The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-08-24

7 HAD retired at my customary hour;
and as near as can remember, my
l last thoughts before entering the
realms of Morpheus were of green |
fields, forests and approaching harvest.
I know not how long I had slept |
when / began to perceive strange
sensation steal over me. 1t seemed as
if great weight was slowly settling
over me, and in a semicOnscious way
l felt myself dwindle and shrink as if
impelled by some monstrous pressure.
Vainly did struggle against this hor-
rid something that was slowly master
ing me. Next I felt myself lifted up
and carried through seemingly endless
space. Then all became blank.
When consciousness again returned
to me found myself lying on what l
thought to be large carpet of soft
green hue, beneath the arched roof of
cave of vast proportions. A great
change had taken place in my emotions;
instead of the bold, fearless, happy and
contented spirit which once possessed
me, was a horrible feeling of dread-a
craven cowardice. I quailed and
trembled at every sound that reached
my ears; my heart beat violently with
unreasonable terror; and my whole
being covered in unspeakable fear.
1 raised myself on my elbow and
gazed at my surroundings What l
had thought to be green carpet l
now perceived to be fallen giant leaf.
Large powders rose on every hand,
among which grew strange plants, tall
and beautiful. Yet some of this won
derful vegetation seemed familiar-fa-
miliar in everything but the greatness
of its growth. 1 turned once more
to the leaf upon which was reclining.
That, too, seemed familiar. Had not
in my youth plucked just such leaves
as this from the oaken sapling? Just
then terrible din was heard in the air
above me and horrible winged being
flew over my head. 1t alighted on a
nearby rock and began to run about
with marvellous agility and swiftness
for creature of its monstrous size. 1t
was presently joined by others of its
kind. 1 shuddered with fear where
lay. And yet, as l observed them
more closely the conviction grew upon
me that l had seen such creatures as
these before. Surely they were flies.
common flies! But never had mortal
man before beheld flies so large as
these. But all things seemed large
here. I saw other great creatures of
the earth and air pass by me. A worn,
dragged it's large form across one cor
ner of the leaf upon which 1 rested
So great was the monsters body that
had 1 been in its path 1 should have
been ground into dust. A snail wend
ed it's deliberate way around nearby
bowlder. Its shell seemed the size OF
a mammoth rock. A bird, compared
to which the fabled roc would be but
as an insect, flew by.
And now the truth dawned upon me
at last. Everything about me was nat
ural and as it ought; the discrepancy
lay within myself. was smaller thar
= the littlest of living things!
can never describe the Overwhelm
ing sorrow and regret the discover!
caused. I, once member of creation'
highest beings, now insignificant as th'
least of living creatures! I curled ul
on that leaf and wept tears of bite
anguish.
While lay thus and mused in m.
sorrow was aroused by noise nea
me, and looking up beheld the mos
awful of living monsters. 1t was bu
a common black beetle or bug, bu
seen from my diminutive stature i
presented a most formidable aspect
Its protruding black eyes pierced m
through and through. A wicked AM
murderous leer sat upon its fendis
countenance, and it's crab-like claw
grated together in devilish glee as
hungrily contemplated my shrinkin
form.
"Ha, miserable mortalP' it crie(
"Suffer, as / have suffered for years
Shrink as did /; tremble as tremblec
cover in fear and terror now befor
me, ME, as did before you aid you
hated racel"