g back to see the new arrivals,
and return the greetings of friends from other villages. Suddenly the
organ swelled in a rich peal of music, and the old pastor entered,
followed by the youthful stranger. There was no time to scrutinize the
features of the latter ere he knelt and concealed his face, yet there
was something in the jetty curls that rested upon his snowy surplice,
as his head laid within his folded hands that looked familiar, and
Clara involuntarily grasped my hand. As he arose and opened the
prayer-book to turn to the services of the evening, he took a
momentary survey of the congregation. That glance was enough to tell
us that the stranger was Philip Sidney. As his eye met Clara's, a
crimson flush spread over his pale face, his dark eye glowed, and his
hand trembled slightly as he turned over the leaves. It was but a
moment ere he was calm and self-possessed again, and when he commenced
reading the services his voice was clear and rich. The deepest silence
pervaded the assembly, save when the responses rose from every part of
the house. Then the organ peals, and the sweet voices of the choir
joined in the anthems, and again all was still. The charm of eloquence
is universally acknowledged, and the statesman, the warrior, and
votary of science have all wielded it as a weapon of might, but we can
never feel its irresistible power so fully as when listening to its
richness from the pulpit. The perfect wisdom of holy writ, the majesty
of thought, and purity of sentiment it inspires, will elevate the mind
of the hearer above surrounding objects, and when to this power is
added beauty of language and a musical voice, the spell is deeper.
Such was the charm that held all in silent attention while Philip
Sidney spoke. The scene was one which would tend to fix the mind on
the event it was designed to commemorate, and the sweet music of his
words might remind one of the angel's song proclaiming "Glory to God
in the highest, on earth peace and good-will to men." Richer seemed
its melody, and more beautiful his language, as he dwelt upon the love
and mercy of the Redeemer's mission, and the hope of everlasting life
it brought to the perishing. He led them back to the hour when moral
darkness enshrouded the world, and mankind were doomed to perish under
the frown of an offended God. There was but one ray to cheer the
gloom, the prophetic promise of the Messiah who should come to redeem
the world. To this they looked, a