San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-12-21
From the London Literary Gasette1
The Bells of St. Marv's, Limerick.

"Those evening bells-those evening belisV'
Noors's National slodiss.
There is a delight, which those on
ly can appreciate who have felt it, in
recalling 10 ones mind. when east by
fortune upon strange soil and among
strangers, the sights and sounds which
were familiar to ones infant days. 1t
is pleasant, too, though, perhaps, like
the praise Of ones own friend, rather
oDtrusive, to snatch those memories
from their rest and give them to other
years.-to tinge them with an interest,
and bid them live again. When we
perceive, likewise, that places and cir
cumstances of real beauty and curiosi'
ty remain neglected and unknown, for
want of some tongue to give their
worth,ness q voice." there is a. gratifi
cation to our human pride in the effort
to procure them, even for space,
A forted reside nee 'gainst the tooth Of time
Aud rsyure of oblivion.
l shall not, in this letter, as II my
last, give any thing characteristic
any thing Irish. l willlb dull rather
than descend from the elevation | in
tend to keep, but, in compensation, |
will tell you fine old story; and, if
you have but slightest mingling of DO
etical feeling iu your composition, (and
who is there now-s-dsys that will not
pretend to some p L promise myself
that you shall not be disappointed,
The city Of Limerick, though sur
rounded by some very tolerable de-
mesues. is sadly deficie at n one re-
spect.--not an uuimportant one in any
large town;-there is no public walk
of any consequence Immediately ad-
joining ID. The canal which leads to
Dublin is bleak, from its want of trees;
and unhealthy. from the low marshy
champaign, which lies on either side
its banks. T.
But, at the head of this canal, where
it divides itself into two branches.
which, gradually widening and throw
ing of their. artificial appearance, form
glittering circlet around small is
land, which it covered with water
shrubs-on this spot | have delight
fully reposcd in many a sweet sunset
when | loved to seek glimpse of
inspiration in such scenes, to initiate
Moores poetry, and t row rhymes to
gether, about the rills and hills. streams
and beams, and even aud heaven, and
fancy | was u genius !-"'Tis gone
It's gone-tis gone'' as old CapuIet
says.
Hark one sound alone reaches Us
here; and how grand, and solemn. and
harmonious, in its mon0tOnel These
are the great bells Of st. Mary's
Their deep toned vibrations unGulate
SO as to produce sensible effect on
the air around Us. The peculiar fine
ness of the sound has been often re
marked; but there is an old sloiy con.
nected with their history, which,
whenever / hear them ring out over
the silent city, gives me something
m re than harmony to the peal. l
shall merely say, that what am
about to relate is told as a real occur
renee: and | Iconsider it so teuchinqly
poetical in itself, that | shall NOT dare
to supply fictitious name, and ficti
tious circumstances, where have been
unable to procure the actual ones.
They were originally brought from
Italy; they had been manufactured by
a young native (whose name the ira
dition has not preserved } and finished
after the toll Of many years; and be
prided himself upon his work. They
were consequently purchased By the
prior Of a neighboriug convent; aud
with the profits of this sale. the young
italian procured little villa, where
he had the pleasure Of hearing the
tolliug of his bells from the convent
cliff, and of growing old 10 the bosom
Of domestic happiness.
This, however. was not TO continue
In some of those troils, whether ciyil
or foreign. which are the uueying
worm 10 the peace Of a fallen land, the
good Italian was a sufferer amongst
many. He lost his sll; and after the
MISSING of the Storm foua1 hiuselE