iful women and children, proving the
truth of all that has been said of our countrywomen. A blending of all
types were they, as our people are a blending of all nationalities, each
more lovely than the other, and all making up a picture well worth
seeing. I wish I might say as much for the opposite sex. One gentleman,
who wore a red rose always in his button-hole, and turned his back upon
the minister to stare at the women, had a handsome though _blase_ face,
and more than one head above the pews would have been marked anywhere;
but the women and children bore away the palm. The delicate, sensitive
faces which characterize American women, whether the effect of climate,
manner of life, or of the nerves for which we are so celebrated, are
found nowhere else, I am sure.

Besides the Sabbath services a weekly prayer-meeting was held here. They
were singing some sweet familiar hymn as we entered one evening and took
our place among the pilgrims and strangers like ourselves. It was the
last gathering for the winter. Some were off for home, some for a summer
of travel; only a few, with the pastor, were to remain. One followed
another in words of retrospection, and regret at parting, until a pall
settled over the little company--until even we, who had never been there
before, wiped our eyes because of the general dolefulness. A hush and
universal mistiness pervaded the air of the dimly-lighted house; the
assembly seemed about to pass out of existence, Niobe-like. Then up rose
Dr. R., the pastor. I wondered what he could say to add to the gloom;
something like this, perhaps: "Dear people, everybody is off; let us
shut up the church, lock the door, and throw away the key. Receive the
benediction." But no; I wish you might feel the thrill that went through
the little company as his words fell from his lips. I wish I dared
attempt to repeat them. "And now to you who go," he said, at last, "who
take with you something of our hearts, be sure our prayers will follow
you. Keep us in memory; but, above all, keep in memory your church vows.
Make yourselves known as Christians among Christians. And when you have
reached home--the home to which our thoughts have so often turned
together--let this be a lesson. When summer comes and you leave the city
for the country, for the mountains, for the sea-side, take your religion
with you. Search out some struggling little church with a discouraged
pastor,--you'll not look far or long to find such a