davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29

a magical word said he; 'transpose the
letters and we have mites, items.
'emits. and''-he paused" 'smite' -
Then suiting action to the word, pierced
ne through with the black arrow, say
ing as he did so: Take the arrow to nv
friend Charon, ferryman of the Styx"
For few moments I was in utter
darkness. and seemed to be falling
through space; suddenly l was brought
up on the bank Of a river, whose water
looked like ink. Close by was a ferry
boat, from which slowly emerged what
took to be an ark, from pictures l have
seen, and, standing in the prov, was the
gioomiest looking being imaginable.
Sailing right up TO where 1 stood. he
thus accosted me:
Hail, stranger from the land of NOR
tails. How came you here? You are not
mentioned in the bill of lading' to cross
the Styx on this trip
1 answered him L did not know how
came to be there, that friend of his
whom / met in Washington sent me
there
Washington" said he, "tis a long
time since / ferried him across" Rut
hold. cried he suddenly. and placing his
hands in his inside pocket, pulled ont
a copy Of The Washington Times. and
cycling me closely whilst he tried 10 read
The paper, began TO mutter:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
Minister Was Waiting.

IN a few moments We arrived at the
church. found the door open and the in
terror lighted up. l noticed the minister
in his robes standing near the altar.
AS we passed up the aisle the woman
by my side drew my head down and
whispered in an undertone:
You must be brave and cheerful now.
1 have the ring, and all has been pre-
viously arranged
L took the ring in my hand and no.
ticed the brilliant fash of a large dia-
mond upon the circle of gold.
We now stood in front of the rector.
and he said:
Are these the contracting parties to
be wedded?"
One of the men replied, Yes" and
the reading of the ceremony com
menced.
l listened attentively to each SEN
tence, and yet while L seemed dazed or
like one IN a dream. / made properly
the required responses, and seemed i'm
pressed with the solemnity of the
words at the midnight hour
AT the conclusion of the services one
Of the men handed the rector an en-
velope and then We all left the church
noticed as soon as the church door
was closed all was darkness in a mo-
ment in the building
On reaching the door at home the
members of the party shook hands with
me and extended congratulations
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
Reused at Midnight.

In the darkness of the night 1 could
not distinguish their faces or recognize
them as friends or acquaintance, and l
looked at them inquirirgly. One Of the
men spoke and said:
I'VE are all ready and they are await
ing US at the church around the corner"
i replied:
Well, what for?"
He said:
Get your hat that hangs there in the
hall. come with us and you will see
l did not stop to think over this re-
quest at so late an hour and from total
strangers but mechanically reached for
my hat, put it on, closed the door, and
accompanied them. seeming to have no
free will in the affair
One of the women reached for my arm,
placing her hand on my elbow, and lean
ed upon me as if for protection.
1 must confess the sensation, while
new to me. was not an unpleasant one
and rather enjoyed the role of a pro-
tectOr.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
AN EX-SOLDIER
SWEARS TO DREAM
Asleep on Train, He Saw His
Brother Waiting for Him, Sew
eral Hundred Miles Away.

