| 379 'Ah, ah, what was it indeed, you would give the world to know, but I shall not tell you. I thought you did not believe in dreams and visions.' The sister replied, 'No more than we do in general; you know they are the offspring of a disordered body-confused images and fancies, whilst reason is dormant; and the memory of them usually passes away, the moment that we are fairly engaged in our usual occupations.' But there are, no doubt, dreams which are as much sent from God, as our afflictions, or any other warning. There is a verse in the Bible where it mentions God, as speaking to a man in a dream, in the vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon man.' She laughed again and said, 'you have verse in the Bible for everything that suits your purpose, but I do not choose to be warned by you in this way; and I have no doubt but I shall get it out of my head in a day or two.' 'Anna, we do beseech you to tell us; if you have really had a dream from heaven, you surely would not wish to forget it, and if not, we will help you laugh it off.' She answered in a sulky mood, 'Well, if you must know it, you must.'-'No doubt it was very extraordinary.' 'I should have thought it the effect of the ball, but that I never any where saw any thing resembling it, and you must not suppose that you understand what I am going to say; for you never saw nor can imagine, any thing like it.'
THE DREAM.
'I thought I was walking in the wide street of a great city, many people were walking there beside myself, but there was something in their air that immediately struck me; they seemed thoughtful, yet cheerful, neither occupied with business or with gaiety, but having about them such dignity of repose, such high settled purpose, such peace and such purity, as were never stamped upon a mortal brow. The light of the city was also strange; it was not the sun, for there was nothing to dazzle-it was not the moon, for all was clear as noon-day: it seemed an atmosphere of light-calm, lovely and changeless. As I looked at the buildings, they all seemed like palaces, but not like the palaces of earth. The pavement that I walked on, and the houses that I saw, were all alike of gold, bright and shining, and as clear as glass; the large and glittering windows seemed like divided rainbows, and were made to receive and remit nothing but the light of gladness: it was indeed a place where hope might lead, where love might dwell. I could not help crying as I went along, surely these are habitations of righteousness, and truth and peace! All was beauty, bright and perfect. I could not tell what was wanting to make me wish for eternity in such a place, and yet its very purity oppressed me. I saw nothing congenial, though looks of kindness met me in every face of that happy throng. I felt nothing responsive, and walked on, all alone, in the midst of the crowd, oppressed and sad. I saw that they all went one way, and I followed wondering at the reason, and at length I saw them all cross over to one building much larger and finer than the rest. I saw them ascend its massive steps, and enter beneath its ample porch. I felt no desire to go with them but as far as the steps I approached out of curiosity; I saw persons enter who were dressed in every varied color, and in all the costumes of all nations, but they disappeared within the porch and then I saw them cross the hall all in white. O! that I could describe to you that Hall! It was not crystal-it was not marble-it was not gold, but light, pure light, consolidated into form: it was the moon without her coldness, it was the sun without his dazzling rays: and within was a stair-case mounting upwards all of light, and I saw it touched by the moving of feet and by the white spotless garments of those who ascended it; it was indeed passing fair, but it made me shudder and turn away; and as I turned I saw one on the lower step, looking at me with an interest so intense, and a manner so anxious, that I stopped to hear what he had to say; he spoke like liquid music, and asked me, 'Why do you turn away? Is there a place elsewhere? Is there pleasure in the walks of darkness?' I stood in silence; he pressed me to enter, but I neither answered nor moved. Suddenly he disappeared and another took his place with the same look and the same manner: I wished to avoid him, but I stood riveted to the spot. 'Art thou come so far,' he said, 'and wilt thou lose thy labor? put off thy own garments, and take the white livery.' Here he continued to press me, until I got weary and angry, and said, 'I will not enter, I do not like your livery, and I am oppressed with your whiteness; he sighed, and was gone. Many passers-by looked at me with mingled pity and kindness, and pressed me to follow with them, and offered me a hand up the steps, but I rejected them all, and stood melancholy and disturbed. At length one bright messenger, stationed on the steps, came up to me and entreated me to enter, with a voice and a manner I could not resist: 'Do not turn,' he said 'where canst thou go? Do not linger, for why shouldst thou weary thyself for nought [naught]? Enter here and taste happiness. Do not all go in, and are any rejected? Do not all tribes and all people and all colors pass into that hall, and are they not washed, and clothed and comforted?'
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