A SIGNIFICANT DREAM

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 23, 1860

A SIGNIFICANT DREAM.

THIS dream relates to an old lady who was professedly very pious, but, like thousands in the church, for many years allowed her devotions to her pipe to exceed her devotions to God. She was more sure not to forget her vows to this carnal appetite, than not to forget her closet for prayer. One night she dreamed of an aërial flight to the regions of the spirit-world, where not only her eyes could feast on the beauties of elysian fields, but where she could converse with perfected spirits. She asked one of these to go and look for her name in the book of life. He complied; but at length returned with a sad countenance, saying it was not there. Again she besought him to go and search more thoroughly. After a more lengthy examination, he returned without finding it. She wept bitterly, and could not rest till a third search should be made. After a long and anxious absence, the messenger returned with a brightened countenance, saying that it had, after great labor, been found; but that so deep was the covering which years of tobacco smoke had laid over it, it was with great difficulty that it could be discerned.

She awoke and found herself prostrated with weeping. It is not for me to say whether there was, or was not any divine instruction in this dream; but it produced in the old lady repentance, and a pious resolution henceforward to give unto God, not a divided, but, a whole heart,—to cast the idol at her feet, and lay no more of her time, money, nor vital energies upon its unholy altar.