ate himself out of present
difficulties, my father was totally regardless of futurity. I took down
with me some presents for my step-mother; it did not require an effort
for me to treat her with civility, or to forget the past.

"This was the first time I had visited my native village, since my
marriage. But with what different emotions did I return from the busy
world, with a heavy weight of experience benumbing my imagination, to
scenes, that whispered recollections of joy and hope most eloquently to
my heart! The first scent of the wild flowers from the heath, thrilled
through my veins, awakening every sense to pleasure. The icy hand
of despair seemed to be removed from my bosom; and--forgetting my
husband--the nurtured visions of a romantic mind, bursting on me with
all their original wildness and gay exuberance, were again hailed as
sweet realities. I forgot, with equal facility, that I ever felt sorrow,
or knew care in the country; while a transient rainbow stole athwart
the cloudy sky of despondency. The picturesque form of several favourite
trees, and the porches of rude cottages, with their smiling hedges, were
recognized with the gladsome playfulness of childish vivacity. I could
have kissed the chickens that pecked on the common; and longed to pat
the cows, and frolic with the dogs that sported on it. I gazed with
delight on the windmill, and thought it lucky that it should be in
motion, at the moment I passed by; and entering the dear green lane,
which led directly to the village, the sound of the well-known rookery
gave that sentimental tinge to the varying sensations of my active soul,
which only served to heighten the lustre of the luxuriant scenery. But,
spying, as I advanced, the spire, peeping over the withered tops of the
aged elms that composed the rookery, my thoughts flew immediately to
the churchyard, and tears of affection, such was the effect of my
imagination, bedewed my mother's grave! Sorrow gave place to devotional
feelings. I wandered through the church in fancy, as I used sometimes
to do on a Saturday evening. I recollected with what fervour I addressed
the God of my youth: and once more with rapturous love looked above
my sorrows to the Father of nature. I pause--feeling forcibly all the
emotions I am describing; and (reminded, as I register my sorrows, of
the sublime calm I have felt, when in some tremendous solitude, my soul
rested on itself, and seemed to fill the universe) I insensibly