The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-06-04
THE AW AkENISG.


THE AWAKENING.
Translated from the German OF There,nir.
Wife.-Thsa has slept we'll:
Husbaud.-As never before. Not even in
childhood did experience such deep. soft, re-
freshing elumber. Ny old father-tbOa reaem.
bersst him well-when he stepped into she room
in the msrniBg, where We were waiting tor him,
sssd to say. in answer To the inquiry how he had
slept, Like the blessed" Like the blessed,
might say, have l slept; or, rather. like the
blessed have l awakened. l feel myself new
quickened, as if all weariness, and all need Of
sleep we're gone forever. Such vigOr is in my
limbs, such elasticity in my movements that
believe cOsld dy, if l would.
Wand you are pleased with this place?
H.-Indeed, must say, We have been in ma
ny beautiful place together, but this 10 wOn-
derful and beautiful beyond description. What
trees! actually heaven high! They bear bios
SONS and fruit together. Their branches, sway
ing 70 the morniDg wind, cause the tree tops to
give forth melody, az if host of feathered sing.
ers dwet in them. Behind the trees the noun
tains tower up. Their majestic forms rigidly
defined in the pure air, aud here and there
clouds, glowing with all the hues Of sunrise and
s fish ,HHS As sass qs ess ao.: S's. S
q milk white, translucent, shmmerng mist, there
spring, a. it we're, the gates, and towers, aud
palaces Of q spieRdid city. From this peak,
nearest US, there seems to sush mighty vater,
which may call sea rather than 4 stream, and
which, ssverthsless, leaps down the numerous
terraces af the moustan, not with fearful roar
ing. bat with q meIodious sound. Wide about
us are spriskled the drops, which water the trees
and flowers, and iapart q delicious ceolness to
the air, making itecsiacy TO breathe here. Look,
too, at this b1sk whereon We stand! How lux
uriAnt and how thickly strewn with wonderful
flowers! We wonder over it, and yet the spires
of grass are not broken; nor are the flowers
crushed by our footsteps. 1t is a solitary place
vet On all sides visas open to us, and the horizon
tsmpts Us ever further and further on.
W.-Hsst thou seen all this often before. or
dest thsu zee il to day for the first timeg
| H.-Notwithstsnding all is 90 home like to
me here, and though everything greets me az
something long beloved, yet, when think Of it,
must say, No, have never been here be-
| ".-Auu uosT thou wonder to zee me again
| at thy side!
H.-Indesdi And hast thou not, somehow
always been near me?
WIN . certain sense, have; but in anoth
er, not so. 1t 10 lssg since thine ewes have seer
me. disappeared from them once.
H.-AA;. sow there sweeps over my memory
as it were, a dark cloud-days Of anxiety, and
nights spent in weepins-oRly the painful
thoughts and emotions which 90 recently absorb
cd ne. Now they eluds my grasp-I canno,
distinctly comprehend them-they appear 70 ne
something mysterious.
W.-Think On the fourteenth Of Februaryl
H.-How, now, it is oil clear to me! IL wat
ma 4.
We had feared much for thee; but still haC
hope Suddenly a faintness came over thee
thou didst lean thy head upon my breast dds
sink back, with a deep sigh thou diedst-yes
it 10 all over: thou art dead!
| WI am dead yet see-I live!
H.-If thsu art dead, and il See thee, thet
do l really dream:
| W.-Ihou creamest not (; fer thou art awake
H.-Or art thOa sent down from Heaven t.
Earth, that should see thee again for q shor
time, and then anew, through long years, lansn
thy disappearance?
| W.-Ne; henceforth We shall never separate
l am, indeed, ssnt to thee; but not down upor
the earth. Lock around thee here Wher.
upon earth hast thou seen such trees, such va
ters! Look At thyselt! Thou didst 20 abou
yondsr beneath the weight Of years. Now tho,
art young again. Thou dost not walk-tho,
Aoatest; thine eyes no. only see, but see i'm
ssasurably far. Look inward apon thyself
Has it always been with thy heart as now?
H.-Within me is deep. unfathonable, eve
swelling, aud yet entirely still and peaceful sea
Yes, vhea look about me here, and when
feel thy hand in mine, then must say an
blessed-I am in Heaven.
W.-Tbou art.
H.-And, then, must be actually dead?
| H. 81 l.. a. IL
very chamber where died, and whittier tho,
didst long to Be brought. Has not thy son, da,
and night, without leaving thy side, si.cerel
and tesderly nursed thee? Hast thou not, b.
day and night, found open the blue eye of tn,
daughter, in which she vainly strove to hol'
back the forthwsiliug tears. Was there no
q deep mist, and utter darkness spread over th
faces of thy children, and over everything aroun,
thee!
HI An DEAD! Lord Of life and death, spol
my knees tbsnk Thee that Thsu has, futile,
this 50 great thing ia ms-that Thou ha,t led M
70 such high happise.s. to such great honor
dead, snd happy to be dead! Thor knowest ol
Lord how stren that moment steod before me
how often l have prayed that Thou Thyself
since was not able TO do it, wouldst prepare 70
that hour! that Thou wouldss send me q ssft
blessed death! New, oh. Lord /. that Thss has
heard tkis, as all nv other prayers, Thou hast il
this, 40 in oil other things, eternally shown Thy
self gracious and pitiful. What stood befor
me is new over. Traly, though dead, hav
not yet learned exactly what death is; but thi
much know: death 10 sweet As one bears
sleeping child out Of dark chamber into
bright garden, % hast thou borne me from ears
70 heaven. But rev, loved enc. hold me n,
longer back.
/ W.-Whither wouldst thou 20!
H.-Cans; thos ask? To who's else bat 4
Hin! All is beautiful and Lovely here thes
trees, these flowers, this down st, eaming water
this csolsess which brea,hes over flowers, A.
treee, and deep isso my heart; thyseif, thy pres
snce, which, after - locg a separation. after .
many tears, erjoy again. But not even all thi
satisfies me. HinseIf must zee! Let His
adorl His heaven a. beautiful - He nay
that cannot coepenase for the loss Of Hn pres
epce.
4 What Was impossible. he has made possible
So long, 20 snweariedly, 20 faithfully has d
worked in me. that might be capable Of bliss
Evel before vas bora He chose me. Wher
is the little earth! Ys1der il spins. How IA
i, iron here! In what darkness i. is veiled!
. vsuld rot again return to it he hes eosd<
tceuded 70 20 down thifher-has trod its dus
With Hh sacrsd fees-has sadured hungsr n