Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-06-10
miscellaneous.
THE DREAM ANGEL.


Once the bright angel, whose duty Il Is to watch
over The happiness Of men--the guardian angel Of
the world-drew near the throne Of the Heavenly
Father, and prayed:
give me, D Father means by which may
Teach man way how 10 avoid in part, at least, the
many sins and temptations which the fall hath en-
ssiicd upon him for man is not always bad. At
snes his heart is ready to receive the good which
aiight eternal might tx upon him."
Then The Father spoke to the angel, and said:
"Give him the Dream"
The sweet angel few over the world with his
sister, the Dream.
Far and wide they spread the gentle influence,
and the hearts Of hfe-weary mortals rejoiced.
But the soft breathings Of the Dream Angel fell
not alike on all.
To the good and gentle, who had sunk to rest
amid the blessings Of their loved ones, and whose
alumber was dcepened by the toll Of good deeds
which they hal done. there came soft and silent
glmpses Of the fair land Of light. Forgetting the
narrow prison Of the world, their souls rose up,
AMI spread broad aad wide over the land Of vis-
ions, and gazcd with eagle eyes upon the glories.
But as the night waned, their dreams grew dim,
and the outer influence Of the soul gently closed
upon thom. even as the cnrolla Of the nightf flower
closes about IT, and shuts r1m its gaze its best low
el starry heaven.
To the toil-worn burnt husbandman, who
has fallen asleep iu despair, and who ever feared
least some grim accident might destroy the fruit
oflabors, tho sweet dream came like soft summer
shower upon the parched and dusty felds and rs
ho dreamed, be saw the green corn rising in goodly
ranks. and gazing with JOY upon the small, soft
oars-which, at first no larger than flower buds,
seemed, as he beheld them, to expand to ripe ma
turity.
There arc certain dream phantosics, and strange
sleep changes that are to be found only in deep,
unbroken slunher, which results from extreme
bodily fatigue or in the light. irregular rest Of a
fsver-cven as the grotesqne blue dragon-ay and
the strange water Glitter found only the sur
face OF the deep silent pool, or shallow brook
And as the husbandman slept on, the fantastic
spirits who attended the dream fitted about him,
and spread gay confusion the happy vision,
for, as he gazcd upon the golden ears, purple and
scarlet cloud seemed to oyershadow him, while
round about he heard the pealing ofbels, the sing
ing of familiar voices, and the lowing Of cattle
and in the intervals, there came the shouts as of
glad friends at the harvest home. Then the purple
cloud gathering again about him but the dream
spirits, with their long, shadowy arms drcw him
through II, and he now stood before n wel-flled
granary, and the tears Of JOY ran down his checks
His wife and beloved ones gathered around him.
aud their blessings and praises sank into his heart
and mingled with the hymn which rose like gold
en- cloud from the ocean of his soul. And he
awoke from the sweet dream and blessed il for the
hope which il had inspired him with.
But the Dream flew on to guilty prisoner, who
had fallen asleep cursing his judges, his doom,
and the black, damp fetters which clung like cold
adders th his limbs and as he dreamed, the prison
was opened tho cold chains fell away, and re-
morse and rage no longer fixed their prison pangs
upon his heart. A bright light shone upon him,
and blessed thoughts Of mercy, repentance, and
reconciliation fitted through his mind like golden
winged butterflies through summer garden; and
he awoke trusting in release, with his heart filed
with love and kindness. Did the cold, damp fet-
ters fall from his limbs2 Were the prison doors
opened! The fetters fell not away the prison door
remained fast; and, worn down by famine and
sickness, he perished alone in the narrow dungeon.
But the blessed hope which the gentle dream had
left in his heart gladdened his last hour, and he
died exclaiming, "Not my will. but Thine, Faith
er." Behold, there was JOY in Heaveni
II has been said that hope alone if left with NOR
tlls-but with her aideth her sister. the Dream.
who maketh her known TO us for by dreams mon
are led TO hope-and by hope they shall be saved
jean PiM