Poems (Barker)/A Dream

by Alice J. Green Barker

A Dream.

I dreamed last nigh a strange forboding dream,
It filled my soul with fancies old and dim,
And plainly proved to me, the sacred truth,
That each and every deed is known to Him.
I dreamed that I within a castle grand
Stood waiting in a solitary room,
Waiting, for what I knew not, yet I closely watched
And prayed for something in the silent gloom.

Nor did I wait in vain, the grand old room
Filled slowly with a pure etherial light,
And in the center, clothed in spotless robes,
An angel stood with features strangely bright.
Within one hand he held a casket rare
The other pressed a shining golden key—
"Come trusting child of earth and I will ope,
And you shall all its precious treasures see.

Here is the answer to your prayer—he said,
Here in this casket strangely wrought and fair
And they are yours, until you build too high
Your idol on these jewels rich and rare.
He laid the casket in my trembling hand,
And casting on my face a look of love,
'Tis yours he said until you prize it more
Than Him who ruleth earth and heaven above."

I bore the jewels with me to my home,
And placed them where no taint would ever fall
Upon my precious treasures, whom I loved
Better than all the world, exceeding all.
Daily I knelt and kissed each sparkling stone,
Daily my fingers handled them with care,
That nothing would befall my priceless gems,
Ah! very soon became my daily prayer.

One day the sky was darkly overcast:
I hurried to my gems, with eager trust;
I took them from their place, to watch their light,
They crumbled in my hand to silent dust.
And looking up I saw the angel's face,
I heard his voice, my heart with grief was sore:
"How has your idol fallen? child of earth,
You loved your God, but loved your jewels more."

I wakened from the dream, and sadly thought,
Oh! is this but an emblem of my life?
Will it be ever full of strange unrest?
Be ever full of bitterness and strife?
And will the idol I have placed so high
Sink to the level of the common world?
O'er his dear head may honor's banner bright
In its sweet fairness ever be unfurled.

He is the beauteous casket, rich and rare;
His soul the priceless jewel therein placed.
Go! seek the world, and you will never find
A casket by a brighter jewel graced.
Oh! God in mercy guard this precious gem
In whom I hold such pure, confiding trust.
How has he fallen, may I never say,
Nor see my idol crumble into dust.