Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-12-23

his return. Their mode Of administering Justice
was quite as summary in the Abbey of Fair
oak. Incidents was brought into the Superb
or's cell, and divested of his cloak; his cassocls
was then turned down from his belt, aud bull
hide thong severely applied to his back before
Ihe could recover himself from the surprise into
which his sudden capture had thrown him. -
His wrath rose, not gradually, AS it did of old,
but in a moment under the pain and indignity of
the thong, it mounted TO its highest PITCH
Breaking from those who were holding him, he
,plucked the blackthorn he had cut, from beneath
his cassock and without either benediction or
excuse, silently but severely belabored all pre-
sent, the Superior himself not excepted When
his rage and strength were somewhat exhausted
the PROSTATE brethren rallied little, and with
the aid OF the remainder OF the community who
came TO their assistance, they contrved TO de-
spoil Nicodemus of his staff, and TO secure him
from doing further mischief
The next morning, Sicolemus was stripped
Iof his Arroasian habit; and, attred in nothing
but the linen in which he had first appeared
among the brethren, he was conducted, with
very little ceremony, to the vaults beneath the
Abbey. Every member of the community adj
vanced to give him parting embrace, and the
Superior pointed with his finger TO a recess in
the wall: Nicodemus was Immediately ushered
into it, the wall was built up behind him, and
once more he found himself entombed alive, in
the very niche from whence he had escaped
nearly year before.
But that am not so strong as I was of wore.
after the lenen fare of my late brethren said
Nicodemus i should not be content to die thus.
in a coffin Of stones and mortar. What luck hast
thou here, Incidents p continued the rriar, as,
'pokng about the floor Of his narrow cell, lie
telt something like garment with his foot. -
l'By rood and by rochet, mine own attire the
cloak and cassock, or | am much mistaken.
which left behind me when | was last here
Tor surely these are my old quarters! did not
think to be twice tenant of this hole; but man is
weak, and | was born to be the bane Of black
thorn. The lazy rogues found this niche ready
made TO their hands, and, truth 10 say, they have
walled me up like workmen. All, me there is
no soft place for me TO bulge my back through
now. Hope have | none but | will betake me
TO my anthems; and perchance in due season,
may light upon some means Of making my es-
cape
Nicodemus had, by this time, contrived 10 put
on his cass ock and cloak, which somewhat com
forted his shvering body, and he forthw ith be-
gan 10 chant his favcrite anthem in such lus-
ty tone, that it was family heard by the Fairoak
Abbey cellarman, and one OF the triars vino as
in the vaults with him, selecting the ripest
wines. On the alarm being given, score of
the brethren betook themselves TO the vaults;
and, with torches in their hands, searched every
corner for the anthem singer, but without sue
cess. At length the celIarman ventured TO OBJ
serve that, in his opinion, the sounds came from
the wall; and that the voice was marvellouslv
like that of their late brother who had been en-
-tombed there. The color left the cheeks Of all
as the recollection of Nicodemus flashed upon
them. They gathered round the place where
they had enclosed him, and soon felt satisfied
that the awful anthem was there more distinctly
heard than in any other part Of the vault. The
whole fraternity soon assembled, and erdeavored
TO come TO seme resolution as TO how they ought
TO act. With fear and trembling, Father HUI
go's brother moved that they should at once
open the wall; this proposal was at first reject
cd with contempt, on account of the stupidity Of
the person with whom il originated; but as no
one ventured to suggest anything, either better
or worse, 1t was at last unanimously agreed TO-
With much sOlemnity, they proceeded to make
large hole in the wall. In few minutes
Father Ncodemus appeared before them, ar
rayed in his cloak and cassock and not much
leaner or less rosy than when they bade him, as
they thought, an eternal adieu, nearly year be-
fore. The iriars shouted,
a miracle miracle = and Nicodemus did
not deem II by any means necessary TO contra
dict them.
II" ho brethren exclaimed he, you are
coming 10 do me justice at last, are YOU? BY
faith and troth, but you are tardy! Your con-
sciences, methinks, might have urgedyOu to en-
act this piece Of good-felIowship some week or
Two since. To dwell ten months and more in so
dark and solitary den, like toad in a hole, is
no child's play. Let the man who doubts, as
sumo my place, and judge for himself. | ask
no one TO believe me on my bare word. You
have wronged me, brethren, much; but forgive
YOU freely
a miracle! a miracle' = again shouted the as
tonishcd monks.
They most respectfully declined the profTered
lamlliaritieS Of INCIDENTS, and still gazed on
him with profound awe, even after the most in
creduIouS among them were convinced, by the
celerity with which venison pasty hunked by
a platter OF Drawn, and a capaciOus jack of Cy-
prus wine vanished before him, in The refecto-
ry, that he was truly their Brother Nicodemus,
and still in the flesh Ere long the jolly friar
became Abbot Of Fairoak; he was dubbed saint
after his decease; but as 10 miracles were ever
wrought at his shrine, his name never became
very celebrated except as in connection with
this wonderful miracle of living without food
for nearly year.
Historical Account of Hymen.
! Hymen was beauti fu youth of Athens who,