The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-04-14
A DREAM.

In olden times, God said, concerning
one of his servants: II, the Lord, will
make myself known to him in vision,
and will speak to him in dream.
(Num. II :6).
Has he, in these latter days, ceased
to reveal himself thus ? If by a dream
we are made to realize more fully God S
tender and fatherly love for US, may
we not feel that he has indeed chosen
this method Of speaking to us !?
1t was time of especial sadness to
me; a time Of realization of all that is
meant by the loss of a devoted Chris
tian mother. Upheld during her last
days by her calm assurance and tri-
umphal faith, we had been turned
from our own sorrow and led to re-
joice with her in the nearness of her
Saviour presence and the glory so soon
to be revealed.
But self is strong, and will not long
be kept down, and now that she had
entered into rest, we thought more of
our loss than of her gain.
Especially was this the case when
sickness came. I cried myself to sleep
one night, longing for the soothing
touch Of her hand on my brow. Then
it was that the dream came to me. I
was standing just outside the golden
gate, and within few yards of her,
and kind of delirious joy, very
rapture, thrilled through me at the
sight of her dear face. But I was Of
the earth, earthly; and she was in
heaven, saint; and there was some
thing invisible, intangible, which held
me back, so that I could go no nearer
to her. l stretched out my hands to
her, and cried, "Oh, mother, don't
you sec how 1 need you p She turned
to me with her old, loving expression,
and said, "NIy child, my dutyi is here. y
Then, for the first time, noticed
her surroundings. She was standing
on the shore of the river, and around
her was a group of little children. They
were playing in the sand, if sand it
could be called, when each grain was
tiny jewel. There we're pearls, rubies,
diamonds, emeralds, sapphires--every
variety I had ever seen, and many,
many more, scattering their varied
lights as they sifted through the
dimpled hands Of the laughing little
ones. I watched my mother play with
them as she had done with me years
ago. Dipping handfuls of clear shin:
ing water, she, wet the sand, and
showed them how to pat it on their
white chubby feet. Then they asked
to ride on the water, and / saw her
look up the river, but as | looked, too,
my eyes were blinded by a great light.
She turned to me and said, THAT light
is from the throne of God close your
eyes" did so, and felt that [ was
being carried through the air: Again
I heard her voice, saying, "Look, my
child y
We were on the other side of the
throne, far from it, and yet it's radiance
was Illuminating the fairest scene my
eyes had ever beheld. There was a
bold cliff, over which the water dashed
with gleeful noise, while the little
ones laughed and clapped their hands
as the spray sifted over their shining
hair and upturned faces. There stretch.
ed the green pastures there blossomed
and budded the trees, bearing all man
ncr of fruits. And now I saw the
way in which the children rode on the
river.
Taking them in her arms, one by
one, mother tossed them lightly and
easily to the top of the cliff, and caught
them again in her arms as they swept
down on the crest Of the water. No
fear or danger there.
Finally, turning to me she said:
"My child, God has some work for
every soul in heaven; mine is to care
for these little ones whose mothers
arc still on earth, and in his love and
kindness he will see that other mothers
there shall give to you and each of my
dear children such human sympathy
and help as you really need, until the
time comes for him to bring you to my
arms again.
Immediately I awoke and felt that
God had indeed made himself known
in a vision of wonderful sweetness,
and had spoke directly to my longing
heart.
And now, you parents whose little
ones hands have been unclasped from
yours for time, do you realize that
you are doing Gods service when you
let the pent-up affections of your heart
90 out to those who have no longer a
fathers or mothers hand to guide
them? Give them sympathy, give
them counsel, and give them that
charity and forbearance you would
give your own were they with you
| Christian Observer.