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looked into it, I could not help feeling how any one of our body-snatchers would have rubbed his rough hands, and what rude raptures he would have enjoyed, at observing that the lid. of the coffin would be deposited scarcely a foot and a half below the sod.

However, in the little duchy of Nassau, human cerpses have not yet become coin current in the realm; and whatever may be a man's troubles during his life, at Langen Schwalbach he may truly say, he will, at least, find rest in the grave.

I know it is very wrong-I know that one is always blamed for bringing before the minds of wealthy people any truth which is at all disagreeable to them; yet on the brink of this grave, I could not help feeling how very much one ought to detest the polite Paris and London fashion of smartening up us old people with the teeth and hair of the dead! It always seems to me so unfair, for us who have had our day-who have ourselves. been young-to attempt, when we grow old, to deprive the rising generation of the advantage of that contrast, which so naturally enhances their beauties. The spring of life, to be justly appreciated, and admired, requires to be compared with the snow and storms of winter, and if, by chicanery, you hide the latter, the sunshine of the former loses a great portion of its beauty. In naked savage life, there exists no picture on which I have so repeatedly gazed with calm pleasure, as that of the daughter supporting the trembling, dilapidated fabric of the being to whom she owes her birth; indeed, it is as impossible for man to withhold the respect and pity which is due to age, whenever it is seen laboring under its real infirmities, as it is for him to contain his admiration of the natural loveliness of youth.

The parent and child thus contrasted, render to each other services of which both appear to be insensible; for the mother does not seem aware, how the shattered outlines of her faded frame heighten the robust, blooming beauties of her child, who, in her turn, seems equally unconscious how beautifully and eloquently her figure explains and pleads for the helpless decrepitude of age! In the babel confusion of our fashionable world, this beautifully arranged contrast of nature, the effect of which no one who has ever seen it can forget, does not exist. Before the hair has grown really grey-before time has imparted to it even its autumnal tint, it is artfully replaced by dark flowing locks, obtained by every revolting contrivance. The grave itself is attacked-our living dowagers of the present day, do not hesitate to borrow their youthful ornaments even from the

dead and to such a horrid extreme has fashion encouraged this unnatural propensity, that even the carcass of the soldier, who has fallen in a foreign land, and who,

leaving in battle no blot on his name,

Looks proudly to Heaven from the death-bed of fame

has not been respected! One would think that the ribands and honors on his breast, flapping in the wind, would have scared even the vulture from such prey; but no! the orders which the London dentist has received must, he pleads, be punctually executed; and it is a revolting fact, but too well known to "the trade" that many, and many, and many a set of teeth, which bit the dust at Waterloo, by an untimely resurrection, appeared again on earth, smiling lasciviously at Almack's ball! So much for what is termed FASHION.

After rambling about the church-yard for some minutes, occasionally spelling at an inscription, and sometimes looking at (not picking) a sepulchral flower, I walked to the church door, and turning round its old fashioned key, which, ever since I had received it, had been dangling in my hand, the lock started back, and then, as if I had said "Open Sesame!" the door opened.

On looking before me, my first impression was, that my head was swimming! for the old gallery, hanging like the gardens of Babylon, seemed to be wreathing; the four-and-twenty pews were leaning sideways; the aisle, or approach to the altar, covered with heaps of rubbish, was an undulating line, and an immense sepulchral flag-stone, had actually been lifted up at one side, as if the corpse finding the church deserted, had resolutely burst from his grave,. and had wrenched himself once again into day-light. The pulpit was out of its perpendicular; some pictures, loosely hanging against the wall, had turned away their faces; and a couple of planks were resting diagonally against the altar, as if they had fallen from the roof. I really rubbed my eyes, fancying they were disordered; however, the confusion I witnessed was real, and as nearly as possible as I have described it. Still, however, there was no dampness in the church, and it was, I thought, a remarkable proof of the dryness of the light mountain air of Langen Schwalbach, that the sepulchral wreaths of artificial flowers, which were hanging around on the walls, were as starched and stiff, as on the day they were placed there.

A piece of dingy black cloth, with narrow white fringe, was the only ornament to the pulpit, from which both book and

minister had so long departed. The thing was altogether on the totter; yet, when I reflected what little harm it had done in the world, and how much good, I could not help acknolwedging, that respect was justly due to its old age, and that even by the stranger, it ought to be regarded with sentiments of veneration. In gazing at monuments of antiquity, one of the most natural pleasures which the mind enjoys, is being by them fancifully transported to the scenes which they so clearly commemorate. The Roman amphitheatre becomes filled with gladiators and spectators; the streets of Pompeii are seen again thronged with people; the Grecian temple is ornamented with the votive trophies of heroes and of senators; even the putrid marsh of Marathon teems with noble recollections; while at home on the battlements of our old English castles, we easily figure to ourselves, barons proud of their deeds, and vassals in armor, faithfully devoted to their service: in short, while beholding such scenes, the heart glows, until by its feverish heat, feelings are produced, to which no one can be completely insensible. However, when we awaken from this delightful dream, it is difficult, indeed impossible, to drive away the painful moral, which, sooner or later in the day, proves to us much too clearly, that these ruins have outlived, and in fact commemorate, the errors, the passions, and the prejudices, which caused them to be built.

