shepherd's songs; and it was most pleasant to hear them repeating those songs as they walked among the hills in the cool of the day.

When the pilgrims had been six days with the shepherds, on the seventh day, early in the morning, there was a cry among the shepherds of great joy-This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it!' Ps. cxviii. 24.

When the children heard these words they were delighted, and ran to tell Martha: so they hastened to eat their breakfasts and feed the lambs; after which they went with the shepherds to Mount Sabbath.

Then I looked, and lo, the shepherds led the pilgrims to a certain very high hill, around the foot of which was a wall, within which wall no unholy thing was allowed to come. Now the hill, even at a distance, looked wonderfully green and pleasant, fresh and beautiful; and under the shadow of the wall on the outside thereof, lay many beasts of burden enjoying the day of rest. The summit of the hill was bright and glorious as the sun; and within the walls towards the lower part of the hill, were many little dwellings with gardens among groves of trees, pleasant lawns, flowery fields, and sunny banks. Certain streams of water also, which took their rise from the top of the hill, ran down among these groves and gardens; which streams, as the shepherds informed the pilgrims, were never dry even in the hottest season. These waters, which are the waters of mercy, after visiting every little habitation upon the hill, afforded refreshment to the poor beasts who lay under the wall.

Now I listened, and heard the sound of harpers, harping with their harps from the higher

parts of the hills, with the voice of multitudes continually crying out, "Glory, glory, glory to the Lord Jehovah !"

Then said the shepherds to the children, "Hear ye those sacred songs which call us up unto the house of the Lord' with the voice of joy and praise among the multitude that keep holy day;' Psalm xlii. 4; inviting us to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple ?'" Psalm xxvii. 4.

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The pilgrims therefore gladly hastened forwards, while the shepherds repeated, at intervals, their joyful invitation, "Let us go into the house of the Lord." Psalm cxxii. 1.

Now I saw that Playful and the two little girls, Grace and Truth, were frightened when they came among the beasts, and began to shrink back: which the shepherds perceiving, spake thus, "Little ones, what do you fear? Know you not that those poor beasts, having drank of the waters of mercy, are at peace with all mankind?" Then the little children blushed and came forward.

When the pilgrims had accompanied the shepherds through the gate of admission to Mount Sabbath, their eyes were delighted with a near view of the pleasant lawns and woodlands, and the many peaceful dwellings scattered among them. Each cottage had its garden, in which grew pinks and violets, little bushes of fragrant southern-wood, marjoram, and wholesome rue, with other such humble and harmless plants as the Lord hath prepared to adorn the dwellings of the poor; the sweet odour of which was diffused through all the air. Every house looked clean; while the inhabitants, who at the sound

of the bells were then stepping forth, old and young, to visit the house of God, appeared cheerful and healthy.

Now, as the pilgrims and shepherds walked along, they met an aged couple coming out from a little garden to go up the hill. The head of the old man was hoary, and his wife wore a white veil. So the shepherds saluted the aged pair; and as they walked up the hill together, while their hearts burned within them, they fell into sweet discourse about the mountain, and the happiness of those who dwell thereon.

This old man's name was Christian-Cheerfulness; and as he looked upon the pilgrims he saluted them thus-" Right welcome are you, my children, to this holy mountain! for blessed are they which call the Sabbath a Delight, the Holy of the Lord, and Honourable'; not doing their own ways, nor finding their own pleasure, nor speaking their own words, but delighting themselves in the Lord." Isaiah lviii. 13, 14. Then addressing himself to the shepherds, I heard him say, "I am now an old man, and have lived from my youth upon this hill, where I never yet saw any of its inhabitants forsaken. Peace and plenty are still found in the dwellings of the righteous; for while they remember the Sabbath to keep it holy, the Lord of the Sabbath remembers them for good."

Now the voice of praise was heard more sweet and loud as the pilgrims ascended the hill: and as I looked after them, my eyes were ravished with the lovely scenes which presented themselves on every side. For the Lord had planted on this mountain, the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; he had set there the fir tree, and the pine, and the box to

gether: on this mountain also grew the rose of Sharon, and the voice of the turtle never ceased from this peaceful land.

Thus the whole company went up as friends to the top of Mount Sabbath, where they employed themselves for a season in public prayer and praise in the temple of God. And while they were thus engaged, my ear was charmed with the sweet psalms and hymns which occasionally animated their sacred services, and which might be heard at a considerable distance. So, having spent a few hours in the heavenly exercise of prayer and praise, behold the gates of the temple of God were again thrown open, and all the worshippers came out in order to return to their respective houses. And I could not but remark what satisfaction and joy appeared in every countenance, and how the little ones, in their holiday garb, ran innocently sporting among the flowers.

Now as each family returned to its cottage, behold, Christian-Cheerfulness would have the shepherds and the pilgrims to turn in with him, and to partake of what was provided. So they turned in with him.

I saw then that a table being spread under a cedar tree in the old man's garden, his wife set on dinner. First, she brought forth a dish of all manner of wholesome vegetables: upon which the old man remarked, 'A dinner of herbs where love is, is better than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.' Prov. xv. 17. And after that, she produced a dish of meat; together with milk and honey for the little ones. So, when she had set the dishes on the table, the shepherds would make her sit down; "And let the children,"

said they, "fetch what is wanted, as is becoming."

The good woman therefore sat down, while the children ran for what was required; and surely I never saw a happier party. For Christian-Cheerfulness was a man of so pleasant a conversation, that he entertained the company in a very agreeable manner; and particularly the little ones, who were wonderfully taken with his pleasant discourse. But I perceived that the company never once forgot that they were conversing together on Mount Sabbath.

Now, dinner being over, the elder part of the company sat talking, while the little ones walked into the woods to gather flowers. Playful went with the young ones; but Humble Mind stayed with the elder ones, although he took no part in their conversation, well aware that it became him not to speak before his elders, unless first spoken to. So as the evening came on they all returned home to the shepherds' house.

Humble Mind and Playful remained many days with the shepherds; where Martha was as a mother to them, while little Grace and Truth were as their sisters. Every seventh day they went with the shepherds to Mount Sabbath, always spending a part of the day with Christian-Cheerfulness; who generally in the course of the week returned the friendly visit, accompanied by his wife.

Thus many weeks passed happily away at this place: nevertheless, when it was signified to the pilgrims that they must continue their journey, they murmured not-forthey desired a better country, that is, an heavenly: God having prepared for them a city.' Heb. xi. 16. But, before the pilgrims departed, the shepherds gave them