strains on his rapt senses; and his soul, lifted, inspired by the divine harmony, seemed borne upward, even into the presence of the Holy One. With hands clasped and unconsciously upraised, he heard the strains die away softly upon the ear, but the echoes lingered long among the lofty arches. There was a pause, and not a sound of earth disturbed that hallowed stillness; but, though he saw them not, he felt the presence of angel forms around and above him, moving silently on their silver wings. Again breathed the tones of the organ, and the grand “Te Deum” rose to the “Lord God of Sabaoth;” and that too died away upon the ear, but its heavenly music vibrated long in the listening spirit.
Now from the golden censer a soft and fragrant incense slowly ascends; and with reverential awe he watches it, till, as it higher mounts, the edges of the light and vapoury folds are touched with a silver brightness, as if a glory from on high had lightened them. And on the bosom of the cloud, gracefully reposing, he beholds a form that has no parallel amid the forms of earth. Dimly and indistinctly he sees her, cradled within those misty folds; and slowly the silvery mass descends with its heavenly burden, until it rests above the sacred altar. A holy influence steals over his senses—an unspeakable serenity—a calm like that of Gennesareth, when the voice of the Saviour spoke to the troubled waters. Whence comes the hallowed peace, the sweet repose that pervades his spirit, as, rapt and awe-stricken, he gazes on that benignant face? Ah! could it be impressed for ever on the mirror of his soul, never more would it reflect the blackening cloud,—never more would it be ruffled by the storm-winds of passion, or shadowed by the darkness of despair. Would she but speak to him!—would she but make known her angel mission!—but no, she does but gaze upon him with sweetness, with pity, with benignity. The eyes, so gentle, never for a moment turned from his; and, as bound by a resistless spell, he yielded to the repose which they inspired. He was no longer of the earth: purified by that soft smile from every trace of its corruptions, he basked in the purity of that radiance, and trembled lest a cloud should overshadow it, lest the holy spell
