Prince the pony carry his young master
along the dazzling white roads, shaking his ears and his head from time
to time, as though in wonder at what could have induced his owner to
bring him out so early. Amos had, however, not neglected the poor
animal, but had given him a good feed before starting, having himself
also made such an early meal as the pantry could provide him. So the
two jogged quietly on; and whatever misgivings the young man might have
from time to time, these were more than outweighed by the abiding
conviction that he was on the path of love and duty, and might therefore
expect to be guided and preserved by Him to whom he had committed his
cause. Still, there was something overawing in the solitude of that
early ride. Not a person did he meet as he threaded his way through the
lanes. The moon was some days past the full, and shone with almost
undiminished light on the sparkling crystals of snow. Spikes of hoar-
frost bristled on the branches of the trees, and here and there a long
gaunt group of icicles, dependent from an overhanging rock, gleamed and
flashed in the pale light as he passed along.

And now, when he had accomplished some three miles--which was about half
the distance to the heath--he emerged from a winding road which had led
him through a copse on to high ground, from which he had an almost
panoramic view of the surrounding country. He checked his pony and
looked about him. How exquisitely fair and pure was that landscape, one
vast expanse of spotless white! Not a breath of wind was now stirring,
and, struggling against the moonlight, the first flushes of a winter's
dawn crept up along the far-off eastern sky. Everything spoke of peace
and purity. God's hand had clothed the earth, the trees with a
stainless robe of majestic beauty studded with countless flashing gems.
Man's works were hidden or but dimly seen here and there, with all their
imperfections withdrawn from sight under that snowy veil. And man
himself was absent. An all-absorbing sense of the nearness of God stole
over the young traveller's heart, so deep, so unearthly as to be almost
painful, but, oh, so full of blessedness! What should make him afraid,
with God so near? And then there unfolded themselves to his memory the
words, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy
God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold
thee with the right hand of my righteousness."