LXXIV. THE SLEEPERS.

1. THEY are sleeping! Who are sleeping? Children wearied with their play;

For the stars of night are peeping,
And the sun hath sunk away;
As the dew upon the blossoms
Bow them on their slender stem,
Lo, as light as their own bosoms,
Balmy sleep hath conquered them.

2. They are sleeping! Who are sleeping?
Mortals *compassed round with woe,
Eyelids wearing out with weeping,
Close for very weakness now:
And that short relief from sorrow,
Harassed nature shall sustain
Till they wake again to-morrow,
Strengthened to contend with pain!

3. They are sleeping! Who are sleeping?
Captives in their gloomy cells;

Yet, sweet dreams are o'er them creeping,
With their many-colored spells;

All they love-again they clasp them;

Feel again their long lost joys;

But the haste with which they grasp them,
Every fairy form destroys.

4. They are sleeping! Who are sleeping?
Misers by their thoarded gold;
And in fancy now are heaping
Gems and pearls of price untold.
Golden chains their limbs tencumber,
Diamonds seem before them strown;
But they waken from their slumber,
And the splendid dream is flown.

5. They are sleeping! Who are sleeping?
Pause a moment, softly tread;
Anxious friends are fondly keeping
Vigils by the sleeper's bed!

Other hopes have all forsaken;
One remains; that slumber deep
Break not, lest the slumberer waken
From that sweet, that saving sleep.

6. They are sleeping! Who are sleeping?
Thousands who have passed away
From a world of woe and weeping
To the regions of decay!
Safe they rest, the green turf under;
Sighing breeze, or music's breath,
Winter's wind, or summer's thunder
Can not break the sleep of death!

LXXV. THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER.

FROM JANE TAYLOR.

1. In a remote period of antiquity, when the *supernatural and the marvelous obtained a readier credence than now, it was fabled that a stranger of extraordinary appearance was observed passing the streets of one of the magnificent cities of the east, remarking, with an eye of intelligent curiosity, every surrounding object. Several individuals gathering around him, questioned him concerning his country and his business; but they presently perceived that he was unacquainted with their language, and he soon discovered himself to be equally ignorant of the most common usages of society. At the same time, the dignity and intelligence of his air and demeanor, forbade the idea of his being either a barbarian or a lunatic.

2. When, at length, he understood by their signs, that tney wished to be informed whence he came, he pointed with great significance to the sky; upon which, the crowd, concluding him to be one of their deities, were proceeding to pay him divine honors; but he no sooner comprehended their design, than he rejected it with horror; and, bending his knees and raising his hands toward heaven, in the attitude of prayer, gave them to understand that he also was a worshiper of the powers above. After a time, it is said, the mysterious stranger accepted the hospitalities of one of the nobles of

the city; under whose roof he applied himself with great diligence to the acquirement of the language, in which he made such surprising proficiency, that in a few days, he was able to hold intelligent intercourse with those around him.

3. The noble host now resolved to take an early opportunity of satisfying his curiosity respecting the country and quality of his guest; and upon his expressing his desire, the stranger assured him, that he would answer his inquiries that evening, after sunset. Accordingly, as night approached, he led him forth upon the balconies of the palace, which overlooked the wealthy and populous city. Innumerable lights from its busy streets and splendid palaces, were now reflected in the dark bosom of its noble river; where stately vessels, laden with rich merchandise from all parts of the known world, lay anchored in the port. This was a city in which the voice of the harp and the viol, and the sound of the millstone were continually heard; and craftsmen of all kinds of craft were there; and the light of a candle was seen in every dwelling; and the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride were heard there.

4. The stranger mused awhile upon the glittering scene; and listened to the confused murmur of mingling sounds. Then suddenly raising his eyes to the starry +firmament, he fixed them with an expressive gaze, on the beautiful evening star, which was just sinking behind a dark grove, that surrounded one of the principal temples of the city. "Marvel not," said he to his host, "that I am wont to gaze with fond affection on yon silvery star. That was my home; yes, I was lately an inhabitant of that tranquil planet; from whence a vain curiosity has tempted me to wander.

