I was up the next morning be fore the October sunrise,and away through the wild and the woodland. The risingof the sun was noble in the cold and warmth of itpeeping down the spread of light, he raised hisshoulder heavily over the edge of grey mountain andwavering length of upland. Beneath his gaze the dew-fogs dipped, and crept to crept to the hollow places;then stole away in line and column, holding skirts,and clinging subtly at the sheltering corners whererock hung over grassland, while the brave lines of thehills came forth, one beyond other gliding.
The woods arose in folds, like drapery of awakened mountains, stately with a depth of awe, andmemory of the tempests. Autumn’s mellow hand was upon them, as they owned already, touched withgold and red and olive, and their joy towards the sun was less to a bridegroom than a father.
Yet before the floating impress of the woods could clear it self, suddenly the gladsome lightleaped over hill and valley, casting amber, blue, and purple, and a tint of rich red rose;according to the scene they lit on, and the curtain flung around; yet all alike dispelling fearand the cloven hoof of darkness, all on the wings of hope advancing, and proclaiming, “God ishere!” then life and joy sprang reassured from every crouching hollow; every flower, and budand bird had a fluttering sense of them; and all the flashing of God’s gaze merged into softbeneficence.
So, perhaps, shall break upon us that eternal morning, when crag and chasm shall be no more,neither hill and valley, nor great unvintaged ocean; but all things shall arise, and shine in thelight of the Father’s countenance, because itself is risen.
