The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-09-03

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Alas the massive marble of the steps
had cracked; weeds trailed their length
along the ground; the autumn tints dwelt
on the dropping trees; while falling leaves
completed the sad picture of decay creep
ing over the now deserted garden.
Then Eolas head dropped low, for, with
her fresh, young, hopeful feelings, she had
thought to make this place her rest-her
home.
"But l must hence" she sighed
"hence. There is nothing enduring here :"
and she cast sorrowing glance around
her, as again she took her way to lofty
mountain ridge, and rested on the summit
of snow-clad peak "Can these per-
ish 2" and her eye wandered over the mass
i've grandeur of the scene "Can these
mighty giants of the earth crumble be-
meath the almost imperceptible touch of
timer Surely the imperishable dwelleth
here, in these mighty monarchs of the
world y
But voice answered her:
Foolish being, fit type of erring human
wisdom, pause and refect--exercise that
attribute bestowed on thee These rocks,
these massive mountains of gigantic strength
shall crumble into dust before the destroy
ing influence of time-time the mere in
Strument of Him to whom both they and
time, and all things, are subservient. But
even could their colossal grandeur endure
through the long forever, how couldst thou
incorporate myself with them Thou, a
being of light and love, grow into their
cold and stony nature Leave these dead
rocks, and speed thee to the city. Scan
the minds, and thoughts, and hearts of men.
Look to the immaterial for endurance; all
that is material shall perish; the immateri-
al only lasteth to all eternity. Now, on
thy way again"
But the gentle Eola shrank from the
noisy city, and her timid eyes fixed on the
angels face.
Thou wilt be near me, great and Heav-
emily guide" she said" near me, shielding
off harm and danger2"
"Those who would strive for the boon
thou cravest, must enter boldly on their
contest with the world-willing to dare
each danger, cross each shallow of their
tortuous path, meet every threatening per-
il. Canst thou do this 7"
She raised her head in terror at his
words, as her trembling voice uttered the
reply.
Alas !" she cried, [ cannot dare the
| perils thou dost speak of. l am too weak
alone to meet the terrors of the world; but
thou shalt strengthen me- Oh | will
weary thee with mine earnest prayers till
thou dost grant me all the strength need
And again she knelt before the angel; bun
he babe her rise.
Bow not the knee to me-" he said; {" to
such as | am, prayer is not permitted; that
alone is made to One before whom l am
but dust Pray unto Him, ask Him to up
hold thee in thy hour of danger, for to those
'~ho thus pray, His great word is passed
thai rs strength shall be made perfect in
their We, - ess"
And smil> OF glory played round the
angels lips. I N Eola walked along, her
eyes raised to tn heaven of their own col
or, her heart yeal ,ing for the help her
trembling lips refu I'd tocrave.
Entering the CRY s'+'' tagging step,
treading its mazes with timid fear, size
passed through each crowded street and
thoroughfare. Thousands of human beings,
all hasting with speed and bent on some
special purpose, passed before her, jostling
each other in their busy traffic, needless of
all, it seemed, save the passing action of
the moment How her mind groaned for
solitude, reposel Her mind seemed crush
ed by the moving mass of life before her.
Faint and weary, she leant against the
sculptured pillar of a gateway, and her
sad eyes looked round, and asked for SYM
pathy-sought to find one congenial spirit
to her own-but sought in vain; and then
her heart wandered to her good angel
guide. "Great spirit" she cried, " through
whose inexplicable power now stand
here, grant me thy presence-if but for
one moment-thy cheering presence;
leave me not thus alone, in this dread
place, to pine, and droop, and die p But
the angel, though near, still held himself
invisible; and she-poor Eola--even as
she spoke, sank fainting on the hard, un-
feeling earth.
But not unheeded; for at that instant,
forth from that gate came one who gazed
on her as she lay-gazed on her face of
matchless beauty, on her yelled eyes,
closed as in death, on the radiant brow
and ruby lip, the graceful form, and wavy
tresses of the golden hair; and, as he gazed,
he wondered whence should come such
matchless beauty, such rare loneliness;
and then he thought, why was she there
alone-was she then friendless 7 She
should be SO no longer. He would be
friend, and more than friend, to her.
With tender care he raised her from the
ground, and bore her safely into the palace
at whose gate she lay; and as he held her
in his arms, as gently as if she were an in
FAINT. his breath blew on her pallid face, and
warmed it into life again. And then her
blue eyes opened, and, with a start, she
would have dragged herself away, but he
held her closely, and tried to soothe her
with words of kindness, and begged of her