A DREAM.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXII, Issue 52, 26 April 1895, Page 19

A DREAM.

THBboys have been asked to write an essay on a dream, real or imaginary. Pat O'Dwyer, one of the boys, takes it up in his own fashion and writes thus to one of his class-mates :—: — Dear James,— After tea last evening I Bat down at a side-table and did uty exercise as neatly as I could. I then had a good ran through next morning's lessons, and, when finished, wheeled round my chair to the fire to have a nice quiet read at The Messenger which I had brought home from school in tbe afternoon. I was not long reading when the thought of John Doyle's illness suddenly came to my mind, and I said to myself that I ought to run over and Bee him. You are, I think, aware that poor John has been laid up these last few cold days with a severe attack of asthma. I was very tired after my day's work in school, and after a good evening's game at football. I was very relnctant to leave my comfortable seat by tbe fire, my eyes were heavy with sleep, and as the book was jaat out of my hand with drowsiness and exhaustion. I said to myself in a half dreamy sort of way, " Ob, yes I I'll just go over and see John for a few minutes and then come back straight for bed." So over I went, and, as John was very poorly and looked tbe colour of death, I knelt down with his mother to j jin heartily with her in offering for my dear school-mate the Litany of our Blessed ■ Lady that she might obtain for him a release from bis sufferings and a happy passage to a better world. I watched him intently as he gradually sank ; his breathing every tnstaut became more and more difficult ; he lovingly kissed the crucifix that was held to hie lips by his mother, gave a gentle sigh and expired. I saw quite plainly his boul go forth into a strange unknown and wonderful land. I saw a lovely being with a bright shining countenance and wings of dazzling whiteness come forward and take him tenderly by the hand. As both went swiftly on, the ground suddenly opened on their left, a dark, lurid flame shot forth, and as it sank back again into the chasm I noticed a horrible monßter with the bend of a wild fierce negro, the teeth of a lion, and the body of a dragon, rushing straight for John with open jaws and eves darting forth flames of fire as if intent on instantly devouring him. Poor John seemed out of himself with terror and dismay, at this dreadful apparition. He knew not what to do or which way to turn to escape the fearful fate that awaited him. His lovely, bright-faced guide did not appear in tbe least alarmed and tried to cheer and encourage John in the sweetest manner possible. All Beemed of no avail. John was becoming more and more terrified as the monster was coming nearer and nearer in its slow but uniform motion. John run round so as to placa his heavenly guide between him and tbe danger, still, whichever way he turned, the fiery eyes

kept glaring at him ; and, just ai he thought all was over and tbat he maßt sorely fall into its clutches, a sadden blow from a hand till then unseen sent the monster rolling helplessly on the ground. My young friend once more breathed freely, and looked op to return thanks to bis kind deliverer. What was his surprise to see quite close to him a venerable old man with a moßt pleasing expression of countenance, his soft mild eyes were lit np with a heavenly smile ai he tenderly cast a loving look on John whom he had just saved from the fiery dragon. In his right hand he carried a substantial pilgrim's staff, the top of which was oramented with a large white lily. In his left arm he bore a lovely little infant whose head adorned, with long flowing auburn hair, rested gently on the old man's breast. This venerable parsonage told John to have courage and come with him, and that no evil would befall him. John obeyed, and very soon I saw him with a number of others in the centre of a large plain evidently awaiting judgment. A. bright light suddenly appeared in the East, and in the twinkling of an eye the Great Judge was seated on a lofty throne surronnded by choirs of angels. On another throne, a little lower down, sat a beautiful queen, whom I very soon recognised as the Blessed Virgin Mary. Judgment was then commenced, and it was not long till I heard a mighty angel, holding a large trumpet in one hand and a naked sword in tber other, call John for examination and sentence. John obeyed the summers, and at once knelt reverently before the Great Judge. The scales of Dinive Justice were then produced. The sonl with all its good deeds was placed in one scale, all its sins and imperfections in the other ; and, to my intense delight, I saw that the first scale was by far the heavier. lat onca concluded tbat all was over and that John was saved. But the end came not ao quickly. Tbe monster dragon had, meanwhile, recovered from the blow received from the venerable old patriarch, and, assuming now an altogether different shape, he stood before the Judga and began vehemently to accuse John of a number of horrible crimes. His angel guardian then came forward, and spoke ably in John's defence, telling the Judge thatthe greater numbarof the accusations were'mere inventions of the father of lies, and that those evil deeds which bad been committed by his youthful charge were humbly confessed and forgiven. Still Satan persisted and alleged many other things against my young friend, bat thia time of a much less Berious nature than his first allegations, instance that he had been slothful in ming promptly from bed in tte wVer mornings, that he bad been disobedient in many little things both at home and in school, that he bad spoken and looked about him several times in church, and in fine, that he had been guilty of very mmy similar fanlfa. Th) rage arie jury with which Satan brought up these accusations would terrify the stoutest heatt. I was filled with wonder and anxiety to know bow tie whole trial would end, when suddenly looking up 1

aoHoed a moat benignant smile of companion on tbe countenance of our Blessed Lady as, taming to the venerable old man who now stood near her, she said, « Beloved ipouie, say a word to the Judge for that pojr child." For the first time I then dearly perceived that the venerable patriarch was none other than good St Joseph. The saint at once stood before tbe throne of bis divine fostei-son, and Mid, " O supreme Judge of the living and the dead, when on earth you ever loved and obeyed me as a most dutiful eon, I ask you, therefore, in memory of that love and obedience to spare this (my client's) soul which you have redeemed with your own precious blood." The great Judge at once left his throne, took St Joseph by the hand, and, seating bim by His side, said, " Beloved foster-father, you never refosel my mother or myself anything we needed on earth, you shall never be refused anything you «sk in my kingdom. For your sake I pardon the soul of this cbild. As he was ever fond of you in his lifetune, the ]oya of heaven shall b« his for an endless eternity. Neverbeiesa, as I am Infioite Justice and as there are still on bis soul some lesser faults unatoned for, it is my decree that he shall go for a time to tbe cleaning fires of purgatory to be there purified as gold in the furnace. (To he concluded')