Joshua Norton’s Dream Bird # 1 (illustrated by Lars Brown)

In “Three Septembers And A January” Despair challenges Dream in an attempt to humble the Dream King. Despair’s claim is that life has hurt Joshua Norton to the point of despair and Despair wants to see if Morpheus’ little dreams can redeem him.

Morpheus enters the dreams of Norton and asks what he dreams. He explains that he has been dealt a hardship, which has wiped him out financially. He dreams of being respected again.

As Despair taunts Dream, he tells Norton that he will give him a dream, and accepts Despair’s challenge.

While Dream is walking with Joshua Norton within dreams, there are two birds sitting on his hat and shoulder.

This is one of Joshua Norton’s Dream Birds.

The bird appears in Sandman # 31 on page 4, in panel 2.