Year: 1869

Nothing but limited and erroneous
views of the life present and to come,
we conceive, can prevent rejecting in
teIligence from taking that true observa-
ton which merges both into one. In
tervals there are, indeed, between separa-
ton and reunion, but how brief at the
longest-how chequered at the best
That is a beautiful sentiment of Goethe,
where he compares our little round OF
being to a summer residence in a water
ing place. f" When we first arrive, we
form friendships with those who have
already spent some time there, and must
soon be gone. The loss is painful but
we connect ourselves with the second
generation of yisitaps, with whom we
spend some time and become daily more
intimate but these also depart, and we
are left alone with a third set who ar
rive just as we are psepared for our de-
parture In this true view of human
life, there is nothing to displace the idea
of earthly communion with those who
are absent 1t Is a curious truth that
when two living friends part, they are as
it were dead to each other, until they
meet again. Letters may be interehang-
ed, but the present of the one is not the
present of the other-and what gloomy
event may not happen between So
that in this respect, to be out of sight
in the estimation of affection, is as il
we're to be out of the world. How little
difference, then, is there between absence
in a world of peril, or transitory contin-
uanee, and death indeed Save only
that absence is probable, and death Is
not. 1t is trite simile, perhaps, that
In this world we are like ships on the
ocean-each striving alone amid the
strife of the clements and in the far
forward distance shadowed before US are
the dim outlines of the land of death
Some reach it soonest; but thither all
are bound-and there, their state Is
fixed, immutable, eternal. No change
comes there, to the dwellers in the land
of the blest, with its waters Of crystal,
beyond the shadow, where the bright
islands of refreshment lie"


No darkness there divides the sway,


'rwlxJ startling dawn and ds zzling day;
But 9Ioriousiy serene


Are the intsTmiDahle plans


One fixed, eternal sunset reigns,


| Ger the wide, silGnt scene.


These two emblems of the progress t.
that gate where, ere they pass, all who
enter must "pay down their symbol o.
mortality express the course and goa
of life. sublunarily considered. Slowly
one after another, the race Of mankind
are passing away there are sad parting'
and sweet remembrances. Let the frs
be viewed as merely separations for ;
season; friendly severance of holies
ties in hope of quick renewal. AboVt
all, oh thou that readest, if thou are ;
mourner, be faithful to the injunction O
the dead. In that diversified book o
Southeys, "The Doctor" be describes
the tranquil pleasures Of bereayed hus
band. They were to keep everything
in the same state as when the wife wa
living. Nothing was to be neglected
that she used to do, or that she woult
have done. The flowers were tended a
carefully as if she were still to enjo,
their fragrance and their beauty ant
the birds who came in the winter 70
crumbs, were fed as duly for her sake
as they formerly were fed by her hands.
| This calm communion Of the presen
and absent becomes religion, hope, fidel
ity enduring tenderness, beyond tn
stern frigidity of time and well ma.
each one Of that retrospective brother
hood, large always in the world, VIII
| have lived and lost the lovely, and have
with theirs, to meet the worlds encouB


tiers, thus greet adoptedly the dear de
parted