The Angels Of Sleep

Asleep the child fell When night cast its spell; The angels came near With laughter and cheer. Her watch at its waking the mother was keeping: 'How sweet, my dear child, was your smile now while sleeping!' To God mother went, From home it was rent; Asleep the child fell 'Neath tears' troublous spell. But soon it heard laughter and mother-words tender; The angels brought dreams full of childhood's rare splendor. It grew with the years, Till gone were the tears; Asleep the child fell, While thoughts cast their spell. But faithful the angels their vigils were keeping, The thoughts took and whispered: 'Have peace now, while sleeping!'