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POOR John was very sad; for his father was so ill， he had no hope of his recovery. John sat alone with the sick man in the little room， and the lamp had nearly burnt out; for it was late in the night. “You have been a good son， John， said the sick father， “and God will help you on in the world. He looked at him， as he spoke， with mild， earnest eyes， drew a deep sigh， and died; yet it appeared as if he still slept. John wept bitterly. He had no one in the wide world now; neither father， mother， brother， nor sister. Poor John! he knelt down by the bed， kissed his dead father's hand， and wept many， many bitter tears. But at last his eyes closed， and he fell asleep with his head resting against the hard bedpost. Then he dreamed a strange dream; he thought he saw the sun shining upon him， and his father alive and well， and even heard him laughing as he used to do when he was very happy. A beautiful girl， with a golden crown on her head， and long， shining hair， gave him her hand; and his father said， “See what a bride you have won. She is the loveliest maiden on the whole earth. Then he awoke， and all the beautiful things vanished before his eyes， his father lay dead on the bed， and he was all alone. Poor John! During the following week the dead man was buried. The son walked behind the coffin which contained his father， whom he so dearly loved， and would never again behold. He heard the earth fall on the coffin-lid， and watched it till only a corner remained in sight， and at last that also disappeared. He felt as if his heart would break with its weight of sorrow， till those who stood round the grave sang a psalm， and the sweet， holy tones brought tears into his eyes， which relieved him. The sun shone brightly down on the GREen trees， as if it would say， “You must not be so sorrowful， John. Do you see the beautiful blue sky above you? Your father is up there， and he prays to the loving Father of all， that you may do well in the future. | 
