STUDY VII. S3 



how many tears has (lie wiped away ! how mahy 

 hopes has (lie inrpired, when there was no longer 

 room for hope ! how many doors of mercy thrown 



open 



bn the fea-fliore. It might be about noon. Several large boats 

 had gone out of the harbour in the morning, on a ftfliing expe- 

 dition. While I was obferving their manœuvres, I perceived 

 a company of country lafles, handfome, as the Caucboifes gene- 

 rally are, coming out of the city, with their long white head 

 drefles, which the wind fet a flying about their faces. They 

 advanced playfully to the extremity of the pier, which was, 

 from time to time, covered with the fpray which the dailiing of 

 the waves excited. One of them kept aloof, fad and thoughtful. 

 She looked wiftfully at the dilbnt boats, fome of which were 

 hardly perceptible, amidfl a very black Horizon. Her com- 

 rades, at firft, began to rally, with an intention to arnufe her; 

 What, faid they, is your fvveetheart yonder? But findirg her 

 continue iuflexibiy penfive, they called out, Come, come, don't 

 let us flop any longer here ! Why do you make yourfelf fo un- 

 eafy? Return, return with us; and they refumed the road that 

 led to town. The young woman followed them with a flow 

 pace, without making any reply, and when they had got nearly 

 out erf fight, behind fome heaps of pebbles which are on the 

 road, flie approached a great crucifix, that ftands about the 

 middle of the pier, took fome money out of her pocket, drop- 

 ped it into the little chell: at the foot of the crofs; then kneeled 

 down, and with clafped hands, and eyes lifted up to Heaven, 

 put up her prayer. The billows breaking with a deafening 

 noife on the fliore, the wind which agitated the large lanterns 

 of the crucifix, the danger at fea, the uneafinefs on the laud, 

 confidence in Heaven, gave to the love of this poor country 

 girl, an extent, and a dignity, which the Palaces of the Great 

 cannot communicate to their paffions. 



G 2 It 



