More than this. The _eye_--which was Hiram--could discriminate between what men considered valuable and available and important, and also good and essential, and by all means to be secured: I say, the _eye_ had the power to distinguish between these, and what was in truth and in very deed good and just and right, and truly to be desired and sought after. How things changed places! Some shrank into littleness and utter insignificance, which formerly had large proportions and a towering importance; others, which before seemed puny and of little worth, grew grandly into magnitude, and power, and might. At a great distance could be observed the habitations of the children of men. They appeared like objects seen through an inverted telescope--far off and exceedingly diminished. On the shore of the sea, Hiram Meeker was discovered. He looked no larger than a man's thumb. He had fenced off a portion of the sands, so that no one except himself (and many attempted) could have access thereto. He was engaged transporting these sands in the most careful manner, one by one, into a large warehouse, for better security, as it would seem. What is wonderful in all this is, that Hiram, the whole time, thought it gold he was storing, whereas the _eye_ could perceive it to be sand only--glittering sand. At length the vision faded away. Hiram started up in a mortal agony. The effort woke him, and he gazed wildly around. It was not yet light. Weary and exhausted by what he had passed through, he soon fell asleep, and this time slumbered peacefully. When he opened his eyes, the sun was shining cheerfully into his room. The whole aspect of things was changed. The old scenes were shifted into place, the old machinery set in motion--Hiram was himself again! CHAPTER VIII. Burnsville! I hope the reader is willing to revisit this charming spot. For I confess that I myself feel impelled to do so. Indeed, I sometimes regret following the fortunes of Hiram Meeker to New York. Far more agreeable would it have been to have continued the story of Joel Burns, and showed what a good man may achieve, notwithstanding the workings of the 'ancient leaven,' and the divers contests which spring up daily within and around him. But my task once undertaken, I did not feel at liberty to leave it. I propose, therefore, only a brief visit to the place which the reader may recollect was commenced by Joel Burns in his youth, when his love for Ellen Bellows lent to his already energetic spirit a tenfold force and vigor and perseverance. The twenty-five years which have told with such effect on New York, have also produced great changes and great improvements in Burnsville. It was a thriving village when we last knew it. Now it is a large town. The higher portion is covered with fine buildings. Churches, hotels, academies, and various institutions for which New England is remarkable, seem specially to flourish here.