When. on the 18th day Of april, 1861.
the news that our flag had been fired on
at Fort Sumter, was flashed throughout
the land. l was a youth OF nineteen and
engaged as a clerk in the bookstore Of
my brother AMI his partner under the
firm name of PIX & D@y.
Under the call of our President for
-. 600 troops 10 put down the rebellion,
enlisted in the Southern Tier Rifle Com
pany. of Elmira' y. Y, the crack mill
tary company OF western New York, and
soon found myself doing duty in "Old
Virginia" On the 22d of February. 1852.
my brother brought me commission
as u first lieutenant in company then
organizing in Eimira, and my discharge
coming that night. the next day bid
farewell TO the boys ard came TO Wash
ington to get my pay, expecting to leave
the city that evening. In this I was dis
appointed, for, the Presidents son Willie
having died, the departments were clos
ed and I was detained for two days
My train was behind time. and after
leaving Harrisburg continued to lose
time. Sitting in my seat. about &c
O'Clock at night, fell asleep, and In my
dream l saw the young people of my set
in E1mira enjoying themselves at a
party At the house of Miss McD-d, and
1 could call them all by name. Ny
train was due there at 1915 o'clock.
Shortly before that time I saw my
brother VIII leave the house with a
young lady and go to the station TO meet
me ana conduct me to the party I saw
them walk up and down the platform
and around thes station until after Il
O'Clock. and then I saw them go to the
4 r.,lo. Il
him, and then 1 saw them leave and re-
turn to the house.
It was after u o'clock when the train
pulled into the station, and arriving at
the Rrainard House L asked the clerk Il
my brothers had been there during the
evening. and was then informed that
they had gone 10 a party. as I had
dreamed It was then too late for me
10 go there, so l took a room and re-
tired.
The next morning I went TO the store
where VIII was employed, and after
shaking hands / asked him if ne was
not at a party the night before at Miss
Mods, and he replied in the affirmative
1 then asked him if he did not go to the
-tation with Miss s.. walk uo and down
the platform for 2 half hour, interview
the telegraph operator in regard TO the
arrival Of the train, and return to the
house | told him of my dream and he
said II was correct in every particular
He told me that my brother James
who returned from Washington ahead
OF me, had reported that ] would reach
there that evening. and as 4 cornpII-
ment 10 me the party, social affair OF
about twelve couples had been DELAYED
Il day or two to await my arrival 10 con-
graduate me On my promotion. Was II
dream? Some say spirits, and others
say telepathy- But whatever Il was. to
me il remains ineXplicabIe to this Giav
| cali il dream, and inclose nv ar
iIS-V4t 20 us h1ulneSs- C. T. d.
Subscribed and sworn to before me a
notary public for and in the District
of Columbia, this 18th day of January
1SO5 y
tSeaD SARAH H. SAMPSON.
Notary Public
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
Old Familiar HauntS.

1 wandered Iistlessly here and there,
seeing and feeling the gloom that sur
rounded me, but unable to find the
cause At last l found myself in the
center of the courthouse square. / had
known from my boyhood every blade
of grass and every stone in it. All
looked familiar, yet so changed and
strange, l found myself looking at the
corner of the old building. There was
the broken place in the brick work as
had last seen it. l knew where L was
but was becoming frightened at the
strange atmosphere
Presently there issued from the door
way with grave and stately tread a
dark-robed figure that as far as APP
pearances went might have just arisen
from the ancient grave of some Puritan
who had been gathered hence some years
ago. He held in his hand a paper q
legal appearance, and as he approached
me ne began to read.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
SAW VISION OF
PARIS TRAGEDY
Ill in Hospital, She Beheld the
Holocaust in Which Perished the
Duchesse d'Alencon.

On the night of May 4. 1897. 1 was w.
ing on a sick bed in Washington. At a
late hour as 1 passed into slurnber- a
dream came TO me of lllrid flames. Of
a blackened abyss, of a struggling mass
of human forms. Cries and means of
anguish issued from the depths of this
hell of fire. Into the heavens DARED
fiery Tifted tongues, and from their
midst rose forms clothed in long ffImy
robes Of white. floating softly upward
into the golden glory above.
Appalled, at the agonizing scene be-
low, the yawning bIackness from
whence the flames issued the torrents
of fire sweeping upward. and the null
titude of glorified forms ascending and
ever ascending into heaven, / asked
over and over again. why. OH, why
are you showing me all this? What
does il mean2''
When | awoke with the early morning
hours l was exhausted and acuteiy T.er-
VouS.
Shortly after my physician entered
the room From mis- coat pocket pro
truded a newspaper with huge head
lines telling the tale OF the Awful
tragedy of the night of May 4. 1s97-the
Charity Bazaar fire at Paris. in which
40 persons. mostly women. persisted
MRS L. J. YOUNGWITH EE,
SOC l Street northwest.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
REFUSED WEALTH
OFFERED BY GIRL
She Wished to Bestow a Fortune
Upon Him, But He Declined-Then
He Awoke and Wondered.

