PASSING BELL. 263 



own insufficiency, and none but the untractable fool 

 would deceive himself by attempting the deception 

 of others. Be the deductive, then, the best system 

 of increasing moral strength. Johnson's Rambler 

 shews that Johnson was himself a moral man ; but 

 I believe the work has had but a very limited influ- 

 ence with respect to morality in general. Thus much 

 for the value of an acquaintance with real character. 

 Shakspeare has not shewn man as he should be — 

 for our admiration : he has exposed him as he is — - 

 for our instruction. Other poets have amply sup- 

 plied us with ready made sentiments ; but Shakspeare 

 holds up actual men for our contemplation. 



FUNEREAL SKETCHES, No. XXVII. 

 PASSING BELL. 



Day wakes — unmarked the streamlet flows 

 Kissing each heath bell where it grows 

 Deep in the shade of yonder glen 

 Where smoke wreaths point the haunts of men : 

 The owl now leaves her covert screen 

 Where cliff and woodland intervene. 

 To scare the warblers — ere half done 

 Their vespers to the setting sun. 



The sun himself — what solemn toll 

 Peals in deep concert o'er the whole, 

 And seems, so low its dying swell. 

 As bidding light and earth farewell ? — 

 Again it sounds ; — the voice aloud 

 Bursts from his cerement in the cloud. 

 Then sullenly decays ; — such spell 

 Works at this hour a passing bell. 



Oh let me muse ; to-morrow's sun 

 Again his giant course shall run ; 

 But light no more the unfettered soul 

 This night hath ushered to its goal. 

 No more ? The glow worm lights a spark 

 When this world's transient day is dark : 

 The soul, when earth's false glare retires. 

 She too preserves her kindred fires — 

 To burn before the eternal shrine 

 When sun and glow-worm cease to shine. 



