observed a person advancing to meet me, whom I at once knew to be your
father. My joy was great at the prospect of meeting him; for in my dream
I recollected that he had been long dead. I enquired of him how it
happened that I met him there? He replied, 'I saw you coming when you
were yet a long way off, and feared you might lose your way.' Turning
back in the direction from whence he had come, he turned towards me,
with a pleasant smile, and said, 'follow me.' As we walked onward, I
observed that the river by which we walked seemed gradually to become
more narrow the further we advanced. He continued to walk onward for
some time, a little in advance of me, when suddenly stopping, he turned
to me and said, 'My dear Alice, look across to the other side of the
river, and behold the place which is now my home.' The breadth of the
river had continued to lessen, till it was now only a narrow line of
water which separated us from the opposite shore. I looked as he
directed me, and, oh! Clara, I can find no words by which to describe to
you what I saw. It so far surpassed anything pertaining to this world
that I am unable to give you any description of it. I felt an intense
desire to cross the narrow stream which separated me from the beautiful
place. I enquired of your father if I could not with him cross the
stream and enter those golden gates, which I could plainly see before
me. He replied, 'No, my dear Alice, every one must cross this river
_alone_. You must go back for a brief period, as you have yet a mission
to perform before taking your final leave of earth. You must comfort the
sorrowing heart of our child 'ere you leave her. Tell her of the home
which I now inherit, where there is also a place prepared for you and
for her, if you so live as to be found worthy to enter those gates which
you see before you.' He then said, 'I must now leave you, and you must
return to our Clara for a few brief days, when you will be summoned to
rejoin me in yonder blissful abode.' I turned to make some further
remark to him, but he had gone from my sight, and I awoke with my mind