News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1895-12-12
Was It a Dream?

maid in the strongest sense OF the
term and anything else but a romantic
turn of mind | might never have
given the matter q second thought.
As it is, | must leave it to my readers
to determine whether | dreamed the
strange tale am about to relate. In
my own mind | know it was not a
dream or fanciful creation, saw it
and | shall always believe that the
veil of nature was lifted and | for
once was permitted to gaze little
beyond the limit of ordinary human
vision.
Let me say no more but proceed
with my dream as you will I'M
doubtedly call it, and then judge for
yourself.
l had been darning stockings for
my brothers numerous little ones
an occupation, you must admit,
hardly suited to incite romantic mus
ing-and had the last pair about
finished, when l was obliged to go
down into the house for more darn
ing cotton. returned to the veran-
da and seated myself in my rocking
chair.
1t was a warm afternoon in July,
and as | had been sewing for an hour
or more and was slightly fatigued l
laid my work aside, and leaning back
in my chair, gave myself up to the
enjoyment of a delig htful breeze that
had just sprung mp. | was never
more wide awake in my life and never
had more commonplace thoughts. |
was just thinking that l had forgot
ten to tell Brother James to bring
some sugar from the store.
Suddenly | heard a rustling over
my head. At the same time the
sweetest little woman, dressed in
some thin, gauzy stuff, alighted at
my side.
"Good afternoon, dear Miss Pris-
cillaI" she exclaimed in the sweetest
tones l ever heard. "Do | startle
you? You need not fear me, for l
have come to take you away for a
little while and am going to try and
make you thoroughly enjoy yourself
lOE OuCe. L Ou uSo0lNO II, lOl ,yOu
look nearly worn out worrying and
fretting about those nieces and neph-
ews of yours. Oh, don't look so sur
prised. am no stranger to you, al
though you may think so. l am
your invisible SELF You know every
mortal has an invisible being-or,
rather, you may not know it,"
The dear little creature was SO
beautiful and seemed so very like a
woman of earth in the way her silvery
tongue flew that | soon overcome my
amaz at her sudden appearance
and managed to ask her in rather a
hesitating tone who she was and
what she meant by claiming to be
my invisible self. | smiled little at
the thought of that dainty little be-
ing in any way resembling me, for !
am not at all conceited and am well
aware that / am very plain looking
individual. 1t certainly would have
taken a very keen eye to have dis.
covered any similarity whatever be.
tween us. 1t really appeared as
though features that were most i'm.
perfect in me were the most perfect in
her.
| was much mystified at her asser.
ton, and strange to say, having be,
come quite used to her presence by
this time, | asked her to be seated
and explain her remarks.
"Oh, dear; have not time to re.
main here long if we intend to go
very far on our trip" she replied
"Do you wish to go with me? If so !
promise you will not regret it. Are
you afraid to trust yourself with
me?' And she smiled so sweetly that
could not have refused.
81 could not but enjoy a trip with
such charming companion" / re.
marked. "But | cannot go far, for
it will be time to get supper in a
couple of hours"
"Never fear, you shall be back in
time, my dutiful one. Are we ready?
Then off we go!" she cried.
| felt myself lifted upward and
borne along as though on the back
of some large bird. We glided along
through the air at the rate of many
miles minute. My little guide was
carried along in the same mysterious
manner. We Travelled too rapidly to
admit of our conversing very freely.
And, in fact, the novelty of the situa-
tion kept me silent. was not