The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-04-24
From the Friend Of Youth.
A DREAM.
FROM THE GERMAN OF JEAN PAUL.

! dreamed that | stood in the " Field OF
God " on New Years Night, at the hour when
| Faith is wont to look forth from within her
magic circle, to see the shadowy forms pass by
OF those who are to enter the spirit land within
the coming year. AS | looked, the future was
laid before me, and saw the open graves
which the future year had prepared as the rest
ng-places for those whom its days were to
take away with them.
The dark winter days first passed along in
solemn train, and each one lowered its silent
dead into cold grave, to vanish forever from
this tumultuous, sultry life But | knew not
the departed ones.
Then came the bright spring days, bearing
with them still heavier burdens, with which
they filled the open graves. A father, a sister,
or friend, was dropped and vanished from
mortal sight. Sometimes a chd's coffin, like
a little hower-cup enclosing delicate, withered
flower, gded down from two reluctant arms.
My heart was touched with sadness ten
der sorrow, softened as | thought, how much
better for you, little children, to be thus taken
away by the cold hand of death. Sink down,
with joy, to your resting place, now, when it
is to you the tenderest bed of flowers for, see,
the cross under which you would have suffered
greatly here, now stands above your grave, the
emblem of your joy and triumph there.
Those, again, who We're laid to rest by the
mild spring days, amid flowers and the sound
OF bells, were all strangers to me.
A dark-veiled, silent morning then appeared,
bearng shroudsd human form in a coffin. A
train of white robed mourners, with trembling
and uncertain steps, followed silent and sor-
rowful. As they drew near the grave, the
clouds lowered gloomily around. Then the
coffin was opened, and oh how deep the wal
of anguish that broke forth from every heart
My own feelings now gave way in sympathy
with the afflicted ones, for knew them and the
departed one whom they had followed hither
II was tender mother, who now followed two
children into the silent land, and the mourners
Were her daughters. Thou pale, cold form,
whose eyes are now forever closed, no more to
be wet with tears-thou who hast suffered
much-why must thou too go down thus torn
and wasted TO the earth! Thy tender howrets
stripped rudely off by death before he snatched
thee away at last. Alas, on every feature pain
has impressed the last lineaments, and thy hand
is chilled by the ice-cold grasp of death, which
tore thee wounded away. But whatd do say ?
Thou art more happy now than they who
greve around thy deserted form. would
rather look upon thee, resting calmly there. than
on thy friends, to whom all thy sutferings now
come back in one vivid pang-than on thy sis
tiers, who would now share with thee thy deep
slumberng night, as before they shared each
sleeplesS one-than on thy fond children, who,
blinded by their tears, see nought but the cold
grave between thy loving heart and theirs.
| My eyes grew dim and heavy, and the
clouds lowered darky around, enshroudinc in
gloom the mourners and their woe. Ali be-
came cloud, as in human life. Suddenly the
clouds trembed, and rays of light. from sun
unknown to mortals, broke through and parted
them wide asunder. The blue sky opened out
in loneliness, and with warm zephyrs brought
forth flowers from the cold, damp ground.
Two lilies from the grave grew high above the
rest, and the spring angels famed them with
their breath until their petals huttered upwards
into the AIR, and became the wings of two an
gels that flew down from Heaven. The an
gels lowered nearer over the grave from which
flowers were sprngng up in profuSion when
10 the grave opened and the mother arose
The angels were her two children, and Law
upon her breast-two angels whom death had
purified from mortal life. Welcome, wei
come" SAID they, " 10 our land of rest, dear
afflicted mother-rest now, and renew thy
weary life. Death is the soace to all earthly
wounds, the awakening to higher life Look
not with longing down to earth, where they
yet weep for thee. Affection is the portion o
time. In eternity IT is not as there on earth
We have never yet been far away from thee
dear mother, and the beautiful, blessed eternit,
attracts all the loved ones together"
| will not say, beloved friends, that awoke
for the appearance was not a dream; neither
was the consolation. God has implanted in
every breast an unlading flower to bloom OF
every grave. b.
1t is a current belief of the common people in
Germany, that whoever stands on New Year.
Night at crossway, or in burying gound
! Gottesacker-Field of God land draws a circl,
around him, with proper ceremonies, will see
the spirits of the coming year float in shadowy
forms around him.
The graves of the people have usually 6
wooden cross erected above them.