It is a destiny, that every life be, to a greater or less degree,
fraught with that heart-purifying element, which we term sorrow. And who
would have it otherwise? Who would glide passively along the bright
river of smiles, without one taste of that chiefest of disciplines,
sorrow? How grateful should we be to Him who has permitted us to drink
of the same cup with his only Son! for he was a "man of sorrows, and
acquainted with grief." Who is so blind that will not see the kind
designs of our Father, in the disposition of those works of his hands
which he pronounced good. Truly His eye is all-seeing; the overflow of
his tender mercies toward the children of men are unbounded. What cell
of goodness is there within the human heart, of which the breath of
sorrow cannot raise the valve? In a word, what countless numbers of
souls have been stayed in their mad career, have been saved from eternal
destruction, through the chastening rod of the Lord.

It was the morning after the sailing of the Nautilus; the Sea-flower had
arisen with the sun, and calling for old Nep, as was her wont, to
accompany her on her morning's walk, she tripped lightly along, humming
a farewell to the last altheas, as they nodded their shrivelled heads,
in view of their departure; but their words of adieu were made brief, by
a voice as of one in distress; and coming near, it proved to be the
musical Vingo, trilling the wild melodies of his old Virginia days.

"Good morning, Vingo; you must have been up a long time to have been
away down to the shore; you must take it easier, and get more sleep.
Even old Nep dislikes to leave his warm kennel this cool morning, for he
did not come at my call, and so I would not disturb him."

"Ah, missy, de old fellow am getting along in years as well as de rest
ob us; and if it wasn't for de gray hairs, dat will keep at de top ob de