of undulations, like the waves of the sea;
and, bending to the south, completed the boundary of the larger valley
before described, to the southward of the hill on which I sat. In many
instances the hills were cultivated with corn to their very summits, and
seemed to defy the inclemency of the weather, which, at these heights,
usually renders the ground incapable of bringing forth and ripening the
crops of grain. One hill alone, the highest in elevation, and about ten
miles to the south-westward, was enveloped in a cloud, which just
permitted a dim and hazy sight of a signal-post, a light-house, and an
ancient chantry, built on its summit.

Amidst these numerous specimens of delightful scenery I found a mount for
contemplation, and here I indulged it. "How much of the natural beauties
of Paradise still remain in the world, although its spiritual character
has been so awfully defaced by sin! But when divine grace renews the
heart of the fallen sinner, Paradise is regained, and much of its beauty
restored to the soul. As this prospect is compounded of hill and dale,
land and sea, woods and plains, all sweetly blended together, and
relieving each other in the landscape; so do the gracious dispositions
wrought in the soul produce a beauty and harmony of scene to which it was
before a stranger."

I looked towards the village in the plain below, where the Dairyman's
younger daughter was buried. I retraced the simple solemnities of the
funeral. I connected the principles and conduct of her sister with the
present probably happy state of her soul in the world of spirits, and was
greatly impressed with a sense of the importance of family influence as a
means of grace. "That young woman," I thought, "has been the conductor
of not only a sister, but perhaps a father and mother also, to the true
knowledge of God, and may, by the divine blessing, become so to others.
It is a glorious occupation to win souls to Christ, and guide them out of
Egyptian bondage through the wilderness into the promised Canaan. Happy
are the families who are walking hand in hand together, as pilgrims,
towards the heavenly country. May the number of such be daily
increased?"

Casting my eye over the numerous dwellings in the vales on my right and
left, I could not help thinking, "How many of their inhabitants are
ignorant of the ways of God, and strangers to his grace! May this
thought stimulate to activity and diligence in the cause of immort