Wyseby

OP THE FIRST IRVINGS. 131
'Twas midnight. On the same couch lay Edith,
and Catharine was by her side as heretofore. But
a priest stood by the couch now, holding over her
the symbol of mercy, and in fervent prayer invoking
it in favour of the dying one. Now the strife has
closed. The immortal spirit has left its frail tene-
ment Whither ? Child of mine, ask not even of
thine own soul. And the daughter of Arden was a
clod of the valley.
Esecal — Edith, my child, have vanished from our
history. Through the moulderiag bosom of many
centuries — from the paths of other jears — at our
call they came. Awhile they dwelt before the vision
of our souls. We recognised humanity in their linea-
ments, and we loved and feared them. They have
passed away ; — not so the life-picture which they
have anew painted on the Eternal. Look upon it.
Ah ! ye simple of heart, who, from some lone moun-
tain in your own spiritual dream land, look down
into the world, ye discern that their nature was
lofty and lovely, discern also that their life-journey
ended there, and ask of your own hearts, why ?