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1852.]
A deep gloom o’erspread the aisles—the altar
lamp grew dim,
And fainter still the echoes came from the dying
vesper hymn,
She listened for an answering voice—but no re
sponse was given :
The marble steps were cold as death, and silence
was in heaven.
11.
Within that dim cathedral church once more she
stood alone,
When from her cheek, and brow, and eye, youth’s
loveliness had flown ;
She wandered down the gloomy aisles—no wor
shipper was there;
And on the altar step she knelt in the depth of her
despair.
The sunset’s parting gleam came down to kiss the
pictured pane ;
Upon the marble stone it flung full many a crim
son stain.
There was a hush within the air—no holy chant
arose
To fill the aisles with joy, and break the spirit like
repose.
A broken reed, she slowly bent—life’s passion
dream was o’er,
And there were tears—repentant tears—not like
to those of yore ;
And murmurs of a nobler faith fixed on the sa
cred shrine.
“Oh human love so false, so vain ! O love that
is divine!”
Fair shone the symbols of the cross—the altar
lamp grew bright;
There came a gleam like trembling stars athwart
her spirit’s night;
She listened for an answering voice—the peace of
of God was given ;
The marble steps were cold as death, but gladness
was in heaven!
Correspondence of the Southern l.iterary Gazette.
MUSICAL CORRESPONDENCE.
New- York, Oct. 20, 1852.
My Dear Richards : —We are now suf
fering from the reaction of our surfeit of
musical feasting. For several weeks we
have nightly had some brilliant musical
attraction to delight us, creating an ex
citement not only strong, but steady and
constant. So steady indeed that the last
concerts of Sontag and Alboni were the
best of the series. The concerts of Ma
dame Sontag were, beyond a doubt, the
finest ever given in America, not even
excepting those of Madame Goldschmidt.
Every thing about her was of the first
class. The orchestra surpassed all pre
vious orchestras in mechanical perfection.
Badiali, as a baritone, has had no rival in
this country. Jaili is a pianist of great
brilliancy and power ; and the boy won
der, Paul Julien, is a violinist second only
to Vieuxtemps in mechanical perfection,
and almost equal to Sivori in passion and
■expression. These, with Madame Sontag
and Carl Eckert, formed the staple of
SOUTHERN LITERARY GAZETTE.
the Sontag concerts, and I exaggerate
nothing in saying that they were the best
ever given in this country. To Carl Eck
ert’s judicious and admirable method of
conducting must be attributed very much
of their success, as well as their excel
lence. He is a thorough musician, well
skilled in all that appertains to his art,
and a distinguished composer in a style
at once popular and scientific. Os Ma
dame Sontag, it is useless to speak now
at length, my space will not allow of it,
besides I can sum up all 1 have to say in
one sentence —Sontag is perfection.
Madame Alboni is a glorious artiste,
well deserving to be as she was, the pet
of Europe. I could not say too much in
praise of her magnificent voice, her per
fection of style, and her exquisite execu
tion ; but in all the accessories of her con
certs she was unfortunate. Sangiovanni
is a pleasing tenor legere, with good style
but small voice, while Rovere is a buffo
in every sense of the word. Then Ar
diti led the worst orchestra that w 7 e have
ever had here, and played for hours
trashy variations upon negro airs, for the
delectation of our refined audiences. I
cannot but hope that when Alboni re
turns to us, she will see the policy of
changing her arrangements in toto. At
Niblo’s we are to have the opera in No
vember. The company to consist of Anna
Bishop, the charming Rosa Jaques, who
will, assuredly, make a great sensation
with young Braham Guidi Leach, Strini
and Coletti, the whole directed by Boch
sa. Floton’s Opera of “ Martha ” will be
the first produced. At the Broadway,
Maeder’s Opera of the Peri,” or the
“Enchanted Fountain ,” will be produced
early in December, in most splendid
style. Miss Ritchings, of whom report
speaks highly, will be prima donna. Os
new r musical publications, we have Wal
lace’s “Souvenir de Varsovie,” and an Im
promptu en forme de I’Etude. These are
indeed admirable contributions to our pi
ano forte repertoire. The Mayurka must
be ranked with Chopin’s finest, it is entire
ly characteristic, replete with delicious,
melancholy and beautiful melody, enrich
ed by the most subtle and luscious harmo
ny. ‘1 he Impromptu is a study or prelude,
in the style of the old masters. It is a mas
terly effort of genius, and must add ano
ther glory to a name already loved and
honoured where music is understood. I
think that I have chatted enough for to
day, and therefore all else I have to say,
I leave unsaid until my next, whieh will
follow shortly.
Very truly, your’s,
CuJUS SuMMA EsT.
Lesson Tor Sunday, October 31.
THE BELIEVER’S HERITAGE.
lhe Bible contains the testimony w hich
God has given to the children of men.
Ilis name is inscribed on the fair volume
of nature, but not in such bright and
cleai characters as in the book of reve
lation. We are peculiarly privileged in
having the two-fold testimony of the law
and the Gospel. Let us imitate David
in the use he made of God’s word. Ob
serve
Ihe Excellencies of the Bible. It
is the Christian’s heritage.
How extensive. All earthly posses
sions compared with this, are but as a
drop to the ocean, or an atom to the
globe. Look at the perfections of God’s
nature, the purposes of his grace, the
plans of his mercy, the promises of his
vvoid, ana the provisions ol his covenant,
and see the extent of the believer’s heri
tage.
How severe. Upon all the glory there
is a defence. How remarkably have the
Sciiptuies been preserved in the midst
of innumerable efforts to exterminate
them from the earth; no less secure is
the believers interest in the glorious
blessings they reveal. These are the
sure mercies of David.
How durable. “An heritage for ever.”
On earth we do but catch a glimpse of
the glories of this inheritance, obtain our
title, and are preparing for the period
when death shall open the gates, and we
shall enter on the full possession of it.
The experience of the believer.
His act. “ihy testimonies have I taken
as an heritage for ever.” This act is per
sonal, voluntary, deliberate, and warm,
and regards perpetuity. If we would
extract sweetness from the Scriptures,
we must not merely read them, but take
them and bind them around our heart.
It is not the bee’s touching of the flowers
that gathers honey, but her abiding on
them, and drawing out the sweet.
His joy. ‘T or they are the rejoicing
of my heart.” All that have cordially
received and experimentally felt them,
will find this to be the case.
Alter all the speculation as to the posi
tive proofs of the identity of Junius, it is
about to be proved, as Mrs. Partington
would say, “positiver” than ever that he
was the work of the celebrated Lord
Chesterfield. The Earl of Chatham was
the last one named as the author. — Car
pet Bag.
203