fe43 ISLES OF SUMMER. 



not to be readily identified, notwithstanding their changed posi- 

 tions and the increased brilliancy of their quenchless fires. The 

 moon, when at and near its full, mounted almost to the zenith, 

 glorified Nassau as she lay embowered amid trees of fadeless ver- 

 dure, imparted to the long, narrow, encircling islands a sort of 

 weird and unearthly aspect, and illumined with dancing light the 

 waters of the harbor and of the more distant ocean. 



Among the stars of those ''new heavens,'' which are unknown 

 to the northern skies, and Avhich we especially desired to see, 

 were those composing the Souther'n Cross. Many of the Moham- 

 medans — the followers of the Crescent — discover in every new 

 moon which hallows and adorns the unfathomable and awe-in- 

 spiring depths of ether, a divine recognition of the supernatural 

 origin of their religion, and are more confirmed in their belief 

 in the truthfulness of its doctrines, the wisdom of its precepts, 

 and the sacredness of its rights and ceremonials. A Christian 

 may be pardoned for earnestly desiring to see with his own eyes 

 the universally recognized symbol of the religion he professes 

 emblazoned among the stars. In various articles of personal 

 adornment — on sword and shield and scepter — in the form and 

 ridge lines, and in the internal and external embellishments of 

 the largest and most costly churches — upon altars, sepulchres and 

 decorative slabs — in knightly adornments, kingly crowns, and 

 imperial diadems — and upon national banners proudly floating 

 over the land and sea. The Cross has symbolized and proclaimed 

 a widely dominant system of religious belief and faith. Christian 

 voyagers in southern seas discovered m their lonely vigils this 

 characteristic, significant and hallowed emblem, gleaming with 

 all the brilliancy of quenchless fires, in those distant heavens, and 

 naturally hailed it as a divine token that from the world's ''be- 

 ginning," when "the morning stars sang together," the Great 

 Creator had placed upon the sky tiiis prophecy and endorsement 

 of the dominant religion of their time and country. 



