Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, July 25, 1945

A dream –

All of us, and Joe, come to a rooming house in a village in some southern state (Tennessee?) to spend the night. Joe & Art decide about midnight to go out to get “cokes” at some all-night soda fountain. They urge me to go, [and] although I am dead for sleep, I finally consent to go. Clad in my pajamas (the other two are dressed), bedroom slippers & bathrobe, I set out with them.

We proceed at once to an excursion boat, which crosses a river on the other side of which is a fairly large city. The river is swollen with spring rains and is a roaring torrent of rapids. Somehow the boat sails safely across the rapids & we disembark.

I am worried about my attire. Although it is now about two or three thirty a.m. there are many people abroad, mostly young people. College students I thought.

Bertha is now with us, and we become separated from Joe and Art. Then I lose track of Bertha, and spend a long anxious time trying to find her. I think now we ought to return to bed, and it seems there is a bus that goes back to our village; but I cannot find the bus-station, and I know I must find Bertha before I can leave anyway.

I finally come to a drug-store where there are many college students drinking sodas & jitterbugging. Outside a soft wet February snow is falling. I awoke at this point.

Charles E. Burchfield, July 25, 1945