The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-04-04
" For the holy supper is kept indeed,
In what we share with another's need


Who gives to others h hitnself must share,
Fer the gift without the giver is bare"
Thus, as memory gave back to tn
dreaming youth Sir Launfll's vision, i'm
agination succeeded her, and gave t
real incidents in his history form an,
coloring of her own, that they might fur
ther illustrate the search for the Hol
Grail, and its hidden import. While tn,
Summer breezes foated over our youn,
dreamer, visions of his own passed befor
him, and in spirit he was far in foreigr
lands.
; And first he gazed upon a battlefield
in Spain. The combat had but recently
taken place, for the ground was crimsonet
in many places, and the groans of thu
wounded and dying proclaimed only toc
sadly the fact that this had been the
work Of that grim monster, War. Grea,
guns were still throwing their iaon hail
and shells their mad mines exploding
for the strife was not quite ended. and
here and there messengers of death still
sped on fatal errands. A little group ol
officers and soldiers were gathered round
PROSTATE form, in sheltered part ol
the grounds, for here lay one who, through.
out the combat, had been in "shape and
gesture proudly eminent'-Sir Philip
Sydney, the beloved and gallant com.
mander. The sufferings Of the wounded
man were extreme, and he longcd for a
drop Of water to cool his parched and
burning tongue. With great difficulty
a glass of the refreshing beverage was
obtained, but just as he was about taking
it, Sir Philip saw fellow sufferer near
him look with longing, wishful eyes upon
the water. 1t was an humble private in
the service, who had been so severely
wounded that his agonies seemed beyond
mortal endurance, and glancing com.
passionatcly upon him, the noble Sydney
murmured,
"Give him my water, for his sufferings
are greater than mine.',
Ere more could be procured, the spirit
Of the sef-sacrifcing commander had
passed beyond all earthly pain and suffer.
ing.-The poor soldier to whom had been
given his own cup of cold water in the
time of need, fingered little longer
just able to utter his gratitude for the
priceless drink that had so relieved his
sulferings.
The scene of strife and blood passed
away, and when next the boy gazed, he
saw noble, benevolent face bending over
the couch Of the poor, imprisoned sufferers
and, with sublime self.forgetfulness, min
istering to both the spiritual and temporal
wants Of these neglected convcts. He
passes through their gloomy dungeons
with words Of hope and cheer, and to their
dulled ears his gentle accents seemed
"linked with airs of Heavenly breath, y
as he read passages of Holy Writ, and
tries to lead their darkened and sinful
minds to catch glimpses of the light he.
yond.-They listen with reverent atten.
tion, and secretly wonder why he leaves
home and friends to come in their midst
and care for them with an interest no one
had ever shown. Through most of the
prisons of Europe that benevolent stran-
ger passes, and blessings and thanks fol.
low his footsteps everywhere. But at
last the noble form is PROSTATE on bed
Of sickness and death. lie has sacrificed
himself for others, for, in minstering to
the wants of a poor prisoner, sick with
a malignant fever, he himself has taken
it, and there is no hope for his life
But it was not with fear or regret that
John Howard met this solemn hour, and
methinks the angels sang sweet and
joyful song, when they took his spirit
home to the land where he was to re.
ccive his reward for life not spent in
vain.
Another vision now foated before the eve,
Of the dreamer; vision of a lady, tall
and fair, who, with noiseess step and
sympathizing face, was gliding from ward
to ward of "a crowded hospital. The sick
and suffering watched for her coming auC
and many rough soldier wiped his eye.
on his coat sleeve, after she left him, anc
many Il fervent "God bless her." swellet
from hearts greatful for her loving min
istrations. 1t sometimes seemed to tn,
men, little given as they were to romance
as if halo were around her brow, ant
they halfexpected to see the wings uniolt
some day, and reveal her the angel they
thought her. Often, when they saw tn,
light of her lamp shining across the cor
ridors, they would imagine it the reAec
tion of a celestial glory from beyond tn,
walls Of their hospital, and at last so low
ed her that they would kiss even he
shadow on the wall. For, by gentles
ministries, and entire forgetfulness IS of sci
she made their great distress and suffer
ing easier to bear, and frightened un
speakably the dreary life of the hospital
Thus did Florence Nightingale endea
herself to the hearts ofhundreds, and mad
them treasure with untold affection an,
gratitude the memory of the "lady witt
the lamp"
And now the visions had all faded in
to thin air before the eyes OF the dreamer
but still he woke not. What was thei
hidden meaning was the question tha
still perplexed him. Suddenly form o
angel purity appeared before him, and
gentle voice addressed him:
"Fair youth, will explain to thee tn
visions and first, wouldst thou know
what is symbolzed by the search fo
the Holy Grail, and partaking of the cuI
which the Lord commanded all his fol
lowers to drink. Thou hast read how
knights Of old, forsaking tilt and tourna
ment, went in search of the precious reli
that had disappeared from human gaze
and how it was fablvd that only Sir Gal
ahad found it, and also disappeared will
it from the eyes Of men. Thou hast ais,
seen the vision of Sir Launfal, who wen
in quest of it in later times, aud remem
b,r what the leper told the good knigh
that he need not roam over land ant
sea to find the Holy Grail, for it wa
right beside him, whenever he sharec
with the needy and sorrowful, what h,