The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1877-08-31

anv kind. We passed along Ihrough the
kitchen. filed with no food but =" plenty
of gospel" then almost losing myself
out of mere curiosity with those boys -
from Antwerp by missing our friends, l
scrambled back, and by agns, etc, got
into the ranks again, and vent up a rick
ETY. flight of stairs, and passing through
two or three rooms, cane to their large
sleeping apartment; each one has his
3. little crib" where he sleePs, or thinks
he does. The bed is a hs.sl piece Of mat
tress with a slight coveriIg. and a curtain
drawn around it, and tic name of the
happy occupant placed above in black
letters on wood. There @ere such names
as Frere,' "Antonius, g Sebastian
" Descartes, )" Antonnius,' names as
sumed, no doubt, for tbsre are many
within these walls thst glose observer
could copy with
= noble ses,Asesfsslneags high !,
stamped upon their faces. We passed
along through this tabernacle, Isle saint
ct pure, and came to- the chapel hall,
with its straight, awkward SEATS, enough
to give one the backaehe to think of, de
scending the stairs that vent into the
chapel or church itself where the vespers
are held. Here we've large, ponderous
books. bound in vellum and leather, lying
upon the dark, mahogsny-colored stands,
with their brass clasps and latin inscrip-
tions on the covers, BITS of paper with
letters sticking out Though the leaves to
show where the place vas left last. 1t
was very dark and MYSTERIOUS in among
those dusty corners, and when night came
on it was even more 50. Leaving the
church chapel and i1erior, l went out
side to the workshop.
viii not describ all the different
"meuers," but there we're all trades rep
resented, and capuchiu working at them.
In one spot noticed a blacksmith; the
hammer upon the ANIL was an enor-
mously heavy one and I thought it
would require more than gospel and
water" to swing that hng I thought it
required muscle; and the "wielder
looked ike the shadov of a man. We
passed along and came e the gate where
our boys" left for Antwerp, while
kept on with the TWO Dung priests and
the overseer, and thenwent back to yhe
cIoister dining-room, and at five O'Clock
sat down to supper. Having a few mo-
ments to spare, / went outside, crossing
the path of a monk VITO sweetly smiled
stroked his beard and moved on.
IL was now getting towards evening,
and the spirit of the hour began to fall
on all things around ne. The solemnity
of the place (for it is solemn) began
to tell, and as | looked around
there seemed to be a rest and quietness
which drew audieno still as night OF
summers noontide ait" The last rays
of the setting sun steamed across the
garden, and the air vas clear and bril-
liant
The convent bell toIls5 for the vesper
svI -. - agu uask. 5irds came up
against the sky, clear md distinct; the
landscape grew obscuP, and the color
was richer and warmer. On entering the
chapel at the beginninlof their service,
| was surprised to aotce two long rows
of monks on either hind in their dark,
heavy dress, and at he head three in
what were once whitembes, but time and
dust had toned then dswn. After the
service was finished bre, we went inte
the church, or interiG, where they finish
the vesper5.
Tac-ilcn- Of the hour vas only broken
by g.. ing of the convent bell, and
slowly the monks left the chapel. y
strange monk lei ME along through the
corridors with the two priests, and no
words were spoken. hooked out through
a window and saw the graveyard with its
black crosses and molnds of earth they
say each capuchin digs his grave in the
morning and closes it over at night.
Upon each chamber door there is the
name Of some saiut and my amiable
monk gave me a Chamber marked &" st.
Hilarius,' which seemed to please him
and the two Jolly priests very much.
When I got to my room the day was
finished, and all are supposed to be in
their rooms. The little convent clock
tolled out the hour of eight, and even
thus early all was still and quiet. " ST
Ience, silence everywhere, on the earth
and in the air"
After a broken rst I got up at a call
at my door, and going down to the dining
room the father gave me cup of tea,
with sugar and milk wanting, with
little of the dark bread. 1 made light
breakfast, and bidding adieu to the old
convent and my two young priests, who
smiled loudly when l asked them why
les femmes were not allowed within
the walls, the gate closed between us,
and [ turned my face once more towards
Antwerp.
4 STTRMFeG FeD CFFF IN THE LIKE