/ dreamed that 1 was walking up the
Avenue to the Capitol. Suddenly, in
my dream, | became DESTROYS of finding
a place to sleep At last / selected a
place under one of the porticces.
l must have been asleep several dream
hours, when I was awakened by a
movement across my face [ looked up
and saw beautiful maiden standing
near me- She held in her hands net
which had strings of gold. From time
to time she would cast it at me, and
each time she would miss her throw.
sat looking at her in bewilderment, and
every time she cast the net l slipped
aside. At last she spoke:
Foolish mani she said Il am try
ing to hestow upon you wealth that is
beyond the dream of avarice. Why DO
you avoid the good fortune that is TO
be yourS?'
Like a flash / seemed to understand
the situation. and eagerly leaned for
ward to allow the net to fail upon my
shoulders.
The maiden made another cast. The
net was about my head and shoulders,
and l-awoke clutching the bed cloth
ing and wondering why l had refused
the gift SO long. A. 7. K.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
Dream Twice Repeated.

Twice he fell asleep. and each time
the child appeared and spoke the same
words
He finally arose. and, after writing the
date and putting it carefully in his
brothers Bible, saddIed his horse and
rode home just as day was breaking.
He found the child in perfect health.
and not wishing TO worry my grand
mother twho had a high strung mag
ination and vivid fancy said nothing,
but wrote the date IN the family Bible.
On the Sd OF June he did not leave
the house though the child was appar-
entity well. That night, fortified with
coffee and a book, he determined 10
watch.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
GENERAL SCOTT
STOLE THE RING
He Asked This Man TO Secure II
From Goddess OF Liberty, But
She Gave Secret Away.

In my dream I was walking in the
Northwest section Of the city in an en-
tireIy aimless fashion Presently l found
myself standing before the statue or
General Scott. AS gazed upon his face
I was suddenly amazed TO hear him ad-
dress me
How do You do" ne said
Very well. thank you. general, I
managed to stammer-
--Win you do me favor?' he asked
I replied that 1 would do 50 with pleas
ure. He then informed me that the
Goddess of Liberty on the Dome of the
CAPITOL had borrowed a ring from him
which had not been returned Would I
go after it for him2 To my objection
that I could not reach the goddess, he
replied by handing me a wand The
moment | held il in my hand l arose
IN the air and few on an incline TO the
top of the Dome
The goddess stopped down and took
me in her arms, asking me what / wish
ed l Informed her that was after
General SCOTS ring. She laughed mer-
THE old hypocrite'' she exclaimed.
He stole it from Ben franklin 1t Is :
talisrnan which enables anyone who
wears il 10 discover hidden treasure
She handed me the ring. and in return
asked me for the wand L objected on
the ground that would De unable 70 get
back 10 earth
You viii get down all right" she
said Il have been wanting some sil!ns
TO throw az George Washing tou for a
long time He makes me tired
She seized the wand and swung II
swiftly at the statue of Washington. and
at the same time. hurled me TO the
ground. l gave a scream OF terror as I
feIl-and woke to And II was nothing but
a dream H s WILSON,
Congress Heights. d. C
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
ANOTHER DREAMER
SWEARS TO DREAM
Makes Affidavit That a Converse
ton Heard in a Dream Was
Repeated Next Morning.

1 once owned diamond ring whose
setting became worn and loose. 1 took
it to Mr.. Carl Petersen, a weil-known
jeweler in this city, TO have il repaired.
He Informed me that / could call for II
within two or three days. The night
before 1 went l dreamed that l called
for the ring and Mr. Petersen said:
Mrs. Friebus, 1 am very sorry to
have to inform you that L gave your
ring to ore of my best workmen and in
repairing 1t he accidentally Clipped the
stone l have forwarded ii to New York
to be fixed, and when you get it back
you will not be able to notice that II
has been repaired
At breakfast next morning l related
the dream 10 my family. but nothing
was thought of It. l asked my daugh-
ter-in-law to accompany me that day to
the store, and on the way we commented
on the dream. which mad been very WV
i'd, and which had impressed me at the
time as being most realistic.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
81 Am Your Mother-in-Law."

