e dead? Every thing around us is fathered by corruption, battened by
corruption, and into corruption returns at last. Corruption is at once
the womb and grave of Nature, and the very beauty on which we gaze and
hang,--the cloud, and the tree, and the swarming waters,--all are one
vast panorama of death! But it did not always seem to me thus; and even
now I speak with a heated pulse and a dizzy brain. Come, Madeline, let
us change the theme."

And dismissing at once from his language, and perhaps, as he proceeded,
also from his mind, all of its former gloom, except such as might
shade, but not embitter, the natural tenderness of remembrance, Aram now
related, with that vividness of diction, which, though we feel we can
very inadequately convey its effect, characterised his conversation, and
gave something of poetic interest to all he uttered; those reminiscences
which belong to childhood, and which all of us take delight to hear from
the lips of any one we love.

It was while on this theme that the lights which the deepening twilight
had now made necessary, became visible in the Church, streaming afar
through its large oriel window, and brightening the dark firs that
overshadowed the graves around: and just at that moment the organ, (a
gift from a rich rector, and the boast of the neighbouring country,)
stole upon the silence with its swelling and solemn note. There was
something in the strain of this sudden music that was so kindred with
the holy repose of the scene, and which chimed so exactly to the chord
that now vibrated in Aram's mind, that it struck upon him at once with
an irresistible power. He paused abruptly "as if an angel spoke!" that
sound so peculiarly adapted to express sacred and unearthly emotion none
who have ever mourned or sinned can hear, at an unlooked for moment,
without a certain sentiment, that either subdues, or elevates, or awes.
But he,--he was a boy once more!--he was again in the village church of
his native place: his father, with his silver hair, stood again beside
him! there was his mother, pointing to him the holy verse; there
the half arch, half reverent face of his little sister, (she died
young!)--there the upward eye and hushed countenance of the preacher who
had first raised his mind to knowledge, and supplied its food,--all, all
lived, moved, breathed, again before him,--all, as when he was young and
guiltless, and at peace; hope and the future one word!

He bowed his head lower