hite horse coming toward
the house upon the full galop; and to dream of a white horse is a sure
sign of sickness, and the faster the horse seems in our dream to be
approaching us the sooner the sickness will come." Her husband often
remonstrated with her upon the folly of indulging in these idle fancies.
I remember a reply he once made to some of her gloomy forebodings: "I
think the best way is for each one to discharge their duty in the
different relations of life; and leave the future in the hands of an
All-wise Providence." "That is always the way with you," was her reply,
"You have grown heedless and careless with your love of the world; but
you will perhaps think of my warnings when too late." Before meeting
with Mrs. Talbot I had often heard the remark that none were so cheerful
as the true christian; but I soon saw that her views must be widely
different. A hearty laugh she seemed to regard as almost a crime. A
cheerful laugh upon any occasion would cause her to shake her head in a
rueful manner, and denounce it as untimely mirth. Upon one occasion she
went to hear a preacher that had lately arrived in the neighboring
village. This same preacher was remarkable for drawing dismal pictures,
and was very severe in his denunciations, while he quite forgot to offer
a word of encouragement to the humble seeker after good. Upon the
Sabbath in question Mrs. Talbot returned from church, and seated herself
at the dinner table with a countenance of most woeful solemnity. Her
husband at length enquired, how she had enjoyed the sermon. "Oh!"
replied she, "he is a preacher after my own heart, and his sermon
explained all my views clearly." "Indeed," replied Mr. Talbot, "he must
have a wonderful flow of language to have handled so extensive a
subject, in the usual time allotted to a sermon." His answer displeased
her very much. Among her other gloomy forebodings she always seemed sure
of the fact that Mr. Talbot would survive her; and she replied: "That is
always the way. You make light of every thing I say; and I only hope you
wont have all these things to repent of when I shall be no more." Mr.
Talbot seemed sorry he had wounded her feelings, and replied: "We shall
both live our appointed time, and it is not for us to decide which of us
will be first removed." The last time I saw Mrs. Talbot she was
indulging in her anticipation of some coming calamity. I have learned
from various sources, that since I last saw her she has met