over, they called for my father, and with me in his hand he went on. The pit rose to us like Christians, and shouted and hallooed as I have been used to hear. I felt sorry to leave them: they are a pleasant audience to act to, and exceedingly civil to us, and I have got rather attached to them. New York, too, seems nearer home than any other place, and I felt sorry to leave it. When we had withdrawn, and were going up stairs, we heard three distinct and tremendous cheers. On asking what that meant, we learnt 'twas a compliment to us--thank 'em kindly. Came home: found Mr. ---- had sent me Contarini Fleming. Began reading it, and could scarce eat my supper for doing so. * * * * * * * * * * _Sunday, 2d._ While dressing, received a "sweet note" from Mrs. ----, accompanied with a volume of Bryant's poetry, which, as I like very much, I am her obliged. Swallowed two mouthfuls of bread, and away to church. It was very crowded, and a worthy woman had taken possession of the corner seat in Mr. ----'s pew, with a fidgetting little child, which she kept dancing up and down every two minutes: though in church, I wished for the days of King Herod. What strange thoughts did occur to me to-day during service! 'Tis the first Sunday in Advent. The lesson for the day contained the history of the Annunciation. What a mystery our belief is! how seldom it is that we consider and, as it were, _take hold_ of what we say we believe, and when we do so, how bewildered and lost we become,--how lost among a thousand wild imaginations,--how driven to and fro by a thousand doubts,--how wrecked amidst a thousand fears! Surely we should be humble: we should indeed remember that we _cannot know_, and not strive for that knowledge which our souls will lose themselves in seeking for, and our overstrained minds crack in reaching at. * * * * * * * * * * At the end of service they sang Luther's hymn. I cried with nervous excitement, not at that, but at my recollection of Braham's singing it with that terrible trumpet accompaniment, that used to make my heart stand still and listen. Stayed and took the sacrament. * * * * * * * * * *