414 EFFECTS OF LIGHT. 



with clouds, with breaks here and there in the grey 

 smoky canopy. Out seaward the horizon is of a dark 

 purplish-blue tint, then indigo, blending into a blue- 

 green, and this into a dull leaden hue. But there is 

 a wide patch just beneath the place of the sun, where 

 the rays fall through an opening in the clouds on the 

 sea, in form like an inverted fan ; the water just there 

 is a flood of light, in which the ripples sparkle and 

 quiver as if thousands of silvery fishes were every 

 moment leaping up. All round, the surface presents 

 only the dull lead-colour, rendered more obscure by 

 the contrast of this spot of lustre. Ships and smaller 

 craft are scattered about the distance; one and another 

 is suddenly illuminated by one of the streams of light 

 falling on the spot where each happens to be; her 

 sails, which before were scarcely distinguishable from 

 the grey sea, in a moment become beautifully white and 

 conspicuous. Just as a Christian, on whom the light 

 of God's countenance rests, is bright and happy, while 

 his fellows walking in comparative darkness, remain 

 dull and covered with clouds. 



These and other examples of the potent influence 

 of light have often recalled to my mind a poem which 

 was given me many years ago in Newfoundland. It 

 was from the pen of a young clergyman, a native of 

 the island, the Eev, Joseph Clinch. I possess it in 

 manuscript; whether it has ever been published I 

 know not, but in my judgment the beauty of the 

 thoughts and the elegance of the versification are 

 worthy of perpetuity. If the gifted author still 

 survives, he will, I trust, pardon me for enriching my 

 pages with some of the stanzas. 



