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THE

MONTHLY PACKET

OF

EVENING READINGS

FOR

Members of the English Church.

EDITED BY CHARLOTTE M. YONGE,

AUTHOR OF THE HEIR OF REDCLYFFE.'

NEW SERIES.

VOLUME XXIV.

PARTS CXXXIX. To CXLIV. JULY-DECEMBER, 1877.

LONDON:

MOZLEY AND SMITH, 6, PATERNOSTER ROW.

1877.

LONDON:

R. CLAY, SONS, AND TAYLOR,

BREAD STREET HILL, E.C.

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THE

MONTHLY PACKET.

OF

EVENING READINGS

For Members of the English Church.

JULY, 1877.

SUNRISE AT STONEHENGE.

FEW persons have been in the neighbourhood of Wiltshire without visiting Stonehenge, and most of such visitors are aware that the mysterious group of stones has been found to lie in such a position with regard to the heavenly bodies as precludes the idea of chance in the arrangement of their plan. It was from no disbelief in this that the present writer, with two friends, desired to have practical experience of it, but from a feeling that their knowledge of the fact was quite incompatible with a temporary residence in Salisbury, and an affection for a night's rest. Happily the last item was not strong in any of us, and we watched with satisfaction the sun set, on the evening of the 20th of June, in calm splendour, crossed only by a light cloud, which was almost the first we had seen that day. The prospect of a fine morning could not have been better, and the hours seemed dreary to Two of the party attempted to get

the time when we should start. an hour's sleep, but with little success; and twelve o'clock found us sallying out on our walk. The situation was strange, for as we went out we bade good morning to a friend who was just on his way to bed.

Having successfully procured exit from the close gate, which was shut, we started on our walk. The distance is about nine miles, and the sun was to rise at ten minutes to four, so that we had ample time. But the night was most pleasant, though quite warm, the twilight on the northern horizon moving east gave us light, and all those features which make night beautiful combined to make us feel a superiority to the many thousands at that hour asleep.'

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We took the Devizes road, which is straight and dull, reserving the prettier way through 'the villages' for daylight.

By a quarter to two we reached the 'Druid's Head' inn, almost the first house after Salisbury, and struck across the plain, feeling the track on the grass under us.

VOL. 24.

1

PART 139.

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