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THE BEAUTIFUL LADDER, 
of the atmosphere which might engage atten¬ 
tion, such as the Spectre of the Brocken, the 
Ulloa circle, and the wonders of the mirage, 
but these may be passed; and, in doing so, an 
ascent is made that fairly carries the observa¬ 
tion above the clouds, touching on the borders 
of celestial wonders. Another upward soaring, 
and the boundaries of terrestial things will be 
passed, and the marvels of astronomy fairly be¬ 
gin. Beyond this elevation only one other 
ascent can be made—to the presence of him 
who is ever ‘dwelling in the light which no 
man can approach unto; whom no man hath 
seen nor can see; to whom be honor and pow¬ 
er everlasting. Amen.’ When this superlative 
height is once attained, there is no beyond 
nor aught to be revealed. He is the ‘Alpha 
and the Omega,’ the ‘beginning and the end.’ 
“ But let us resume our upward searchings, 
and peradventure we may in the effort reach that 
august presence where ‘there is fulness of joy.’ 
“ The glories of the aurora borealis, or ‘ north¬ 
ern lights,’ have charmed all beholders; but, 
like many other of God’s gifts, they were long 
objects of superstition and terror, rather than 
incentives to wonder and adoration. They were 
