A Child's Dream of a Star
| About the Author | Summary | Creative Writing |Quiz |
Quick facts about the Author by Fatima
The picture and info about Charles Dickens is taken from: http://www.online-literature.com/dickens/
Charles Dickens was born in Landport, Hampshire on February 7, 1812.
In 1814 Dickens moved to London, and then he moved again to Chatham, where he decided to receive some education.
Dicken's career as a writer of fiction stared in the year of 1833 when his essays and short stories was showcased in periodicals.
In 1836, he married the Catherine Hogarth who was the daughter of his friend George Hogarth.
Some of his later works were David Copperfield (1849-1850), Bleak House (1852-1853), A Tale of Two Cities (1859), and Great Expectations (1860-1861) that was set in the years of the French Revolution.
His unfinished mystery novel The Mystery of Edwin Drood was published in 1870 which was the year he died at Gadshill on June 9.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Summary of "A Child's Dream of a Star" by Fatima
This story is about a brother and sister. The story carries us through their childhood until they are adults. The story begins by telling us that the brother and sister was great companions. They used to wonder all day about everything. "They wondered at the beauty of the flowers; they wondered at the height and blueness of the sky; they wondered at the depth of the bright water; they wondered at the goodness and the power of God who made the lovely world." It then proceeds to tell us that every night before they went to sleep they would look out the window for this magnificent bright star. They came so used to seeing it in the same spot that before they went to sleep they would say "God bless the star!".
Sadly, as the sister was so young she became very sick. She was so weak that she could no longer stand by the window to observe the star. So when the brother saw the star he would say "I see the star!" and a little weak voice would respond by saying "God bless my brother and the star!". Then the time came too soon that the brother was alone in the room to look out the window. He would look out the window and see the small grave among the other graves below with tears glistening in his eyes.
Next, the child goes to sleep and starts to dream and he sees a line of angels disappearing into the sky. "And the star, opening, showed him a great world of light, where many more such angels waited to receive them. But there were many angels who did not go with them, and among them one he knew. The patient face that once had lain upon the bed was glorified and radiant, but his heart found out his sister among all the host. His sister’s angel lingered near the entrance of the star, and said to the leader among those who had brought the people thither— “Is my brother come?” And he said, “No.” Sadly, his mother and his new baby brother had died too. When they died, he dreamed about the same situation and discussion between his sister and the leader of the angels occurred.
The same young boy then became old and had children. One night while laying in bed with his children surrounding him he cried out "I see the star!". They then whispered to one another "He is dying. And he said: “I am. My age is falling from me like a garment, and I move toward the star as a child. And, O my Father, now I thank thee that it has so often opened to receive those dear ones who await me!” And the star was shining; and it shines upon his grave."
_______________________________________________________________________________________
A poem in response to "A Child's Dream of a Star"
A young boy once dreamed,
He dreamed of a star in the hardest times, and this star was his friend.
Because when his sister passed, there was the star.
When his brother died, there was the star.
When his mother passed, there was the star.
When his own maiden daughter passed, there was the star.
And finally, When he reached his own parting with the Earth, Again did the star
open, and he was reunited as a child with his loves.
-by Josefina
A poem in response to "A Child's Dream of a Star"
Millions and millions of miles away
A distant light shines down when we pray
A beautiful star shines so bright
Seeing it makes everything seem so right
Above them all it shines the most
It mysteriously appears like a ghost
It reflects our most inner emotions
Looking at it every night was a great devotion
I love my sister with all my heart
For this reason we are never apart
We love to run through the fields
Touch the beautiful flowers
And just glare at the lovely sky
Together we prayed day and night
It felt so spiritually right
And gave us spiritual might
It seem to soar on an angel's wing
All the joy and happiness it brings
This star protects us from evil and malice
Keeping us safe and warm like a great big palace
We feel that the stars are the children of heaven
Perhaps that's why we share such a special connection
The saddest days is when the clouds hide the children of the skies
O, how it make us feel so unalive
My sister is dying slowly everyday
Is God trying to take her away?
But why, she didn't do nothing
She only wished upon a star
For all the children that are afar
Why did he choose her instead of me?
In the sky with my sister is where I want to be
Her beautiful smile is all I want to see
-by Fatima
From the sister's point of view by Dominique
When I was a little girl, I remember running through the fields with my mother exploring all the beauties nature withheld. Often he would wonder what would become of the world if all the children were gone? A sad place it would be without joy, laughter and the innocence we embody.
I remember at night we'd gaze into the starry sky and admire all that lay before us. Although there were many to gaze upon there was one we held special. It lay slightly to the side of the church's steeple. It's amazing light shined on everything below: almost like a heavenly light.
Night after night we'd sit by the window staring off into the infinite sky and then night after night I grew weaker. No more could I crawl to the window to visit our star buy my loving brother seeing me in this stare moved me to the window where the star could shine down on me.
Due time my spirit left this world drifting me off to the land of the stars There my body regained its youthfulness and the pains that ailed me o Earth lingered no more. For months my brother mourned. His spirit became heavy but every night I could count on him. Thinking of me as he would into the night's sky. Never did he abandon me. Even into his old age he would make his way to the window and forever I will wait until we are reunited.
Image borrowed from http://www.polarimage.fi/meteors/me03123b.jpg
