Monmouth Weekly Herald

Family Circle.

The Bride of a Dream.

We take the following account of a singular dream from the Western Christian Advocate:

Mr. B. had been twice married, but was left a second time a widower with six daughters and a son. After these bereavements, Mr. B. inferred that the Lord did not design him to enjoy the blessing of a wife, and he resolved to deny himself all personal conveniences and enjoyments of the conjugal relation, and never attempt to select another partner for life. This resolution he sacredly kept for nearly three years, when the arguments and counsel of the minister of the circuit, in the State of Delaware, prevailed on him to change his mind. The consideration of his numerous family of daughters requiring so much a mother's care and instruction, was one of the strongest reasons that had induced him to admit that his resolution might be founded in error.

The minister, encouraged by the good impression he had made and the influence he had gained over Mr. B., took the liberty to name to him a lady, residing in a certain neighborhood of his circuit, whom he thought would make him an excellent wife and a good mother for his children, and appointed the time and place for Mr. B. to meet him and be introduced to her. Some occurrence took place which prevented Mr. B. from meeting the minister according to appointment. The minister, intent upon his plan, procured Mr. B's consent to meet him a second time, and the appointment was made; but an unexpected Providence again prevented Mr. B. from being there at the time. They then made a third arrangement and Mr. B. determined, if life and health permitted, he would certainly meet his friend, and be made acquainted with the lady recommended.

Before the time arrived, however, Mr. B. was admonished in a dream that the woman so favorably spoken of by the minister was not the one he ought to marry, and he was conducted in a vision to the residence of the young lady who would be a suitable helpmate, and whom Providence designed for him. The distance was sixty miles, and he had only traveled twenty miles in that direction. Yet the map of the whole road was laid before his mind and the way he should go so distinctly marked in his dream, that he seemed perfectly familiar with all the road. He dreamed the distance, the name of the young woman, and the name of her step father, Col. Vickers, the appearance of the house in which he lived, how it was painted; that it was situated near a river, with a warehouse near at hand. He dreamed, also, that there were five young ladies belonging to the same family, and had the one selected for him so accurately described in his dream, that he could easily distinguish her from the other four.

In the morning he awoke and thought nothing of his vision, except as an ordinary and rather remarkable dream. The next night he had precisely the same vision repeated, and the same things presented to his mind in a still more vivid manner. Mr. B. then began to think that there might be some indication of Providence in his dream; and all that day he made it the subject of sincere and ardent prayer, that God should direct him in the way he should go in a matter so grave, and involving so much interest to himself and his motherless children. That night he had the vision repeated the third time, and he determined then to follow the directions furnished him, and fully test the circumstance of the dream by a practical examination, and see if the results would be developed as he dreamed them.

He immediately sent a note to the preacher, informing him that he had changed his mind, and must decline meeting him at the time appointed. Mr. B. started in the direction indicated by his vision, and after passing the twenty miles he was acquainted with, his dream was his only guide. He, however, had no difficulty; for the map of the road was so vividly impressed upon his mind, that he was able to distinguish his road from all others. The gentleman whose name was given him in his dream he had never seen or heard of. He knew the farm as soon as he saw it. The house and everything about it appeared precisely as they had been presented in his vision. He alighted from his horse and entered the beautiful house. The personal appearance of the young lady was so vividly impressed on his mind by the vision thrice repeated, that he readily recognized her in company of the four others, whom he found in the same family. He soon ascertained the name of the young woman, and found it to be Sarah T., according to his dream.

This young lady had determined, and had often said, she would never marry a widower. Miss T. said the very moment she first saw Mr. B. she felt a strange tremor pass over her whole system. She had a vivid impression that he was a widower, and that he had come to see her. She afterward confessed that a sudden emotion of affection for him arose in her heart as soon as she came into his presence. Mr. B. obtained the pleasure of an interview with her that evening, and was successful in securing her consent to visit her again, and address her on the subject of marriage. He, however, did not tell her his dream till she had engaged to become his wife.

After a courtship of a few months, they were happily married, and lived together for more than fifty years. Mr. B. died the 25th of March, 1842, and Mrs. B. lived till the 7th of April, 1847. For sixty years, perhaps, they were both distinguished and useful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.