Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1858-12-17
MISCELLANEOUS.
An Extract.
THE MIRAGE IN THE DESERT.

There be many that say
s'Who will show US any good 2
Lonp. lift thou up the Lranr OF rnr corSrE-
NANCE upon us
PSALM iy. 6.
But while the number is very great OF
those who have no thought reaching be-
yond the present brief existence. many
more there are among the sons and daush-
tars of Christian parents, who have re-
ceived too much ligh. to liz in comfort
without al )pting some Of the many sub
s,itute. which the deceitfal heart is ever
ready to embrace, IL preference to the
simple rel gion of the cross.
How many there are whose lives are
n,ssei amid scenes OF worldliness and
dissipation, who iiNd IN opiatc for their
conscience in The z,alo-is pursuit Of elo.
quent preachers and their uni.ilin- at
tendance on al! those stitrin, occasions
when Christians assemble to consult up
on the var Gus interests Of the church.
Othc,s, a. fully sharn, in all the fol-
lies and ,anities of the world, and also
crayint that rest for tn, soul which
they know the world cannot give, and
have been tod that religion can procure,
are seeking i, in the outward forms and
ceremonies Of religion. ani in the iepe-
,i,ion Of a solemn and beautiful ritual .
While the heart is novel by the touch
in, music, and the Imagination for the
time pleased anl excited, and sense OF
duty accomplished is experienced, there
is something like satisfaction felt. But
though /, NAV be said of them that they
are N far from the kingdom of heav-
en-. :" still, how far are they from that
cam deep p-a.e which a close and hum
BILE walk with God alone can give
While travelling in foreign lands, how
fascinated nave been. how entirely my
youthful Imagination has been captlva.
ted by those imposing rites AMI ceremo'
nies which there a all that the mass OF
the people know Of the religion OF the
cross
had been strolling one morning at
ter breakfast, in the beautiful gardens o
the Retro" at Madrid, among refresh
ing fountains, and beneath orange and
almond trees, ani was returning to the
Prado. when deserted a friend in the
distance. He quckened his pace when
he perceived me, and after accosting me
with his usual salutation, said that If l
h,i any curiosity to see nun take the
veil, would have an opportunity that
morning.
l started at the idea. il was like reaiiz'
leg a morning dream Of childhood; for
had pictured TO myself something lovely,
somethin, purely beautiful in nun--a
connecting link between beiags OF this
world and the angels oflight, 4 gulleless
maiden bestowins the whole treasury OF
her affections on her Saviour; abandon
ing the joys and the pleasures OF th''
beautiful world for the hope Of brighter
one Of Immortality to come 10 me, at
least then in the early morning OF life.
and ~ ignorant of spiritual religion as
the most benighted Hindoo, there was
romance about convent and its gentle
inmates; and the idea OF seeing nun
take the re;l was deeply fascinating.
We Turned off wAen we reached the
enl OF the Prado into walk bordered
by acacia trees, and at the end o. it the
beautiful convent of "Silesas' rose to
view. 1t is one Of the richest converts
in Span. and being under royal patron
age, none but daughters OF the mobiles OF
the land are permitted to enter it. 1t
lies in the bed of valley, the finely
grouped Quadarama mountains forming
the background, and the avenue sloping
down in front.
Notwithstanding it's proximity to a
la &c city, it is quiet, noiseiess spot
and few SCUM Is enter its massive walls
to remind its inmates Of the world Of
which they scarcely form part.
We mingled with the throng who
were going to witness the ceremony, and
the jest and repartee passed round. and
the laugh as loud and coarse as if we
were going to witness the bloody scenes
of Spanish holyday; but when the
huge door was thrown open, every voice
was hashei, every smile was gone, and