im
before. He led the psalm now with a fervor of spirit and fulness of lung
which had never been heard in the chapel before; nay, he moved both head
and foot to the time, as if he had only to wish it, and he could ascend
at once to heaven. This, indeed, was a victory, this was a moment of
rejoicing--here was the Christian soldier rattling home in his triumphal
chariot, to the sound of the trumpet, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer.

"When the service was over he shook hands with as many of his friends as
he could, exclaiming, 'oh, what a blessed day has this been to me! what
a time of rejoicing; indeed it is good to be tried. Truly the sources of
comfort were opened to my soul on this day more abundantly than I dared
to hope for--I feel my privileges more strongly, and more of the new man
within me--I am sustained and comforted, and feel that it was good for
me to be here this day--I did not hope for this, but it was graciously
granted to me, notwithstanding. How good, how heavenly a thing it is to
be called upon to suffer, especially when we are able to do so in faith
and obedience. May He be praised for all. Amen! Amen!'

"Now, my dear friend, who will say, after all this, that the stage is
the great school for actors? who ever saw on the boards of a theatre a
more finished performance than that of Solomon M'Slime? It so happens
that I am acquainted with the whole circumstances, and, consequently,
can fully appreciate his talents. In the mean time I am paying a visit
of business to M'Clutchy to-morrow, that I may have an opportunity of
a nearer inspection into his character. He is said to be an able, deep,
vindictive, and rapacious man--cowardly, but cruel--treacherous, but
plausible; and without the slightest remorse of conscience to restrain
him from the accomplishment of any purpose, no matter how flagitious.
And, yet, the cure for all this, in the eyes of his own party, is his
boundless loyalty, and his thorough Protestantism. No wonder the church
should be no longer useful or respected when she is supported only by
such Protestants as Valentine M'Clutchy, and his class."

"Thursday.--At a little after ten, I waited upon this, famous agent to
the Castle Cumber property, and found him in his office, looking over an
account-book with his son. He had a bad face--black, heavy, over-hanging
eyebrows, and an upper lip that quivers and gets pale when engaged even
in earnest conversation--his forehead is low, but broad a