The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-05-27

| eneiEof 19f one 93ght st the mOnnSte-
Iltg 6f tho s.GrsS hksf' no weary!
tEaYeler was ever turned away from
these doors.
Thanked him in the best italian
ed shs dEfacEio 'IS Fl 'lsi Els s onibg
finger. for I was chilled to the very
bones, and was, moreover, both
hungry and thirsty. My conductor
nslsS sa 81 shs S;ss RSssh a salg
ran the whole length Of the building,
as I could not see the other end of it.
By the dismal Light of o lamp, hung
from the selling by q chain, I discor
vered that several doors werst ranged
on either side this passage, and on
our way, ne passed openings reveal
ing nIgnIs or stone stairs.
However, 7. had not time for any
extended or accurate 4obserVations,
and we passed these, till my ghostly
conductor ushered me into q good
sized, plainly-furnished apartment,
made cheerful by large wood fire,
that blazed. craokledk and spafkled
in the capacious chimney. The fur
nj, % consistedof deal lsattles, and o
long table of the same material,
stretching almost the whole length
Of the room.s Round this table were
seated about seven or eight monks,
habited in gray, the white GROSS
standing out conspicuonsly upon the
breast OF each. AL lose upon my
entrance, and I was welcomed by the
Prior. with grave and dignified
courtesy almost kingly in its bearing.
He invited me to warm myself at the
fire, while my supper was preparing,
in SO kind and friendly q manner,
that 1 felt at once thoroughly at ease.
We soon sat down to supper, q plen-
tiful meal, consisting OF but two
dishes-boiled maccaroni and stewed
chamois; or goats flesh, washed down
by flask of pure chabalis, wine
evidently brought out for my special
use. as none Of the monks partook of
The. brethren ate but very
sparingly; n either did they ever do
otherwise, / judged, by their lean
and meagre countenances. The
Prior was the only one who entered
into conversation with me. I found
him man of remarkable powers of
mind, and possessing erudition; in
deed, he seemed to me to be well ac-
quainted with almost every branch
of ancient and modern learning.
1 find it difficult to describe the
outward physique of Father Paul,
for such was the Prior's cognomen,
though it made the most profound
impression upon me. Even at this
distance of time, can distinctly re-
call every lineanent of that noble
countenance, stamped with dignity
and goodness in every line. The ex-
preston Of the face was in general
melancholy, even sad; but attimes
smile of rare beauty, almost feminine
in its tenderness, i1lumined his. pale
features, like ray of sunshine. His
eyes, of q deep, dark blue, lighted
up, when interested in any subject,
with an almost unearthly radiance.
The contonr of the nose, chin and
mouth was perfect; while the broad
and massive brow displayed the
splendor of his intellect and his rare
gifts. When my eyes met his seri-
GUS yet kindly glance, I felt at once
that 1 could trust him; and, upon the
other hand, he seemed to have some
secret. yet powerful, attraction to-
wards me. Upon o future day, I
learned the reason of this.
After few hours spent in conver-
sation, Father Paul conducted me to
my dormitory.
Before I retired, I had felt a
strange shiver run through my frame,
and began to fear that my exposure
to the chill night air, even though
for comparatively short time, had
given me severe cold. My fears
were not groundless. I passed o
restless night, slept fitfully, and my
dreams we're weird, fantastic tumble
of my evenings adventure. I was
haunted by the countenance of Fa-
ther Paul, whose benign and striking
aspect had 80 impressed me. I woke
quite early in the morning, ere day
dawn, and heard the monks perform
ing their prisons in solemn and
sepulchral tones, which rose above
the roar of the wind; it had been an
awful night, and the storm had not
entirely ceased.
A few days before, when upon one
OF my mountaineering expeditions,
I had slipped down and bruised my
shoulder. The injured part now
l.