We will say more of this hereafter . But on the Sabbath I watch the earliest sunshine and fancy that a holier brightness marks the day when there shall be no buzz of voices on the Exchange nor traffic in the shops , nor crowd nor business anywhere but at church . Many have fancied so . For my own part , whether I see it scattered down among tangled woods , or beaming broad across the fields , or hemmed in between brick buildings , or tracing out the figure of the casement on my chamber floor , still I recognize the Sabbath sunshine . And ever let me recognize it ! Some illusions -- and this among them -- are the shadows of great truths . Doubts may flit around me or seem to close their evil wings and settle down , but so long as I imagine that the earth is hallowed and the light of heaven retains its sanctity on the Sabbath -- while that blessed sunshine lives within me -- never can my soul have lost the instinct of its faith . If it have gone astray , it will return again . I love to spend such pleasant Sabbaths from morning till night behind the curtain of my open window . Are they spent amiss ? Every spot so near the church as to be visited by the circling shadow of the steeple should be deemed consecrated ground to-day . With stronger truth be it said that a devout heart may consecrate a den of thieves , as an evil one may convert a temple to the same . My heart , perhaps , has no such holy , nor , I would fain trust , such impious , potency . It must suffice that , though my form be absent , my inner man goes constantly to church , while many whose bodily presence fills the accustomed seats have left their souls at home . But I am there even before my friend the sexton . At length he comes -- a man of kindly but sombre aspect , in dark gray clothes , and hair of the same mixture . He comes and applies his key to the wide portal . Now my thoughts may go in among the dusty pews or ascend the pulpit without sacrilege , but soon come forth again to enjoy the music of the bell . How glad , yet solemn too ! All the steeples in town are talking together aloft in the sunny air and rejoicing among themselves while their spires point heavenward .
Meantime , here are the children assembling XXXXX the Sabbath-school , which is kept somewhere within the church .
If With across among in near of to while within