CHAPTER IV.
A FRIEND FOR NIG.
"Hours of my youth! when nurtured in my breast, To love a stranger, friendship made me blest:-- Friendship, the dear peculiar bond of youth, When every artless bosom throbs with truth; Untaught by worldly wisdom how to feign; And check each impulse with prudential reign; When all we feel our honest souls disclose-- In love to friends, in open hate to foes; No varnished tales the lips of youth repeat, No dear-bought knowledge purchased by deceit." BYRON.
WITH what differing emotions have the denizens of earth awaited the approach of to-day.

Some sufferer has counted the vibrations of the pendulum impatient for its dawn, who, now that it has arrived, is anxious for its close.

The votary of pleasure, conscious of yesterday's void, wishes for power to arrest time's haste till a few more hours of mirth shall be enjoyed.

The unfortunate are yet gazing in vain for goldenedged clouds they fancied would appear in their horizon.

The good man feels that he has accomplished too little for the Master, and sighs that another day must so soon close.