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Literary
March 22, 1842
The Caledonian
Saint Johnsbury, Caledonia County, Vermont
What is this article about?
An allegorical tale from the German depicts the angels of Sleep and Death as brothers wandering the earth. Sleep scatters slumber over weary humans, earning praise, while Death laments being seen as a foe. Sleep consoles him, promising recognition in the afterlife as fulfillers of divine will.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Moral and Religious.
From the German.
SLEEP AND DEATH.
Hand in hand they wandered over the earth, the angel of Sleep and his brother angel Death. It was evening. A hill overlooking the dwellings of men clad in luxuriant green, invited them to rest. The last sound of the vesper bell had died away on the breeze; a sad and solemn silence reigned in the scene before them. In stillness and quietude, the emblem of their calling, reposed the benevolent spirits; and darker grew the shades of night.
Then rose the angel of Sleep from his mossy couch, and scattered, with gentle hand, the invisible grains of slumber, which cool zephyrs wafted to the quiet habitations of the wearied tillers of the soil. Now sunk into sweet repose the dwellers of those rural cottages, from the aged man whose head was whitened by the frosts of many winters, to the smiling babe, the blossoms. The sick forgot his pain, the mourner his grief, poverty her cares. All eyes were closed.
His benevolent task fulfilled, the angel of Sleep joined his lonely brother. With a smile of innocence beaming on his countenance, he exclaimed, "When the morning dawns, and the flowers shed their fragrance on the plains, and the birds warble forth their sweet melodies toward heaven, then will men praise me as their friend and benefactor. Oh, what bliss to do good in secret and unseen?— How happy are we, the invisible fulfillers of a Heavenly will! How blessed is our quiet calling!"
So spake the angel of Sleep; but his words of joy found no response in the troubled bosom of his companion. Deep woe marked the features of the angel of Death; and tears, such as mortals shed not, glistened in his dark, calm eye. "Alas," uttered he, "why not also to me the sweet tribute of gratitude? Earth calls me the spoiler, and the son of man denounces me as his foe."
"Oh, my brother," replied the angel of Sleep. "When the sun rises that shall quicken to a day that sets not, to an eternal spring, will not the righteous, in their awakening, know thee as a friend and benefactor? Are we not brothers, and the obedient doers of our heavenly Father's will."
The countenance of the angel Death brightened at these words; and stronger grew the tie that bound these brother spirits.
From the German.
SLEEP AND DEATH.
Hand in hand they wandered over the earth, the angel of Sleep and his brother angel Death. It was evening. A hill overlooking the dwellings of men clad in luxuriant green, invited them to rest. The last sound of the vesper bell had died away on the breeze; a sad and solemn silence reigned in the scene before them. In stillness and quietude, the emblem of their calling, reposed the benevolent spirits; and darker grew the shades of night.
Then rose the angel of Sleep from his mossy couch, and scattered, with gentle hand, the invisible grains of slumber, which cool zephyrs wafted to the quiet habitations of the wearied tillers of the soil. Now sunk into sweet repose the dwellers of those rural cottages, from the aged man whose head was whitened by the frosts of many winters, to the smiling babe, the blossoms. The sick forgot his pain, the mourner his grief, poverty her cares. All eyes were closed.
His benevolent task fulfilled, the angel of Sleep joined his lonely brother. With a smile of innocence beaming on his countenance, he exclaimed, "When the morning dawns, and the flowers shed their fragrance on the plains, and the birds warble forth their sweet melodies toward heaven, then will men praise me as their friend and benefactor. Oh, what bliss to do good in secret and unseen?— How happy are we, the invisible fulfillers of a Heavenly will! How blessed is our quiet calling!"
So spake the angel of Sleep; but his words of joy found no response in the troubled bosom of his companion. Deep woe marked the features of the angel of Death; and tears, such as mortals shed not, glistened in his dark, calm eye. "Alas," uttered he, "why not also to me the sweet tribute of gratitude? Earth calls me the spoiler, and the son of man denounces me as his foe."
"Oh, my brother," replied the angel of Sleep. "When the sun rises that shall quicken to a day that sets not, to an eternal spring, will not the righteous, in their awakening, know thee as a friend and benefactor? Are we not brothers, and the obedient doers of our heavenly Father's will."
The countenance of the angel Death brightened at these words; and stronger grew the tie that bound these brother spirits.
What sub-type of article is it?
Allegory
Prose Fiction
Dialogue
What themes does it cover?
Death Mortality
Moral Virtue
Religious
What keywords are associated?
Sleep Angel
Death Angel
Moral Allegory
Divine Will
Eternal Spring
Benevolent Spirits
What entities or persons were involved?
From The German
Literary Details
Title
Sleep And Death.
Author
From The German
Key Lines
When The Morning Dawns, And The Flowers Shed Their Fragrance On The Plains, And The Birds Warble Forth Their Sweet Melodies Toward Heaven, Then Will Men Praise Me As Their Friend And Benefactor. Oh, What Bliss To Do Good In Secret And Unseen?— How Happy Are We, The Invisible Fulfillers Of A Heavenly Will! How Blessed Is Our Quiet Calling!
Alas," Uttered He, "Why Not Also To Me The Sweet Tribute Of Gratitude? Earth Calls Me The Spoiler, And The Son Of Man Denounces Me As His Foe.
"Oh, My Brother," Replied The Angel Of Sleep. "When The Sun Rises That Shall Quicken To A Day That Sets Not, To An Eternal Spring, Will Not The Righteous, In Their Awakening, Know Thee As A Friend And Benefactor? Are We Not Brothers, And The Obedient Doers Of Our Heavenly Father's Will."