The Angel of Death | Page 3

interest of the subject, and partly, also, because of its bold and daring thought and vigorous expression, is that by which he is best known, and with which his name is destined to be indissolubly linked.
Wallin is remembered as a great churchman, as well as scholar and poet. As a preacher, he had few if any equals. Of dignified aspect, gifted with a rich sonorous voice, and visibly impressed at all times with the solemn character of his mission, he presented the very ideal of the pulpiteer; and, whenever and wherever he appeared, he was attended by admiring crowds composed of all ranks and classes of the people.[C] As a hymn-writer he had also great success; and to his taste and skill, the Swedish Church is indebted for its finest collection of sacred songs.[D] How gracefully Tegner refers to him in his poem, "The Children of the Lord's Supper," every reader of Longfellow is well aware:
"Hark! then roll forth at once the mighty tones of the organ, Hover like voices from God, aloft like invisible spirits; Like as Elias in heaven, when he cast from off him his mantle, So cast off the soul its garment of earth, and with one voice, Chimed in the congregation, and sang _an anthem immortal Of the sublime Wallin, of David's Harp in the North-land_."
For thirty-one years, Wallin occupied a place, prouder, in many respects, than the Swedish throne itself,--recognized and honored by his countrymen as their greatest scholar, their greatest preacher, and one of their greatest poets. In June, 1839, in his sixtieth year, the angel of death, of whom he had written so well, approached him with his sad summons; and, amid the regrets and sorrows of a whole nation, his lofty spirit took its flight to those purer regions, in which, in imagination, it already long had dwelt. He was buried in the new cemetery in Stockholm, which he himself had consecrated; and his grave is adorned with a large and appropriate monument.
At the first anniversary meeting of the Swedish Academy, after his death, Bishop Tegner read a memorial poem highly eulogistic of the deceased, and which ended as follows:
"And, tire, as it speeds along,?The lightly flying Swedish song;?Then let its weary wings be rested,?Against thy grave--and soar anew?To starry realms again, to you,?With prestige by the Learned Circle vested,?Thou bard like few! Prime speaker uncontested!"[E]
[Footnote A: The Swedish Academy is composed of eighteen men, selected from among the most learned and literary men of the country, and is the highest tribunal to pass upon the merits of poetical essays and works of literature in general; and the very fact, that a person has been awarded a prize by this Academy, is alone sufficient to insure for him an imperishable name in the annals of Swedish literature.]
[Footnote B:
"Du v?ktare i skyn! ?r natten ?nnu l?ng??Vi tro ej stjernans ljus, ej m?nans stilla g?ng?Vi trodde upp? dig. S? upplys jordens sl?gten!??r natten ?nnu l?ng? Och kommer morgonv?kten?"?]
[Footnote C: His great popularity with the masses naturally caused them to apply to him for all sorts of information and advice, with full confidence that he knew how to assist and advise in all matters. As an example of his oft peculiar way of treating queer questions, and yet satisfying the questioner, the following may be related: For about twenty years a number of writs and fore-tellings had frightened credulous people with the prediction that the world would perish on a certain given date. As the time drew near that date Wallin was besieged for information as to the validity of the said prediction. To the constantly repeated question, "Is it true, Bishop, that the world shall perish on Thursday?" Wallin had always the same answer: "Please call again on Friday, and I will let you know." The questioner withdrew consoled.]
[Footnote D: Wallin not only revised completely the old hymn-book of the church, but composed a very large number of the divinely beautiful and universally celebrated songs, of which the present Swedish hymn-book is composed.]
[Footnote E: The literal translation of the last two lines (impossible to retain while maintaining the original meter) is:
Thou first voice in the Literary Circle!?Thou poet as few! Thou orator as none!?]
ANGEL OF DEATH.
[Illustration]
Ye children, Adam's, of earth begotten,?Who unto earth shall again return!?You are my own: Be it not forgotten,?I am the penalty sin did earn!...
O man, time's guest!?With my grasp, I reach thee,?From east to west,?And by voices, teach thee?With scripture's word in the Master's name,?From air and water and earth and flame.
You build and dwell like the sparrows, building,?In sunny summer, their fragile nest:?Securely feeling, in shady shielding,?They sing so joyful in happy rest;
But sudden gust?Of the tempest shatters?The tiny crust?Of their nest in tatters--?The merry song, heard so short before,?With grief is silenced forevermore.
Like pigeons, cooing in