but he was a hundred by that of the guardian angels who watch over souls. Not one hour of his short life was lost for eternity. It was not only not lost, but-which is necessary to attain length of years that are meritorious and venerable in our eyesnot one hour failed to be reckoned twice or thrice, and sometimes a hundredfold, by the merit of his deeds of faith, hope, charity, and mortification.1 12. "Nothing is lost which is pleasing in the eyes of our Lord. A glass of water given with love in His name becomes a majestic river flowing on forever and ever; while the greatest treasure given without love or from human motives is counted as nothing in the great Book of Life. To really live, thou must love God while exiled here below, as we love Him in the home of the blessèd. Thou must also love thy neighbor, whose soul reflects the image of its Maker." 13. With these words, the archangel disappeared, leaving behind him a long train of light in the dim vaults of the crypt of St. Gerbold. "O Lord!" cried the hermit, "grant me a true knowledge of the Christian life-the only life really worth the name that at my last hour I may not hear resounding above my head the terrible words, Too young! 14. "Teach me, O my God! the value of time, which is only given us that we may lay up treasures for heaven. Time is the money of eternity! time is the price of our Saviour's blood! time, so fleeting, which we seek to kill, and which will surely kill us; time, the inflexible tyrant who spâres no one! Oh! that I might in turn triumph over time by making it serve to the sanctification of my soul and the winning of an eternal crown." V. 33. THE BELLS OF ABINGDON. ΤΙΝ `ING—ting—yet never a tiņkle; Stirs the beds of periwinkle, Stirs the ivy climbing round 1 Mor'ti fi ca'tion, the denial of natural desires, especially of those in themselves innocent, through a religious motive. The belfry-tower of well-hewn stōne, Saint Dunstan's bells with Saint Ethelwōld's hung; Swung and rung; Each with its marvelous choral tongue, Matins,1 and Lauds, and the hour of Prime, To the solemn chorus of Compline time. Who, with stout bow armed or with goodly sword, Those beautiful bells of sweetness and power; 2. Ting-ting-yet never a tinkle; From the eye of man his own răpine and pride. The bells and the friars Alike in their graves; where the tangled briars 1 Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, Compline. These names designate the periods of the day when the early Christians were accustomed to meet for the purpose of praising God. This custom, more or less modified, is maintained to the present day in most religious houses. These names are now grouped under the general title of Office." The "Office" is composed of psälms and prayers. Moulder beneath the ivy vines; With pious fear, Ting-ting-yet never a tiņkle; Saint Dunstan's bells, with Saint Ethelwold's, keep ELIZA ALLEN STARR. C SECTION X. I. 34. IMPRESSIONS OF SPAIN. ATHOLICISM in Spain is not merely the religion of the people; it is their life. It is so mixed up with their common expressions and daily habits, that at first there seems to a stranger almost an irreverence in their ways. It is not till you get thoroughly at home, both with them and their language, that you begin to perceive that holy familiarity, if one may so speak, with our Divine1 Lord and His Mother, which permeates their lives and colors all their actions. 2. There is a world of tradition, which familiarity from the cradle has turned into faith, and for that faith they are ready to die. Ask a Spanish peasant why she plants rosemary in her garden. She will directly tell you that it was on a rosemary bush that the Blessed Virgin hung our Saviour's clothes out to dry when He was a baby. Why will a Spaniard never shoot a swallow? Because it was a swallow that tried to pluck the thorn out of the crown of Christ as He hung on the Cross. 3. Why does the owl no longer sing? Because he was by 1 Di vine', pertaining to the true God; God-like. 'Tradition (tra dish'un), the deliv ery of opinions, doctrines, practices, rites, and customs, from father to son, or from ancestors to posterity. when our Saviour expired, and since then his only cry is "Crux! crux!" Why are dogs so often called Melampo in Spain? Because it was the name of the dog of the shepherds who worshipped at the manger at Bethlehem. What is the origin of the red rose? A drop of the Saviour's Blood fell on the white roses growing at the foot of the Cross-and so on, forever! 4. Call it folly, superstition 1-what you will: you will never eradicate it from the heart of the people, for it is as their flesh and blood, and their whole habits of thought, manners, and customs run in the same groove. They have, like the Italians, a wonderful talent for improvising bōth stōries and songs; but the same beautiful thread of tender piety runs through the whōle. 5. One day Fernan Caballero told me that an old beggar was sitting on the steps of the Alcazar; two or three children, tired of play, came and sat by him, and åsked him, child-like, for a story. He answered as follows: "There was once a hermit,2 who lived in a cave near the sea. He was a very good and charitable man, and he heard that in a village on the mountain above there was a bad fever, and that no one would go and nurse the people for fear of infection. So up he toiled, day after day, to tend the sick and look after their wants. 6. "At last he began to get tired, and to think it would be far better if he were to move his hermitage up the hill, and save himself the daily toil. As he walked up one day, turning this idea over in his mind, he heard some one behind him saying, One, two, three.' He looked around and saw no one. He walked on, and again heard, Four, five, six, seven.' Turning short round this time, he beheld one in white and glistening raiment, who gently spoke as follows: 'I am your guardian angel, and am counting the steps you take for Christ's poor!"" The children understood the drift of it as well as you or I, reader; and this is a sample of their daily talk. 7. Their reverence for age is also a striking and touching characteristic. The poorest beggar is addressed by them as "tio" or "tia," answering to our "daddy" or "granny," and should one påss their cottage as they are sitting down to their daily meal, they always rise and offer him a place, and ask him to say grace for them. They are indeed a most lovable race, and their very pride increases 1 one's respect for them. Often in our travels did one of the party lose her way, either in going to some distant church in the early morning, or in visiting the sick; and often was she obliged to have recourse to her bad Spanish to be put on the right road. 8. An invariable courtesy, and generally an insistence on accompanying her home, was the result. But if any money or fee were offered for the service, the indignant refusal, or, still worse, the hurt look which the věriest child would put on at what it considered the height of insult and unkindness, very soon cured her of renewing the attempt. 9. Their courtesy toward one another is also widely different from the ordinary gruff, boorish intercourse of our own poor people; and the very refusal to a beggar, "Forgive me for the love of God, brother!" speaks of the same gentle consideration for the feelings of their neighbors which characterizes the race, and emanates from that divine charity which dwells not only on their lips, but in their hearts. LADY HERBERT. ΤΗ II. 35. THE DEAR ST. ELIZABETH. HE tender piety with which Elizabeth of Hungary had been animated from her childhood, after her marriage took every day new developments, which in a short time merited for her the sweet and glorious title under which all Christendom2 now venerates her-that of Patroness of the Poor. 2. From her cradle, she could not bear the sight of a poor person without feeling her heart pierced with grief, and now that her husband had granted her full liberty in all that concerned the honor of God and the good of her neighbor, she unreservedly abandoned herself to her natural inclination to solace the suffering members of Christ. 1 In crease', to make greater. ? Christendom (kris'n dům), that portion of the world where the Christian religion prevails. 3 Sŏl'ace, to comfort; to cheer in grief or want. |