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than earth's babblers can occupy. Wrapped up in their brooding silence is somewhat of the great primal thought of the universe, starting at their birth on its pilgrimage through life, and never deserting them, nor becoming contaminated by contact with the world. We would fain search deeper into the mystery of their being, and learn from them, if possible, the clue to that life-path from which we have so far strayed. We would dive into the under-current of their thought, and seek what pearls are hidden there. But no idle hand may withdraw the veil which separates us. They are oracles, revealing only to the elect.

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VOL. XXX.

Is this the realm of silence? Are these rocks
Th' unechoing haunts of solitude? So near
The populous and ever-sounding streets,
That their deep mighty anthem almost rolls
Its farthest murmurings to these shores; yet all
Is with the grand rude seal of Nature stamped,
And hushed in breathlessness of deep repose.
Upon the mountain-sides, beyond the sheet
Of waveless loveliness before my eye,
From 'mid the trees peeps out one lonely hut;
Perchance the axeman's, whose loud-sounding steel
Alone the echoes woke, and scared the birds
That stalked along the pebbly beach. No more
The smoke curls from its roof; but mountain-gusts,
When crashing storms their summits darkly crown,
Rattle its mossy doors, and play wild sports
With the oak-bucket near. How still the lake!
The fisher's rods bestrew the shore, but none
Stray here to-day to tempt the spottled trout,
Which holds in glassy caves his silent courts.
The deepening dyes of purple, rich and bright,
On the wild vines, with berries bowed, now win
Of peasant boys and girls the steps.

This hush,

This beauteous trance of nature, seems t' invite

The mind to meditative moods; the air,

Misty and shadowy of the land of dreams,

Seems breathing on my brow; bright earth, farewell!

The visionary world a sweet low call

Is whispering to my soul; and sinking here,

Beneath the pine's deep shade, I yield to dreams:

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42

I.

List! what soft delicious music
Floats upon the charmed air;
Blandly, as from beds of roses,
Steal the gentle winds that bear

II.

Their pure sacrifice of sweetness
Slowly toward the holy skies;
That rich burst from out the gardens
Of the queen of visions flies.

III.

There amid the brilliant poppies
And, in crowds, somnific flowers,
Couches woo to rest and slumber,
Shadowed by enchanting bowers.

IV.

Soaring in the placid moonlight,
Hushed like beauty in a dream,
Lo! the vision-queen's fair palace
Flashes in the silvery beam.

All who tread her holy chambers,
To oblivion sweet dispose
Every tinge of mortal sorrow,
All their deep regrets and woes.

VI.

O'er her throne in golden lightnings
Characters are written broad,
Telling all who see their radiance
That her power is willed of GOD:

VII.

Therefore in more blessed triumph
Than the moon in starry skies,
She at night serenely reigneth,
And before her, sorrow flies.

VIII.

Lo! into her curtained chambers
One with sad and hollow cheek,
Mourning his departed loved ones,
Moveth tremblingly and weak.

IX.

Charmed by soft and soothing music,
He upon a couch reclines,

Till the enchantment breathing o'er him
On his brow smoothes sorrow's lines.

X.

Now he sees in life-like visions
Beings that in darkness rest,
Smiling like the bridal flowers
On a maiden's plighted breast.

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A MAN is not proud without inheriting some advantage over others, but he may be vain without any advantage or merit, if you give him the credit of it.

GOD is honored in our knowing and receiving what he has done for us, not in our attempts to do the same for ourselves.

Vanity, not malice, is the prevalent reason why men take so little pleasure in the praise and gifts of others.

What is thought of us, or what we think of ourselves, is not so much a proof of what we are, as what we think of Christ, and what we are ready to do for him.

A prevailing curiosity to know things that can be turned to no account, indicates a mind whose improvement has stopped or will soon do so.

There is one punishment of an evil-doer which is seldom considered; it is the misery of being left to suppose others possessed of the same evil dispositions as himself.

It is a mark of a high and pure mind to imagine greatness or goodness where it is not; to deck with loveliness and beauty actions which have no worthy aim.

The ingenuous mind gladly pays tribute to merit, and strengthens itself with the utterance of praise.

We must always be wise in order to prize wisdom.

The sweetest of all life is that which we live in the good of others. Good things have a bond of union which all changes do but tend to disclose and strengthen.

True beauty is that which is fair without striving to appear so. Affectation is but a first fruit of beauty's fall.

The wisdom which is according to GoD, is a learning which requires no letters, and whose teacher is love.

Our faith must be the most rational of our exercises, because it receives nothing but the teaching of the Divine Wisdom.

It is better that one should err and fall by the fault of his steps than of his eyes.

More self-denial and thought are expended to keep up the show of what we have not, than would be required in restricting ourselves to the hardest realities.

Vanity, long indulged, becomes so exacting at last, that it claims all you can do, and is never thankful for any service.

Pride is the dainty occupant of our bosoms, and yet ever feeds on the meanness and infirmity of our kind.

True love of our fellow creatures should hardly attach us to the world, for it will be found that the greater number of those we have

loved most, are gathered into eternity, so that it is but separation from them, we covet, when we would prolong our stay here.

Our greatness is best seen, not in the great things we do or aspire to, but in the great things to which we are called.

No man learns in science or religion without faith; he cannot learn without this as a forefeeling of something to be known.

He that would be wise, should begin and keep on by believing. Pride and indolence make more slaves than oppression.

Real greatness is not greater for the praise of men; it is what it is in spite of them.

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