But the last day of the week comes, and the cars convey us from Concord to White River Junction, where we find a carriage awaiting us, and proceed a few miles farther to a pleasant farm-house situated on the banks of the river Queechy, in Vermont. We worship on the Sabbath in a rural church, which in other years has echoed with the voices of the fathers of our denomination. What a contrast to the busy week, in the busy city, is the holy hush of the Sabbath in this country place. The day seemed truly hallowed. I have often felt that all nature responded to the sacredness of the Sabbath, and was pervaded with the feeling that God had blessed the day and hallowed it. And I have fancied that the sweet incense of praise was borne upward this day from all inanimate creation. There seems such a holy stillness brooding among the trees and flowers, and even in the sunshine. We were up before the sun the next morning, and taking leave of the friend with whom I had passed the week, a halfday's ride brought me once more to the loved group at home, happier, if not better, for the week's absence, and grateful to Him who had kept us from harm and evil. From my mountain's granite basement Stretched a range of wooded hills, Rifted hills and vales were seen, And their verdure waved and glistened It was night. I cried in sorrowNature, thy bright day is o'er; And unsatisfied my spirit, Then a soft and holy brightness Filled the air like shining dew; In the concave deep and dark, Luna, in her silver bark. On the evening's dusky brow. Even the wind was hushed and slept, And my soul's wild passions slumbered, As I gazed and softly wept. Then a voice came through the shining Of the silver fretted air, Like some far-off music saying, "Hast thou found the treasure there?" In surprise, I turned, not thinking What I climbed the mount to get; And the same voice still repeated, "Hast thou found the treasure yet?" Then I turned and looked about meSearched in every hidden spot: In each cleft, beneath the gray moss, Trembled from the vallies dim, And was echoed from the mountains, Like a mourner's whispered hymn. And the same voice said, Poor mortal! Has thy labor been in vain? Has thy soul laid up no treasure, For thy weary toil and pain? Canst thou look upon the wonders Of the blossom-tufted sod; On the green-robed hills and forests, And be brought no nearer God? Canst thou see the golden sunshine Glancing through the crystal air, Or the moonlight's silver sadness, And not call them treasures rare? They are thine, and God is telling Unto thee his boundless love; And thy sou! strive with the night. THITHER-SIDE SKETCHES. of which, (as the sequel will show) prov ed sufficient for our need! To visit Naples without ascending Vesuvius, we felt would be like "the play of Hamlet with Hamlet omitted; thus, it was with light hearts, after waiting impatiently for the rains to cease, while the days of our stay were fast passing, that we were at last fairly launched upon this expedition. At Resina, we left our carriage, and, mounted on horses and donkeys, accompanied by several guides, our party took its way over the zigzag track, (if track it could be called) of broken masses of lava, which covered the surface for miles along before us. Cold and colder blew the wind, down from the snowy peak far overhead, until, chilled through, we were very thankful to accept an extra shawl, profferVesuvius-Partial ascent under difficulties, ed by a gentleman of the party who, for Experiences thereof-Examination of two ex-tunately for us, had one to spare. tinct craters-Peep under ground at Herculaneum Excavations, with some of the results-Living over the sleeping city-A tattered costume-the Neapolitan's indifference to danger from eruptions-Comparison be NO. XIX. tween Vesuvius and Etna. Snow had fallen in considerable quantity upon the top of Vesuvius; this, and the prolonged rain below, had thus far prevented our contemplated ascent; about this time too, the agent whose business it is to furnish a monthly report of the appearance of the volcano, announced the exhalation of unusually pestiferous gases, rendering great caution necessary in approaching the mouth of the crater. (A Russian count but a short time previous, had lost his life by inhaling the deadly fumes, while visiting the top of the volcano.) These symptoms were thought indicative of the near approach of one of those occasional displays in the way of pyrotechnics, with which this mountain fireking is wont to electrify the surrounding region. 1.* Strong in the hope of being able to gain the summit, though told that it would be almost impossible just at this time, on account of the snow, we sat out, fortified with a good stock of courage and over-wraps against the keen air, neither * An eruption soon after occurred, but with less destructive effect than sometimes attends these not uncommon convulsions. As we wound around the steep ascent, the way became more difficult, in some places seeming quite dangerous for anything but the sure feet of the practiced animals who pawed along at a considerable pace, amidst the pushings and vociferations of the guides. Until within less than two years, a tolerable carriage track had been open as far up as "the Hermitage," a lone building, oc cupied by a monk, and, half way up the mountain where strangers were entertained or rather permitted to entertain themselves; but the last serious eruption had overwhelmed the old track for miles. Riding past the dark masses of this stream of lava that had once rolled along in molten fury, and lay piled up just as it was left when congealed by the air, we realized more fully than from anything else that we saw, the terrible power of that agert of destruction, the awful sublimity of this upheaving of nature! After riding in this way for several miles, in the midst of a scene of desolation so complete as scarce to be described; chilled with that biting