Peeped, like the sun from a cloud, from out of the shadowy leaf-work.

Likewise the lustre of brass, new-polished, blinked from the ceiling,

And for lights there were lilies of Pentecost set in the sockets.

Loud rang the bells already; the thronging

crowd was assembled

Far from valleys and hills, to list to the holy

preaching.

Hark! then roll forth at once the mighty tones from the organ,

Hover like voices from God, aloft like invisible

spirits.

Like as Elias in heaven, when he cast off from him his mantle,

Even so cast off the soul its garments of earth;

and with one voice

Chimed in the congregation, and sang an anthem

immortal

Of the sublime Wallin,* of David's harp in the

North-land

Tuned to the choral of Luther; the song on its powerful pinions

Took every living soul, and lifted it gently to heaven,

And

every

face did shine like the Holy One's face upon Tabor.

Lo! there entered then into the church the Rev

erend Teacher.

Father he hight and he was in the parish; a

christianly plainness

Clothed from his head to his feet the old man of seventy winters.

A distinguished pulpit-orator and poet. He is particu larly remarkable for the beauty and sublimity of his psalms.

Friendly was he to behold, and glad as the heralding angel

Walked he among the crowds, but still a contemplative grandeur

Lay on his forehead as clear, as on moss-covered grave-stone a sun-beam.

As in his inspiration (an evening twilight that

faintly

Gleams in the human soul, even now, from tne day of creation)

Th' Artist, the friend of heaven, imagines Saint John when in Patmos,

Gray, with his eyes uplifted to heaven, so seemed then the old man ;

Such was the glance of his eye, and such were his tresses of silver.

All the congregation arose in the pews that were

numbered.

But with a cordial look, to the right and the left

hand, the old man

Nodding all hail and peace, disappeared in the innermost chancel.

Simply and solemnly now proceeded the Christian service,

Singing and prayer, and at last an ardent dis

course from the old man.

Many a moving word and warning, that out of the heart came

Fell like the dew of the morning, like manna on

those in the desert.

Afterwards, when all was finished, the Teacher reëntered the chancel,

Followed therein by the young. On the right hand the boys had their places,

Delicate figures, with close-curling hair and cheeks rosy-blooming.

But on the left-hand of these, there stood the

tremulous lilies,

Tinged with the blushing light of the morning, the diffident maidens,

Folding their hands in prayer, and their eyes cast down on the pavement.

Now came,

with question and answer, the cate

chism. In the beginning

Answered the children with troubled and faltering voice, but the old man's

Glances of kindness encouraged them soon, and the doctrines eternal

Flowed, like the waters of fountains, so clear from lips unpolluted.

Whene'er the answer was closed, and as oft as they named the Redeemer,

Lowly louted the boys, and lowly the maidens all courtesied.

Friendly the Teacher stood, like an angel of light there among them,

And to the children explained he the holy, the highest, in few words,