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312
LETTERS OF LIFE.

their own equipage, and run the risk of exhausting their favorite horses, being able to proceed either slowly or rapidly as they chose, having opportunity to examine the beauties of nature or curiosities of art, and lingering as long as they desired in any interesting locality. Much varied scenery we saw, to furnish vivid pictures for memory.

But the crown of all was Niagara. Who can describe it? If he should attempt, he will be either smothered with emotion or silenced by shame. It is as the voice of Him who "poured it from His hollow hand." Its perpetual warning is, "Hence, ye profane!"

In the album of our hotel, where we were requested to write our names, I left the following lines, extemporaneous and inadequate, yet irresistibly prompted:


Flow on forever, in thy glorious robe
Of terror and of beauty.
Yea, flow on,
Unfathom'd and resistless. God hath set
His rainbow on thy forehead, and the cloud
Mantled around thy feet. And He doth give
Thy voice of thunder power to speak His name
Eternally, bidding the lip of man
Keep silence, and upon thy rocky altar pour
Incense of awe-struck praise.


Through the kindness of these disinterested friends, to whom I was indebted for this delightful excursion,