But after looking up at the plain, unassuming pulpit of an old Lutheran church, one feels, long after one has left it, that all that has proceeded from its simple desk has been to promulgate peace, good-will, and happiness among mankind ---and though, in its old age, it be now deserted, yet no one can deny, that the seeds which in various directions it has scattered before the wind, are not only vigorously flourishing in the little valley in which it stands, but must continue there and elsewhere to produce effects, which time itself can scarcely annihilate.

Turning towards the altar, I was looking at pictures of the twelve Apostles, who, like sentinels at their posts, were in various attitudes surrounding it, when à propos to nothing, the great clock in the belfry struck four, and so little did I expect to hear any noise at all, that I could not help starting at being thus suddenly reminded, that the watch was still ticking in the fob of the dead soldier in short, that the clock was still faithfully pointing out the progress of time, though the church to which it belonged, had already, practically speaking, terminated its existence ! Never before did I listen to four vibrations of an old church clock, with more reverential attention; however, at 38

VOL. I.

1

each stroke, involuntarily looking upwards, I did not altogether enjoy the sight of some loose rafters, which were hanging over my head. I therefore very quietly moved onwards, yet, passing a small door, I could not resist clambering up an old wall staircase which led to the belfry; not, however, until I had calculated that, as the building could bear the bells, my weight was not likely to turn the scale. I did not, however, feel disposed to reach the bells, but managed through a rent in the wall, to look down on the roof, and such a scene of devastation it would be difficult to describe.

The half mouldered slates had not only been ripped away by the wind in every direction, but the remainder appeared as if they were just ready to follow in their flight. The roof was bending in, and altogether it looked so completely on the totter, that the slightest additional weight, would have brought everything to the ground. After descending, I went once more round the church, opened some of the old latticed pews-peeped into the marble font, which was half filled with decayed mortar, took up a bird's nest that had fallen into the chancel from the roof, and strolling towards the altar, I found there a small board covered with white pasteboard, and ornamented with a garland of roses. On this simple tablet were inscribed, in black letters, the names of the little band of Langen Schwalbachians, who had been present in the great campaign of 1815; and in case the reader should like to know who were the heroes of so remote a valley, and also what sort of names they possessed, I offer him a copy of the muster-roll of those thus distinguished for having served their native country, which the German language emphatically calls "Vaterland."

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Having carefully locked up the old church, with all the relics it contained, descending the steps of the eminence, on which I stood, I once more found myself in the street among fellowcreatures. The new Protestant church, which is very shortly to be built, and to which the bells of this old one, if possible, are to be removed, will be in the centre of the town, but this site, though more convenient, will not, I think, be so picturesque as that of the old building, which, with the Catholic church at the other extremity of the town, seem to be the Alpha and

Omega the beginning and the end of Langen Schwalbach. From the surrounding hills, as the eye glances from the one of these old buildings to the other, they appear to be the good Genii of the town two guardian angels to watch over the welfare of its people here and hereafter.

"LET US DISMISS OUR MINISTER."

A. Good morning, Br. B. I have come to have a little private conversation with you, and am glad to find you alone.

B. Walk in, Br. A., it always affords me pleasure to converse with you.

A. I have come to talk with you about Mr. D. our Minister. Of late, my mind has been a good deal troubled about him, and I wish to ascertain whether any member of the church feels as I do.

B. I am astonished to hear this, for I thought you were one of his warmest admirers and friends. You and he have been very intimate ever since he was settled, ten years ago.

A. That is true; but I find, of late, that I do not hear him with the pleasure I formerly did. He seems to have changed greatly for the worse.

B. Please to explain, Br. A., for all this perfectly surprises me. I certainly have perceived no such change. Pray tell me, how long have you felt so?

A. Ever since the Evangelist, Mr. C., left us.

You know what a powerful protracted meeting we had for nearly three weeks, and what a rich blessing attended his labors. The whole church was greatly revived, and a large number of sinners converted. But shortly after he went away, the work began to decline; and now we are as dead, and indeed more stupid than ever.

B. And you of course think this declension is all owing to our minister?

A. Certainly. I can't help believing it; for the revival began to decline, as soon as Mr. C. went away. There were very few conversions afterwards-and it is my opinion, if he had remained it would have always continued.

B. Well; what course do you propose, with reference to our pastor?

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