wind, we gladly dismounted, and prepared for the vigorous task of clambering up the steep ascent, composed of huge masses of scoria, piled higher and higher, in one great mountain waste above us. Desolation upon desolation! how it was heaped up around us—as on we toiled! now lifted from block to block, by the guides, or struggling, slipping, now on our knees, and again breaking through the brittle foot-hold, catching at a mass with our hand, to prevent rolling quite down the steep. As we neared the bed of burning lava, the heat of the surface increased, and we began to feel the baneful influence of the gasses, escaping from beneath. Unfortunately, the wind blew it directly in our faces, so that every other moment we were obliged to turn directly about to catch a breath of fresh air. Nothing could exceed the look of blank desolation that reigned over this region! All prospect from this point being cut off by the huge masses of scoria, looming up on every side. It seemed like the terrible environment of a nightmare, where one is driven on by some unconquerable power, farther and farther over frightful heights, to be at last surrounded by inaccessible barriers from which escape is impossible. As the heat continued to increase, the fumes from below became unbearable; in vain we turned about to get a supply of fresh air, to sustain our lungs, in an approach to the object of our visit; at last, when within a few yards, as it were, of the fiery stream, whose brilliance we had nightly witnessed from our window, we were reluctantly compelled to abandon the undertaking, notwithstanding the cheering words and help of our companion, and his disappointment that we could not enjoy a sight of this wondrous fire-king together. The vapor had the appearance and smell of a lucifer match, partially extinguished, most injurious to our lungs, which felt the ill effects of it, for some time afterward, and which warned us at the time not to incur any farther risk by such inhalation. Descending rapidly, we gained an open space where we had the opportunity of peeping into the mouth of two extinguished craters, and of forming a more correct idea of the appearance and operation of an eruption, than we could otherwise have gained, without ascending to the summit. The last eruption had opened these two craters, the interior shape of which, was like that of an immense cauldron. The depth might have been ten or twelve feet; the surface-opening, the size of a large well; the lining was of deep yellow, like ochre, and at the bottom was the orifice still filled with a stream of what had been molten lava, remaining a pitchy-looking mass, just as it had congealed after the last throe of that convulsion. Presently our party returned, F. bringing his regrets at our inability to witness the wonderful phenomenon, and in his hand a trophy of molten leaves, just taken from the fused mass, and stamped while hot. Deciding that an ascent to the upper crater would be neither practicable or safe, at that time we descended to a more convenient place, and took a lunch, after which, mounting our donkey, we fell in a line with the rest of the party, and made a rapid descent, forming altogether a motly looking cavalcade rather more ludicrous, we must acknowledge, than picturesque to the beholder. Alighting at Resina, we must, in course, take a peep into the lower regions of the buried Herculaneum which, in its way, has proved a most profitable discovery for the modern town so long unconsciously resting over that entombed city. First found accidentally by the workmen of Emmanuele di Lorena, while excavating stone for a house at Portici, in A. D., 1711, it excited great in erest, and the work of disentombment was prosecuted for a time, until prohibited by public authority. It was afterwards renewed under the order of Charles III., in 1738, and carried on at intervals until 1828, since which time nothing further has been permitted, as it is considered dangerous for the town, to undermine in this way. The labor of excavating was immense, as the lava by which the city was overwhelmed, has hardened in the process of time, into great strengthened solidity, so much so, at the time of Lonrer's discovery, that he was quarrying it for building purposes, and in cutting through the masses, his workmen struck upon the room behind the stages of that vast theatre which is now exhibited to the traveller. The result of all the excavations thus made, is the discovery of this theatre, a public forum, measuring 228 feet long, by 132 wide, adorned with 66 columns and statues, and several other buildings. The villa of Aristides, in which were found the celebrated " Faun Inebriated," the "Sleeping Faun," the Dancers," and others. A private house, containing rich mosaics, pictures, and other objects, in a wonderful state of preservation. Two equestrian statues, in bronze, were found in the Theatre, among the other objects of art; also, a colossal statue of Vespasian. Of ancient date, at the beginning of the Christian era, it was occupied successively by Etruscans, Greeks, and Romans. Suffering more or less from eruptions, at different periods, it was at last overwhelmed, A. D., 63. At that time it was a favorite resort of Roman nobility, as well as the other eligible situations near the charming bay of Naples, and contained many splendid villas, occupied by the opulent of those days; all of which (save the few places excavated,) still remain hermeticalÎy sealed in that silent repose of centuries upon centuries! What a strange world of still, "deathin-life," lying there just below the busy world above! The wheels of progress rolling over that sleeping city! Other people countless almost as the sandsfrom age to age, as time has been passing, living, walking, talking, eating, drinking, sleeping, just above the spot, where so long imprisoned without change and decay, the old city still lies, impervious