did not enter through the window, but was the aggregate of all the moonshine that is scattered around the earth on a summer night while no eyes are awake to enjoy its beauty. Airy spirits. had gathered it up, wherever they found it gleaming on the broad bosom of a lake, or silvering the meanders of a stream, or glimmering among the wind-stirred boughs of a wood, and had garnered it in this one spacious hall. Along the walls, illuminated by the mild intensity of the moonshine, stood a multitude of ideal statues, the original conception of the great works of ancient or modern art, which the sculptors did but imperfectly succeed in putting into marble: for it is not to be supposed that the pure idea of an immortal creation ceases to exist; it is only necessary to know where they are deposited in order to obtain possession of them. In the alcoves of another vast apartment was arranged a splendid library, the volumes of which were inestimable, because they consisted, not of actual performances, but of the works which the authors only planned, without ever finding the happy season to achieve them. To take familiar instances, here were the untold tales of Chaucer's "Canterbury Pilgrims," the unwritten cantos of the "Fairy Queen," the conclusion of Coleridge's "Christabel," and the whole of Dryden's projected epic on the subject of King Arthur. The shelves were crowded; for it would not be too much to affirm that every author has imagined and shaped out in his thought more and far better works than those which actually proceeded from his pen. And here, likewise, were the unrealized conceptions of youthful poets who died of the very strength of their own genius, before the world had caught one inspired murmur from their lips. When the peculiarities of the library and statue gallery were explained to the Oldest Inhabitant, he appeared infinitely perplexed, and exclaimed with more energy than usual, that he had never heard of such a thing within his memory, and, moreover, did not at all understand how it could be. "But my brain, I think," said the good old gentleman, "is getting not so clear as it used to be. You young folks, I suppose, can see your way through these strange matters. For my part, I give it up." "And so do I," muttered the Old Harry. "It is enough to puzzle the ahem!" Making as little reply as possible to these observations, the Man of Fancy preceded the company to another noble saloon, the pillars of which were solid golden sunbeams taken out of the sky in the first hour in the morning. Thus, as they retained all their living luster, the room was filled with the most cheerful radiance imaginable, yet not too dazzling to be borne with comfort and delight. The windows were beautifully adorned with curtains made of the many-colored clouds of sunrise, all imbued with virgin light, and hanging in magnificent festoons from the ceiling to the floor. Moreover, there were fragments of rainbows scattered through the room: so that the guests, astonished at one another, reciprocally saw their heads made glorious by the seven primary hues; or, if they chose, as who would not? they could grasp a rainbow in the air, and convert it to their own apparel and adornment. But the morning light and scattered rainbows were only a type and symbol of the real wonders of the apartment. By an influence akin to magic, yet perfectly natural, whatever means and opportunities of joy are neglected in the lower world had been carefully gathered up and deposited in the saloon of morning sunshine. As may well be conceived, therefore, there was material enough to supply, not merely a joyous evening, but also a happy lifetime, to more than as many people as that spacious apartment could contain. The company seemed to renew their youth; while that pattern and proverbial standard of innocence, the child unborn, frolicked to and fro among them, communicating his own unwrinkled gayety to all who had the good fortune to witness his gambols. "My honored friends," said the Man of Fancy after they had enjoyed themselves a while, "I am now to request your presence in the banqueting-hall, where a slight collation is awaiting you." "Ah, well said!" ejaculated a cadaverous figure, who had been invited for no other reason than that he was pretty constantly in the habit of dining with Duke Humphrey. "I was beginning to wonder whether a castle in the air were provided with a kitchen." It was curious, in truth, to see how instantly the guests were diverted from the high moral enjoyments, which they had been tasting with so much apparent zest, by a suggestion of the more solid as well as liquid delights of the festive board. They thronged eagerly in the rear of the host, who now ushered them into a lofty and extensive hall, from end to end of which was