past midnight as he had
clock. which, by the way, was old
Grandfather Clock" of the famil-
lar song, and would have answered its
description equally as we'll.
This time my brothers. dream took a
slightly different phase, He thought
that there was a man lost, and that he
must rally the neighborhood to hunt
for him.
He thought he first went up to faith
er's house, and calling him to the door
said, Have you heard about the man
that is lost?" My father replied that
he had not, when my brother said,
Eyes, there is man lost and want
you TO go along with me and help find
him." My father said, well, wait
till | go in and put my clothes on and
| will go with you. He had come
to the door only in his night robe
This is as il appeared in his dream
On my fathers return into the house,
my brother appeared to come to the
conclusion not to wait for my father,
so he started down the Hill toward the
big woodlot before mentioned. in the
direction of the spot that had been re
vealed To him in his former dreams.
Soon however there was change in
the spirit of the dream. Again he was
pursued by the demon, and again he
was fleeing from the hideous spectre.
with feet tos which abject terror had
lent wings.
He ran on and on until his fleeing |
feet brought him again, the third |
time, to the spot by the path where he |
lad twice before in his dreams that |
light. seen the perishing man.
There again he saw him. and this |
line. as before, again awoke with a |
terrible start.
This time he awoke with the idea |
impressed upon his entire being so
thoroughly and SO completely that his |
will. his volition, was no longer his
,wn.
That idea was, that at the spot that
lad three times consecutively been in
Heated that night in his dreams there
vas man, human being, about to
perish. and that he must Immediately
20 TO the rescue.
With not moments hesitation he
prang out of bed without arousing
lis sleeping partner: hurriedly dressed
himself. stole noiselessly out of the
house so as not to disturb any of the
leeping inmates and breasting the
old winter air he struck out at a
risk pace down the road toward the
Indicated spot.
1t was now between one and two
'clock in the morning. For about
uarter of mile his road lay through
he open, thence it plunged into the
ense forest, for three quarters of a
nile or more to emerge again into the
pen air near the Goss residence. |;
The night was dark, there was no
loon. The woods added an addition
| gloom to the darkness making it diff
cult at times to follow the roadway.
On, my brother STROBE, through the
yoods, into the open again, passed the
loss residence beyond which he struck {
nto the path that led across lots to {
he village. {
On, on he went, his pace never flag I
ing for a single instant, and all this
ime, he asserts, that not for single s
Instant did doubt enter his mind
ther than he was going to rescue that
erishing man.
This time there was no demon fol
wing, no thought of any kind except {
ne purpose that possessed him.
He was nearing the spot. The coun-
y was broken; the spot was in lit {
G hollow, and could not be seen until c
thin few PAGES. {
Still no doubt of the correctness of 7
ais wonderful inspiration, if inspi- {
alton it was haG entered his mind. s
He was still keeping up the same