The Path Of Life. —An Allegory.

upon the ground whilst the heavy burdens were being placed on ' them . All was bustle and confusion , for at the moment of sunrise they were to commence their march . Calmly and slowly rose the king of clay upon the scene , turning darkness into light as his glorious rays pierced the morning clouds that herald his approach , shedding all aroundThe cavalcade moved

life and beauty on . onward , joyously aud free , for the air was lightsome , and a rrentle breeze had sprung up with the daylight . It appeared to cheer the hearts of the pilgrims as they wended on' their way : the little ones seemed to have no care , ancl saw no shade of sorrow to check their present joy : And methought I saw , over the golden sand , far , far

away in the east , a mighty mountain , glittering in the ( dories of the sun , which rose from behind its topmost peak ; and it was revealed to me that thither would tend tho steps of the band of pilgrims , who would pass over this mountain into the Land of Shadows . And I watched to see how they fared on their journey . There were amongst the rest three children who struck

me more than the others ; why , I cannot tell , unless it might be that they all were beautiful and more unprotected than the rest ; therefore , perchance they claimed my sympathy . It seemed to me that all the pilgrims had books in their hands or fastened to their girdles . Some of them appeared to read much from them and to derive both

comfortcon-, solation , and joy from their persusal , whilst others never once opened the volumes , but let the clasp get rusty at their side , until , even if . they wished , it was difficult to -unclasp and read them . And the little band moved onward towards the far off mountain chain .

The rosy beams at the first dawn of day had changed into the yellow lustre of the morning-, and the purple shadows vanished , making blue and beautiful the distant hills which were before so sombre in their hue . Armed Arab horsemen sometimes hovered near the

travellers , but always left them unmolested , only bidding them beware of the dangers that would beset them at the mountain . And presently they came to an oasis in tho desert , and there they stayed a little while and refreshed themselves . Tall palm trees threw a grateful shade on all around , and sparkling limpid waters gushed forth from a rock at the base of a bold bluff cliff and cooled

the thirsty ground . And there were many of these pleasant halting-places on the road , where they stopped to rest awhile , and then they would away again over the sandy desert under the morning sun . The children knew but little care and sorrow , for the way was smooth to them , and the sands were not yet parched by the burning heat of noon-day . So they were k

. PPy > joyous , and free , and would gambol along by the sides of their elder friends , or laugh delightedly as they wore placed on the backs of the camels , that walked care-Full y and slowly , as if they knew the precious burdens they - were carrying . The morning of life is often free from trouble , and temptations aud trials come but seldom with all their until

wrce mid-day . So they reached the foot of the mountain , and the company halted for the last time . Then I saw that each child was presented with a book , s » ch as the others wore at their girdles , and each had an ^ Pen-stock or staff given to help him on his way ; and « " 5 T were told to read this book oftentimes and it would guide them in the right path , and tho staff would at all mes support them on their pilgrimage . " Lean always thee " Staff ' " I heard ° ne Say ' " and lt sha 11 never fail

So I followed in the footsteps of the three children raom I had noticed at the first . At first they all started oF ^ Sether up the beaten path that led to the summit Wall : -, % hil 1 ; hut I noticed that Eriel and Agathon WUV 1 i - ifck tile " * staves in tncu' hands , and Agathon ' lecl his book by his side , and ever and anon looked

therein ; whilst Arnad tied his book to the leathern girdle round his waist , and fastened his alpenstock over bis back , that it might not incommode him in his progress —so he said . The sun had risen to its topmost height , and shone down brightly and hotly upon them all ; and the mountain-sides were covered with softest verdure and Most

beautiful flowers , and birds of brilliant plumage flew by , and filled the air with their songs of joy and gladness . And the graceful form of tho gazelle was seen bounding through the open glades at the mountain's base ; and the _ great flamingo , with his . splendid scarlet wings , rose steanily and slowly iii tho air , and flew away as they went by , leaving his companions , the heron and the stork ,

beside the reedy pool from which he sprang . And the chattering monkeys , and the parrots and macaws , with their gaudy feathers of crimson , blue , and grey , and the treacherous gliding snakes , ringed and barred with chrome and ebon tints , were all there , sunning themselves and basking in the warmth of the summer day . And it pleased the children to watch them as they passed .

" May I go , Eriel , to catch that pretty butterfly that flutters on before us ? " said Arnad , looking wistfully at his elder brother has he spoke . "It has only gone a little way out of the path , brother , and I will come back again directly . " " Go along , then ; and mind you return quickly , "replied Eriel . " There surely is no harm in that , " he

added . " Arnad ; you must not go , indeed you must not , " little Agathon cried . " My book says straight is the path and narroiu the way . Do not go dear Arnad !" Arnad looked at both his brothers , and seemed undecided what to do ; but the soft pleading voice and earnest manner of little Agathon prevailed at last , and he crept along by the side of his brothers , looking longingly at the gay insects that fluttered over his path . Eriel soon grew tired of carrying his staff ; for the way was not

steep yet , and he did not want to use it , so he fastened it on his back , as Arnad had done ; but he held the book still in his hand , though he did not seem to care to look at it . He was annoyed , I thought , that Arnad had obeyed Agathon ' s wish when he had given his permission to pursue his pastime out of the beaten path , and he soon ceased to hold his book in his hand , and fastened it to

his girdle like his younger brother . Presently a small richly-coloured lizard , glistening in the sunbeams , with its superb ornaments like gold and precious stones , crawled out of its hiding-place , beneath a ledge of rock , and darted affrightedly across the children ' s path , attracting the notice of Arnad . " Oh , look , " he cried , " at that wee bright creature . I

must catch him . Let mo go ! " And without waiting for an answer , and in spite of Agathon ' s objections and warnings , he galloped off to seek his puny prey . " Won't you come and look at it ? " said . Eriel . " We need not stay long , and I am tired of toiling up here without a little amusement . " " NoI cannot Eriel : know our dutis to

, go , you y march straight on , and if we do not keep to tho path , but wander away for pleasure only , the night will overtake us and we shall be lost . " " But we can easily get to the top of the mountain before nightfall , " urged Eriel ; " see , it wants six hours now before the sun sets , and we have already come a good way on our journey . "

" No , Eriel , I dare not , " was the response . "And do you stay with me . I should not like to miss you when I reach the summit , and pass away into the Silent Land . " " Never fear for me : I and Arnaud will soon come up to you , but I must go , " Eriel replied ; and with that off he went in search of his brother , who had wandered to the edge of a deep ravine at some distance in search of some new fancy ; for already , child-like , he had forgotten the green lizard he had set out for . So Agathon wended his way onward and upward along