His countenance was calm and benevolent; it bore no traces of passion; care had not marked it; there was a holy serenity in its expression, which seemed a token of that inward "peace which passeth all understanding." "And this is thy friend, Eleonora ?" said the stranger, as he offered his hand to Ernest.

"I hear," he said, addressing the latter, "thou hast been a hard student and a lover of philosophy." "I am but a humble inquirer after Truth," replied Ernest.
"From whence hast thou sought it ?" "From the sacred volume, from the lore of the old fathers, from the fountains of philosophy, and from my own brief experience of human life." "And hast thou attained thy object ?" "Alas, no!" replied the student; "I have thus far toiled in vain." "Ah! thus must the children of this world ever toil, wearily, wearily, but in vain.

We grasp at shadows, we grapple with the fashionless air, we walk in the blindness of our own vain imaginations, we compass heaven and earth for our objects, and marvel that we find them not.

The truth which is of God, the crown of wisdom, the pearl of exceeding price, demands not this vain-glorious research; easily to be entreated, it lieth within the reach of all.

The eye of the humblest spirit may discern it.