tell."

So they went into the parlor. Esther sat in the rocking-chair and Olive
on the sofa.

"Well, Olive," said Esther. "Now don't laugh, for it is about a dream."

"A dream!" exclaimed Olive. "A dream! go on, let me hear it."

"Well," began Esther, "last night I sat for two hours on the front step
looking at the stars. After I came in I went down into the cellar in my
stocking feet and drank about a pint of butter-milk and a large rat ran
between my feet; then Jane and I went to our room, shut the door, said
our prayers and went to bed, and in a short time we both fell asleep,
and I dreamt that when I got up in the morning every thing and every
body was changed except myself. This cottage instead of being yellow was
green; you, Dan, Jane, brother William, John Teed, Willie and George,
all had heads like bears, and you all growled at me, but yet could talk,
and, what was very strange, you all had eyes as large as horses' eyes,
only they were as red as blood. While I was talking to you I heard a
noise in the street and on going to the door I saw hundreds of black
bulls with blue eyes, very bright blue eyes, coming towards the house,
blood was dripping from their mouths and their feet made fire come out
of the ground. On they came, roaring very loudly all the time, right
straight for the house. They broke down the fence, I shut the front
door, locked it and then ran to the back door and fastened it. Then they
all commenced to butt the house so violently that it nearly fell over.
It shook so that I woke up and found that I had fallen out of bed
without waking Jane. So I got in again and soon fell asleep; but the
dream is still in my mind. I can see it still, and wonder what it means
until I get the head-ache. What do you think about it Olive? Do you
think there is any truth in dreams? Did you ever know of one to come
true, or do you think it was all caused by the pint of butter-milk and
my going into the cellar in my stocking feet, and the rat?"

"Well," said Olive, "I never could make up my mind fully on that
subject; but of this I am certain, whatever Dan dreams comes true; there
is no doubt about that. But don't tell him anything about this dream,
Esther, or he will be floundering around all night trying to find out
what it means; or Jane either, because, perhaps, it will scare her so
that she will be unable to sleep."

"Don't believe it, Olive, I have told Jane, and she says it was all
caused by the butter-milk