THE PASTOR. ARGUMENT. Farewell to the Valley-Reflections.-A large and populous vale described. The Pastor's Dwelling, and some account of him.--Church and Monuments-The Solitary musing, and where.-Roused.-In the Churchyard the Solitary communicates the thoughts which had recently passed through his mind.-Lofty tone of the Wanderer's discourse of yesterday adverted to.-Rite of Baptism, and the professions accompanying it, contrasted with the real state of human life.Apology for the Rite.-Inconsistency of the best men.-Acknowledgment that practice falls far below the injunctions of duty as existing in the mind.--General complaint of a falling off in the value of life after the time of youth.-Outward appearances of content and happiness in degree illusive.--Pastor approaches.-Appeal made to him. -His answer.-Wanderer in sympathy with him.-Suggestion that the least ambitious inquirers may be most free from error- The Pastor is desired to give some portraits of the living or dead from his own observation of life among these Mountains-and for what purpose.--Pastor consents.-Mountain cottage.--Excellent quality of its Inhabitants.-Solitary expresses his pleasure; but denies the praise of virtue to worth of this kind.-Feelings of the Priest before he enters upon his account of persons interred in the Churchyard.Graves of unbaptized Infants.-Funeral and sepulchral observances, whence.-Ecclesiastical establishments, whence derived.-Profession of belief in the doctrine of Immortality. "FAREWELL, deep Valley, with thy one rude House, And its small lot of life-supporting fields, To the still influx of the morning light Open, and day's pure cheerfulness, but veiled From human observation, as if yet Primeval forests wrapped thee round with dark By Nature destined from the birth of things Upon the side Of that brown ridge, sole outlet of the vale The chain that would not slacken, was at length Obscurity, and undisturbed repose. -Knowledge, methinks, in these disordered times, Should be allowed a privilege to have Her anchorites, like piety of old; Men, who, from faction sacred, and unstained That meditation and research may guide His privacy to principles and powers Discovered or invented; or set forth, Through his acquaintance with the ways of truth, In lucid order; so that when his course Is run, some faithful eulogist may say, He sought not praise, and praise did overlook His unobtrusive merit; but his life, Sweet to himself, was exercised in good Acknowledgments of gratitude sincere Accompanied these musings; fervent thanks For my own peaceful lot and happy choice; A choice that from the passions of the world Withdrew, and fixed me in a still retreat; Sheltered, but not to social duties lost, Secluded, but not buried; and with song Cheering my days, and with industrious thought; With the ever-welcome company of books; With virtuous friendship's soul-sustaining aid, And with the blessings of domestic love. Thus occupied in mind I paced along, Following the rugged road, by sledge or wheel Worn in the moorland, till I overtook My two Associates, in the morning sunshine Halting together on a rocky knoll, Whence the bare road descended rapidly To the green meadows of another vale. Here did our pensive Host put forth his hand In sign of farewell. "Nay," the old Man said, "The fragrant air its coolness still retains ; To his own covert; as a billow, heaved Fair dwellings, single, or in social knots; Some scattered o'er the level, others perched On the hill sides, a cheerful quiet scene, "As mid some happy valley of the Alps," Save for yon stately House beneath whose roof |