The elder woman said:
Il suppose you know l am your
mother-in-law, and will return in few
days and help you both get regulated
keeping house
At these words 1 felt a cold chill run
VI and dow my spine. and inwardIy
remarked: I hope that visit will not
nlaterialize for a long time"
AS they departed my wife said:
We'll. as it is all over, let us go in
the house and see if we cannot get
something for supper
We entered the room. The fire was
low in the CRATE. / threw on some
wood and turned UP the lamp. The
clock showed it was the midnight hour
l turned to look at my wife Hers was
a beautiful face in every respect, and
as l gazed upon her features l said:
Il am glad ! have awaited all these
years for your coming.
-na replied.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
DREAM FORETOLD
CHILD'S DEATH
Father, Who Had Been Warned,
Watched Until Midnight-Death
Came Before Dawn.

My grandfather, Raphael Semmes,
was cool. keen. hard headed business
man with no frills Of any kind, a man
OF stern integrity, unimpeachabIe honor
and strict truth. but with very little
sentiment or Imagination
When his eldest, and at that tine only
child Che was afterward the father OF
thirteen) was about year old, business
called him from home After a longs
hard ride. he spent the night with his
brother-they lived some fifty miles
apart During the night his brother
was awakened by his cries and groans.
He told his brother he had a dreadful
dream.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
With CIasped Hands.

81 saw my little girl. Anna Marie,
lying dead in her crifs, and ciasped in her
hands, on her breast. was little black
crucifx. that hangs high over her
head
She said:
!" win die on the third day of June:
nobody VIII see me die. or know what
hour
And although she can't talk or even
stand alone. it all seemed natural IN
my dream
His brother tried to reassure him.
saying:
Well, this is on April anyhow. sud
[ expect it was ca sed by the good old
Maryland ham you ate Tor supper
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
Enters the Stork.

Ere L could make a reply I heard a
NOISE at the door as if somebody was
trying 10 get in Taking the lamp l
Went to the door and opened it, and
there stood an immense white stork.
holding little basket in his extended
Dill, looked IN the basket and beheId
IT contained a beautiful, rosy-cheeked
child
Here, take this treasure that belongs
TO You. am sorry ! was late. and
could not get around in time for the
services at the church." said the stork.
Good gracious:" 1 replied, this is
totally unexpected! So sudden, 1t m ust
be that you are mistaken and got the
wrong address,
No" he replied; Il never make a
mistake in my delivery; this is the
house, the correct street, and number
You must remember you are living in a
last and progressive age. An age OF
electricity, automobiles, rapid transit
and radium. Nothing strange about
this
1 looked at him in amazement as the
great white wings were spread, and he
new upward into starlit space, and
IN moment was lost to my vision.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
Courtroom in Dragon

We stopped and as we did the mouth
of the dragon opened ID receive US,
which presented the appearance Of a
courtroom.
l Immediately observed a throne on
the tongue of this monster, while on
each side of its teeth sat judge ready
TO select my occupation for the here
after At the feet Of each judge was
coiled a serpent holding in its mouth a
torch to afford US light, and in the rear
of this strange court room was seen a
sheet of roaring flames
Satan, the monarch of the kingdom,
took the throne while L stood on the
witness stand awaiting trial The
judges. tweuty-fouT in number, arose,
and in unison grumbled some ghoStly
sounds.
At the conclusion of this there were
seen coming toward me from different
directions two monstrous turtles On
their hack was a growth of the shape of
of d skull and cross bones. One had in
its mouth a huge fork, with which 1
assumed authority. while the other had
a piece OF asbestos upon which was
written my rank
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
A FrightfuI Situation.

L took the little infant in my arms
and by the light of the lamp tried to
discover if it resembIed me in its fea-
lures
1t at once set up a squall, and 1 hur-
RED inside with it, and said:
Here, wife. is our kid. 1 am GER
tain it needs something TO eat and
other proper attention"
AS she reached for it with out
stretched arms I slipped and fell. She
gave loud scream. and l awoke with a
start, finding myself in a heap. doubled
up on the moor, having tipped over the
reading table and a pile of books and
papers upon it in my fall
All this was a matrimonial dream. ard
L DO not care for the real experience.
LESLIE R. QUACKENBUSH
Remington, Va.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
"W ord for Word"

