THE TOWN. 41

 them. Yet even such simple dreams have some
 disadvantages; with continual looking forward
 life must have become merely expectation, and
 a spurning of the present, although that is
 the lot of most, whether heaven is the name
 of the future or not!
 The past and the present, and the desired fu-
 ture must have been very much alike to these
 long-dead saints. Few of them could have had
 anything but aspirations upon which to medi-
 tate; for what lapse from virtue was possible
 within these sacred walls, except, perhaps, re-
 flection upon some sin committed when in the
 world, for which penance has been done long
 since, with great humiliation and fear?
 It is curious, however, how much pleasure
comes sometimes with such a reflection! Indeed,
in a wicked way, it is an incentive to good living
to observe the spice of enjoyment there is to a
godly soul in a very little sin. Some small and
selfish pleasure, perhaps; a worldly book read,
breathless, with frowning brows or disapproving
murmur;-a criticism, maybe, of a holy thing;
- what excitement in such proximity to the