by the whole village; and I
will frankly own, I felt for you the most hearty contempt. Now, every
one mentions you with interest and commendation; and you have gained the
unfeigned love of Josiah and myself. Such a change in your favour should
raise, not depress your spirits."

"I am perfectly sensible of your goodness, my kind friends," returned
George, "and feel that gratitude towards you which no words can express.
To-morrow I may feel in better spirits; but I cannot conquer the
depression that clouds my mind to-night. But I see Josiah is going to
read something else to us."

"It is a paraphrase on the twenty-ninth psalm," said Josiah; "and,
though the author has failed in conveying the awful grandeur of the
original, I think the verses will please my friends:--

"Ye sons of the mighty, a sacrifice bring
To the footstool of power, and your thanksgivings raise;
For the Lord is your strength, your Creator, and King,
Who demands from his children the tribute of praise.

"Yea, the voice of our God, in its fury, controls
And stills the wild waves of the tempest-swoll'n deep;
When borne on the thunder as slowly it rolls,
We hear midst its terrors Omnipotence speak.

"The voice of our God is a glorious sound:
When it moves on the waters, or speaks through the storm,
The cedars of Lebanus bend to the ground,
And the mountains and hills from their fabric are torn.

"The voice of the Lord, in his wrath, can divide
The red rushing flames, and their fury awake;
When forth on the wings of destruction they ride,
And beneath them the powers of the wilderness shake.

"Yea, the voice of our God is mighty in power
On his bounty the wild tribes of nature depend:
The hind rears her young in the green forest bower;
From his altars the prayers of his children ascend.

"The voice of the Lord, in his glory, shall bring
To his people the fulness and blessings of peace;
The Lord o'er the water-flood reigneth a King,
And his portion, eternity, never shall cease."

Josiah had scarcely concluded the psalm, when Mrs. Shirley came to fetch
the young people from staying out longer in the night air; and Henry,
bidding Josiah good night, and shaking George heartily by the hand,
hoping to see him in better health and spirits the next day, took his
leave.

The sun was scarcely up the following morning, when George tappe