"IN THE DARK."

Evening Post, Volume XL, Issue 63, 13 September 1890, Page 1 (Supplement)

"IN THE DARK."

THE DREAM 01? LITTLE EVELYN, AND WHY SHE DREAMED IT. " What a funny dream I've had," said little Evelyn, coming late to the breakfast table. All eyes turned at once to her happy, glowing face. Whenever Evelyn talked, something mysterious was likely to be the subject. " Well," said her mamma, " and what was the dream about ? Something dee, no doubt, by your looks." " It was nothing but a seed, but that seed was the prettiest thing in the world and waß alive. Some one came and carried it off. It trembled and wondered where it was going to be taken. At last it came to a garden, and it was set on the ground. A man dug a liolo down in the earth and took up the lovely seed to put into it. The seed cried piteously: — • The hole Is dark and I don't want to be left there alone. No, no !' 1 " Don't be afraid,' aaid he softly. ' Some day you will be glad.' " Here the little story-teller paused and sighed. Shaking back her curls, she went on — " It was a sad time, very sad for the poor seed. But there it lay a long time under the ice and snow, and slept. When spring came' the seed was warm. It wasn't hurt a bit, and right over it, too, sprouted a green thing.- It got up higher and higher, all fresh and beautiful. And what do you think, mamma? There came out lots and lots of new seeds jußt like the one buried ! The little sgod was delighted and said — 'How silly I was to be afraid of such a nice resting place I If I hadn't been put in the ground I should never had enjoyed this light with all these pleasant mates.' " Now, mamma, I guess the reason I dreamed such a funny dream is what you told me of a dear little brother's grave. You remember how loud I cried and disturbed everybody. But you hushed me, mamma, by whispering very softly — ' Don't cry, dear, you're going to see little brother again resurrection morning.' " — St. Louis Republic. THE NUMBER THREE There is much superstitious regard for the number three in the popular mind, and the third repetition of anything is generally looked upon as a crisis. Thuß, an article may twice be lost and recovered, but the third time that it is los r t it is gone for good. Twice a man may pass through some great danger in safety, but the third time he loses his life. If, however, the mystic third can be successfully passed, all is well. Three was oallod by Pythagoras the perfect number; and we frequently find its use symbolical of Deity. Thus, we might mention the trident of Neptune, the three-forked lightning of Jove, and the three-headed dog of Pluto. The idea of Trinity w not confined to Christianity, but occurs in several religions. In mythology, also, we find three Fates, three Furies, and three Graces; and, coming nearer to our own times, Shakespeare introduces his three witches. In public-house signs three seems to play an important part, for we frequently meet with "Three Cups," "Three Jolly Sailors," "Three Bells," " Three Tuns," " Three Feathers" — in fact, that number of almost anything of which a fertile imagination can conceive a trio. In nursery rhymes and tales this number is not unknown ; and if we look back to the days of our childhood, most of us will call to mind the three wise men of Gotham, who took a sea voyage in a bowl, not to mention the three blind mice that had iheir tails cut off by the farmer's wife. Perhaps there is some occult power in the number which governs the division of novels into three volumes, and induces doctors to order their medicine to be taken thrice daily.