(A Child’s Dream.)
ONE summer evening, being very much fatigued, I lay down in a shady grove, and was soon fast asleep. During my slumber, I thought I saw a beautiful and densely-populated valley, with a high mountain overhanging it. There was an enormous rock, which was slowly but surely rolling down the hill-side, and which must one day reach the valley, and break in pieces every person and thing in it, unless they made their escape. None of the inhabitants seemed to think or care about the impending danger, but busied themselves with daily labors and occupations, as though there were nothing to fear. Many believed that it would never fall, at least till they had been laid in the grave, when life and sense would be no more. But indifference or skepticism, more or less, ruled the hearts of all. At length my eyes were arrested by the appearance of a shining stranger, holding a scroll in his hand, called “The Word of Truth.” And his mission was to warn the inhabitants of the valley to flee from the approaching danger. He pointed to a far distant shining light, and then showed upon a chart the way by which to attain it. “The light arose,” he said, “in a beautiful country, more beautiful than mortal eyes had ever seen, where all was joy, peace, and rest. The road to this happy land was rough and wearisome; but one who had trodden each step of the road himself, and had experienced all its difficulties and dangers was ever ready to cheer and support the travelers till they reached their journey’s end.” The recital of this wondrous story, produced various impressions on the minds of those who listened; the majority did not believe the things spoken by the stranger, while some, though they credited them, could not be prevailed on to leave their homes and their friends, so that it was but a small number that, decided to escape from the doomed valley. To each of those the stranger gave a scroll, which contained every direction of the road that they could possibly require; and it also served the two-fold purpose of a lamp unto their feet and a light unto their path.
Now, in my dream, I noticed particularly two young maidens, who decided upon leaving the accursed valley. Their names were Faith and Mistrust. The countenances of these girls were very dissimilar. Faith had a calm, joyous, patient look; but that of Mistrust was sad, suspicious, and full of fear. The maidens commenced their journey together. Faith kept her eyes steadily fixed on the shining light, as she was directed in the scroll, and consequently did not see the roughness and dangers of the way; but it was only at these that Mistrust was ever looking, and often did she fear her companion had been deceived. Their road ascended high mount sins, and wound round through perplexing labyrinths, or howling wildernesses, but to the eye of Faith the path was ever plain. She consulted her chart when in difficulty, and found therein directions for every step of the way, so that she proceeded with a light and joyous heart. Not so Mistrust: she was filled with doubts and fears, lest they were on the wrong road, and at length she even despaired of ever reaching that happy land, and in her heart she longed to return to her native valley. These fears she sought to impart to her companion, and she so far succeeded, that sometimes a cloud passed over Faith’s radiant face, and for a moment its bright smile was gone but more than this she failed to accomplish. At length, on ascending a high mountain, Mistrust stopped short at the sight of so many more difficulties, although to Faith the shining light seemed nearer and brighter than ever it had done before. Now the scroll had forbidden any one standing still upon the road, so Faith continued on her journey, and left Mistrust deliberating as to what she must do. The latter continued all the journey, following at a distance after Faith and sometimes she still would try to call her back, or press upon her own dark forebodings; but Faith turned a deaf ear, and from henceforth hastened on with a firmer and a quicker step than when in the company of Mistrust. At length, Faith came nearer and nearer to the happy land, and the day approached on which she was to enter and change her character of Faith for that of sight. She arrives on the banks of a dark, sullen river, the last barrier between her and heaven; but knowing what was written on the scroll, that when “she passed through the rivers they would not overflow,” she plunged into the water, and was supported through it by an unseen hand. On reaching the opposite side, her form was completely altered; she was now so fair and beautiful that my eyes were ravished with the sight; and I saw her led away to praise and worship Him whose own blood had purchased all this happiness. At this point I awoke from my dream, and I saw no more the bright vision of Faith; but had witnessed enough to make me dislike and shun Mistrust, and to believe and encourage Faith, in my inmost heart.
24th March, 1862.
“IN a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.”— Job 33:15-1715In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. (Job 33:15‑17).