heaven-farewell—farewell.”

With an effort

He

she raised her face to his: her pale lips pressed his own: it was her first and last fond kiss. looked into her face; the eye had closed for ever, she had expired in his arms.

Oh, how describe the tearless gaze of agony, when Irenæus found the bosom where his image had dwelt, heaved no more; how he folded her to his heart, saying, in broken accents, "Art thou gone, light and joy of my existence; speak, oh, speak! See, she breathes her heart beats. Alas! it was but fancy-I am desolate; yet why desire to keep thee from thy native skies. My God! to the region whither she has fled, let me follow; hear, oh hear, my dying prayer!" The film of death gathered over his eyes. "Philetus! -Philetus! take this book, it is my parting gift. Art thou near-I cannot see thee, for a vapour floats before my eyes."

"I am with thee, alas! alas! that I cannot save "

"Oh water! water! only one drop to allay this thirst."

Philetus raised a cup to his lips as he sunk back; but his agony, his thirst, though unquenched, was now forgot:-he was dead.

Few can have seen the virtuous in death during the first few hours immediately after life has

flown, without noticing the serene expression pervading their countenance. Alethea and Irenæus appeared asleep, only their features wore a beauty more entirely angelic than during life, and a peace too sweet for earth was there.

That night, a procession moved slowly from the palace, towards the Nile, and having reached where a cypress waved its branches, sighing in the midnight breeze, it halted. It was the funeral of the lovers. So brightly the moon shone, that a few acacia and myrtle blossoms scattered over them, were plainly seen, and the passing wind shook dew-drops from the cypress, as if that tree of mourning wept o'er their fate. Philetus approached the bier, and, raising an embroidered cover, looked on the placid features of Irenæus and Alethea. His bride was with him : and taking her hand, he said,

"Julia, these have reached the place of restthe wanderer's home; death to them seemed not the cessation of enjoyment, but the commencement of bliss; is it so with thou and I? Thou art surprised to hear such words from one who has ever laughed at death; but oh, if my heart were unveiled, and all its misery seen, thou would'st rather wonder how I could so long have mixed with the votaries of pleasure, and appeared gay. Listen,

love. To gain thy hand, I climbed the dizzy pinnacle of power; yet, though I have wealth, fame, luxury, and, what is more, thy affection, a void is in my soul, which even thy love can never fill; so it is, I am convinced, with every one whose hopes are bounded by earth. Irenæus and Alethea were happy; their happiness shall henceforth be mine. Certain I am there must be truth in a religion that enables its professors to suffer and die in its cause, as they, and thousands of their fellow-christians have done; therefore, I will read the book which was his parting gift" and, falling on his knees beside the bier, his full heart breathed its first prayer to Jehovah. "Great God of the christians, grant that this volume, the gift of him who is now at rest, may unfold to my spirit the hopes of immortality he prized so highly."

The attendant slaves buried the bodies by the cypress, and Philetus himself planted a rose to bloom over their grave. Then addressing his bride, he said, "Julia, thy soul has hitherto seemed the counterpart of mine, and hourly the union of our spirits has grown more complete ; shall religion part us? Say, dearest, wilt thou be my companion in this, as in past folly?—That look of thine and pressure of my hand, assures me

thou wilt; then, be this grave our meeting place, here let us daily talk of heaven, and prepare to share its glories. If the souls of the dead can take cognizance of the events of earth, methinks Irenæus and Alethea must rejoice that their suffferings have not been useless, but the cause of our resolve to follow their example."

THE END.

NOTES.

PAGE 2, Note 1.

"As soon as infants, are resuscitated, which takes place immediately after their decease, they are carried up into heaven, and are committed to the care of angels of the female sex, who in the life of the body, had been influenced by a tender love for little children, and at the same time, by love for God. As these angels had, while in the world, loved all infants with a tenderness like that of their mothers, they receive the little ones committed to their charge as if they were their own; and the infants, on their part, from an inherent inclination, love them in return as their mothers. Every one has as many infants under her care, as, from spiritual maternal love, she desires."-See No. 332, Swedenborg's Treatise concerning Heaven and Hell.

PAGE 19, NOTE 2.

"Philadelphia is still erect; a column in a scene of ruins. 'It is indeed an interesting circumstance,' says Mr. Hartley, 'to find Christianity more flourishing here than in many other parts of the Turkish empire: there is still a numerous Christian population; they occupy three hundred houses. Divine service is performed every Sunday in five churches.' Nor is it less interesting in these eventful times, and notwithstanding the general degeneracy of the Greek church, to learn that the present bishop of Philadelphia accounts 'the Bible the only foundation of all religious belief;' and that he admits that abuses have entered into the church which former ages might endure, but the present will put down.'"-Keith's Evidences of Prophecy.