The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-02-23
lisrrilanco ms
The Angels Mission.
RYM. G. SLEEPER.

Graded by'a cloud wheren rested the radiance
Of the setting SUM- angel awaited commission
from the Father His face wore the tender gen
tie expression that we wont to ascrbe to the be-
loved disciple, and bis eye it wandeled over the
earth lost It's eladness and was dimed by the mist
of sorrow
Below him was nonarch's pleasure palace
Planned by most skfal architects and fashioned
by hands that wrought for posterity, it was gem
of art The lover of luxurious eases found all its
appliances in It's marble balls, the student of the
pencil sought It's galleries ofrare pictures the pleas
ure-seeker wes allured by It's splendid revels while
for the tinlid and SILENT there were green alleys
and secluded bowers. And grouped around each
futed column, pacing each lofty portico, by eacl,
cleaning fountain, filing each gilded and cushioned
large which 1oated on the Stream, were the gay,
the graceful. the highly born, with the light laugh
the careless Jest the merrinent of the thoughtess
rather than the ovful heart. Regal in port, and
proud in mtn was the lord of that courtly throng.
He stood apart with his queen beautiful and state
" woman, and tMo lovely children gambollcd at
their feet The angel looked earnestly upon them
and thought of the churches they might build and
schools they might establish, the poor they might
benefit but at length he turned mournfullv away,
for none Of these things held they in remember
ance.
With trembling eaaeraess, a scholar finished his
difficult experiment. Years Of long study had made
him an adept in many sciences He traced the
motions of the stars; he interpreted the mystic
movements of the mighty deep, he went down IN
to earth's hidden chambers and proclaimed her
treasures He had visited all chimes and learned
the habits of every people. He called the birds by
name from the lerdly eagle to the tiny wren He
was familiar with the insect tribe, whether they
fitted over the scanty herbagc Of the northern hills
or gathered in myriads upon tropic plains. The
wish of his bayhood, the passion of bis marhcod
was gratifed. His name. interviewer with human
knowledge should be forgotten only when that
knowledge should pass from men. The angel bent
forward us if 10 lift him heavenward, but he drew
back sadly for the sage, wise in his own eyes,
deemed he bad need of nothing.
The ringing plaudits of thousands, once and a
gain repeated, answered the tones of poets Tyre.
Perfect in swell and cadence, gushing fresh rom
an overlooking fount. they reached the ear of the
seraph. He listened, if percharce some regenen-
ated soul were pouring out the thanksgiving to Je-
h0vah, if il were not indeed prelude to the an
them it should sing in heaven He listened vainly.
The melody, earthly born; hreathed of earth only.
Lowly eontrition cheerful sef-sacrifce high faith
bright hope, and glowing love had therein place.
The dream of a day had filed the visi'n of the
singer and occupied his heart: and the angel sigh
ed deeply for the bitterness that should spring from
that wasted talent.
He looked abroad where the blue sea rolled it's
restless waves, and beheld two ships with every
4 sail sweed by the rapid breeze pressing on over
the waters. He querried if they did bear light
unto darkened nations if they would not uplift the
fearful veil that lay on the distant orient He
watched eagerly TO Join in the evening hymn, but,
ioi when he thought TO hear the voice of suppli-
cation and the song of praise,a fierce, binding light
flashed along the deep, followed BY the roar of can
non in thunder peals, and, even while he gazed
the lesser of the two hay wreck on the mighty
ocean.
The>Father called and the angel looking, back
lshuddefingly for an instant wondered if he should
be commissioned to the naughty monarch, the self
Ieomplactnt sage, to the poet, or the world styled
hero of the coneuering ship.
Shut from human eye, friendless woman alone
amidst her sickness and poverty, called upon her
God. There no fire the hearth, no lamp
on the tottering table, and the falling drfted
| in through the shattered door, and rafting case
ment Meekly borne had been her deep and ma
ny trials but, now, that she stood on the brink oi
the dead river, she tremhied and would fain have
strengthened herself in the fervorof anothers faith
IThither sped the ministering spirit. Gently he
folded his pinons around the pleader, and softly
he whispered in her heart the message: "Feal
not, for am with thee :; be not dismayed for | an
/ thy God" As he said so, the darkness vanished
and the cold, and pain. Doubt gave place to JOY
and in her frightened vision, she deemed she saw
the throne of the Eternal, and heard the songs o
| the redeemed Reward for the whole life of tot
seemed given in those blissful moments. She sanl
back, at last exhausted. There was prolonged
struggle another, and another, and then the spiri
freed itself from the clay and the angel bore up
ward to the bosom Of the Father.