5. "Often had I beheld, with wondering admiration, this brilliant world of yours, even one of the brightest gems of our firmament, and the ardent desire I had long felt to know something of its condition, was at length unexpectedly gratified. I received permission and power from above to +traverse the mighty void, and to direct my course to this distant sphere. To that permission, however, one condition was annexed, to which my eagerness for the enterprise induced me hastily to consent, namely, that I must thenceforth remain an inhabitant of this strange earth, and undergo

all the vicissitudes to which its natives are subject. Tell me, therefore, I pray you, what is the lot of man; and explain to me more fully than I yet understand, all that I see and hear around me."

6. "Truly, sir,” replied the astonished noble, "although I am altogether unacquainted with the manners and customs, products and privileges of your country, yet methinks, I can not but congratulate you on your arrival in our world; especially since it has been your good fortune to alight on a part of it, affording such various sources of enjoyment, as this our opulent and luxuriant city. And be assured it will be my pride and pleasure to introduce you to all that is most worthy the attention of such a distinguished foreigner."

7. Our adventurer, accordingly, was presently initiated into those arts of luxury and pleasure, which were there well understood. He was introduced by his obliging friend to their public games and festivals; to their theatrical +diversions and convivial assemblies; and, in a short time, he began to feel some relish for amusements, the meaning of which, at first, he could scarcely comprehend. The next lesson which it became desirable to impart to him, was the necessity of acquiring wealth, as the only means of obtaining pleasure. This fact was no sooner understood by the stranger, than he gratefully accepted the offer of his friendly host, to place him in a situation in which he might amass riches. To this object he began to apply himself with diligence; and soon became, in some measure, reconciled to the manners and customs of our planet, strangely as they differed from those of his own.

LXXVI. THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER-CONCLUDED.

1. HE had been but a few weeks diligently engaged in his new plans for the acquisition of wealth, when, walking in the cool of the day with his friend, in the outskirts of the city, his attention was arrested by the appearance of a spacious inclosure near which they passed. He inquired the use to which it was appropriated. "It is," replied the nobleman,

"a place of public interment." "I do not understand you," said the stranger. "It is the place," repeated his friend, "where we bury our dead." "Excuse me, sir," replied his companion, with some embarrassment, "I must trouble you to explain yourself yet further.”

2. The nobleman repeated the information in still plainer terms. "I am still at a loss to comprehend you perfectly," said the stranger, turning deadly pale. "This must relate to something of which I was not only totally ignorant in my own world, but of which I have, as yet, had no intimation in yours. I pray you, therefore, to satisfy my curiosity; for if I have any clue to your meaning, this surely, is a matter of more mighty concernment, than any to which you have

hitherto directed me."

3. "My good friend," replied the nobleman, "you must indeed be a novice among us, if you have yet to learn that we must all, sooner or later, submit to take our place in these dismal abodes. Nor will I deny, that it is one of the least desirable of the circumstances which appertain to our condition; for which reason it is a matter rarely referred to in polished society; and this accounts for your being hitherto uninformed on the subject. But, truly, sir, if the inhabitants of the place from whence you came are not liable to any similar misfortune, I advise you to betake yourself back again with all speed; for be assured there is no escape here, nor could I guarantee your safety even for a single hour."

4. "Alas!" replied the adventurer, "I must submit to the conditions of my enterprise, of which, till now, I little understood the import. But explain to me, I beseech you, something more of the nature and consequence of this wondrous change, and tell me at what period it commonly happens to man." While he thus spoke, his voice *faltered, and his whole frame shook violently; his countenance was as pale as death. By this time his companion, finding the discourse becoming more serious than was agreeable, declared he must refer him to the priests for further information, this subject being very much out of his province. How!" exclaimed the stranger, "then I could not have understood you. the priests only die? Are you not to die also?" His friend, evading these questions, hastily conducted his

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