The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-06-11

who doubts may know from the usher
folk who today ply their calling among
the reefs and sand banks of that lonely
coast, for there are those among them
who, peering from the bows of their
small craft, have seen far down beneath
their keels a city of strange streets and
many quays. But as to this, /, who re-
peat these things to you, cannot speak of
my own knowledge, for this city of the
sea is only visible when a rare wind,
blowing from the north, sweeps the shad-
ows from the waves, and, though on
many a sunny day ] have drifted where
it's seven towers should once have stood,
yet for me that wind has never blown,
pushing back the curtains of the sea, and
therefore have strained my eyes in vain.
But this / do know, that the crumbling
stones of that ancient abbey, between
which and the foam fringe of the ocean
the town of seven towers once lay, now
stand upon wave washed cliff and that
he who looks forth from its shattered
mullions today sees only the marsh land
and the wrinkled waters, hears only the
plant of the circling gulls and the weary
cry of the sea.
And that Gods anger Is not everlasting
anu bnat Tic evil mat tAGAG 10 IL LCA
shall be blotted out he who doubts may
also learn from the wisdom of the simple
fisher folk who dwell about the borders
of the marsh land, for they will tell him
that on stormy nights there speaks deep
voice from the sea, calling the dead
monks to rise from their forgotten graves
and chant a mass for the souls of the
men of the town of seven towers. Clothed
in long, glittering white robes they move
with slowly pacing feet around the abb
bey's grass grown aisles, and the music
of their prayers is heard above the
screaming of the storm. And to this l
can also bear witness, for have seen the
passing of their shrouded forms behind
the blackness of the shattered shafts;
have heard their sweet, sad singing above
the wailing of the wind.
Thus for many ages have the dead
monks prayed that the men of the town
Of seven towers may be forgiven. Thus
for many ages yet shall they so pray till
the day come when of their once fair abb
hey not a single stone shall stand upon its
fellow, and in that day it shall be known
that the anger of God against the men Of
the town of seven towers has passed
away, and in that day the feet of the wa
tiers shall move back and the town of
seven towers shall stand again upon the
dry land.
There be some, | know, who say that
this is but legend, who will tell you that
the shadowy shapes that you may see
with your own eyes on stormy nights.
waving their cleaning arms behind the
ruined buttresses, are but of phosphores-
cent foam, tossed by the raging waves
above the cliffs, and that the sweet, sad |
harmony, cleaving the trouble of the |
night is but the @olian music of the wind |
But such are of the blind. who see only |
with their eyes; for myself l see the |
white robed monks and hear the chanting |
of their mass for the souls of the sinful |
men of the town of seven towers. For |
it has been said that when an evil deed is |
done prayer is born to follow it through |
time to eternity and plead for it. Thus is
the whole world clasped around with |
folded hands both Of the dead and of the
living. as with shield, lest the shafts of
Gods anger should consume it.
Therefore | know that the good monks
Of this nameless abbey still are praying
that the sin of those they loved may be
forgiven.
God grant good men may say a mass
for us.-St Louis Post Dispatch.