to sight, yet ever near! Strange, passing strange! and yet one of the palpable relations of life, so fraught with intense and half painful interest as it is! A more dilapidated looking individual than the writer, at the end of that excursion, could scarcely have been found among the civilized of her countrywomen! We considered ourself the embodiment both of the "maiden all forlorn, who milked the cow with the crumpled horn," and of the "men all tattered and torn,' the two discriptions appropriate to our condition by the simple change of gender in the last named ! gloves, with which we had saved several falls in clinging to the rough masses on Vesuvius, all indicated the violence of our exertions, and needed only to be shewn as proof positive that we had been pursuing some object "under difficulties," whether that object had been successful or not! It is marvelous to a stranger-the utter indifference to danger shewn by Neapolitans in living so near the scene of these destructive manifestions of volcanic power! Yet, a second thought convinces one that it is, after all, the most natural thing to expect. That constant familiarity with danger, robs it of power to incite fear; and those whose local attachments are strong, gladly return to the spot where they have been used to dwell, as soon as an eruption has once subsided. So long as one strip of this most fertile soil still remains, doubtless it will be occupied by these fearless children of the south. We could not but reflect that if struck with wonder at the force and size of this volcano, which is 3,500 feet in height, what would we think of Mount Etna, with its altitude of 10,874 feet, towering so much above Vesuvius that the latter would look like a pigmy by the side of a giant, in comparison with it! Of all the lava that has been thrown out from Vesuvius, how small it would look compared with that of Etna, whose main stream measures 5 miles in width, with a course of 15 miles in length! Truly a monster volcano !-but as Vesuvius this day proved quite too much for our strength, not a thought would be permitted to wander out of going to see the greater wonder of the twain ! Lilfreds Rest. M. C. G. Munificent nature follows the methods of the divine and true, and rounds all things to her perfect law. While nations are convulsed with blood and violence, how quietly the grass grows; and God now sees the earth tending constantly in one direction,-growing truer and better, a minim in his universe, driving on its point of melody to swell the chorus of his majestic theme.-Chapin. AGAIN THE ROSES BLOOM. BY DELL A. CAULKINS. Again the roses bloom around Once more the blue-eyed violets Send forth their perfumed breath, While bud and blossom softly sing Their triumph over death. The summer's opening leaves again, O, starry eyes of violets, Would I might meet the beaming glance 0, loving eyes that sleep in night, O, heart that mourns the early lost! But low within its silence deep, CHRISTIAN FORBEARANCE. BY REV. G. 8. WEAVER. us to remember him and his law, if we would live in peaceful, happy homes. Perhaps there is no place into which troubles come more unbidden than into the family circle. When friends come they ring the bell and wait to be ushered in, but vexations come unbidden to our firesides and tables. The evil spirit never waits to ring or knock. He enters with defiant intrusion, into the gorgeous palace and humble tenement, calling every place his own, and usurps authority where angels ought to wait to be invited. And oftenest do. we hear his intruding voice in the petulant answer, the reproving taunt, the harsh rebuke, the impatient complaint, the reproachful tone, the bitter accusation. This fiend of the home lives in embittered feelings, in ruffled tempers, in galled nerves, in irritated bosoms, where he could not stay, if a fair share of forbearance were kept in its place. Thousands of homes lose altogether the character of homes, for want of forbearance. And thousands more are invaded by an evil spirit, and tried and dispirited, when a little more forbearing resolution would have kept the domestic peace unbroken. Probably there are very few homes, if any, that feel not, at times the cold breath of evil, and which do not suffer for the weakness of the forbearing spirit. We are nearly all of us too ready If I were a voice and could speak with to censure; too apt, in spirit, if not in Christian authority in all the homes of act, to find fault with those whom all our Christendom, and had but one word to ut- interests urge us to aid, improve, and ter, I would say " Forbear." If I were make happy. It is not always for want permitted to extend that word to a sen- of love. True lovers will sometimes be tence, I would say, "Forbear one anoth- at variance, if there is not a sustaining er in love," so great do I regard Chris- principle, a fixed fidelity of character, on tian forbearance. It should be the ruling which their love rests. Love alone is but virtue of every home, and hold a steady a doubtful navigator on the sea of life. sway. The family clock should not tick He has so often stranded, that by comout the hours with more constancy than mon consent, he is said to be blind. should forbearance rule us in our homes. Love has its envies and jealousies and irTrue as the voice of steady friendship; ritabilities. It is sometimes spleeny, bilfaithful as the beat of earnest love; lious and morose by turns. Both conjuconstant as the swing of the planets gal and parental love are liable to the should be the sway of the forbear-changes of temper and spirit which come ing spirit within us. We should feel it as and go so often, in ordinary men and wo an angel beating sweet harmonies in our men. Mothers who would give all they Souls; as a Jesus walking upon the sea have, and life itself, to bless their children, of troubles; as the voice of God calling are sometimes hasty and cruel towards |