But let all these pay their toll and pass.  Here comes a spectacle that causes the old toll-gatherer to smile benignantly, as if the travellers brought sunshine with them and lavished its gladsome influence all along the road.  It is a barouche of the newest style, the varnished panels of which reflect the whole moving panorama of the landscape, and show a picture, likewise, of our friend with his visage broadened, so that his meditative smile is transformed to grotesque merriment.  Within sits a youth fresh as the summer morn, and beside him a young lady in white with white gloves upon her slender hands and a white veil flowing down over her face.  But methinks her blushing cheek burns through the snowy veil.  Another white-robed virgin sits in front.  And who are these on whom, and on all that appertains to them, the dust of earth seems never to have settled?  Two lovers whom the priest has blessed this blessed morn and sent them forth, with one of the bride-maids, on the matrimonial tour.—­Take my blessing too, ye happy ones!  May the sky not frown upon you nor clouds bedew you with their chill and sullen rain!  May the hot sun kindle no fever in your hearts!  May your whole life’s pilgrimage be as blissful as this first day’s journey, and its close be gladdened with even brighter anticipations than those which hallow your bridal-night!  They pass, and ere the reflection of their joy has faded from his face another spectacle throws a melancholy shadow over the spirit of the observing man.  In a close carriage sits a fragile figure muffled carefully and shrinking even from the mild breath of summer.  She leans against a manly form, and his arm enfolds her as if to guard his treasure from some enemy.  Let but a few weeks pass, and when he shall strive to embrace that loved one, he will press only desolation to his heart.

And now has Morning gathered up her dewy pearls and fled away.  The sun rolls blazing through the sky, and cannot find a cloud to cool his face with.  The horses toil sluggishly along the bridge, and heave their glistening sides in short quick pantings when the reins are tightened at the toll-house.  Glisten, too, the faces of the travellers.  Their garments are thickly bestrewn with dust; their whiskers and hair look hoary; their throats are choked with the dusty atmosphere which they have left behind them.  No air is stirring on the road.  Nature dares draw no breath lest she should inhale a stifling cloud of dust.  “A hot and dusty day!” cry the poor pilgrims as they wipe their begrimed foreheads and woo the doubtful breeze which the river bears along with it.—­“Awful hot!  Dreadful dusty!” answers the sympathetic toll-gatherer.  They start again to pass through the fiery furnace, while he re-enters his cool hermitage and besprinkles it with a pail of briny water from the stream beneath.  He thinks within himself that the sun is not so fierce here as elsewhere, and that the gentle air doth not forget him in these sultry days.  Yes, old friend,