vestigation and suggest fresh thoughts for the reader. Their very lack of method and formality contributes to their interest; and the way in which he often introduces his theme, reminds one of the winding carriage-way to a country villa; or, to use his own description, "I have seen school-boys, on a warm July day, about to jump from a sea-wall into the azure depths of ocean. But after their garments were laid aside, and all was ready for the plunge, long time sat they upon the tepid stones and paddled with idle feet in the water." He was just about plunging, or rather "pitching into" the able author of a book entitled "Man and his Dwelling-place;" but he sits "paddling" through some four pages, and then plunges in medias res, laying aside now "childish things," and giving us proof of his intelligence and skill in philosophical discussion. Just as our interest was deepening, however, he abruptly exclaims: "No! I cannot get on. I cannot forget that May Magazine that is lying in the corner. I must be thoroughly done with it before I can fix my thoughts upon the work which is to be considered." The trouble was, Mr. Buckle had contributed to the May number of "Fraser" certain views on Christianity, that seemed to our author false, not to say blasphemous. And he cannot get on with the other case till he has vented his indignation on Mr. Buckle. Having done this through several pages more, and afterwards "in a moral sense" extended his hand to the belabored culprit, he takes in hand once again what he had twice dropped. "Twice already," says he, "has the writer put his mind at that book; but it has each time swerved like a middling hunter from a very stiff fence, and taken a circle round the field. Now at last the thing must really be done." Well, we have never read the book he makes such an ado about; but judging from the reviewer's representation of it, the reader will wonder why he need have made all this preliminary fuss. However, he gives us some good orthodox ideas, "line upon line," in combatting a theory, the very reverse of the popular one, as to Man in his Relation to Nature. But while this effort tests, more perhaps than any other essay, his orthodoxy and philosophical acumen, the

review of "Friends in Council" is most genial and appreciative. And we cannot sum up his own characteristics better, than in the following sentence that indicates what he expected, from his previous knowledge of the author of Friends in Council. "Of course there will be much wisdom and depth of insight; much strong practical sense: there will be playfulness, pensiveness, pathos; great fairness and justice; much kindness of heart; something of the romantic element; and as for style, always clear and comprehensive; never slovenly; sometimes remarkable for a certain simple felicity; sometimes rising into force and eloquence of a very high order; a style, in short, not to be parodied, not to be caricatured, not to be imitated except by writing as well.”

If there is any one class of readers in particular who may derive entertainment and profit from the essays whose title we have placed at the head of this Article, it is those who are themselves country parsons. The day we trust is not far distant, when every rural pastor will, like our Author, make the best and most of his situation in the country. His parsonage and surroundings may not answer fully to the description of that quiet manse somewhere north ofthe Tweed; but it may be, especially here in our own New England, much more like it than he at first imagines. The trouble is, ministers in the country are not apt to appreciate the advantages peculiar to a rural home. Some of them, in fact, seem as much out of their element here as though sent out by their Master like wayward city collegians to "rusticate " among green fields and babbling brooks as a part of their trying discipline. An ample gardenplot is spread out beneath the study-window, but only interesting to them as illustrating the "parable of the tares,” and supplying, they hardly know how, vegetables for dinner. Pigs and poultry they only tolerate as pets for the children, and convenient for roasts and stews. And as for the horse, what a queer genius that "country parson " must be to fondle and talk to that "Old Boy" of his in the stable, and perch himself on the edge of the manger one morning and jot down on a scrap of paper spread on the horse's face, a thought or two that was suggested by "Old Boy" himself; nay, go so

far as to write them out for publication, all redolent of the stable! Perhaps they are of those said to be "settled on horseback;" but unfortunately for their health, it is only in a figure of speech; only by-and-by they are off, on a "galloping consumption" for that bourn whence no rider returns. Once in awhile they take a ride to please their wives—or at the call of duty; but half of the profit, and all their patience, are lost in the final operation of unharnessing and stabling. "Sermons in stones!" Shakespeare must have been very fortunate to find them; for in all their experience at sermonizing, nothing of the sort has ever come to light. Discourses fit for them to preach have been the result of hard delving down among fundamental principles, and hunting panting syllables through time and space,

26 From Gaul to Greece and thence to Noah's Ark."

And as for "books in the running brooks," what a stretch of the poet's fancy to discover such! Their only idea of them is realized in the library and book-stall. To such, an "out-door study" is as visionary as castles in the air-the only real one is that close little apartment up stairs or down, where hours after the rest of the house is hushed, the midnight lamp beams silently on a face "sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought." A clergyman must love his study, we all agree, if he would walk worthy of his high vocation, whether in city or country; but the hoarded tomes of "thoughts that breathe," are not to be his only oracles, nor household and people the only members of his charge. All out-of-doors there is spread a volume which he who runs may read, older than type or parchment, but as fresh to-day as when first issuing from that hand which "made the country "-ah, ye into whose souls that scanty library of well-thumbed folios and octavos is only sending leanness, and whose fund of thought and illustration is well nigh exhausted, go forth as Isaac did, and meditate at the dewy even-tide. Go out as the Psalmist did and drink in inspiration from the firmament by day and night. Consider the lilies of the field as your Great Teacher did before you, and even watch the hen as she gathers the chickens under her

wings-notice the cattle upon a thousand hills, and the good and faithful servant nearer home, that is whinnying for his master-be not ashamed to cherish, like Cowper, even some little pet of a rabbit, and to say with him, "I would not tread causelessly on a worm," and everywhere keep mind and heart open for thoughts and impressions. Having gone through some such experience, will not the deficiency of books and ideas be in a measure supplied?

There is some fault to be found in this connection with the people. Singular as it may seem, in certain country parishes the pastor's taste for out-door recreations and zeal for rural improvement and development, are apt to be judged as so many hindrances to study. So it comes to pass, that he is constrained by "outside pressure" to forego much healthful exercise and diversion in the garden and orchard, till failing energies and weakening nerves warn pastor and people of a fatal error somewhere. Here and there some narrow minded parishioner begrudges his minister the possession of a horse, as too expensive a luxury, or as in danger of running away with his spiritual-mindedness-and would as soon expect to see him and his family at the circus as at the horse-show. The conviction however is fast coming to be unanimous, that "leaders of the sacramental host" need to be mounted, as essential to their being "thoroughly furnished;" and as to their style of dress and equipage, and rate of locomotion, this is claimed to be one of those "domestic concerns" they are competent to regulate for themselves.

Had our limits permitted, we should have been glad to devote a page or two at least to our author's idea of recreations for the pen whose office is to write sermons. While his first thoughts and solid work were reserved for the pulpit, there were many feelings and fancies left, that found free and easy expression in writing as he did for the press. But we can only add our humble testimony to the reality of literary recre ation, especially while journeying pleasantly along through his pages, and putting on record these jottings by the way. As we now part company, we will still hold fast the clue he has tendered every fellow-mortal for threading life's labyrinth,

and that "philosopher's stone" of his, which has already transmuted many leaden moments into gold.

The old bond of sympathy loosens somewhat while we read of the "country parson," as now the Rev. Mr. Boyd of Edinburgh. But though the shepherd no more leads his flock in green pastures and beside the still waters, we seem to see the same familiar "crook" putting forth thoughts and memories of country life, quietly as did Aaron's rod bring forth "buds and bloomed blossoms."