The night that Lucy met Asa for the first time, her sister, Persis, had a disturbing dream.
In today’s world, we hear of dreams and visions given to people of God, especially in the
Muslim world. But when I think of the strict Congregationalists of Lucy’s time in history, with
their practical, down-to-earth way of life, it surprises me that one of them received a dream from
God foretelling the future.
Lucy didn’t hear about her sister’s dream until months after it occurred. Persis didn’t tell
Lucy, because Persis herself didn’t realize the significance of the dream until Lucy was gone.
So Persis wrote to Lucy about the dream. Lucy probably received the letter after she had been in Hawaii for some months. Persis’ own letter tells the story best.
A Dream — A Marriage
Mrs. Persis G. Parkhurst to her sister, Mrs. Lucy G. Thurston.
On the night of the 23d of Sept., the very night of your first introduction to Mr. Thurston,
I was transported in a dream to the home of my youth. You were not there. I saw the house surrounded by carriages. Within was a large collection of people, many of whom were strangers. The doors seemed opened from room to room, and whichever way I turned, I was surrounded by numbers, some walking to and fro, and others standing in solemn fixed attention. I
saw nothing transacted, heard nothing said, but thought the occasion was your wedding.
Though never in the habit of thinking much of dreams, this took strong hold of my feelings. It cost me many tears. Every succeeding day I wept, for I could not divest myself of the idea that my dream referred to your death.
A letter from home was put into my hands. It was not superscribed by you. I was overwhelmed with an undefinable dread that you had dropped the pen for ever. At first I could not open it. At length I summoned resolution and broke the seal. I read the lines traced by your pen. You were not dead, but destined to cross the ocean, and spend your days in a foreign
heathen land.
On the 12th of Oct. your marriage was solemnized in our father’s home. In one hour after the rite, you gave your parting hand to all. Then you entered the carriage at the door, with your
new-found husband, and, attended by cousin Wm. Goodale, parted forever from the friends and
scenes of your youth.
When the sound of the carriage wheels ceased to be heard, I looked, and behold, both in
the house and in the yard, a most perfect representation of my dream.
Your loving Sister, Persis G. Parkhurst
Why did God give Persis that dream? I wonder if it was to comfort Persis on the loss of
her beloved sister. Perhaps that dream brought peace to her heart, as she realized that it was
God’s perfect plan for Lucy to marry Asa and serve Him in a “foreign, heathen land.”
The two sisters never saw each other again on earth. Persis died in 1827 at age 33.