Butte record., 1856-02-02

gli-tening under the first rays Of tht
rising sun, like a maiden smiling thro
her tears. Alfus strolled gently thro
the shady thickets on the hillside
The birds, which had but just awokt
from their slumbers, perched in the
hawtlorns, shaking down rosy bios
sens on his bald head; and some
butterflies, still half asleep, flew light
" in the sun to dry their wings.
Alius stopped to gaze on the scene
before him. lie remembered how
beautiful it had seemed when first he
saw it, and with what transport he had
looked forward to ending lis days in
that delightful retreat. For him, poor
child Of the city, accustomed to see
naugut bat dark courts and ombre
walls, these flowers, and trees. and
clear ali, We're beBitcling novelties.
How quickly pa ed tie year Of lis
uoTlciate! Iboe long rambles ia the
Nallyys, and thoze charming diecoye-
rles. Stream murmming through
the corn-hags giades haunted by the
nightingale, egiantine Ioses,w wild straw
be.lies-what joy to light upon them
for the fIst time! 10 meet with
springs from which he had not yet
drunk, and messy banks upon which
he had never yet reclinedl But alas!
these pleasures themselves do not last
long; very soon YOU have trayerscd all
the paths of tue forest, you have heard
the songs Of al the birds, You have
plucl.ed nose-gays Of all the flowers,
and then adieu to the beauties Of the
country Familiarity desccnds Ike
veil between you and creation, and
makes yoa blind and deaf.
And thus it was now with brother
Alfas. Like men whose abuse Of ar
dent pirits has made them cease to
feel their power, he looked with indif-
ference ON spectacle which in his
eyes Lad once been ravishing. V hat
heavenly beauties, then, could occupy
throughout eternity soal which the
wo.ks of God on earth could charm
for the moment only (! Asking him
se'f this que tion, the monk walked on
his eyes fxed Oh the ground, but see
ing nothing, and his ann folded on his
breast. lie descended into the val
ley, crossed the stream, passed through
the woods, and over the hills. The
Tower Of the convent was beginning
already to fade in the distance, and
at length lie stopped. He was on the
verge Of a vast forest, which extended
as far as tie eye cou i reach, like an
ocean Of yeTdure. 4 thou. and meIo-
dious sounds met lis ears from every
side, and an edo ops breeze sigaed
tlIo ch the leaves. After casting an
a tonsAed look upon tie off, ob ca.ltT
which relgncd il tie weed, AllJs en-
tered uitA lie itation, as lf he feared
he were trgading On forbidden groand.
As he advanced, t4e forest became lar
ger; he found trees covered with bios
SONS which exhaled an unknown per-
fume it bad nothing enervating IN it,
like those Of earth, but was, as it
were, Il sort Of moral emanation which
cmbalmcd tie soul. Ii was strenth-
cning and delicious at the same time,
like tie siglt Of a good action, or the
approach Of lover. At length, he
perceived farther on a glade radiant
with d maryelous light. lie sat down
to enjoy tAepyospeot, and then sudden
ly tie song Of a bind over head fell
upon his ear,-somds so sweet as to
defy deception, G ntiel than the fall
Of cars on lake IA Summer, than tao
mulmnr Of tie breeze among weep
ing willow or the iga Of sleeping
infant. All the music Of the air ANA
Garth and water, tie melody Of the
human voice, or Of IN truments, seemed
ccntered in that song. 1t was hardly
a song, but foods Of melody; it was
not language, and yet the voice spoke.
Science, wisdom, and poetry, all were
in It; and in hearing it one acquired
all knowledge.
Alfus listened for a long time, and
with increasing plea ure. At last the
light which ilumined the forest began
to fade, low murmW was heard
amongst the trees, and tie bird was
silent.
Alfus remained for a while motion
less, as if he were awaking from an
enchanted sleep. He at FIRST looked
around in a sort Of stupor, and then
arose. He found his feet benumbed ;
his limbs had lost their agility. 1t was
with difficulty he directed his steps to-
wards the monastery
But the farther he went the greater
was his surprise. The face Of the
whole country seemed changed. Where
be had before seen sprouting shrubs, he
now saw wide-spreading oaks. He
looked for the little wooden bridge by
which he was accus toned to cross the
river. It was gone, and IN its place
was a solid arch of stone. On passing
a hedge on which some women were
| spreading clothes to dry, they stopped