Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-02-25
THE ANGEL AZRAEL.

his WINGS OF ua3SUnE WhlteneSs,
His mein, majestic strong
\ glittoring spear he carried,
AS reverently he moved
Atrest of all Gods angels
or ALL Gods most beloved
"Axraoll" Lowly bonding
He knelt before the throne;
Humility stu lending
New charms unto his own.
"Agrael. From my children
On earth come cries of woe,
hear, and tain woald help them.
Thither my angel, 40,
I'm pain and grief some anguish
Signing to he set free.
And some In mortal anguish
Struggle for liberty.
Go, Axrael. release them
From their prison house OF clay,
And bring my children home to me
In Paradise, this day"
Down through tho bouudless ether
The swift.wlngod angel flew,
Past upper world aud mother,
TIL unto earth he drew;
Entered the chambers portal
Where the weary sufferers lay,
Released their souls immortal
And bore them hence away
On earth were sounds of weeping,
And funeral bells were tollod,
hut There was rapturons greeting
In the city paved with gold
Rosannas filled all heaven
Unto Him upon the throne,
As the angel who was hidden
Brought back TO God Its own.
We'll done, my faithful angei"
Thus soid the Almighty one!
And welcome. earth.born children,
Your life.work, too, we'll donel
But thou art sad O Azrael
And sorrow dims thine owe;
Thy radiant wings are dropping;
Tell me- my angel, why?"
% Thou, whose matchloss glory
Fills earth and sky and sea,
Who art from everlasting,
And to the end shall be-
Joyful heard thy summons,
And fastened to fuldl
Glad to ho counted worthy
To do my Makers will
Il thought | should be welcome
Since came to set man free
From their chains of earthly thral
dom:
But they looked with fear on me
And everywhere they saw me,
Men spoke with bated breath.
They turned away and shudderod
w
They know not that lfo's sweet life.
The angel Azrael brings.
And thus It is my spirit grIevos
And therefore droop my wings.
And now, O loving Father
Bend low thy gracious ear.
And In thy tender mercy.
Grant Azraol this, his prayer,
Lit but for one brief moment
The shadowy, mystic veil
lhat hides Earths children from tho
loved
] And lost ones thoy bowail
And never more kind Father
snail they look on me with fear.
Or bow their heads In anguish,
When Azrael draws near"
| Rise, Azrael, beloved
may not grant thy plea;
theso earthly children of my care
! Must learn 10 trust In me-
Il nave told them of my heaven.
Ana the many mansions fair.
MY son, the Crucined. I've given.
That they may enter there
But Il a moment only
| II were permitted them
To gaze with earthly vision
On the New Jerusalem
Tier prlncely towers and turrets.
! Her glories all untold,
! ne rapture Of the shining ones
VINO walk her streets OF gold
RINK you they would be fitted
! For the victory they must win.
Ere they can hear the welcome
| Good and faithful, enter IMP
Ihelr efforts would be palsIed
With longing TO be there;
nay, Azrael, II were not kind
To harken to thy prayer.
But this | grant thee, angel.
From henceforth 1t shall be.
when thou dost 80 to earth 20 set
a struggling spirit free,
Unto the hearts loft desoIate
This message thou shalt tell;
Mourn not thy loved ones, for with
them
II Is and shall be WE'LL"
And so wheneer the shadow
or the angels dropping wing
rams on our hearthstone. and we sit
Speechess in suffering
Rising Ger all our anguish.
Deeper than Homes deem knall