New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-04-28
SLEEPERS AWAKENED.

Let us introduce our readers to small cham
Der in country parsonage, in the latter part
of last century. The room presented o perfect
picture of neatness, quiet, and repose. 1t was
very plainly furnished, but manifested a certain
elegance and refinement in the arrangement of
the few simple ornaments Oh the chimney piece,
the flowers and books, and the old china cup of
cooling drink that stood on small round table
by the window, through which the warm air of
summer stole softly, laden with perfume from
the mignonette and stocks that fourished in the
garden beneath it, The suns rays. broken by
the fresh green leaves of a large walnut tree,
cast a clear. pleasant light through the snowy
dimity- curtains of the bed on the face of an in
valid who lay there, gazing with the listlessness
of weakness, on the glimpse of blue sky visible
from the open easement 1t was countenanee
that sunlight might be imagined to love, SO
good and gentle was 1t. Nor did its expression
belle the heart within. A holy, charitable, un-
selfish man was that village pastor; but with
the resemblance be bore-and it was strong
one-to Goldsmith's portait of his brother, there
mingled much of the thoughtlessness and i'm
providence of the poet himself; and the conse-
quence of his boundless charities, and of his ig
| norance of money matters, had led him into
embarrassments, from which he saw no escape.
He would have cared little had his difficulties
affected his own comfort only; but they fell
| likewise on those dearest to him, and anxiety
| for their sakes preying on his affectionate and
rather timid spirit; the probable shame of an
execution in his house, and the nervous horror
he felt at the idea of being consigned to prison,
had brought on his present illness, and haunted
his thoughts as he lay there in solitude after
many restless nights Of agonized and perplexed
reflection, listening to the church bells ringing
for Sunday service, at which stranger was t
| fill his place. From the days of Wilmington Il
the present, the imagination has frequently
given language to those airy voices; and th'
poor pastor, as he lay overpowered and exhaust
ed by long hours Of painful and fruitless medi
tation, felt the nightmare, like a load of car
| which oppressed him, pass off as he listened
and chiidlike faith in the goodness Of Proyi
dence once more dawning on his mind. We d,
not pretend to interpret what they whispered
but it is certain that, soothed by the chimes, h,
| yielded to a gentle and profound slumber, il
which his wife found him shortly Afterwards
Care was at first taken not to break this de
sired repose; but as noon, evening, night, nay
q second day passed, and still it continued. hi
family became alarmed, and tried to rouse him
In vain The awful slumber was as inexorabl
as that of death itself 1t bound his senses il
an iron forgetfLlness. He could not be awakene
by sound or touch. Sun after sun rose and set
and still the deep sleep continued. Meantim
the evils he had dreaded gathered round hi
family. His physical condition preserved hi
personal freedom; but an execution was put Il
his house, and his wife and daughters were ex
posed to the direst evils of poverty. The rumoI
however, of his trance-like slumber was noise
abroad, and reached the lordly dwelling of
nobleman who resided near the spot, though b
was not one of the clergyman's parishioners
Being much given to the study of physical SCI
, ence, he visited the parsonage to request pei
mission to see the sleeper, and thus learned IL
varied sorrow that had fallen on its gentle il
mates. With equal delicacy and generosity
proffered asa loan the means Of paying the hars
creditors, assuring the poor wife that if her hu
band should ever wake, he would give him Il
means of repaying the pecuniary obligatio
The offer was thankfully accepted, and the de
, discharged. For the following two days Lo
E. was n regular visitor to the parsonage.
Sunday morning again dawned-once mo
the sunlight fell on the sleeper's pillow, a
the bells called men to pray. Beside the cou
4 were seated the miserable wife and her mol
friehd. The faint, regular breathings of t
: trance chained man deepened, and to her an
: ious ear the difference was perceptible, thou
Lord F. shook his head, as she told him
: it. She bent eagerly over the pillow the
n was slight futter of the eye-lids; she held
: breath, and clasped her hands in an agony
l. expectation and dawning hope. The manu.
long motionless, stirred; the eyes opened :
could not ppeak for overpoweriug Joy, I
slsspsr RAISED his head, sllshtly ssailsd % N