How life-giving, faith-giving, hope-giving is a sight of the sun, wrapping his mantle of softened glory about him, and descending trustfully to sleep in the kingdom of night, assured that Aurora will open duly her palace of pearl, and his golden chariot with its fiery steeds issue forth in the morning! So does the Soul sink only to rise; sleep only to wake; die only to live: ever changing in state, ever the same in substance. I was thus drawing new vigor from the rays of the sun, when a voice of heavenly sweetness broke upon my ear, a voice chanting this beautiful Scripture: “As the hart panteth after the water-brooks, So panteth my soul after thee, O God! My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: When shall I come and appear before God?” “Are there angels as well as demons in the desert?” said I, to myself. A jutting brow of the hill concealed from me the source whence these sounds appeared to issue. I arose and advanced to explore the mystery. Rounding the intervening slope, I saw a young man seated upon a stone at the mouth of a large cavern. His quick eye detected me in a moment, and he advanced to meet me. He wore a single garment wrought of the finest camel’s hair, which was secured about his waist by a leathern girdle. Simple toilet! But when you looked at his fine head with its long black hair curling about his bare neck, and his beautiful oval face soft as a girl’s, full of all saintly thoughts and heavenly emotions, you knew that you were in the presence of one who was clad interiorly in fine linen and purple. “Good sir,” said I, “behold an unhappy youth, who has just escaped death by robbers, and is lost in this terrible wilderness!” “One must have lived long in the desert to find his way out of it such a dark day as this. It will be clear to-morrow, and I will pilot you into the great highway. Meantime you are welcome to my poor hospitalities—a cave for roof, a bed of skins, water to drink, wild honey and locusts to eat; that is all.” “I gladly accept your offer; and were your proffered gifts still more humble, they would be sanctified by the light of brotherly love you throw upon them.” I seated myself on the stone while he went into the cave and brought forth his simple food and drink, of which I partook heartily. “To whom am I indebted for this kind reception?” I inquired, as I finished my meal. “I am John,” he answered, “the son of Zacharias; and I dwell in the desert until the time of my showing unto Israel.” A deep human groan from the interior of the cavern now startled me, and I sprang from my seat. “What is that?” I exclaimed. “My poor old patient has awakened. I must go and examine him.” “He takes in the sick as well as the wandering,” said I to myself. “Surely the angels must protect him in some peculiar manner.”