THE PALE BELL OF THE HEATH. 283 



and have often stepped aside to avoid placing my 

 foot upon its innocent-looking head : but I never 

 connected it, until very recently, with a living ob- 

 ject. That association has, however, been formed ; 

 and fondly shall I henceforth welcome the pale, 

 solitary blue-bell of the hills — it now typifies one 

 of the loveliest and most touching links that con- 

 nect this dark, rough world with the pure and 

 shining habitations above. 



They say that all babies are alike; it is not true, 

 for, to one who observes them with the intense in- 

 terest that they merit, there is, even among the 

 newly-born, an endless, boundless variety. There 

 is a trait of grandeur, proper to the offspring of 

 man's majestic race, while yet unconscious of the 

 workings of inbred sin, that throws over them a 

 general aspect peculiar to that privileged age ; but 

 it is like the sun-beam upon a garden of dewy 

 flowers — a general brilliancy sparkling over all, 

 and by no means affecting their individuality of 

 character. None of them have yet put on the ex- 

 ternal livery of Satan, though all are born in bon- 

 dage to his yoke : but some have received the 

 secret seal of adoption, and are passing onward to 

 the kingdom of glory, never to know the defiling 

 touch of the wicked one. Elect, according to the 

 foreknowledge of God the Father, destined for an 

 early entrance into the inheritance of the saints in 

 light, born into visible existence, washed, sanctifi- 



