Year: 1874




ing extraordinary story, for the truth OF
which it vouches "Mr. John Els
wirth, a resident of this city, is Ger
man by birth. He came to this coun-
try in 1848, bringing his wife with him.
They had been here about q year when
they received letter stating that the
brother of Mrs. Eiswirth was on his
way to America, but from that time to
this they have never seen their relative.
Up to the time of the war they expect
ed he would turn up some time but
when the unhappy civil strife swept
over the land, and peace came again,
and yet no tidings of the missing man,
he was mourned as lost, and as the
years rolled by, if not actually forgot
ten, his fate was mystery which it was
thought never would be explained.
And now comes q singular occurrence
in connection with the case. About
three weeks ago Mr.. Eiswirth had q
dream. He thought he was seated in q
car at the depot on Asylum street. He
didn't want to go anywhere, but in spite
of this feeling he was rolled out of the
depot and whirled away at lightning
speed. Past villages, town and cities !;
through valleys, over rivers and plains
on !! with rush and a roar, stopping
for nothing and needing nothing. It
seemed to the dreamer that he was be-
ing carried, much against his will, thou
sands of miles from home. Why it was
SO he had not the faintest conception.
He was under a mysterious influence
that chained him to his seat and made
him a slave of it's power. At last the
train slackened its speed and came to
halt, and John found himself moving
along with the passengers who were
making their exit from the cars. When
once outside he discovered that he was
in strange city and among strangers.
He asked a man where he was. He was
told st. Louis But says John,
I live in Hartford. I want nothing in
St. Louis The stranger smiled and
passed on, leaving our Hartford friend
as perplexed as ever. While standing
in his tracks, wondering what to do, he
saw at a distance q figure which sent a
thrill of Joy through his frame. It was
his long lost brother-in-law. It had been
more than quarter of a century since
John had set eyes on him, and time had
worked great change in his appear
ance but for all that our friend recog-
nized him, and ran toward him halloo-
ing at the top of his voice, as if afraid
he might disappear. The meeting was
a cordial one, and the pair celebrated
the event at q stylish saloon where foam
ing mugs Of lager played prominent
part. The next John knew he found
himself awake at his home on Park
street. But his dream had made q
strong impression, and do what he
would he could not forget it. It haunt
ed him all that day, and when he got
up the next morning the remembrance
Of that long ride and the happy meet
ing clung to him still. That very day
some clerk in Hartford postoffice might
have seen aletter addressed to Mr.. -,
of st. Louis, with the instruction on
the end of the envelope, If not called
for within ten days, return to John
Eiswirth, Hartford, Conn Mr.. Eiswirth
says that he sent the letter addressed
to his brother-in-law without the re.
motest expectation of hearing from
him. He sent it to relieve his mind, as
he confesses that the singular dream
harrassed him not little. But after
4he missive was sent he dismissed the
matter from his mind, and might never
have thought of it again if something
startling had not occurred a day or two
since. John was at home with his
family when the postman came to the
door and delivered q letter. It was
postmarked St. Louis. It was torn open
with tremulous fingers, and to their
great joy it was found to be from thei
long-lost relative in answer to the let
ter which John had forwarded in obedi-
ence to his dream, In large city like
St. Louis it would seem that letter
lacking specific direction might not
reach its destination, but of course the
chances are that it would go straight to
the mark, as it did in this case. It ap-
peared by the letter that the st. Louis
German had been as much in the fog as
to his sisters and Eiswirth's where
abouts as they have been in regard to
him. The st. Louis man writes that
he shall soon come to this city on q
visit, and his Hartford friends are de-
lighted at the prospect of happy
union. When he does come John pro-
poses that what he dreamed about the
lager shall also become q reality."