Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-03-21
The Angel Brothers.

Hand in hand on the Earth walked the
Angel Death and the Angel of Sleep, noise
lessly as the infant zephyr among the green
corn of June.
The shadows of the evening were gathering
in their dark outlines, and the Angels rested
in the deep woods near the abode of men,
AS the shadows grew darker. the silence
grew deeper, and the hum of the village and
the chime of the hamlet bells died away like
the last echo of the death-song of day.
The Angel brothers sat on the grassy hill
lock in the deep woods until the full shades
of Night were gathered.
Then the Angel of Sleep spread his downy
wings and arose up through the shadows
towards the bright stars that trembled in
their sky settings, and with his hand strewed
DER the tired earth the sweet yet invisible
grains of Sleep. The gentle breeze of the
evening waited them hither and thither, to
the mansion of the rich and to the cottage of
the poor-to the poer h%usbandman, weary
with following his team, and to the rich
banker, weary with counting his gold-to
the old crippled beggar on his crutch and to
the g~uileless infant in its cradle. The sick
. forgot their racking pals ; the violent, their
E wrath the mourners, their grief; the poor,
. their poverty and the rich, their baskets of
r gold. ALI eyes closed, and the sons and
daughters of men slumbered.
The Angel of Sleep having sown all his
goodly seed for the night, and thus accom-.
J plished his blessed mission, returned to the
/ green bank in the deep forest where he had
left his brother Angel. The Angel of SleeE
| spoke: "When Aurora comes in the morn.
q ing, awakening the earth, as her beautiful
. light gilds the east with a gliding of the
brightest of purple, of gold and of silver, tn,
sons and daughters of men will rise up anc
= call me blessed their friend and comforter
Oh! blessed gift, this is from our Heavenl,
~ Father to be able to confer such gifts on tn
III weary ones of earth. Oh brother, we ar
Is blessed above other Angels in being mad
% the messengers Of the Great Spirit. Ho1
nu beautiful our mission"
The Angel of Death listened in silence I
60 the words of his brother Angel. A dee
ne shadow was on his brow, and a tear, such
IN is shed by mortals at his coming, stood in h
eo deep, dark eye. Alas !" said he, 81 wis
est | could rejoiee as thou ~rejoicest in the thanh
I've Of the sons and daughters of earth. Your
no. men and maidens flee at my approach, ar
Ut strong men tremble and turn pale. N
nu- reaping hook is a terror to nations, and kim
ner east their crowns at my feet to bride 4
from my mission. I am called on earth t
Ids enemy of men, and no mar regardeth me
all a friend"
Ell "Dispel the dark cloud from thy bro
ent mine elder brother" said the gentle Ane
of sleep and remember that in the MOI
ing of that great day, when the good m
shall awaken from his long slumber in t
q tomb, and leap in newness of life like
raj young hart skipping among the green hill
10 he will recognize thee as his friend and b.
and efactof. We are brothers and both
to friends of man."
The eyes of the Angel of Death bean
III with pleasure in anticipation of the day
should be called blessed by the sons of m
and the two Genii arose on easy wing iowa
u a the blue sky above.