long ruled my life? Where was even the compunction that was wont to attend any parley with temptation to forsake the watch and ward of parental welfare? Where that impersonation of filial gratitude and duty, to which I had bound myself, as a willing servant, for ever? Ay, where?
I gave scope to the new affection, so long repressed or chastised, and its sway was pervading and delightful. Every task was achieved with new vigor, every obstacle surmounted as with double strength. Indeed, it seemed as if nothing remained worthy the name of task or obstacle, so perfectly did couleur de rose overspread all things. The refrain of an ancient sacred melody echoed in my secret thought a perpetual melody:
"O God of grace!
Henceforth to Thee
A hymn of praise
My life must be."
I was as one wrapped in the tissued drapery of a pleasant dream. What came the nearest to awakening me as a stern reality, was the necessary dissolution of my cherished school. It was in a highly prosperous state. The studies had never been more agreeably or earnestly prosecuted. We had recently commenced an interesting course of Modern History, and I was pursuing a system of experiment on the extent of the
