Birmingham age-herald., 1894-12-27
THE HALCYON DAYS.
ABeAUTlFUL AND PATHETIC LEGEND
 OF THE OLDEN TIME.

the Gods Into Birds, They Were Reunited. No doubt you have noticed that usually there arc few days of mild, sunny wealth ST just before winter sets in for good. Sometimes there Is week of sunshine and calm, though oftener the period is shorter. We sneak of "halcyon days" in referring to any pleasant interval of time, but the expression originally referred only to the sunny, pleasant calm that closes the au- tumn and ushers in the winter season.
 Tho name originated with the ancients --Dies Halcyonii-whicht they gave to the seven days that precede the solstice and the seven that follow it, because the hal oyon, or kingfisher, laid her eggs at that time of the year. And as the weather dur ing tho period of her incubation was said to be always calm and serene tho term halcyon days oame frequently to be used in flgurativ sense to express any season of transient peace or happiness
 One of the most charming stories of tho anoionts relates the origin of tho expres- sion, and though the age of fable is past and these symbolic fabrications are DO longer believed as truth tho beauty of tho idea remains, and no doubt you will be pleased to read the legend.
 
 the god of the winds, and was queen of Thessaly Her husband s namc was Ceyx. They lived happily together through a long and prosperous reign, but in their old age dire prodigies seemed to threaten their house and kingdom.
 Perplexed aad alarmed, King Ceyx de- termined to visit Delphi, where there was a famous oracle, and consult the priestess of Apollo, hoping thereby to learn by what means he might soothe tho wrath of the gods This made necessary long and dangerous voyage by sea, as access to the temple by land was prevented by the bands of robbers that infested tho neighborhood.
 Queen Halcyone was overwhelmed with trouble at tho resolution of her husband and used every argument in her power to prevent him from going. Sho represented to him the many dangers that would attend the voyage; reminded him of the numer- ous shipwrecks of which they had been eyewitnesses.
 At last, finding all her cntroatics un- availing, Halcyone besought her husband to allow her to accompany him, but tho king refused the request and at the same time strove to assuage her fears, assuring her that there was but little real danger, and that he should certainly return before two months should roll round
 When tho moment of separation came, Halcyono tainted away, and when she came to her senses the vessel was already at distance but she could perceive her husband standing on tho poop waving his hand in affectionate adieu She followed him with her eyes till tho horizon of water shut his vessel from her sight, and then, with heavy heart, she returned to the palace.
 Hapless Halcyone Her gloomy pre- sages were but too soon realized A tenn pest aroso, the horrors of which not only surpass the powers of description, but de- feat even those of the imagination. The vessel of tho i'll starred monarch perished in the waves, and Ceyx went down with it..
 Meanwhile, sad and fearful, but igno- rant of her hushand's fate Halcyone count ed with ilnpaticnce the days that were yet to pass before tho date of his promised re- turn Nor was she uselessly idle, but om- ployed herself in working superb gar. ment which she intended to present. to him on his arrival.
 Being faithful worshiper of the gods, she repaired daily to the temples, where she implored them to protect her lord and offered costly gifts and incense on all their altars The pitying deities sympathized with the fidelity of Halcyone Being un- willing that she should longer offer prayer for ono who was already numbered with the dead, Juno, the queen of heaven, dis Q patched Iris, her messenger, to the cave of the god of sleep, commanding him to an nounce by a dream to Halcyone that her husband was no more.
 The fair messenger, arrayed in her most brilliant robes descended to the lower world and entered the cavern of the drow- sy Somnus
 Iris announced her errand, and Somnus prepared to obey the command of Juno. Morpheus, his prime minister, was ordered to visit Halcyone and by dream make known to her the fate of her husband.
 Taking the form of Ceyx, pale, cold and deathlike, with his hair wet and the water dripping from his garment, he appeared to the sleeping Halcyone and thus addressed her: Dear Halcyone, thy prayers for me have been unavailing. Unhappy widow, hope no more to see thy husband Ceyx. Prepare thy robe of mourning, for the wa ters of the sea cover thy husbands form. Console my wandering spirit by funeral ceremonies and let not Ceyx descend to the realms of Pluto unwept by the dear object of his faithful attachment.
 Halcyone awoke in the most fearful agitation. She bemoaned her loss with tears and exoamations. When morning came, she went to the beach with her at- tendants and sought the spot where she had last seen Ceyx. A corpse appeared floating on the water. The waves brought it to the shore, and Halcyone saw that it was indeed her husband whose return she had so fondly expected.
 Frantic with grief and despair, the wretched woman cast herself into the wa. ter. In her fall she was changed into a bird. In this new form she perched on the dead body, pecked at 1t with her bill, famed it with her wings, and by hun dred gestures and motions expressed her attachment.
 To the astonishment of all the specta- tors of this extraordinary scene the corpse was seen to move. The gods, approving the faithful attachment of the affectionate couple, restored Ceyx to life under form similar to the one they had given to Hal cyone. The two strange birds mated, and