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each of these inspired men. Truly does the excellent Bishop Horne declare, in the opinion you have just kindly read to me, that, in this instance of the father of the faithful, as in a common centre, are the doctrines of both apostles met."

Just at this moment the bell rung in the sick man's room; and as Mrs. Stately had nursed her husband with a zealous affection during the whole of his illness; scarcely allowing any one to attend upon him, in participation of her tender cares; she immediately rose from her chair, and extending her hand to Mr. Gracelove, with the expression of many thanks for the edifying and most satisfactory explanation he had afforded her, left the apartment.

The latter, shortly afterwards, mounted his horse, which he had ordered to be in readiness, and enjoyed for a couple of hours, before dinner, the lovely scenery that surrounds Windermere.

A fortnight had, at length, passed away, during which our excellent friend had devoted a portion of each day to those best ministrations of friendship, which consist in reclaiming the heart, and the understanding, from the fatal delusions of spiritual error and infidelity. Think what an act of charity this is! What a momentous task! For a continuance in these delusions involves not merely the well-being of 'threescore years and ten,' but of a period so inconceivably vast, that, if every grain of sand on the sea shore represented a thousand million of ages-when the sands were all gone, and the ages rolled away, the end of ETERNITY would be still as far off as when the first grain began to speed its course! He watched, and conversed, and prayed by the bedside of the penitent magistrate, with an assiduity which nothing but Christian principle could supply. Nor were his exertions unrewarded. Each succeeding day brought him increasing confidence in the happy result that would follow, as he saw the

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faith of the once worldly man grow hourly stronger; his hopes brighter; the charities of his heart more enlarged and pure.

At length, the medical attendants, whose fears for the safety of their patient had been considerably excited during the fortnight which had followed Mr. Gracelove's arrival, announced that the crisis of the disorder had passed away favourably. They informed Mrs. Stately that in the course of another week, if her husband continued to improve, as they now trusted he would, he might safely be removed by easy stages to his own home. Still, though their hopes were much strengthened as to his ultimate recovery, they prepared his wife to expect but a slow progress towards that happy issue; and, that a considerable period would elapse ere their patient regained the original vigour of his constitution.

And, now, the beloved master of Derwent Cottage began to turn his wistful regards towards the dulce domum of his domestic happiness, adorning the shores, and reflected in the transparent waters of that enchanting lake, in the bright bowers of whose banks all his affections centred. For there his heart told him reposed that bright oasis in the desert of lifethe "tellus, et domus, et placens uxor,"-that drop of essential sweetness in the cup of our sorrows that qualifies all

its bitterness.

It was, therefore, finally arranged that Mr. Gracelove should return home on the second morning after the pleasing announce

ment had been made.

her who was, indeed, the

their speedy happy reunion.

He forthwith addressed a letter to wife of his bosom,' to apprise her of

On the day of his departure he dispatched his servant, with the stanhope, to Ambleside; intending himself to proceed thither in a boat from Bowness, along the middle of the lake, in order to enjoy more fully the panoramic beauties of the

magnificent Windermere. Taking, therefore, an affectionate leave of his poor sick friend, and his wife, with a thanksgiving of heart, and the happy confidence of an assured Christian hope in their behalf, which he felt not on his arrival; and followed by the many ejaculated blessings and expressions of gratitude of those he was leaving, he stepped into his boat, and at once launched forth on the bright expanse.

Windermere is the largest of the English lakes; and is sometimes called, from that circumstance, as on account of its general character for grandeur and beauty, the Queen of the lakes.' It extends about twelve miles in length, with a variable breadth of from one mile to nearly two, and a circumference of twenty-six. It lies in a direction almost due north and south; and is bounded, as to a considerable portion of its eastern side, by Westmoreland, while the remainder of that margin, with the whole of the western shore, lies in Lancashire. Windermere, like most of the northern lakes, varies considerably in point of depth. In some places it descends to a profundity of two hundred and twenty feet. This, however, is the exception; as the general measure from the surface to the bed of the lake, and that also along the middle of it, does not exceed ninety feet; and in various places does not extend beyond five fathoms.

Its waters, beautifully transparent as they are, abound with fish of the finest quality; especially char, trout, pike, and perch; while, floating on its shining stream, is often beheld the stately swan, with other species of wild fowl, as teal, widgeons, ducks, and geese.

The characteristics of this noble lake vary considerably as the tourist approaches either of its extremities. The one to the north, in the vicinity of Low Wood Inn, and Ambleside, displays a gorgeous array of mountains which can scarcely be surpassed anywhere in their impressive grandeur; casting their

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