CHAP. VI.

"Oh, happiness! A beauteous thing, methinks,
To th' inexperienced eye, or seen from far;
But fading on the view that nearer marks
Thy form, and by the touch dissolved: as fair,
But transient, as the cloud upon the breast
Of dawn, or as the early dew, that feels
The sun, and vanishes away."

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WE are now arrived at that period in the history of the du Blesne family, which is, as it were, the eminence, from which we look back, and behold the residents of the glen, peaceful and happy, unmolested by tumults without, or agitations within, advancing to maturity with various expectations, united in affection and interests, and mutually delighted with each other, and the employments of their retreat : or from whence we may take a prospective view, and survey the lamentable changes, which the

lapse of a few years introduced among them. Such is the vicissitude attendant on this ever-fluctuating state of existence !

In this picture of humanity there is something peculiarly affecting. Let us return to a time to which memory will easily conduct us. Many families of those we Joved, and with whom we have passed, perhaps, some of the sweetest hours of infancy, childhood, and youth, are in the enjoyment of health and affluence, and surrounded by every temporal blessing. Then, let us cast our eye forward, and what do we behold? The scene, that charmed us, transformed into a desert, and all its pleasant places' into solitude and decay! The members of the once-endeared society are scattered to the ends of the earth. Casualties, which no human foresight could prevent, have reduced some to poverty; while misconduct has brought others to misery and shame. In the touching language of scripture, their mountains and their heritage are laid waste for the dragons of the wilderness.' Death, too, has entered into their habitation: and,

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now, many of them are laid there, where 'there is neither device nor knowledge'where all their thoughts have perished'— and their projects and anticipations have been alike buried in oblivion for ever!

But, in such a retrospect, is there not much to edify, and improve? If the voice of Inspiration—and by the lips of one, who had himself made trial of all that the world can impart of happiness-has pronounced it' better to go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting,' surely we may find it not unprofitable, to visit the desolated sanctuary of other years! Here, we shall be led, if not callous to every feeling that would connect us with the monientous de cisions of that tribunal, whither our friends and kindred have been summoned to render up their account, to reflect on what awaits ourselves. In the seriousness there induced, our ways will be called to remembrance.' The still small whisper of conscience, heard through the silence, will warn us to be wise, and consider this'-to ponder, and, while we ponder, prepare for, that hour of

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retribution, which is approaching fast as the untiring wings of time can bear it, and which will, in all the solemnity of its tremendous importance, most infallibly overtake us at the last!

"The pride of wisdom, and the pomp of power,
And all that beauty, all that wealth, e'er gave,
Await, alike, th' inevitable hour-

The paths of glory lead but to the grave!”

'How little do we know what a day may bring forth!' Over our fairest prospects, and the most fondly-cherished of our hopes, there is oftentimes, gathering unperceived, a cloud, destined to break with sudden and unexpected fury, and change the smiling scene into a land of sorrow and dreariness. Happy, happy is it for the christian, that he has a Refuge to flee to, a Rock to cling to, amidst all the storms and billows of life, whose foundations are immoveable! Το him, light ariseth in the darkness.' Confident that afflictions proceed from the hand of an Almighty Father, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning,' at once the sign and seal of his adoption into

the heavenly family, even from the deepest glooms of doubt and dejection which encompass him, he derives a sweet consolation. 6 For his good all things are working together;' and there is a living witness within him,' which directs his eyes to that morning whose sun shall not go down, or be obscured, for ever, when his apprehensions will be finally dissipated, and when his soul, how disquieted soever in this his hour of temptation, will be tranquillized in the full fruition of everlasting beatitude. He bears the cross for a moment-the crown will be worn through eternity.

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Similar to these, were the sentiments which influenced Albert and his partner. Not elated in prosperity, they accepted the proffered boon, and used it to the Divine glory in adversity, not desponding, they turned to the strong hold,' waiting His leisure' whose word was pledged on their behalf. But, while they hailed the gleam of comfort, which a gracious God now permitted for a season to assuage their parental solicitude, and which gave promise of cheer