There was no moon, but every star shone with its highest brilliancy, while the galaxy threw its white scarf gracefully across the sky, veiling millions of suns in their own excessive brightness.

I paused several times in my walk, as broader expanses opened between the great elms that gave to our town a sylvan beauty, and repeated, with a rapt feeling of awe and admiration, the opening stanza of a familiar hymn:-- "The spacious firmament on high, With all the blue ethereal sky, And spangled heavens, a shining frame, Their great Original proclaim." How the beauty and grandeur of nature move the heart, as if it recognized something of its own in every changing aspect.

The sun and moon and stars--the grand old mountains lifting themselves upwards into serene heights--the limitless expanse of ocean, girdling the whole earth--rivers, valleys, and plains--trees, flowers, the infinite forms of life--to all the soul gives some response, as if they were akin.
I half forgot my interest in old Mrs.Allen, as my heart beat responsive to the pulsings of nature, and my thoughts flew upwards and away as on the wings of eagles.

But my faithful feet had borne me steadily onwards, and I was at the gate opening to the grounds of the Allen House, before I was conscious of having passed over half the distance that lay between that and my home.

I looked up, and saw a light in the north-west chamber, but the curtains were down.
On entering the house, I was shown by the servant who admitted me, into the small office or reception room opening from the hall.