AN EXTRAORDINARY DREAM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4207, 14 September 1874, Page 3

AN EXTRAORDINARY DREAM.

A Toronto contemporary prints the following extraordinary story, for the truth of which it vouches “ Mr. John Eiswirth is a German by birth. He came to this country in 18-19, bringing his wife with him. They had been here about a year when they received a letter stating that a brother of Mrs. Eiswirth was en route to America ; but from that time to this they have never seen their relative. Up to the time of the war they expected he would turn up some time, but when the unhappy civil strife swept over the land, and peace came again, and yet no tidings of the missing man, he was mourned as lost, and as the years rolled by, if not actually forgotten, his fate was a mystery which it was thought would never be explained. And now comes a singular occurrence in connection with the case. About three weeks ago Mr. Eiswirth had a dream. He thought he was seated in a car at the depot on Asylum Street. He did not want to go anywhere, but • in spite of this feeling he was rolled out of the depot, and whirled away at lightning speed. Past villages, towns and cities; through valleys, over rivers and plains—on ! witli a rush and a roar, stopping for nothing and heeding nothing. It seemed to the dreamer that he was being carried, much against his will, thousands of miles from home. Why it was so he had not the faintest conception. He •was under a mysterious influence that chained him to his seat, and made him a slave of its power. At last the train slackened its speed and came to a halt, and John found himself moving along with the passengers who were making their exit from the cars. When once outside he discovered that he was in a strange city, and among strangers. He asked a man where he was. He was told ‘ St. Louis.’ ‘ But,’ says John, ‘ I live in Hartford. I want nothing in St. Louis.’ The stranger smiled and passed on, leaving- our Hartford friend as perplexed as ever. While standing in his tro cks wondering what to do, he saw at a distance a figure which sent a thrill of joy through his frame. It was his long-lost brother-iu-iaw. It had been more than a quarter of a century since John had set eyes on him, and time had worked a great change in his appearance, but for all that our friend recognised him, and ran towards him, hallooing at the top of his voice, as if afraid he might disappear. The meeting was a cordial one, and the pair celebrated the event at a stylish saloon, where foaming mugs of ‘ lager’ played a prominent part. The next John knew he found himself awake at his home in Park Street. But his dream had made a strong impression, and, do what he would, he could not forget it. That very day some clerk in the Hartford Post Office might have seen a letter addressed to Mr. , of St. Louis, with the instruction on the end of the envelope ; —‘ If not called for within ten days, return to John Eiswirth, Hartford, Conn.’ Mr. Eiswirth says that he sent the letter addressed to his brother-in-law without the remotest expectation of hearing from him: He sent it to relieve his mind. But after the missive was sent he might never have thought of it again if somethingstartling hadnot occurred a day ortwo since. John was at home with his family when the postman came to the door and delivered a letter. It was post-mai-ked ‘ St. Louis.* It was tom open with tremulous fingers, and to their groat joy it was found to be from their long-lost relative in answer to the letter which Jehu had forwarded in obedience to his dream. In a large city like St. Louis it would seem that a letter lacking specific direction might not reach its destination, but of course the chances are that it would go strait to the mark, as it did in this case. It appeared by the letter that the St. Louis German had been as much in the fog as to his sister’s and Eisworth’s -whereabouts as they had been in regard to him. The St. Louis man writes that he shall soon come to this city on a visit, and his Hartford friends are delighted at the prospect of a happy reunion. When he does come John proposes that what he dreamed about the ‘ lager ’ shall also become a reality.”