on the autumnal trees, but the moist damps fell slowly and with a mournful murmur upon the unwaving grass. The outline of the morning sun was visible, but it gave forth no lustre: a ring of watery and dark vapour girded the melancholy orb. Far at the entrance of the valley, the wild fern shewed red and faded, and the first march of the deadly Winter was already heralded by that drear and silent desolation which cradles the winds and storms. But amidst this cheerless scene, the distant note of the merry marriage-bell floated by, like the good spirit of the wilderness, and the Student rather paused to hearken to the note than to survey the scene.
"My marriage-bell!" said he, "could I two short years back have ever dreamed of this! my marriage-bell! How fondly used my poor mother, when first she learnt pride for her youngscholar, to predict this day, and blend its festivities with the honour and the wealth her son was to acquire. Alas! can we have no science to count the stars and forebode the black eclipse of
