CHAPTER II. His Person-His Mind—Natural Character-An Apology for his Language and Metaphors-Is partial to Life and Warmth in Religion-His Love of ClassMeeting-Is_innocently eccentric-His Method of overcoming Temptation-Takes by Surprise-His Conduct in Social Meetings, in Aid of his Leader. THERE was nothing remarkably prepossessing in Crister's general appearance. He was about the middle size-rather slender-and had a little of the pitman's gait, which is not less visible to the eye of an observer than that of a tailor. His complexion was between the brown and the pale, but with a few shades more of the latter than the former, and a slight intermixture of the sallow. The face was inclined to the small and the round-rather a disproportionate width across the cheek bones-partially narrowing above and below-but still not so much as to take away the general character of rotundity with short, dark, sleek hair. The nose was a little aquiline, the lips rather thin, and the mouth the ordinary size. It was in the eye-dark and sparkling, that the whole of the expression lay, and which shewed not only the inner man, but almost continually lit up the countenance with sunshine. It was not large; and yet, when his voice conveyed to the ear the conceptions of the mind, and the impassioned keep up the allusion with regard to prophetic times,"created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work ;" yet He did not create him to make idols, and much less to fall down before them. Crister felt, that though God had endowed him with amazing agility, yet it was not to be employed in that way either for self-idolization, or for the boast of his friends; and that his position and employment had been the occasion of sin, as it was now the cause of much mental distress. CHAPTER II. His Person-His Mind-Natural Character-An Apology for his Language and Metaphors-Is partial to Life and Warmth in Religion-His Love of ClassMeeting-Is innocently eccentric-His Method of overcoming Temptation-Takes by Surprise-His Conduct in Social Meetings, in Aid of his Leader. THERE was nothing remarkably prepossessing in Crister's general appearance. He was about the middle size-rather slender—and had a little of the pitman's gait, which is not less visible to the eye of an observer than that of a tailor. His complexion was between the brown and the pale, but with a few shades more of the latter than the former, and a slight intermixture of the sallow. The face was inclined to the small and the round-rather a disproportionate width across the cheek bones-partially narrowing above and below-but still not so much as to take away the general character of rotundity with short, dark, sleek hair. The nose was a little aquiline, the lips rather thin, and the mouth the ordinary size. It was in the eye-dark and sparkling, that the whole of the expression lay, and which shewed not only the inner man, but almost continually lit up the countenance with sunshine. It was not large; and yet, when his voice conveyed to the ear the conceptions of the mind, and the impassioned emotions of the heart, it would seem to dilate, and now and then possessed a brilliancy and fascination, from which it was as impossible to turn away, as it was difficult steadfastly to behold; differing as much from the calm, cold, and colourless eye, that seems to indicate little short of a delight in human misery, and produces a sensation of fear, as the chiselled marble differs from an object sparkling with all the vivacity of light. Persons who can penetrate beyond the surface, will find, by discoursing with some men, the general truth of a sentiment penned by the writer of the Apocryphical book of Ecclesiasticus -- that" a man may be known by his look (or his eye), and one that hath understanding by his countenance." Not that we can read in such a tablet what a man shall henceforth be, but what he is at present; and this may be allowed, without the charge of a too superstitious adherence to the art of the metoposcopist. Man has not unaptly been compared to "a harmonious organ," and the more the simile is examined, the more will its truth appear. It is the heart, that tunes and plays it—the tongue that gives utterance in song-and every porof it, however minute, yields a distinct and appropriate sound, varying the effect agreeably to each varied affection. Nor can it be otherwise; for the separate parts are sustained by the spirits, and the spirits are the genuine issue of the heart. Hence, as the heart is affected with love, joy, sorrow, fear, or hatred, it strikes a different key, and sends forth a different note. When the heart touches one chord, and the tongue makes melody to another, the speech and the countenance are at variance; and the man who cannot perceive such a solecism, and observe the dissonance, may justly accuse his senses of weakness and imperfection. There is no occasion to close in with the absurd maxim -fit only for the blind, and highly seasoned as it is" That it is necessary to eat a bushel of salt with a man, before you can perfectly understand him." Sincerity is readable any where; and hypocrisy is soon detected. the immediate subject in hand, the sweet glow of religious feeling in the heart, gave a heavenly expression to his countenance, and a melting tenderness to a naturally quick and penetrating eye-imparting a something to each, distinct and undefinable, yet always pleasurable, like the bloom to the fruit and the scent to the flower. As to There is not unfrequently connected with men of uncultivated mind and exuberant fancy, a degree of forwardness and pertness, highly offensive to persons of taste and retired habits. An active mind is generally on the advance, and gives the meeting to persons before they are quite prepared for its outpourings. But though Crister was prompt, he was not obtrusive; though earnest, not bold or impudent; though cheerful, not trifling;—always ready, and yet never forward. There was amazing vivacity; a facility for catching hold of little incidents and passing events, and converting them to religious purposes, either for his own |