The day ended, and still evening drew on. Then did nature appear in silent magnificence; while the silver rays of the full orbed moon shed a majesty on each surrounding object. The lofty summit of the cloud-topt mountain appeared in solemn grandeur; the dusky forest reflected a yellow radiance; and the rolling wonders of the skies glittered over our heads: while the awful stillness that reigned, interrupted only by the lonely strains of the whip-poor-will, served to exalt the soul, and distend the heart.] Albert returned home with a leisurely step, his feelings were raised in devotional gratitude to that beneficent Being, on whom we depend for every present and future felicity, and who had surrounded us with so many blessings, that conspire to compose the mind to calmness and serenity. [_NY Weekly_: Chearfulness: Indeed, true piety is an invaluable treasure; and happy are they who esteem its salutary tendency. It meliorates the morals and disposition, and promotes present and future felicity.] CHAPTER XXX. Ceux qui ne sont gens de bien qu'en apparence--sont obligés de se contraindre, beaucoup, et de garder de grandes mesures, afin de passer pour se qu'ils ne sont pas. [Abbé Claude Le Ragois: _Instruction sur l'histoire de France et romaine_ (1737): Proverbes ou Sentences: Ceux qui ne sont gens de bien qu'en aparence, sont obligez de se contraindre beaucoup, & de garder de grandes mesures, afin de passer pour ce qu'ils ne sont pas....] Alida ruminated on her lonely situation. She reflected on former days, and the many happy hours that had gone by for ever, when the roses of health had arrayed her cheeks, and gay thought had filled her fancy, and every object was decked with the charms of fascination, when her heart was unacquainted with sorrow, and experienced serenity and happiness without alloy. She deplored the loss of a kind father; in him she was deprived of a friend, who could never be again supplied to her, and in whose society her mind was in a constant progressive state of improvement. His filial affection, his kindness, his watchful endeavours for her welfare, were evinced by a careful anxiety and pains to enlighten her mind with those qualities and acquirements, that would be most conducive to enlarge her sphere of usefulness in life, and furnish her with the means of rational pleasure, and to blend with her personal appearance the more fascinating charms of a well-improved understanding. [_NY Weekly_: Essayist No. II: To review the transactions of former days, the many sportive hours which have long been past.... 'Twas then health and beauty bloomed upon the cheek, and every object was decked with the charms of fascination. 'Twas then the heart ignorant of vice and unacquainted with sorrow or misfortune, enjoyed every pleasure without alloy.] [Hannah More: On Dissipation: