make a near survey of this lovely world, and return in good time for evening worship in the cathedral.

While thus engaged, one of the Redeemed entered the saloon where they were sitting, and, addressing Peter, said to him, "The angel of Peter Schlemihl has sent me he wishes you to accompany me to the metropolis, where a new oratorio, by Handel, is to be performed this day, at twelve, in the Academy of Music." This at once settled the question as for the day's occupation, for Mrs. Jay asked permission to go with Peter, which was promptly granted by the messenger; and the deacon and wife were also earnestly invited, but the deacon declined, for, he said, "Neither Mrs. Colgate nor myself have yet attained to such knowledge as will enable us to comprehend this oratorio."

The excellent deacon and his lady walked with them to the portico, and there took leave of Mrs. Jay and Peter, with warm invitations to return whenever it should please them to do so. It was a bright day; the air warm and full of fragrance, and with a joy only known to the Redeemed, they rose gracefully into the air, until they had reached a pleasing height, and which afforded the best bird's-eye view of the country over which they were floating.

"It is somewhat surprising, sir," said Mrs. Jay to their guide, "that any one can leave such a world as this without one sigh of regret."

He replied: "To us, of earth, it is wonderful; but

their wills are one with God's; and then they know that every change is one of progress, and that joy is their heritage. How unlike our earth! but then our joy is heightened by contrast."

"Doubtless," replied Peter; "but it is learned in a school of temptation and trial."

"It is a source of terrible apprehension even now," replied the guide, "to think of the precipices of destruction upon which we once stood, unconscious or reckless of the fiery billows burning below us, and from which we were saved by the ministry of angels, thus perfecting the love of God our Saviour. These people, in common with all intelligences unfallen, listen with delight to the stories of the redeemed, especially of those who have come out of great tribulations, and washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. They but feebly comprehend what is the height and depth of the love of

God in the redemption of sinners;

and the chiefest

vehicle of these great ideas is music. This is, therefore, the method adopted by the glorious men of our world to make known to other worlds, such as this, the mys tery made manifest in the life, sufferings and death of the Lord Jesus Christ. To-day we are to listen to a new labor of Handel's genius, aided by others as glori ously endowed, which is to tell of the Nativity of Christ. I am sure you will be amply repaid for your visit."

"May I ask, sir, where were you born, and in what age ?" asked Mrs. Jay.

"With all pleasure, madam. God was pleased to give me my existence in England, in the year 1760. My name was Richard Godfrey. My lot was one of toil. I was brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, under the ministry of William Romaine, of pious memory. There lay hid in my soul aspirations which filled me with longings I could never define. I knew not what it was thus seeking for life and development, until I was led by my trade to labor on the mansion of the Earl of Stafford. For the first time in my life I entered a gallery of sculpture and paintings. Then it was I began to breathe. My soul took its first flight, and I was lost in the visions of beauty that I saw all around me; but it was all too brief, for my opportunities of seeing paintings and statuary were like gleams of sunshine on the dark and desolate wastes of existence. The temple of art was closed upon me in time, but here it has been thrown open to me heaven-wide."

CHAPTER III.

A Day spent in the World of Art and Beauty-Of the new St. Peter's built by Michael Angelo-Mrs. Jay and her friend Peter meet with their neighbor, Mr. Laurens -The new Oratorio by Handel is performed, aided by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven-Of the Language and Literature of the World of Art-They reach the Happy Valley-Trial of Skill with a Mocking-bird-The Enigmas of Faith Discussed-Laurens introduces his friends to St. Perpetua-They attend VespersThe Temple and Worship described.

As they thus floated along in pleasant converse, they often paused in their flight to look down on cities, crowded with edifices, the work of many centuries. After circling this globe for more than four hours, they reached the Metropolitan City, which covered an immense plateau of high land, surrounded with mountains capped with snow; in the very centre of which lay a glassy lake of pure water, forever supplied by rivulets trickling down the sides of these mountains. Though situated near the equator of this globe, the atmosphere was cool and bracing, and this city was regarded as admirably well situated for the prosecution of the higher branches in art, because of the purity of its climate.

Led by their guide, they alighted upon the tessellated

pavement of a grand square. On either side of them, as they stood gazing about, were sculptured fountains, throwing up plumes of crystal water into the air, which came down in diamond drops. Slender obelisks rose to

a great height, in front of a majestic temple, which filled up one side of the square, surpassing all they had conceived as possible for created beings to have built.

"This grand temple," said the guide, "is in the form of the Greek cross, and is a reproduction of St. Peter's, by Michael Angelo.* He was made happy by being appointed architect on his arrival here, which happened immediately after his death; and on its completion, he was sent to a more glorious world, where his lofty genius will find scope for yet higher conceptions of his art-the art of arts," said Godfrey with emphasis.

"Is architecture so regarded here ?" asked Peter. "I remember to have seen this claimed for it by Vitruvius; but it was not so regarded in our day, certainly not in the United States."

"For the good reason," replied Godfrey, with warmth, "that there are but few men capable of comprehending all the demands made by the art. It is all that Vitruvius has said of it, and Michael Angelo has

* St. Peter's was first designed by Bramante, who was followed by Sangallo, who was associated with Raphael. On the death of these eminent men, in 1546, Michael Angelo Buonarotti was appointed sole architect. His design was a Greek cross. It was changed by Carlo Maderno, internally as well as externally, to the shape of the Latin cross.-Letters of an Architect, by Jos. Woods. London, 1828.