The Irish standard., 1886-04-17

theless, though the room looked conlfor-
table, and everything arranged in ex-
cellent taste, there was still nothing
in it either new or fashionable. Mas
siye picture frames with grim looking
faces in the background hung here and
there round the apartment; but THEN
rich gliding WAS gone, and their edges,
stripped with black, made sad contrast
with the newly-painted walls. The
harpsichord in the corner had lost its
silver handles, by which in olden times
it was so often drawn out into the merry
circle, and the ancient clock opposite,
now silent as tombstone, glared over
ct it's once ight-hearted companion
with melancholy expression Of counte-
nance. They had, doubtless, been
friends together for many a year, and in
their early days had oft conyersed
pleasantly from opposite corners-each
after his own fashion. But age, alas!
mad now left his mark on both. The
clocks open good-natured face was
bleared and wrinkled. SO much so, in
deed, that its early associates could
scarcely have recognized it; and the
harpsichord's once FURNISHED case had
lost I'LL it's polish, and its edges were
stripped and lean, Like the elbows of a
coat. Still, though both were broken
down end somewhat shabby, they were
clean and decent, like old gentlemen
who had seen better days. And there,
too, near the Fireplace, was the high
backed sofa with it's avily-carved feet
and double rows of brass nails along the
edges, But conspicuous above all ap-
peared the old family Bible lying in
state upon the centre table, under its
vellum cover and iron clasps. Every
thing in the room spoke eloquent]y OF
the past, for everything looked ancient
and venerable, even to the bird cage
over the window, where the gray linnet
sat doing with his head under his wing.
That apartment, dear reader, Was all
epitome Of the history of Ireland, and
might have furnished materials for a
finer allegorical picture than ever
Claude Lorraine drew.-lter heroes with
out name or monument save those
poor rotting shreds of canyas-the fire
Of her music dying out day by day, nay
--alas; that We should say it'---almost as
cold and dead as the b]ackened embers
on her desolate shrines-her once brave
and stalwart sons now wrapping their
emaciated limbs in their tattered gar
ments and resigning themselves, with
out struggle, to serfdom and the grave.
Had the author OF the t'Giaour," who
could see even in thel flair but tfeless
form of woman the picture of "Greece,
but living Greece no more, had he
lived to sit there and gaze around him,
how much more sublime the inspiration
he had drawn from those sad, cr1lmb-
ling relics! Yes, the nation was still
living, but all her glories, save the
glory OF her faith, had departed.
But the strangers heart was not one
of that mould. On the contrary, he
scanned every article Of furniture in the
room with cold, prying curiosity, that
accorded ill with the fashionable sport
ing dress he wore. and having at last
completed his survey, drew his chair to
the centre table and opened the sacred
Volume.
Had he been lover Of old books, he
might have paused to examine the title
page before he proceeded farther, and
the curious>y Illuminated letters it ex
hibited, but especially an ancient and
copious note in the margin, purporting
to show that She book was printed st
Madrid in the year 1467, by native of
Mentz, at royal request fact which
might have greatly surprised those
French and German htterateurs who
claim for Louis XIV, and Frederic IT,
the honor of having been the only pat
rons of the art before chat period. But
che gentlemen was either not of that
class, or ignorant of the Latin tongue, in
which it was printed, for he ran his eye
hastily over the page without seeming
10 notice either date or language.
Without pausing moment, he turned
over leaf after leaf, glancing merely ct
he top and bottom Of the pages, and
in search of something he un~
lerstood to be found there. He spent
,ome five or six minutes in this search,
md at last, having discovered what he
sought, drew from his breast pocket q
small book of tablets, copied what items
,e thought necessary, and then hastily
closing the Bible, (stealthily watching
he doors of the apartment all the while,)
.lasped it as before
It happened in replacing the book he
lropped something on the floor, and in
,tanly picking it up, found it to be q
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