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Addison, in his "Vision of Mirza," places the sleeper on a rock, and being directed to look eastward, "I see," said he, "a huge valley, and a prodigious tide of water rolling through it." "That valley,” said the genius, "is the vale of misery, and the tide of water is part of the great tide of eternity. The tide rises out of a thick mist at one end, and again loses itself in a thick mist at the other, and is that portion of eternity which is called time. Now cast thine eye," said the genius, "on that thick mist into which the tide bears the several generations of mortals that fall into it." I did so, and saw the valley opening at the further end, and spreading forth into an immense ocean, that had a huge rock of adamant running through the midst of it, and dividing it into two equal parts. The clouds still rested on one-half of it, insomuch that I could discover nothing in it, but the other appeared to me a vast ocean planted with innumerable islands that were covered with fruits and flowers, and interwoven with a thousand little shining seas that ran among them. Gladness grew in me upon the discovery of so delightful a scene. I wished for the wings of an eagle that I might fly away to those happy seats, but the genius told me there was no passage to them except through the gates of death. “The islands," said he, "that lie so fresh and green before thee, and with which the whole face of the ocean appears spotted as far as thou canst see are the mansions of good men after death.”

And Bunyan, in his delightful allegory, represents his Christian hero, at the end of his eventful life, as passing through a turbulent river, typical of death; and after watching his progress through the stream, and shadowing forth his entrance among the blest, the dreamer adds with loving aspiration, "Which, when I had seen, I wished myself among them!"

He ceased, and a profound silence prevailed; for although each was desirous of testifying his respect and affection, all were spellbound; continuous speaking having evidently been too much exertion for the exhausted frame of the artist.

The black steward, without directions or request, placed a tray with refreshments on the table before the speaker, then quickly and quietly retired; no word was spoken, but the simple act showed that beneath his tawny skin, a human, brother's heart was beating.

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."

At length a sturdy Scot stretched forth his brawny arm, and grasping the hand of the artist, was about to thank him on behalf of the company, but his manly soul.gave way, and with jumbling confusion as of a maiden speech, he could only stammer out, "Courage, my lad;" and turning away his head to conceal his emotion, retreated to his cabin.

Later in the evening a violent cough and sickness told too plainly of the firmer grasp with which disease had laid hold of its victim; and many that night had troublous, half-sleeping, half-waking dreams of him who had so touchingly uttered the words, "I wished myself among them!"

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FOREMOST amongst the nations which profited by the passage of Vasco de Gama round the Cape of Good Hope to India were the Dutch; who, settling on several of the inter-tropical islands, early secured the valuable trade in spices, a large portion of which they have retained to the present time.

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