The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-11-06 00:00:00

164 SUPPL made the sign of hanging under his chin. At this there was a shout of laughter that might be heard through the whole village. But, when the boy asked for the nuts, it turned out that the man who had promised theni had none ; and a fresh shout arose as the bOy ran up to the cheat and gave him a kick. Meanwhile the new parson had come down the little hill by the court-house, and stood watching all that passed ; but, just as the boy Peter was going to be beaten for his de mand of the nuts, the parson stepped quickly up and snatched the boy away. Instantly all the peasants drew back, and took off their caps. The parson now beckoned to the sexton, who happened to be standing by, to accompany him through the village, and learnt from him the whole story about the enmity of the brothers, and all that we have related above. The following Saturday, as Con rad was breaking stones in the village, he re ceived an invitation to call upon the parson the next morning after service. He stared at the sexton, his pipe went out, and for a minute the stone remained unbroken under his wooden-soled shoe. He could not conceive what was to happen at the parsonage, and would gladly have gone that very instant. The invitation was brought to Michael just as he was " polishing the Sunday boots" of an old horse, for so he called cleaning the hoofs. He was whistling a snatch of a song, but stopped short in the middle, knowing full well the lecture that was in store for him, and glad to have time to prepare a saucy reply, scraps of which he muttered to himself. On Sunday morning the parson preached a sermon from a verse of the 133rd psalm : " Be hold, how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." He pointed out how all earthly happiness and fortune are as nothing, unless shared and enjoyed with those who have rested with us on the same mother's breast. He showed how those parents can never be happy in this world, nor blest in the next, whose children are estranged from one another by envy, hatred, or malice; he quoted the example of Cain and Abel, and showed how brotherly hate was the first cause of sin. All this, and much more, the parson spoke with a clear and thundering voice, till the people said, one to another, " He'll bring the walls about our ears !" But, alas ! it is often easier to move stone walls than the hardened hearts of men. Barbara wept bitterly as she thought of the conduct of her brothers ; and, although the parson addressed his remarks to his auditors at large, and urged every one to lay his hand upon his heart, and ask himself whether he had a true affection for his kindred, nevertheless every one present felt sure that he referred to Michael and Conrad. The two brothers were standing not far from one another ; Michael bit his cap, - which he held between his teeth, but Conrad stood listening, with open mouth ; and once, when their eyes met, the cap fell from Michael's hand, and he stooped down quickly to pick it up. The psalm tune ended with a soft and peace ful close ; but, before the last sounds died away, Michael had left the church, and was standing at the parsonage door. It was still locked, so he went into the garden, and stood for a time be side the bee-hives, watching the busy activity of the little creatures. " They know not what Sunday is !" thought he to himself ; " and I, too, have no Sunday in my way of living, for I have no regular day of work." Then, again, he thought, " How many hundred brothers and sisters live together in such a hive, and all work like their parents !" But he did not give way to these thoughts long, and resolved not to let the parson lecture him. As he turned toward the church-yard, the last words of Conrad recurred ,EMENT TO THE LIVERPOOL STAN to his mind, and he involuntarily clenched his fist. When Michael came out of the garden, he found Conrad and the parson already engaged in eager conversation. The latter, who seemed to have given up expecting him, rose and begged him to take a chair ; but Michael, pointing to his brother, answered, " With all respect to your Reverence, I cannot sit down in the same room with that man. Your Reverence has not been long in the village, and you know not what a sackful of lies he is—a sneaking, hypocritical fel low." Then, trembling with rage, he continued, " That man is the cause of all my misfortunes ; he banished peace from our house, and drove me to take to horse-dealing, and bad ways. Ah !" he exclaimed, darting a fierce look at Conrad, " you prophesied—yes, you—that I should hang myself in a halter ; but, mark me, your turn will come first !" The parson allowed them to vent their rage, only interposing . his authority to check any per sonal violence. He felt sure that, when their long-fostered and secret anger was exhausted, some remains of brotherly love would still be found, and brought to light ; but he was in part disappointed. At length both brothers sat down, speechless, and breathing hard. The parson then, addressed them, at first in a gentle tone, disclosing all the hidden recesses of the heart ; but it was in vain— they both cast their eyes down upon the floor. He then pictured to them the anguish of their parents in the next world. Conrad sighed, but did not raise his eyes. Then the parson sum moned all his power, and with a voice like that of a denouncing prophet, he reminded them how, after death, they would have to appear before the judgment-seat, and there answer fearfully for the sin of brotherly hate. He ended ; and there was a silence. Conrad wiped the tears from his eyes with his sleeve ; then he rose from his chair, and said, " Michael !" Michael had not heard that sound for so many years, that he started, and looked up. Conrad stepped nearer, and said, " Michael, forgive me !" The hands of the brothers were in a moment fast locked in one another ; and the parson laid his hand upon them to bless the act. When Michael and Conrad were seen coming down the little hill by the court-house, hand-in hand, every eye was upon them—not a man but felt a secret joy at his heart. As soon as they reached home, the first thing they did on enter ing the house was to wrench off every padlock and fastening ; and having done so, they went into the garden, and levelled the hedge with the ground ; no matter what cabbages were destroyed, all token of their former discord had instantly to be removed. Then they went to their sister's house, and they all ate together at the same table. In the afternoon, the two brothers sat in the church side by side, and each held a corner of their mother's hymn-book in his hand. From that time forwards their lives were spent happily, in unity of spirit, and in the bonds of peace. LITERARY EXTRACTS. A SACRED TlTLE.