The belfry-tower of well-hewn stone, 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 tinkle; Saint Dunstan's bells, with Saint Ethelwold's, keep ELIZA ALLEN STARR. C 34. SECTION X. I. 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 hōme, bōth with them and their language, that you begin to perceive that holy familiarity, if one may so speak, with our Divine 1 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 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 ŏrigin 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 whole. 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 solitude from religious motives. 1 Sū per sti'tion, false religion; false worship. 2 Her'mit, a person who lives in 3 In fec'tion, any thing that taints or corrupts. should one påss their cottage as they are sitting down to their daily meal, they always rise and offer him a place, and åsk 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 coûrtesy 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. II. 35. THE DEAR ST. ELIZABETH. The tender piety from her childhood, after her marriage `HE tender piety with which Elizabeth of Hungary had 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 poo 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 te solace the suffering members of Christ. 1 In crease', to make greater. 2 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. 3. This was her ruling thought each hour and moment; to the use of the poor she dedicated all that she retrenched from the superfluities 1 usually required by her sex and rank. Yet, notwithstanding the resources that the charity of her husband placed at her disposal, she gave away so quickly all that she possessed, that it often happened that she would despoil herself of her clothes in order to have the means of assisting the unfortunate. 4. But it was not alone by presents or with money that the young princess testified her love for the poor of Christ; it was still more by personal devotion, by those tender and patient cares which are usually, in the sight bōth of God and the sufferers, the most holy and most precious älms. She applied herself to these duties with simplicity and unfailing gayety of manner. When the sick sought her aid, after relieving their wants, she would inquire where they lived, in order that she might visit them, and no distance, no roughness of road, could keep her from them. 5. She knew that nothing strengthened feelings of charity more than to penetrate into all that is positive and material in human misery. She sought out the huts most distant from her căstle, which were often repulsive through filth and bad air; yet she entered these häunts of poverty in a manner at once full of devotion and familiarity. She carried herself what she thought would be necessary for their miserable inhabitants. She consoled them, far less by her generous gifts than by her sweet and affectionate words. 6. Elizabeth loved to carry secretly to the poor not only money, but provisions and other matters which she destined for them. She went, thus laden, by the winding and rugged päths that led from the castle to the city, and to cabins of the neighboring valleys. One day, when accompanied by one of her favorite maidens, as she descended from the castle, and carrying under her mantle bread, meat, eggs, and other food to distribute to the poor, she suddenly encountered her husband, who was retûrning from hunting. 7. Astonished to see her thus toiling on, under the weight of her burden, he said to her, "Let us see what you carry," and 1 Sū'per flu'i ty, something beyond what is necessary. 2 De spoil', to strip, as of clothing. 3 Děs'tined, designed; intended. |