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tastefully ornamented with satin and ribbon, and a large and rich lace veil, which was thrown over her head. Her fine dark hair was braided on her forehead, and a bouquet of rosebuds had been placed in her hand. But all this finery only served to render more striking the death-like paleness of her cheek, and the expression of deep and hopeless anguish on her countenance. She had not long been seated before the altar, when the supérieure, perceiving that she was near fainting, found it necessary to have her re-conducted into the anti-chœur, where she remained till she was sufficiently recovered to return to the chapel. When at length she was again supported to her place, the hearts of the Protestant spectators were deeply affected by her appearance. There was not the slightest tinge of colour in her face, and the livid whiteness of her quivering lips denoted the most distressing agitation. She seemed scarcely conscious of what she did, and looked indeed like the helpless victim adorned for a sacrifice.

Several priests were in attendance, but it was the confessor of the convent, on whom devolved the duty of performing the ceremony. He was an Irishman, of the name of Saville, and of a peculiarly stern and unprepossessing countenance. He now began to celebrate the gorgeous ceremony of the mass, with all its pomp and splendour, and undisguised idolatry. At its conclusion, a sermon was preached to the two candidates, in which much false reasoning, and unscriptural doctrine, was employed, to convince them, and the spectators, that the step they were now taking was a highly meritorious one, and would most certainly ensure

them uninterrupted happiness on earth, and a reward of transcendent glory in heaven.

When this specious oration was finished, sister Marie was conducted by the supérieure to the altar, and kneeling on the lowest step, was addressed by the priest in Latin. As the act of taking the vows is considered in the light of a marriage, and the victim as the bride of the Lord Jesus Christ, in order to keep up this blasphemous idea, she is provided with two bride's-maids. This office was performed by Ellen Wilton and Fanny Lowe, dressed in white, with rose-coloured ribbons, and large bouquets of flowers. They stood on each side of her, while she repeated the vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience,—that irrevocable vow which bound her to perpetual seclusion, and separated her for ever from all the social ties and endearing charities of life.

The priest then blessed the black veil, which was lying on a table before him, and the supérieure placed it on her head, substituting it for the novice's white one, which was now laid aside. After this many prayers were chaunted and recited, the priest blessed her several times, and the organ sent forth its sweetest tones, to welcome the new nun to her joyless sphere of existence.

She then laid herself down at the foot of the altar, and a funeral pall was thrown over her, to signify that she was entirely dead to the world, and to all the relations of society. Two burning wax tapers were placed at her head, and two at her feet, in the manner done to a corpse, and her two little bridemaids strewed the pall all over with roses. she lay in this posture, perfectly motionless, and shrouded in the pall, the sisterhood sang her funeral

While

hymn in Latin, in tones so sweetly mournful accompanied by the thrilling notes of the organ, now swelling in solemn majesty of sound, then gradually sinking into strains of plaintive melody, that every ear was fascinated, and every eye moistened with the tears of excited feeling. At the end of about ten minutes, the music seemed to die away, in a lengthened cadence of exquisite softness, and a short pause ensued, during which the audience appeared scarcely to breathe. The new nun was then assisted to rise from her death-like posture; the organ made the chapel resound with a triumphant anthem of joy, in which the deep voices of the priests joined the softer strains of the female singers; and sister Marie was conducted by the supérieure to take her place among the sisterhood.

The whole of this performance was evidently intended, and certainly well calculated, to captivate the senses, and produce a powerful impression on the mind, in favour of the Popish church in general, and a conventional life in particular; nor did it altogether fail of its effect on those who then witnessed it. The remaining part of the drama, however, was fated to dissolve the charm, and create feelings which could not but serve as an antidote to the subtle poison so skilfully administered.

The young lady was now brought forward, and every heart seemed to throb with painful emotion, as the interesting girl knelt before the altar, and with suppressed feelings, meekly awaited her fate. A lighted taper was taken from the altar, and put into her hand. The priest then asked her in French, "Ma fille, que demandezvous ?" Her answer to this question was in a prescribed form, but pronounced in so low and faint a voice, that the words could not

be distinguished. It seemed, however, that they contained the expression of a wish to become a religieuse, for he again addressed her," Daughter, is it by your own free will, that you now devote yourself to God?" She falteringly replied in the affirmative, and he then asked her two more questions," whether she had made herself sufficiently acquainted with the duties and regulations of the life she was about to embrace? and whether she was resolved to persevere in it, even to the end of her life?" Her faint and scarcely-uttered replies sealed her dedication, and she was then led into the ante-chœur, to have her hair cut off, and to assume the dress of the order. She seemed scarcely able to stand, and, as she was supported out of the chapel, the utter wretchedness depicted on her pallid countenance struck a chill of horror to every heart. While her elegant bridal dress, the mockery, rather than the expression of joy, was being removed, and her beautiful hair mercilessly cut off, the other nuns filled up the interval with chauntings and recitatives. At length she was led back to the altar, clothed in the black woollen robe, the small close cap and bandeau, and a small cloth veil over her head.

She seemed to have, in a great measure, conquered her agitation: the mournful calmness of forced resignation had succeeded to the traces of conflicting feelings; but the marble paleness of her countenance, and the touching sadness of its expression, appealed with irresistible power to the hearts of the pitying spectators.

Kneeling once more on the steps of the altar, she was solemnly blessed by the priest, who presented her with the consecrated girdle, to which were attached the rosary and cross, and which the

supérieure fastened round her waist. Her cloth veil was then taken off, and replaced by a large muslin one; and, while the supérieure was carefully arranging it in long, graceful folds, the priest addressed her in Latin, and again gave her his blessing.

The supérieure now left her kneeling on the highest step of the altar, and she was expected to sing a hymn, accompanied only by the organ. She made one or two ineffectual attempts to raise her voice; but, finding herself unequal to the task, arose, with the sudden impulse of uncontrollable feeling, and rushed precipitately down the steps. The supérieure, alarmed at her evident emotion, hastened towards her, and, taking her hand in a soothing manner, made a sign to sister Marie to join her. She was again led up to the highest step, and they then sang together; but the low and faltering accents of the novice were lost in the more assured tones of her companion. The nuns soon after joined in the anthem, and the voices of the priests completed the chorus, which was closed by a grand finale from the deep-toned organ. The victim of this cruel sacrifice had now recovered her composure, and was led by the supérieure towards the nuns, whom she embracad individually, in token of her being now a member of the sisterhood.

From "The School Girl in France."

CONVALESCENT AND DESTITUTE SERVANTS.

IT frequently occurs that young women of respectable character, who have supported themselves as domestic servants, become disabled by disease or accident, and are compelled to apply for relief at a

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