climbed my mountain betimes this morning. Can old Benno be of any service to you?"

“I am a mourner, seeking comfort,” replied the knight. "Welcome then, thrice welcome," said Benno, now seizing the hand of his guest. "Every mourner, every afflicted one, is to me as a son or brother. It will be my pride and pleasure to offer you any counsel or alleviation in my power. But you must be wearied with your journey. Be seated on that mossy bank, and open your heart to me."

Thus encouraged, the knight began,-" Hear then the story of one who has been visited with many and sore trials. I am Count Adelbert of Hohenfels, who—"

"How!" interrupted Benno, eagerly, "are you really the son of the sainted Kuno von Hohenfels?"

"Even so," replied by Adelbert sadly.

"Then are you indeed welcome; thrice welcome," said the hermit, cordially grasping the knight's extended hand." "Oh, I knew your father well-the noble, valiant Kuno. He was my superior in the army, under whose command I served and fought for many long years. And your mother -she was indeed a charming lady-a woman of uncommon piety and discretion. Many a time, dear sir, have I taken you in my arms, a rosy little boy, or held you on the saddle when I exercised my horse in the court-yard of the castle. But I see you cannot remember Benno,-added he sadly,it was a long time ago, and you were hardly five years old."

"Your features are not altogether unfamiliar to me," said Adelbert, "and it does my heart good to meet, so unexpectedly, with a valiant companion in arms of my dear and revered father."

"And I," said the hernit, "Oh, I cannot express to you my delight, at seeing you, noble Count, my dear old master's son. But old babbler that am, I forget that my chatter is interrupting your recital. Let me know what calamity has embittered your young life—you will not make your disclosure to an unsympathising hearer." So saying he reseated himself in an attitude of profound attention, and the Count resumed his narration.

"My dear parents, as you may know, died young. After their death, Otto von Rauhenfels, an old friend of my father, took me to his castle, brought me up as his son, and, eventually gave me in marriage his daughter Theolinda. Oh, she was lovely as the day! so beautiful and graceful! so kind and gentle so good-so like an angel!" The violence of his emotion at this remembrance, completely mastered him, and his voice trembled. Benno remarked, and said," and now death has robbed you of her? is it not so?"

"Unless a worse fate still has befallen her! I am still in a most terrible uncertainty said the Count with a deep sigh; listen to my history, and judge for me. went with my young wife to Hohenfels, and was soon the proud father of a beautiful child. A little cherub, with rosy cheeks and sunny curls. My darling had already learnt to know me, and would smile and stretch out her little arms at my approach. had even begun to lisp the name of father, when I was suddenly summoned to the battle-field! What a parting was that! but, I will not attempt to describe it. The little joyous, helpless child, was all unconscious of the sad significance of that hour,-but her mother, my tender, faithful wife, was carried fainting from my arms.

She

after a three

But ah what

"The disastrous issue of the war is doubtless known to you. The whole country swarmed with our enemies! Our castles were stormed-and whole towns and vallages devastated with fire and sword. The melancholy tidings which daily reached me in the camp, filled me with the most gloomy forebodings, concerning my wife and child, and which determined me to send my old servant Jacob to Hohenfels, in the guize of a pilgrim, to procure for me some particulars of their condition. My messenger did not return, and to this hour I have not been able to ascertain what has become of them. Peace was at length declared! And year's absence, I returned to my dear home. a heart rending sight presented itself! Even from the distance of many miles, I could see that the home of my father's had become a heap of ruins! The enemy had set fire to my castle. I reached the valley, and found that the whole village had been destroyed in like manner. The poor peasants, who, in the vicinity of their once peaceful dwellings, had constructed for themselves rude huts of pine-logs, greeted me with loud lamentations, and told me, in accents of the sincerest grief, that my wife and child were both dead. The good lady, they said, had endeavoured one stormy night, to escape with her little daughter over the swollen river, that the boat had been overturned-and that my treasures-but I spare you a recital of the agonizing truth! I have begun to rebuild my ruined castle-but how shall I rebuild my household treasures?"

Here ended Adelbert's sad story; and his listener sat awhile buried in deep thought. Suddenly, however, a bright light seemed to flash across the mind of the sympathising old man.-(To be continued.) M. A. J.

LITURGICAL LESSONS.-No. XIV.

"TE DEUM LAUDAMUS."

THE Lessons are immediately followed by Hymns of Praise, in which we render thanks for the blessings promised to us in the Holy Scriptures just read. The Church has provided eight of these hymns in all, two after each Lesson in both services, the choice of the particular one being left to the discretion of the Minister. The practice of using Hymns in Divine service is of great antiquity. (Vide Matt. xxvi. 30; James, v. 13; Col. iii. 16.) The Te Deum, so called from its beginning with these words in Latin, is the first of the eight, and is believed to have been composed by St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, in the fourth century, and first used at the baptism of St. Augustine; it has since, that is, for 1,300 years, being daily sung by the Christian Church and still,

"Te Deum' riseth

In all the Churches round."

It may be conveniently divided into three parts. The first ten verses consist of praise; the next nine are a Creed, or Confession of Faith; and the remaining ten are a Prayer.

I. Verses 1 and 2.-The praise of Almighty God is set forth by all things created, animate, and inanimate, in various ways, and a wonderful order. How then should we therefore praise Him, whom the Lord hath redeemed and sanctified! Verses 3-5 refer to the glorious picture seen by St. John, (Rev. iv. 8; also, by Isaiah, vi. 2, 3.) "Cherubim and

Seraphim," that is, different orders of Angels. Sabaoth means "the hosts of heaven."

In v. 6, we are reminded of the visible tokens of God's power, the heavens, the fruitful earth, the wide sea, are all so full of His wondrous Majesty, that we exclaim with David, "How glorious are Thy works."

Verses 7-10.-The Apostles, the first messengers of the holy Gospel-those foundations of the Churchthe goodly fellowship of those who by inspiration foretold things to come, and the noble army of those of every age, rank, and sex, who, as martyrs and confessors, under His banner, fought manfully, enduring the sharpest tortures and sufferings until death, "all in their waiting-state are occupied with the praises of God." Verse 10, “The Holy Church," that is, both triumphant and militant, those in rest and felicity united with the rich and the poor, the learned and the ignorant, the young and the aged, in acknowledging God.

II. In the second part (verses 11-19,)—we confess our Belief in the Holy and Blessed Trinity, the co-equal and co-eternal Father, Son and Holy Ghost; and in the Divine and Human natures of our Lord, His Incarnation, Death, Resurrection, Exaltation, and His future advent as & Judge.

III. The concluding ten verses are a Prayer for the whole of God's family, the Catholic Church, that it may be sup

* Nine orders of Angels have been enumerated :-Angels, Archangels, Mights, Powers, Principalities, Dominions, Thrones, Cherubim, and Seraphim, (Eph. i. 21; Col. i. 16; Isa. vi. 2.) Michael means, “Who is as God;" Gabriel, "the strength of God;" Raphael, "knowledge;" Archangel," a chief among angels;" Angels, "messengers."