390 
A CRUSADE IN THE EAST. 
u -Some tormenting dream, 
Affrights me with a hell of ngly devils ?” 
Or is it that men are driven mad by the terrors of death ; 
that they thus draw darkness out of the future and swallow 
it into their souls ? Is it that all this is done in the name of 
that merciful Redeemer, whose words fall like halm upon the 
heart? 
And then, as the night waned, and the sounds fell fainter 
and fainter upon the air, a soothing calm stole over me, and 
closing my eyes, I wandered back in thought to a happy 
home across the waters, and saw around the peaceful fireside 
on a Christmas night, a circle of familiar faces, all gentle 
and smiling, all radiant with hope; and kindly greetings 
passed; and pleasant words were spoken, and the happy 
past was revived, and bright anticipations of the future 
beamed upon every face; and I inwardly thanked Grod that 
so much of good was yet left upon earth, so much of bright 
promise in the future ; and in the soothing of those happy 
memories and the hopefulness of better things to come, I com¬ 
mitted myself to the keeping of Him who showeth the path 
of life , in whose presence is fullness of joy, at whose right 
hand are pleasures for evermore. 
