The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-07-04
CHILDREN AND ANGELS.
A DREAM

We remember a rem akable dream which
occurred at a time when little being came
bnl 10 leave US again, whom we had hardly
thought could have claimed a place in our
heart, but for the void il left; and il always
recurs TO our mind when we hear OF new life
aud old death meeting thus instantly on the
threshold.
We dreamt that we were conveyed by
some mysterious guide to the entrance OF
this earth. IL was kind Of gallery, through
which angelic beings, winged and beautiful.
were rapidly passing, all towards the earth;
some with grave, others with hopeful as
poets, their expressions as various as they
we're leglble.
"What does this mean?" we said "Who
are the passing spirits that 60 all one way.
and why are their cOunlenances so various?
Our companion replied:
They are guardian angels, each on his
way to take charge Of a newborn infant
They know not its ultimate doom, but they
know OF the sphere to which it is born, and
the probable sins and temptations it will be
exposed to. Look at the angel" he said,
.'wiih a serious mein, as if hard duty were
belore him! His charge is The child of the
rich and noble OF the land, who will bring
him up in pride and luxury; and his heat
will grow hard and selfish, aud selfshness in
high places has few sorrows, and without
sorrow the voice VI his good angel will hard
ly be heard.
land see that spirit who passes with ca
gar, hopeful look 10 hun is committed
the child of vicious father, who is rioting
at this moment that child is born unto him.
But open vices are not SO banetul as spe-
clous virtues. Tie child's heart will be
wounded and humbled in the sins ofhis {; :
Their, and, in paying ,h e penalty OF anOlher's
guilt, he will himself seek the paths of viz
tue."
Then another spirit passed, with firm bu,
peaceful aspect.
"His charge will be arduous. The child
now born will have wlliul and tumulluous
passions, and bis heart will be stubborn and
peIverse, and he will defy authority, and GO
far wrong, aud the world will say there is no
redemption Tor him, and even his father
face will be turned from him. But in The
silence OF sick chamber, mother will
plead necessarily for him, and The child oil
many prayers shall be brought home to the
fold"
Then came one with anxious mien, and
he was guardian 10 genius who would win
the applause and idolatry Of thousands; and
a second, with heavenly compassion, beauil-
full, and moving To behold, and he was hurry
ing TO the obscure offspring OF sin and shame
and third, calm and peaceful, summoned
to preside over The even tenor Of poor or
phan, who inherited the blessings of sainied
parents; and fourth, full of solemn anxiety,
who fastened TO receive bis charge from Il
royal cradle: and a fifth, whose coun,enance
Of heavenly wo we dared not ask the cause
of; and many more, all going 10 the varied
posis-to the children Of the good and bad,
The high aud The low, the careless and unb :
lieving-iill we were tired Of asking; when,
suddenly, came one, distinguished from all
by the radiance Of JOY upon him.
''What is his charge!" we said, "surely
must be that Of some future saint upon
earih?"
NO. said our conductor, che is the angel
of child who has died at its birth, and il
going to carry il straight TO heaven"
Aud then we swoke and found il was only a
dream; but ever since then we have never
heard OF the death of an infant wiihou,
thinking OF the JOY on that angel counter
ance.