FATHER VAUGHAN'S DREAM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 76, 26 April 1909, Page 4

FATHER VAUGHAN'S DREAM.

| A VISIT TO HKAYEX. Speaking in tlic East. End of London recently. .Father Vaughan said: I will tell you of a dream I had last night. I thought that after J had been in purgatory for no short time 1 received a visit front my guardian angel, who brought me the good news t h:it the cleansing fire* had done their work, and that now .1 might follow him and pass out ot the King's prison-hon»e. At the huge door | my angel pointed tci a meandering path that led up, at a great height, to ,\ gate wlik'li in the distance looked like a flame of gold. Before lifting his wings my guardian bad,, ine be of good heart, for now there was nothing to keep me from passing through tke Uolden date. I Light-hearted and brimful of joy and e\j>ectation, wit'li elastic step'l flew, rather than walked, up the steep incline. till I found myself standing before the r.ate of "Paradise. Wildly impatient to cross the threshold, 3 rang the great silver bell, which was answered by blessed Pcte£ himself. The key-bearer, with what I thought a tinge of madness on his bright countenance. looked me in the face, saying. "1 am very tsorry. dear friend, but w e cannot let you in to-day." "And why.** I asked, "not to-day? I do not think I could live till to-morrow, I am simply agonised to get in." "Well." replied the saint. "we are expecting a millionaire from Loudon t»*day. so T must- eniphiwisi* ih<. occasion bv letting 1110 owe else in on the same day.'' ( "What!" I t'X-claiuied. "You do not mean to you carry on up here af ' they do below, and mak,, money a test ami give millionaire's the tirst pl-ice?'' "Xo, no. my •'Oil." replied St. Peter. "1 amjiot making nituli of the millionaire on ac-count of his wealth, but iKvause we so rarely see one up here. Usually they go down in the opposite direction and lose their soul* like Dives, of whom you have so often spoken. Jlut the Dives Coming here to-day is one wlio not only left money to the poor in his will, but actually gave in his lifetime a living, wage, to all in hi* employment. Ilence. you'see, 1 want, as I said, to emphasise thits .singularly rare sight of the rich man passing from earth lo ilea ven."

Having heard this explanation, 1 answered. "'Tis well," and sat consoling myself a* best 1 could upon the doorstep. Presently, which to me seemed a thousand veaiv. so slowly passed the time. I saw coming towards me a poor brother man, w'hom I recognised ;is one who had been in the employ of a millionaire.

"Pitt." said f to iiim, "you need not ring a bell. fov no one will be lei in to«lay." "Shine" said Pat, < 'ii only I erow loud enough and lo'ng enough like n cock. I'll diame St. Peter into letting mi' in."

"No. don'/ do that." T replied, "but as your prayers have so niueh helped the salvation of your millionaire master. just spring on my liaek as you are. ami we'll both get in." Accordingly he xprang, up. and once more I stood before the gate and rail"* the hell right merrily. At once it was opened, St. Peter asking. "What is this?" To this 1 replied. "The millionaire's advance luggage."' "Pass through a t <r,iee." said the saint, hut the blaze of light. that suddenly lhi.«hed across my eyes woke me up, and 1 found I w-A's in bed at half-past live in the morning, tin- caller having switched on the electric light, exclaiming "Deo Miratias." Father Vaughau said that the lesson which 1 lie dream taught him was that there was 710 investment for money like that of helping one's needy and poorer brethren. Not only wore they onr advance luggage foy heaven, bvit often enough thi'y (secured for tho.se who otherwise might .never get there at all a through ticket right up to the C«olden Cate.