Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-12-24
THE PURITAN OF DURHAM.
An Original Story for Christmas
Time.

Around the Highest and most rugged
Of the cluster, and nearly encircled by
the smooth running waters Of the river
wear,is built the ancient episcopal city
from which the county takes IL name
Upon the very topof the hill, rcposing
upona gigantic rock whose perpcndic-
ulsr walls rise nearly a hundred feet
from the surface Of the water, stand
the old castle and the still more anti.
guated cathedral. On one side Of the
cathedral some Of tho Wondering re-
mains Of the original monaslio cham.
hers and cells adjoin the less ancient
masonry VI the castle; and In oldcn
times, " not now, the cathedral and
the fortress were united by private
passages.
The sacred edificc IL onclrclod by a
tall iron palisaiing, guarding with iis
lancc.hcadod palts a carefully kept
graveyard. The headstonos and FONTS,
both In antique inscriptions aud their
decayed condition, show great axe.
Outside Of the con,ccmted enclosure,
on the west or principal front, spreads
grassy plateau, with widci grAvcled
walk, one o. which conducts from the
main entrance Of the cathedral to the
barbltRn or outlr gate Of the castle.
The exterior OF the cathedral u grand
and Imposing, but on entering the
noble structure the stranger Ia struck
with the singular barreJnoss Of tho
walls; no lrtturvd slab nor Gculp.
turcd monument meets the eye as IL
rapid glance sweeps over the barren,
rough plastefed walls aud pillsrs. but
there are many venerable tombs aud
quaint relies VI olden time e,atuary
standing In the chapels and hidden
away Ia tho gloomy fccessos Of the
vsnited crypt. Among these are the
tombs Of venerable Bedc, aud that Of
the illusiriuus Saint Cuthbert. While
The obliging sexton IL showing visitors
around the building, he never fails 10
lnger At the tomb u 81. Cuthbert, ana
la anticipation Of soma Apprecisblc
acknowledgment OF hia courtesy 70.
gales the traveller with some Of the
popular legends OF this great character.
According TO this respectable author
ity, Saint Cuthboft was born as carly
a. 035, and rose from shepherd Ia be-
one OF the three great saints Of Eng
land, the other two being snlnt Ed.
mund OF Elmundsbury, and Thomas
a'Beckett Of Canterbury. By life
Of great austefity and Jealous de-
vOtion TO the Catholic religion he
achieved great name, but his fame
became lar greater after his death. IL
l. said that after lying In bis grave for
eleven yean his remains were found
unchanged and inoorrupt, and to.
81
afterwards. During this period tho
pure aud ethereal character OF the re-
mains were such that II was Impossible
to bring them In close contact with the
gras. elements Of the earth. The coffin
In which the saint was enclosed when
lowered into the vault would not touch
the bottom, but remained suspended
above tue ground. when the monks
fed from tho fury Of the Danes, they
carried tho body with them, and most
wonderful miracles attended the
sainted relies al their various resting
places. Amer being horne for seven
years upon their shoulder, In 0O5 the
precious burden was cncarcd in a cost
" shrine and wrapped In fine robes OF
embroidered silk and buriad under the
pavement Of the cathedral.
Queen Mary the first, daughter Of
Henry tho Eighth, occupied the throne
Of England, and nj the date Of thi.
story, 1856, she bad worried through
three yearH Of her unhappy reign,
At the age of ten Mary was betrothed
10 Philip OF spain; hut when Henry
sought n divorce from Catherine Vi
ArfRgOn, tho Spanish mOnafch broke
on the engagement. From that time
the selection u husband for the fail
Princes became "A mixed and bitter
contest; auu inter rejecting a half scor,
Of royal solicitors for her hand she
married Philip, the son Of her first
holruthud.
Under the tmlnlng u her mother
the young prlucess Mary had become
strongly attached 20 the Catholic To-
ligion, and, either from the possession
Of cruel nature or the yielding 10 bad
couusels, a fierce spirit IN favor o
papacy was aroused soon after hel
coronation, and those sanguinary per.
secutlons began which have given he
M odious name In history.
Il was Christmas Eve. The narrow
and crooked thoroughfares Of the city
OF Durham were spread with thiI
mantle OF recently fallen snow, which
after nightiall, the keen, frosty blast
AAAA ia NaeAA1 " AlAafn
glazing the uneven pavoments with /
crisp and icy coating, Only now ans
then was the silence OF the desortet
streets broken by the Crunohlng trcaj
Of a solitary pedositiani and yet from
several parts Of the town came tn
sounds OF sacred music and song u
mirtn and fevelry, aud above all tn
wild ANA discOrdAnt strains OF tn
Christmas carol singers broke upon tn
chilly night air
Sing holly, sns IVY.
slug IVY, sing holly.
A drop iu,tio drink,
II Will draw IN melancholy,
And if you draw Il ofthc Jost,
We hope In heaven your soul may rest
uutit you draw It Of the small
Il wont agrao with us AZ all.
The deep.volced bell In the conls
tower VI the catheiral has sttuc
eleven, but the church Is brightly iliu
minated, for tomorrow VIII be celebrt
ed that most impressive aud gorgeol
Catholic ieast-"rhe Nativity,N An
Mt twelve tonight will commence ii
Christmas feature Of the elaborate Ger
monies,
Evet since the lighting Of the cat
dies at sunset, groups OF superhl
vcsturcd glcerdotsls have been glidiu
10 aUd iro before the bnuqueted al
iertoonei altar, rrhearsing their sever
uurts In tho Scored dfumA. hut Ra ri