Children's stories; Christian life -- Juvenile fiction; Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction; Poor -- Juvenile fiction
into harbour. Villages, churches, country-seats, farm-houses, and
cottages, were scattered over every part of the southern valley. In this
direction also, at the foot of the hill where I was stationed, appeared
the ancient mansion which I had just quitted, embellished with its woods,
groves, and gardens.
South-eastward I saw the open ocean, bounded only by the horizon. The
sun shone, and gilded the waves with a glittering light that sparkled in
the most brilliant manner. More to the east, in continuation of that
line of hills where I was placed, rose two downs, one beyond the other,
both covered with sheep, and the sea just visible over the furthest of
them, as a terminating boundary. In this point ships were seen, some
sailing, others at anchor. Here the little river which watered the
southern valley finished its course, and ran through meadows into the
sea, in an eastward direction.
On the north the sea appeared like a noble river, varying from three to
seven miles in breadth, between the banks of the opposite coast and those
of the island which I inhabited. Immediately underneath me was a fine
woody district of country, diversified by many pleasing objects. Distant
towns were visible on the opposite shore. Numbers of ships occupied the
sheltered station which this northern channel afforded them. The eye
roamed with delight over an expanse of near and remote beauties, which
alternately caught the observation, and which harmonized together, and
produced a scene of peculiar interest.
Westward the hills followed each other, forming several intermediate and
partial valleys, in a kind of undulations, like the waves of the sea;
and, bending to the south, completed the boundary of the larger valley
before described, to the southward of the hill on which I sat. In many
instances the hills were cultivated with corn to their very summits, and
seemed to defy the inclemency of the weather, which, at these heights,
usually renders the ground incapable of bringing forth and ripening the
crops of grain. One hill alone, the highest in elevation, and about ten
miles to the south-westward, was enveloped in a cloud, which just
permitted a dim and hazy sight of a signal-post, a light-house, and an
ancient chantry, built on its summit.
Amidst these numerous specimens of delightful scenery I found a mount for
contemplation, and here I indulged it. "How much of the natural beauties
of Paradise still remain in the world, although its spiritual character
has been so awfully defaced by sin! But when divine grace renews the
heart of the fallen sinner, Paradise is regained, and much of its beauty
restored to the soul. As this prospect is compounded of hill and dale,
land and sea, woods and plains, all sweetly blended together, and
relieving each other in the landscape; so do the gracious dispositions
wrought in the soul produce a beauty and harmony of scene to which it was
before a stranger."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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