When we arrived at the store I asked
for my ring and to the amazement of
myself and my daughter-in-law Mr. Pc
tersen repeated word for word the state
ment / remembered in my dream as L
have told it above. There was no pos
sibie way in which he could have known
of my dream, and | have his permission
to refer to him TO prove the coincidence
To assure you OF the absolute truthful
ness of my statements 1 refer to the af-
fidavit hereto annexed.
MRS. +. II. FRIEBUS.
1879 L Street NoTthT est.
District of Columbia:
Subscribed and sworn to before me
(SeaI) PAUL. F. GROVE.
Notary Public, ID. c.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
HIS LANGUAGE
PLEASED SATAN
The Two Became Friends and the
Ruler of .Hades Promised the
Dreamer Good Position.

Dead2 Why. Of course. I'm dead
Didn't I just receive a telegram from
ST Peter telling me where TO go and
haven't just phoned for Satan TO come
for me with one of his red devise You
see l don't know the road myself and
am liable to get lost
Why here's Satan now. Good by.
We started and before many moments
were in darkness and an open country
The radium rays from our machine
caused it 10 appear to be swiftly
moving ball OF fire and with its aid We
easily found our way.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
Given Special Privileges.

Because of my friendship with Satan
was given the privilege of going wher-
ever and whenever l desired, and was
given the power of the possessed.
What change,
All around me vanished; the judges
disappeared The only lights left were
the torches held by the serpents- Grum-
bling deafening noises flied the air
Around me the twenty-four serpents
swayed their heads. and with kissing
sounds dropped the torches.
Twas dark.
The kissing sounds of the serpents
seemed like music 10 me AS [ thought
Where in the world am | att" the
floor separated and / dropped into space
The longer L was in the air the more
slowly fell and the lighter il became.
l had fallen about 80, 900 miles when |
landed with 3 terrible Grassland woke
up on the rug beside my bed, holding on
to the edge with both hands.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
Answered the Description.

Medium sized man. dressed in dark
clothing"
Suddenly his manner changed his eyes
flashed, and, bounding on me, said:
Have you the Black Arrow"
II have" said l, and showed him the
arrow, with which his friend had pene-
trated my breast
He proceeded to remove the arrow,
from its resting place. and in fighting
him off, / fell to the floor. from which
l woke up greatly relieved 1t was an
arrow escape.
JAMES c. REAGAN
Carrier c. p Or
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
TheT Were Related.

Before long our friendship had in
creased; ard, we soon claimed kinship.
Satan took such an interest in me be-
cause of my speaking the same Ian
guage as he-profane, Of eourse-and,
on promising to give him lessons in
that art he said, Il will give you d
prominent position in my kingdom
On and on we went.
Far on the distant horizon faint rays
Of light shone.
Twas our destiny and my doom
The nearer we approached the higher
in the air were the rays and the higher
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
lust at Midnight.

The old clock on the stairs rang out
twelve strokes. He arose and looked
at the calmly sleeping child. His eyes
then sought the crueifix hanging SO high
above her head
He resumed his reading, and must
have slept, for when again conscious, it
was the dull gray dawn OF another day.
The candles spIuttered feebiy, all was
deathIy still He rushed over TO the
crib the child was dead. with the little
crucifix clasped in her arms
MRS T. MARSHALL JONES.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29

in the air was my hat-I was being
turned into q perfect little devil
AS We neared our journeys end. the
road cast forth a glittering light; the
air was filed with deadly fumes; and
my suit had turned into a scarlet robe
Soon the light of the sky outshone The
rays from our machine and our journey
was nearing its end.
Before US, appeared to be a dragon
1t was: and right before US.
1t faced US; it's head covered the road
way
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
He Had the Bow.

He next unbuttoned his own overcoat
and brought forth a long bow, and fitted
the arrow TO it. Examining the arrow
closely, he muttered, 1.-The Times. What
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
Stories of the Most Interesting Experiences Dreamand Which
Have Occurred Readers of The Times, and Are Told
by Them in Competition for the S Iooin Prizes
Offered for the Best Dream.
The Rfses

You have not awaited in vain. for /
nope TO prove treasure to you