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in the north, and prolonged in the south. Now, it gushes forth from 

 the valleys — it rolls around the hills — it surges up to us from the 

 plains! It is not the booming of cannon — it is not the explosive 

 thunder of the elements — it is not the monotonous roll of Niagara — 

 nor yet the roar of the ocean in its anger ! Unlike, and yet greater 

 than all these, it now rushes past us — it whirls around us — it fills the 

 quivering air — it shakes the earth like an aspen — it thrills through our 

 being, and bewilders the senses with the ever mingling crash of sounds! 

 And yet, it is not all discordant. There is method coupled with modu- 

 lation. There is symphony in the mingled sounds. There are musical 

 tones and harmonious cadences. There are both the refrain and the 

 chorus. Hark ! Still more distinct it bursts upon the ear, fresh from 

 human organs ! It is a song of praise and thanksgiving, uprising from 

 the lips of countless millions ! Oh ! it is the closing anthem chanted 

 by our nation at the annual festival of their agricultural harvest home! 

 It ceases, and all is still. 



Hush ! There is music again on earth ! Soft, sweet and divinely 

 melodious, it comes from the secret pavilion of the Invisible and the 

 Eternal. It is the response of Infinite Benificence to the previous song 

 of joy and gladness, and the burden of the ravishing straia is identical 

 with that whilom heard at night by the shepherds of Judea. " Peace 

 on earth and good will to men." 



