The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1854-04-19
The Dream Angel.


Nuee she Oflkut augel whose duty 1t was
70 watch over the happiness Of men,-the
guardian angel Of the world,-drew nearer
the throne Of the Heavenly Father, aud
prayed -
Give me. o Father, means by which
may teach men the way how to avoid, in part,
at least. the many sins and temptations which
the fall bath entailed upon him; for man /.
not always bad. AT times bis heart is ready
to receive the good which light external
might fix upon him."
Then the Father spoke to the angel, and
said
Give him the dream"
The sweet angel few over the world with
bis sister. the Dream.
Far and wide they spread the gentle infu-
ence, and the hearts Of life-weary mortals
we're rejoicod. But the soft breathings Of
the Dream Angel fell not alike on all.
To the good and gentle, who had sunk to
rest auIid the blessings of their loved ones,
and whose slumber was deepened by the toll
Of good deeds which they had done, there
came soft and silent glimpses Of the far-of
land Of light.
Forgetting the narrow prison Of the world,
their souls rose up, and spread broad and wide
over the land Of visions, aud gazed with eagle
eyes upon the golden glories But as the
night waned, their dreams grew dim, and the
outer influence Of the soul gently closed upon
them. even as the carolla Of the night flower
closes about it. and shuts from its gaze its
best loved starry heaven.
To the toil-worn and sun-burnt husband
man, who had fallen asleep in despair. and
who ever feared lest some grim accident
might destroy the fruit Of his labors. the
sweet dream came like soft summer shower
upon the Farched and dusty fields; and as he
dreamed. he saw the green corn rising in
goodly ranks, and gazed with JOY upon the
small, soft ears-which, at first no larger than
flower buds, seemed, as he beheld them, to
expand to ripe maturity.
There are certain dream phantasies. and
strange sleep changes that are to be found
only in the deep, unbroken slumDer which
results from extreme bodily fatigue, or In the
light, irregular rest Of fever-even as the
groiesque blue dragOn.hy aud the strange wa
ter filter are found only on the surface Of the
deep. silent pool. or the shallow brook. And
as the husbandman slept on. the fantastic
spirits who attended the dream fitted about
him, and spread a gay confusion over the
happy vision for, as lie gazed upon the gold.
en- ears, purple and scarlet cloud seemed TO
overshadow him, while round about be heard
the pealing Of bells, the ringing Of familiar
voices and The loving Of cattle and in the
intervals there came the shouts as Of glad
friends at the harvest home. Then the pur-
ple cloud gathered again about him; but the
dream spirits, with their long shadowy arms.
drew him through it. and be now stood before
a well.fi,led granery, and the tears Of JOY ran
down bis cheeks. Ills wife aud loved ones
gathered about him, and blessings and
praises sank into his heart. and mingled with
the hymn, which rose like golden cloud from
the ocean Of bis soul And he awOke from
the sweet dream, and blessed 1t for the hope
it bad inspired him with.
But the Dream few on 10 guilty prisoner
who had fallen asleep cursing his judges, hls
doom, and the black, damp letters that clung
/ like cold adders to his limbs and as he
dreamed. the prison was opened, the cold
chains fell away. and remorse and rage nc
longer fixed their poison faRgs upon his heart
A bright light shone upon him, and blessed
thoughts Of mercy, repentance and reconcilia-
ton fitted through bis mind, ike golden
winged butterflies through a summer garden
and be awoke trusting in release, with his
heart filed With love and kindness. Did the
cold, damp fetters fall from bis limbs ?
Were the prison doors opened The fetter'
fell not away. the prison door remained fast
and worn down by famine and sickness. he
peri.hed alone 10 the narrow dungeon. But
the Blessed hope which the gentle Dream had
left in his heart. gladdened his last hour =
and he died. e1claiming-" Not my will, but
Thine. o Father" Behold there was Joy in
Heaven -,
II has been said that Hope alone is left with
riortals--but wish ber abideth her sister, the
Dream. who maketh ber known to US Tor
by dreams men are led to hope, and BY Hope
shall be saved.