What spell has o’er the populous city pass’d!
The wonted current of its life is stay’d:
Its sports, its gainful schemes, are earthward cast,
As though their vileness were at once display’d;
The roar of trade has ceased, and on the air
Come holy songs, and solemn sounds of prayer.
William Howitt.

A bright, clear, cool Sabbath! Perfect peace reigned in that city; not a sound disturbed its quiet. All the stores closed; no riding or driving; no groups of idle people congregated anywhere; clean quiet streets only filled with people on their way to the house of God. It was a striking contrast to many of our towns in the States, where multitudes of people are riding and driving, buying and selling, crowding to the drinking saloons, and in many other ways desecrating God’s holy day.

248Mrs. Lester told Norman that she wished him to learn that beautiful promise in the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah.

“If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words.

“Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”

“Mother,” said Norman, “people do not seem to mind traveling on Sunday. Every one was surprised that you hurried from St. Paul, so as not to be on board the boat on Sunday.”

“I think, my dear child, that those who fear God will keep his commandments. And this commandment to keep holy the 249Sabbath-day was spoken not only amid the thunders of Sinai, but amid the blissful solitudes of Eden. Prophet after prophet warned the Sabbath-breaker of coming woe, and promised blessings to those who remembered the Sabbath to keep it holy. Listen to the beautiful promise God gives to those who keep his Sabbaths: ‘Even unto them will I give in my house, and within my walls, a place and a name better than of sons and daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.’

“Just think of the things here promised, a home, a place in God’s house, a position better than that even of sons and daughters, and a name never to be forgotten. What a reward for the faithful and joyful keeping of the Sabbath, in itself a happiness. But, Norman, read the seventh verse of the same chapter, (Isaiah lvi,) and you will find more blessings promised.”

250Norman found the place and read:

“Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar.”

In the morning Norman and his mother, accompanied by Mr. Campbell, went to the cathedral. It is a large handsome new church, and the grassy turf around it, shaded by fine trees, gave a very pleasant aspect to the entrance. As they stood near the door awaiting the pew-opener to show them to seats, a lady in a large square pew in the corner invited them in. It was very warm; the pew was under the gallery and closely curtained, and the words of the unseen minister, as he began the service, were inaudible. Mrs. Lester w............