arranged a table, glittering all over with innumerable dishes and drinking-vessels of gold. It is an uncertain point whether these rich articles of place were made for the occasion out of molten sunbeams, or recovered from the wrecks of the Spanish galleons that had lain for ages at the bottom of the sea. The upper end of the table was overshadowed by a canopy, beneath which was placed a chair of elaborate magnificence, which the host himself declined to occupy, and besought his guests to assign it to the worthiest among them. As a suitable homage to his incalculable antiquity and eminent distinction, the post of honor was at first tendered to the Oldest Inhabitant. He, however, eschewed it, and requested the favor of a bowl of gruel at a side-table, where he could refresh himself with a quiet nap. There was some little hesitation as to the next candidate, until Posterity took the Master Genius of our country by the hand, and led him to the chair of state beneath the princely canopy. When once they beheld him in his true place, the company acknowledged the justice of the selection by a long thunder-roll of vehement applause. Then was served up a banquet, combining, if not all the delicacies of the season, yet all the rarities which careful purveyors had met with in the flesh, fish, and vegetable markets of the land of Nowhere. The bill of fare being unfortunately lost, we can only mention a phoenix roasted in its own flames, cold potted birds-of-paradise, ice-creams from the Milky Way, and whipsyllabubs and flummery from the Paradise of Fools, whereof there was a very great consumption. As for drinkables, the temperance people contented themselves with water as usual, but it was the water of the Fountain of Youth; the ladies sipped Nepenthe; the love-lorn, the care-worn, and the sorrow-stricken were supplied with brimming goblets of Lethe; and it was shrewdly conjectured that a certain golden vase, from which only the more distinguished guests were invited to partake, contained nectar that had been mellowing ever since the day of classical mythology. The cloth being removed, the company, as usual, grew eloquent over their liquor, and delivered themselves of a succession of brilliant speeches; the task of reporting which we resign to the more adequate ability of Counselor Gill, whose indispensable co-operation the Man of Fancy had taken the precaution to secure. When the festivity of the banquet was at its most ethereal point, the Clerk of the Weather was observed to steal from the table, and thrust his head between the purple and golden curtains of one of the windows. 66 "My fellow-guests," he remarked aloud, after carefully noting the signs of the night, "I advise such of you as live at a distance to be going as soon as possible; for a thunder-storm is certainly at hand." "Mercy on me!" cried Mother Carey, who had left her brood of chickens, and come hither in gossamer drapery, with pink silk stockings. "How shall I ever get home?" All now was confusion and hasty departure, with but little superfluous leave-taking. The Oldest Inhabitant, however, true to the rule of those long-past days in which his courtesy had been studied, paused on the threshold of the meteor-lighted hall to express his vast satisfaction at the entertainment. "Never within my memory," observed the gracious old gentleman, "has it been my good fortune to spend a pleasanter evening, or in a more select society." The wind here took his breath away, whirled his three-cornered hat into infinite space, and drowned what further compliments it had been his purpose to bestow. Many of the company had bespoken will-o'-the-wisps to convey them home; and the host, in his general beneficence, had engaged the Man in the Moon, with an immense horn lantern, to be the guide of such desolate spinsters as could do no better for themselves. But a blast of the rising tempest blew out all their lights in the twinkling of an eye. How, in the darkness that ensued, the guests contrived to get back to earth, or whether the greater part of them contrived to get back at all, or are still wandering among clouds, mists, and puffs of tempestuous wind, bruised by the beams and rafters of the overthrown castle in the air, and deluded by all sorts of unrealities, are points that concern themselves much more than the writer or the public. People should think of these matters before they trust themselves on a pleasure-party into the realm of Nowhere. THEOLOGY, METAPHYSICS, RELIGION, AND CHRISTIANITY. JONATHAN EDWARDS. -1703-1758. The first and most eminent metaphysician of America. His most famous work is "The Freedom of the Will, and Moral Agency." FRANCIS WAYLAND. 