GLOBE-FLOWER. 141 



promise of spring-tide and of harvest, so 

 shall the dead awake from the darkness of 

 the grave to light and immortality. Such 

 are the reflections that may arise within 

 the. minds of those who are verging to the 

 close of life ; standing, as it w'ere, on the 

 confines of two worlds ; looking back to the 

 mistiness and gloom, the temptations and 

 mercies of their past existence ; forward to 

 the blazing thrones and the golden harps 

 of heaven's choirs, at the glorious morning 

 of the resurrection. Such are the hopes 

 which belong to decKning age, breathing as 

 sweet odours from the shore to wxary voya- 

 gers. But youth is the season for active and 

 decided virtue — trials too; for the young 

 combatant in life's arena has ever to con- 

 tend with constant and unwearied enemies ; 

 unseen, yet near him; powerful, yet seem- 

 ing powerless ; ever watching to hint unholy 

 thoughts ; to lure him from straight paths 



