140 THE RAVEN. 



gloomy character of the bird : yet there are many 

 interesting recollections connected with its name, 

 not at all of a mournful nature. The raven sent 

 forth by Noah is familiar to us from our child- 

 hood ; the first of all the voluntary prisoners in 

 the ark of gopher-wood, which escaped from its 

 temporary prison, and flew over the ruined world 

 with unfettered wing. Still more familiar, and 

 endeared to our feelings, is the touching and 

 beautiful story of the persecuted prophet ; hidden 

 from his enemies by the secret brook Cherith, 

 and daily fed, in time of famine, by the ravens, 

 who brought him bread and meat every morning 

 and every evening, commissioned to sustain the 

 man of God, by Him who heareth the young 

 ravens when they cry. Neither can we forget 

 the beautiful allusion to this bird, in the dis- 

 courses of our blessed Saviour, as related by St. 

 Luke* There is also, in the Book of Job, ano- 

 ther mention of the raven, which has made a 

 deep and lasting impression on many a youthful 

 heart, connected as it is with a fearful threat- 

 ening. That animated and delightful writer, 

 Dr. E. D. Clarke, gives the following striking 

 narrative as an instance of the literal fulfilment 

 of the passage to which we allude. It was in 

 travelling through the forests of Scandinavia, 

 that the circumstance fell under his notice. 



