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A Dream within a dream.

Before stating, (my beautiful sweet.
-heart) this dream, some description of
its cause, ought to be ginven. During
the day of the 14^th of July 1867,
the business to be attended to, in
my department, was greater than
usual, and feeling unwell, I
took a drink of brandy, which
I afterwards frequently repeated;
its effect was different from what
I expected ; and a deep gloom,
blacker than the night shrouded
my heart, into which no star
of hope entered. After the
completion of my daily tasks,
I returned to my home as usual,
and went to my room, seeking
relief in solitude, but none came :
for when the night grew late,
and all nature seemed to sleep,

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the untutored tones of a bird,
could indistinctly be heard approach.
-ing from the distance, it came
nearer, and at last perched itself
upon a tree, immediately in
front of my window ; and
in tones so sweet and sad,
that nature trembled, poured
upon the bosom of the silent
night, its mellow lamentation ;

My heart was deeply moved,
and I wondered if the great
Ruler of Heaven sent the bird
to increase my torturing pangs.

At last I slept, and dreamed this dream.

I was upon the banks of a
beautiful river, the sun was
fast declining, and the water
rippled, and made music
in the air. I dreamed I slept,
and suddenly clothed in clouds,
the lady of my love stood, and

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gazed upon me, with looks so
wild, with eyes so brilliantly
intoxicating ; that I dared not
breath ; but stood, and trembled.

She drew from a richly
ornamental case, a dagger, and
plunged it into her bosom. My
God, my pangs! I could not
speak - I could not move -
my blood congealed, while hers-
flowed red, and ran upon the
ground. The wild Expression
vanished from her eyes, and
they became so "purely dark.",
and "darkly pure", that I
thought the power of seeing,
and understanding had left
me, and that she must be
a dying angel.

I shrieked - And waked -
and - thought.

My Darling

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Can you explain whether
this horrid dream comes
as the prelude of many
sorrows? or whether my
mind was - deranged by
the drink I had swallowed?

Speak kindly, and
comfort, Little Koots, for
your lover, though an idle
dreamer, suffers from the
memory of his vision.

Yrs Affectionately
Geo: S. Vest