The Good Time Coming

been so intently listening. Hastily retreating into the summer-house, she crouched low upon one of the seats, in order, if possible, to escape observation. But nearer and nearer cam

n exclamation of surprise, or to drive

s usual mild tone. "If I had known that you were here

he wished any one to know. Seeing how much his presence disturbed her, Mr. Allison stepped back a pace or two, saying, as

t strike Mr. Allison as very singular, made a more earnest effo

Allison. Your sudden coming did

and, taking her hand, looked down into her face, from which the cr

still absent, I

s,

l be ho

visit to New York

ore feel his ab

l tone of voice and easy address; "and it seems

arked Mr. Allison. "His world, it might be said,

it will al

d to his ear a prophecy of change. Then he remembered his recent conversation with her father, and light broke in upon his mind. The absence of Mr. Markland had, in all probability,

r father to New York

ed him back as usual in the evening, but he sent a note by the coachman, saying tha

ing into business

e not!" re

silent for some mom

or, Mr. Lyon, went So

a quickened tone of voice, and w

. "I thought I passed him in the road, half an hour ago. The resemb

," replied Fa

gaze when he saw that she was about to look up. A faint sigh parted the old man's lips. Ah! if a portion of his wisdom, experience, and knowledge of ch

sign returning so

not think he would be in this part of t

Fanny shunned the earn

South doe

y; but I think I heard father say t

ething of a tr

has travelled

an Engl

is an old business f

unders

hich Mr. Allison seemed

certainly," said he, as if

ked Fanny, looking cur

taken. I doubted not, for a moment,

e fixed upon her would have sent a deeper crimson

changed and rather animated voice, and with a manner that took away the

l, I imagine," was

ot possessed by nature, it is too rarely acquired. Yet, in all pure minds, there is something that we may call analogous-a percep

, y

ongly attracted

ft

ression with your subsequent kno

r a little while

e that I have

istaken in persons after s

ore tha

s, which are instinctive perceptions of moral qualities, we are apt to be deceived by the exterior which almost every one assumes on a first acquaintance; and then, if we are not adepts at reading character, we may be a long time in

,-a very serious, a

you clearly compr

e all you wish me to com

mpt to make

ith pleasure and profit,

soul had senses as well as you

How can a mere spirit-an airy so

f a good book, wherein is food for the mind. Healthy food is sometimes presented in so unpalatable a shape, that the taste rejects it; and so it is with truth, which is the mind's food. I instance this, to make it clearer to you. So you see that the soul has at least two senses-sight and taste. That it has feeling needs scarcely an illustration. The mind is hurt quite as easily as the bod

ave thought of this myself! Yes-I see, hear, taste

d the old man. "If the mind have

lison. We say mind and body, to indicate that

hing as a spiritual as wel

ounds, in my ears, like a cont

d substance-but spiritual, not material. You will see this clearer, if you think of the endurance of habit. 'As the twig is bent, the tree's inclined,' is a trite s

ru

urther-if the mind have

rm, if any,"

omething truly human. And believe me, my dear young friend, that our spirits are as really organized substances as our bodies-the difference being, that one is an immaterial and the other a material substance; that we have a s

say," remarked Fanny, "and am bewildere

. And if around the natural body there exist a sphere by which the natural senses may determine its quality of health or impurity, in like manner is there around the spiritual body a sphere of its quality, that may be discerned by the spiritual senses. And now come back to the philosophy of first impressions, a matter so little understood by the world. These first impressions are rarely at fault, and why? Because the spiritual quality is at once discerned by the spiritual sense. But, as this kind of perception does not fall into the region of thought, it is little heeded by the many. Some, in all times, have observed it more closely than others, and we have proverbs that could only have originated from such observation. We are warned to beware of that man from whose presence a little child shrinks. The reason to me is plain. The innocent spirit of the child is affected by the evil sphere of the man, as its body would be if brought near to a

used a moment,

l I g

ening to your words as if they ca

one of life's saddest e

; yet Mr. Allison saw that her eyes grew insta

his rank, how brilliant his intellect, how attractive his exterior person, how perfect his accomplishments. In her inmost spirit she will shrink from him, and feel his presence as a sphere o

regarded his young companion w

om such a lot!" he said,

es resting on the ground, her lips sligh

" asked Mr. Allison, breaking in upon a longer pau

A new light seems to have b

ritual as well as a natura

al quality," said Fanny, partly speaking to herself, a

l, by which qualities may be

ill seemed lost in

appropriate what is good, and reject what is evil; in like manner will our spiritual s

arer!" exclaimed the maiden, while a troubled

d says, when ardent in the pursuit of some desired object, you will not lack for more palpable evidences of his quality than the simple impression which the sphere of his life made at your first meeting. Guarded as men are, who make an exterior different from their real quality, they are never able to assume a perfect disguise-no more than a deformed person can so hide, by dress, the real shape, that the attentive eye cannot discern its lack of symmetry. The eyes of your spirit see truths, as your natural eyes see material objects; and truths are real things. There are true principles, which, if obeyed, lead to what is good; and there are false

rnest response. Yet the maiden's e

remember what I

Mr. Allison-never!" She

or some time. Mr.

dear young friend. It is

an's side, until their ways diverged. Both of t

too serious for your years. I know the dangers that lie in your path of life, and only seek to guard you from evil. Oh! keep you

rly down upon her sweet, young face. Suddenly her eye

ess you

rtled Mr. Allison. Ere he had time for a response, Fanny had turned