26 
THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER. 
As for Mrs. Dean, she was the fitting centre 
of the affections, order, and attractiveness of 
such a delightful Christian home, receiving the 
blessings of her children, the praises of her hus¬ 
band, and the ardent gratitude of her neighbors 
for her many deeds of kindness and charity. 
With this introduction the reader will be 
somewhat prepared to understand the assurance 
given by young Davidson, that his friends would 
thank him for introducing him to the enjoy¬ 
ments of such a happy circle; and, it is hoped, 
will cherish a stronger desire for further inter¬ 
course. 
It has been beautifully said, that “ Heaven lies 
about us in our infancybut, alas ! how few are 
so enlightened as to catch even partial glimpses 
of the celestial radiance! nay, how many are 
wholly unconscious of the divine illumination! 
They can never get the dust of the earth suffi¬ 
ciently out of their eyes to see anything higher 
or more noble; they grovel right on, when they 
might mount up; they keep the head on the 
stone, when the ardent feet might be on the 
heaven-reaching ladder, the former almost as 
insensible as the unyielding pillow on which it 
rests. 
