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and the Emperor could hear the faint murmur which told him that they were praying for him. Touched by their sympathy, he continued kneeling in prayer for the welfare of his subjects.

6. It was quite dark now, and one by one the stars came forth on the deep blue sky, till at last all the heavenly host stood in glittering array. The sublime peace of those silent eternal fires stole into Max's heart and drew his thoughts and desires heavenward to eternal Love and eternal Rest. So he knelt rapt in prayer and in lofty and holy thought. Suddenly a bright gleam flashed on his eyes, and a figure in a dazzle of light stood before him. No wonder that in his present mood, his spirits raised above earthly things, this vision should seem to him more than human.

7. "Lord Emperor," it spoke, "follow me quickly; the way is far and the torch is burning out." Hardly knowing whether he was still in the world of mortals or not, Max asked, "Who art thou?"-"A messenger sent to save the Emperor.' Max rose; as he gazed it seemed to him that the vision assumed the form of a barefooted peasant youth, holding a torch in his hand. "How didst thou find thy way to the cliff?" asked the Emperor.-"I know the mountains well, and every path in them."—" Has Heaven sent thee to me?" asked Max, still feeling as if he were in a dream-world." Truly it is God's will to deliver thee by my hand," was the simple answer.

8. The youth now turned and slid down into the hollow out of which Max had climbed that morning, then glided through a crevice in the rock behind, which the Emperor had failed to detect. Stooping low, he with difficulty squeezed through the narrow chink, and saw the torch flickering below him, down a steep, rugged fissure which

led into the heart of the rock. Leaping and sliding he followed on, and the torch moved rapidly before him, its red light gleaming on metallic ores, and glittering on rock crystals.

9. Sometimes a low thundering sound was heard as of underground waterfalls; sometimes water dripping from the rocky roof made the torch hiss and sputter. Downward they went, miles and miles downward, till at last the ravine opened into a long, low, nearly flat-bottomed cavern, at the end of which torch and bearer vanished. But at the place where the youth had disappeared there was a glimmer of pale light. Max groped his way to it, and drew a long breath as he found himself again in the open air, with the silent stars above him and the soft grass beneath his feet.

10. He soon perceived that he was in the valley of Zierlein, and afar off he heard the confused noise of an assembled multitude. He followed the sound, but was forced to rest more than once from extreme weakness and weariness, before he reached the foot of St. Martin's Wall, and saw priest and people still kneeling in prayer for him. Deeply moved, he stepped into the midst of them and cried: "Praise the Lord with me, my people. He has delivered me."

11. The Emperor was never able to discover who had been the instrument of his wondrous rescue. A report soon spread among the people that an angel had saved him. When this rumor reached the Emperor's ears, he said: "Yes, truly, it was an angel, my guardian angel, who has many a time come to my help-he is called in German 'The People's Loyal Love.""

REV. MICHAEL MÜLLER, C.SS. R.

The Order of the Golden Fleece is the royal Order of Spain, instituted by Philip II. of Spain.

Tell briefly in your own language the story of these three Lessons.

Who is the chief personage described? What was he sometimes called? In what century did he live? Where is the scene laid which is described in the lessons? What do the lessons teach us?

3. tiēr; n. row.

LESSON XV.

4. ŭn rúf' fled; a. calm; quiet. 5. prow; n. the fore part of a ship.

12. mă' nì ă¤; n. a madman; a

crazy person.

16. frisked; v. leaped in play and gayety.

8. goal; n. the end which a per- 18. erouch' ing; v. lying close

son tries to reach.

to the ground.

Pancratius.

1. A hush lay on the multitudes. Softly and low

Died out the echoes of that mighty roar,

Which rose triumphant but a space ago,
As the strong wrestler, pale as Alpine snow,
Reeled in his agony, and stirred no more.

2. They bore him forth, and in his robe of pride
The Roman courtier turned with smiling face
To woo the fair girl resting at his side,
Who, in her beauty, calm and starry-eyed,

Could view such struggles with a careless grace.

3. But hark! Along the smiling, sparkling tier

A murmur stole the smile gave place to frown,
And every eager eye grew cold and clear
When, light and graceful as a mountain deer,
A Christian martyr sprung to win his crown!

4. It was a youth—a slight yet manly form—
Who, with an eye like some unruffled lake
And virgin cheek with rosy blushes warm,
Seemed all too tender for the cruel storm

Whose giant force must either bend or break.

5. And yet there was a calm upon the brow,

And in those thoughtful eyes a holy peace
As though the youthful martyr stood e'en now
In triumph on a noble vessel's prow,

Whose port was nigh, whose labors soon should

cease.

6. Slowly he turned, and o'er the swaying tide
Of jeweled forms his gentle glance was flung
Till many a Roman maiden turned aside,
Lest some might note the grief she could not hide
At thought of death to one so fair and young.

7. But pity, like the trembling moonbeam shed
Athwart the dark waves of a stormy sea,
O'er those untutored hearts, by passion led,
Gleamed but a fitful space, then meekly fled,
As things of light from darkness ever flee.

8. And he, Pancratius, in his joyous race

Was nearing fast the long-desirèd goal,
Ere age had dashed the beauty from that face
Whose shrine should be in time the fitting place

To nerve the fainting faith or sinking soul !

9. He stood unmoved, e'en as the warrior stands
Who neither courts nor shuns the coming fight;
But even as he clasped his slender hands,
A door swung grating, and across the sands
A lion stalked in majesty of might.

10. There was no fury in its stately tread,

No bloody thirst which hastens to destroy,

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