THE HAWTHORN. 77 



The character of him who forms the subject 

 of these reminiscences, was in perfect unison with 

 the flower. He was singularly beautiful in person, 

 in temper most joyous, and of a disposition that 

 diffused sunshine around him. The most superfi- 

 cial observer could not pass him by unremarked ; 

 the deepest investigator found abundance to repay 

 his close inspection. Many a delicate trait invited 

 the latter ; while the former could not but recog- 

 nize a union of attractiveness and worth not often 

 meeting in one individual. To me he was a fence 

 as pleasant and as precious as Jonah's gourd, 

 sheltering me from the vehement wind. But 

 though so many sad thoughts are now written on 

 the fair blossom of May, it likewise presents a 

 sacred Eben-ezer of unnumbered mercies, which 

 have followed me all the days of my life ; and 

 which follow me yet, as surely as the leaves re- 

 appear to clothe the stems that winter had de- 

 nuded. " For that he is strong in power not one 

 faileth." 



And here T had intended to close this paper, but 

 T cannot. A circumstance most unexpected has 

 occurred, even while I was in the very act of pre- 

 paring to send these pages to the press ; and I 

 must not withhold the ascription of praise to Him 

 who now, at the end of several years, has given 

 me to see a cluster of fruit from the sweet blos- 

 som of Christian promise, that seemed so sudden- 