1796. President of Brown University from 1827 to 1856. "Occasional Discourses; "Moral Science; "Political Economy;' "Thoughts on Collegiate Education;" "Limitations of Human Responsibility;" "University Sermons; ""Memoirs of Judson;""Intellectual Philosophy;""Notes on the Principles and Practices of the Baptists;" "Discourse on the Life and Character of Hon. Nicholas Brown;" "Sermons to the Churches;" "Priesthood and Clergy Unknown to Christianity." WILLIAM B. SPRAGUE.-1795. "Letters to a Daughter; ""Letters from Europe;" "Hints on Christian In"Lectures to Young People;" "Lectures on Revivals;" tercourse;" "Contrast between True and False Religion;""Life of Edward Dorr Griffin; "Life of President Dwight; "Aids to Early Religion;" "Words to a Young Man's Conscience;" "Letters to Young Men; European Celebrities; " "Annals of the American Pulpit," — invaluable volumes of their kind. 66 66 EDWARD ROBINSON.-1794. Lexicon of New Testament;" "Biblical Researches in Palestine," four vols.; "Harmony of the Four Gospels in Greek;" "Harmony of the Four Gospels in English." Works of much learning and patient research. JOHN GORHAM PALFREY.- 1796. "Evidences of Christianity," two vols.; "Lectures on the Hebrew Scriptures," four vols.; "Duties of Private Life;" "Life of William Palfrey;" "A History of New England." WILLIAM ELLERY CHANNING. 1780-1842. The works of this celebrated divine are published by his nephew in six volumes. LEONARD BACON, D.D.-Born Feb. 19, 1802, Detroit, Mich. "Thirteen Historical Discourses on the Completion of Two Hundred Years from the Beginning of the First Church in New Haven;" also many addresses, essays, and articles for magazines and papers. A writer of great vigor of thought and expression. "Lectures on MARK HOPKINS, D.D. — Born Feb. 4, 1802, Stockbridge, Mass. the Evidences of Christianity," 1844; "Miscellaneous Essays and Discourses," 1847. GEORGE W. BETHUNE, D.D. Born March 18, 1805, New York. "The Fruits of the Spirit," 1839; Early Lost, Early Saved," 1846; "Volume of Sermons," History of a Penitent, or Guide to an Inquirer," 1847; "Walton Angler," 1848; "Lays of Love and Faith, with other Poems," 1848; "The British Female Poets," 1848; and numerous orations before literary societies. 1847; THEODORE PARKER.- Essays and Sermons. Rev. ANDREW P. PEABODY, D.D. - Born in Beverly, Mass., 1811. "Lectures on Christian Doctrine," 1844; "Sermons on Consolation," 1847; besides many contributions to "North-American Review" and "Christian Examiner." Rev. GEORGE B. CHEEVER, D.D.-Born April 17, 1807, Hallowell, Me. This vigorous writer and eloquent preacher has published the following: "American Commonplace Book of Prose," 1828; "American Commonplace Book of Poetry," 1829; "Studies in Poetry, with Sketches of the Poets," 1830; "Selections from Archbishop Leighton, with Introductory Essay," 1832; God's Hand in America," 1841; "The Argument for Punishment by Death," 1842; "Lectures on Pilgrim's Progress," 1843; "Hierarchical Lectures," 1844; "Wanderings of a Pilgrim in the Shadow of Mont Blanc and the Yungfrau Alp," 1846; "The Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth," 1848; "The Hill Difficulty and other Allegories," 1849; "The Windings of the River of the Water of Life," 1849; "Voices of Nature to her Foster-Child, the Soul of Man," 1852; "Reel in a Bottle, or Voyage to the Celestial Country, by an Old Salt," 1853; "Right of the Bible in our Common Schools,' 1854; Lectures on Cowper," 1856; "The Powers of the World to Come," 1856; "God against Slavery," 1857; besides many contributions to papers, periodicals, and reviews. HORACE BUSHNELL, D.D.-Born in Washington, Conn., 1804. An able and independent thinker in theology. Has published "God in Christ;" "Views of Christian Nurture;" "Christ in Theology;' "Unconscious Influence;" "The Day of Roads;" Barbarism the First Danger;" "Religious Music;" "Politics under the Law of God;" "Nature and the Supernatural;' "The One System of God;" "Noah Porter;" "The Human Intellect," 1869. 66 ALBERT BARNES. 1798. "Notes on New Testament;' Books of the Old Testament;" many volumes of sermons. and an indefatigable author. Among others of note are ANDREWS NORTON. J. S. BUCKMINSTER. LYMAN BEECHER. "Commentaries on Eminent theologian ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER. JOHN WITHERSPOON. JOHN M. MASON. CHARLES PETTIT McILVAINE. SCHOLARS, ESSAYISTS, AND CRITICS. JOHN JAY, JAMES MADISON, ALEXANDER HAMILTON, were the authors of "The Federalist." Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 54, were written by Jay; 10, 14, 37 to 38 inclusive, by Madison; 18, 19, 20, by Madison and Hamilton; the rest, sixty-three in all, by Hamilton. Political essays of highest ability. JOHN MARSHALL. · 1755-1835. The eminent Chief Justice of the United States. "Life of Washington," five vols.; "History of the American Colonies;" "The Federal Constitution." |