18 LOOSE LEAVES 



ears the crashing peal has just burst? We read description after des- 

 cription of the burning of Moscow, yet with all their beauty and viv- 

 idness, there is a vacuity left in the mind which the sight of the fierce 

 flame enwrapping the humblest tenement with its sheets of fire com- 

 pletely supplies. There is the confused and smothered mingling of 

 many voices in the distance, sometimes a cry of terror or irrepressible 

 emotion, giving evidence of some new horror ; the noise of preparation 

 to subdue the flames; the risk of human life; the ascending volumes of 

 smoke, illuminated from below, and occasionally gemmed all o'er with 

 brilliant sparks ; the dull glare along the horizon and upon surrounding 

 objects — and all this in the night, the dark still night ! Can words ex- 

 press it? Who has written what you and I have seen, \\di\efelt? Who 

 has ever thus caused reality to start upon our senses, and given evidence 

 that a new power was given to man, to speak the things before unspeak- 

 able ? That man lives not ! 



This Language that seems to float all around ready to speak to him 

 who will hear, is a prerogative conferred by the Deity, through which 

 " the invisible things of Him are clearly seen," and that man is a liappy 

 man who listens to its voice. The thoughts that come to him are not 

 tliose of bitterness and strife. There is much of holiness, and a world 

 of peace : yea 



" When thoughts 

 Of the last bitter hour come, like a blight. 

 Over thy spirit, and sad images 

 Of the stern agony, and shroud, and pall. 

 And breathless darlcness, and the narrow house. 

 Make thee to shudder and grow sick at heart, 

 Go forth under the open sky and list 

 To Nature's teachings, while from all around. 

 Earth and her waters and the depths of air. 

 Comes a still voice. " 



And if that voice has never come to you, then have you lost tlie half 

 of existence and ineffable joys. 



LOOSE LEAVES FROM MY SKETCH BOOK. NO. I. 



BY J. C. M. 



Berlin^ May 19. To day Prof. Erichson invited me to attend the 

 weekly meeting of a club of Scrvans. In the evening we repaired to 

 the place of rendezvous^ which was in a large apartment of Prof. King's 

 dwelling. I expected to meet a number of celehratics and was not dis- 

 appoi^i-Ufd. As we entered, the members were chattering familiarly in 