—Having lately read Herbert's " Country Parson," my mind has been entirely changed as it respects the name or title of " Parson, a word I was accustomed to use in derision and con tempt for every man wearing a black 'coat, and pro fessing himself to be a minister of the gospel. This title used in its true sense is sacred. It is of Latin derivation, being taken from persona—because by his person, the church,•which is an invisible body, is sup posed to be represented—personated.--Coleridge'• Table Talk. PAST LovE.---There are some, who, when they PARD. have loved and it is over, will talk of it the' feeling becomes an amusement. Some do 110 and surely it is better not Bury your love at it no more---bury it, and tread down the it. But you should do it • let no one e lse what has been your life. Trample on it Y' you have worshipped it, and whisper the what you have glorified. But let none else that grave, for your ,flesh and blood are I, ', too. You will' need no memorial to remerol you will be happy, if sometimes the pas t return unbidden, and force you to look lIP°P of your dead again. —Ashford Owen. THE TYPE OF THE SPANIARDS.---11l ti of the Iberians some traits may be re( even to this day mark the Spaniard. T: the temperance and sobriety, the unyiell extreme indolence, the perseverance in fare, and the remarkable absence of the IL, qualities, ascribed by the Greek and Romall the ancient Iberians, are all more or less of the Spaniards of modern times. The gallantry of the Spaniard to women has, down to him from his Iberian ancestors : 1 of the Greeks, it was an argument of all civilisation, that among the Iberians the t gave, instead of receiving, a dowry; that sometimes inherited to the exclusion of soul becoming the heads of the family, gave their brothers, that they might be provk able wives. In another point, the great between the people of the south of Europe) of the Teutonic stock, was remarked also the Iberians were ignorant, but not sir on the contrary, they were cunning and with habits of robbery almost indomit, brigandage, though incapable of the great tions of war. These, in some degree, arc common to all barbarians ; but they of contrast to 'the character of the Germans. spoke what was in their hearts, and of powerful tribe it is recorded, that their asct. maintained by no other arms than those of Arnold's Rome. CHINESE Slur BUILDING.—There is au of the Chinese which is worthy of imitation' sidering the increased security it offers perty, and the additional safety of the lives tors, it is surprising that it has not been. Americans and Europeans—viz. the diva' holds of ships by water-tight partitions. divide the holds of their sea vessels into abt distinct compartments with strong plank , seams are caulked with a cement compose cl oil, and the scrapings of bamboo. This renders them impervous to water, and is ferable to pitch, tar, and tallow, since it incombustible. This division of their ves have been well experienced, for the practice IP throughout the empire. Hence it sometir that one merchant has his goods safely one division, while those of another suffer damage from a leak in the compartment in were placed. A ship may strike against °, l yet not sink ; for the .water entering by, will be confined to the divisions where the' To the :adoption of a similar plan in American merchantmen, beside the popular prejudice and the increased exp . tion might arise from the reduction it in the quantity of freight, and the incrc of stowing bulky articles. It remains to, how far these objections ought to prevai greater security of the vessel, crew, as any rate, such objections do not apply to in which to carry heavy burdens is n ot consideration.—_Ewbank's Hydraulic OLD NORWAY.—Here still; as on the day, stands the Fjall-stuga, the mountain by an invisible hand, whose walls and only that hand can overthrow. Here sti dawn of time, the morning and the even' , meet, in a fleeting embrace at midsu s snow-covered summits. Now, as theo,,,, mountain torrents, a s th ey d as h h ea die. l , l : fearful depths. The ic e m i rrors s till g' x .,`• , same images, now encha n ti ng , now ter' unattempted by the foot of man, lie wide rivers, and woods, on which only the summer sun look down. Here is the 0 3 1, young Norway. Is thy soul weary o f the [NOVEMBER 6, 10 • R 6, it : tbeo .• re do not ai j love ' the ear th ' tt.tiN, ne else iZeni it yoorr tt of 3. the cle'it, e else c.oel, sta re burl i tr 1 1 / 4 :a n , ;member Of p ast la ,Sit k upon In the es , o o ek !eognili %tke Hir The wi n o elding". ti i 4ltt f4 ' 3lt in i f ; hieePoil i !.oinaz'of 0 at. 'he coop . . has wiYj iqA ‘ t ors : 0.1/ t 't, 4 4 of an 111 .4- 4 z the 141, ~ d ,, that ; f sons , ° . t io 4 .eed ' ;ave gre at g e t , ` t qs rrope,, an a lso 1 9 - th, simple ~~ tV es a; rid uns - i? a itable , , th great ' 'aties e, ar e s t • offer n s. Wll°`and of W' I inc, • a s cent, Ae of .• t ortes t' tis a s alloth) ha n lives o f at a : t ie v i nfi ol soabia , ciueti :t 4i RI) o aboty) 'l4t y4t.i capoSe u his Co l3 ;t r t, ; 58, 0 is Fl' e o iti; i s eit IS,:ce Nmar 3tiee of felt' In Ter :, e ` 4 l' a ltill~ , ist e lf?, weigl by t, 11 0 ,0 `) Att ) and he i0J,,,°,04 P.,10 4 1'. ‘,,) Wi t oPP ) ;0 1 ,Lit cad se, 0 , o - Pp, wo 7-'r:eiablseegfief/ t° il ';441P.11'-tav;'. e fon. ,14 iO Sl i gt t not y .21fatY .1 41 5 h le he ‘` ' 1 1`,1 1 in V e f , • '4klcley a 4 s ail tov •ogi Ygth, ( ITopleto. at p ets tti e s ° t r e Ferfib!%9 klhertilb le ~dle lktle tOitl o _ apei