its inmates! How blessed, to pass one's life there, disencumbered of those restraints, those idle shows and vain exhibitions, affording delight to the worldling in his search to dissipate time, and lash the lingering hours into speed!"
Glowing as was the picture his fervent fancy was disposed to draw, yet some shades darkened the outline, when he considered that he placed the subject in a point of view only in harmony with his then existing feelings; his thoughts ran solely upon those enjoyments of retired life, when each sex, mutually participating in them, unite in common concord and association with the other. Precluded from such delightful intercourse, he wandered alone over the lovely country which lay before him, but which, however richly diversified, could afford no real charm for him. A life of continual industry might help to dispel the langour of ennui; but could it chase from the mind the image of joys entombed,—joys the highest that the human soul is capable of conceiving, adequate alone to give relish and stimulus to our wisest projects and pursuits? It is the voice of Nature and of Heaven, that nought can stifle but those morbid affections springing from the world, its allurements, and corruptions!
"Those amiable sisters!" again thought he,
