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[ST. IVANS BELL, MOSCOW.]

which the world boasts of as wonders of the founder's art :-Great Bell of St. Paul's, 8,400 pounds; Great Tom of Lincoln, 9,894; Great Tom of Oxford, 17,000; Bell of the Palazzo, Florence, 17,000; St. Peter's, Rome, 18,607; Great Bell, Erfurth, 28,224; St. Ivan's Bell, Moscow, 127,836; Bell of the Kremlin, 443,772; which last, broken and suspended, is the admiration of travellers. Its metal has been valued at the enormous sum of £66,565 sterling, and in its fusion the devotion of the people produced great quantities of gold and silver, thrown in as votive offerings.

Next to the Russian bells, as to size, are those of China, and perhaps for tone, their sonorous metals, or, to speak more properly, the proportion of alloy of which they manufacture their bells and gongs, is not to be excelled by those of any other country. Bells are not, however, in any general use among them, for, since the native princes were displaced by a Tartar dynasty in 1644, they have almost fallen into total desuetude.

The Emperor Yong-lo, who began his reign in 1403, and transferred the seat of government from Nankin to Pekin, celebrated the event by casting nine bells, of enormous bulk, one of which was of iron. Seven of them were to be seen about the middle of the seventeenth century, and were said to be exceedingly well cast. One had a diameter of 12 feet 11 inches, and was 13 inches thick. They were struck also with wooden tongues, but there is a difference of opinion as regards the tone produced existing among writers.

In the festive seasons of the year, with what a fervid gladness do the brave bells cast their wild and melodious cadences into the space around them! How joyously do they welcome in Christmas! How lustily do they bid adieu to the old year, and welcome the new one in, with the clamor that is like the thunder of an organ! In the stillness of the Sabbath morning, their summons to the worship of the Creator takes a solemnity that is most impressive, and they thus lend their voice to the "praise and the glory of God" with as much reality and zeal as the whole inanimate universe is, with one accord,

testifying to the grandeur and the majesty of the Giver of all good!

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unnecessary, and the Almighty declared as fabulous | torian (Major) writes, in 1518, that "whilst he was as Jupiter by the voices of those philosophical and of Christ's College, he frequently lay in his bed to revolutionary writers, who taught the people infi- hear the meiody of the bells, which were rung early delity combined with science. This ceremonial in the morning on festivals, and being near the river must have been of significant consequences. Alcuin (so the college stands) was heightened by the rever-gery as powerful, apt, and beautiful, as any that (a learned English ecclesiastic), who lived in the beration from the water." time of Charlemagne, and who was held in much respect by that monarch, states that the christening, or the blessing, of bells had become an established usage in the seventh century.

After the ringing of church-bells had been established as a science, though even then not by any means perfect, it was customary with many to leave donations in their wills, as a gift to the ringers for attending at certain hours on certain days named. Nell Gwynne, who is said to have "possessed every virtue but that of chastity," left for the bell-ringers of the church of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, London, a sum for a weekly entertainment of this kind.

The first regular peal of bells, traced out by a genuine lover of the art, was a peal of five, that, in 1456, was presented by Pope Calixtus III. to King's College, Cambridge, where they remained till 1750, the largest in the kingdom, the tenor weighing 64,000 pounds, and it is of this peal that the his

To the poets, bells have been suggestive of imaearth, air, and sea ever offered. Hamlet in his madness is mourned by the "fair Ophelia" as one whose mind had become "like sweet bells jangled out of tune;" and Orlando, when wandering with good old Adam in the forest of Arden, adjures the Duke and his "co-mates" to grant them both relief, when exhausted by weariness and languor, if they have

In the commencement of the sixteenth century
eight bells were hung in churches, and as the num-
ber (the octave of music) suggested the varying of
melody, the art of ringing made such vast strides,
that in 1677 a scientific treatise was published, en-
titled "Campanalogia," or the art of ringing. By
the end of the same century, the number had been
increased to ten, and subsequently to twelve, at which And his petition is assented to—they
number we believe they now remain.

The statistics of bells in the British Islands, at
the beginning of the present century were as fol-
lows:-8 peals of 12; 43 do. of 10. About 500
peals of 8; 600 do. of 6; 300 do. of 5: no mention
being made of those smaller churches, which possess
but one, the single monotonous tone of which, inces-
santly pealing for half an hour, is, indeed, enough to
make the captious turn Turk, and go the length of
condemning the whole, for the suffering inflicted.

Let us here add the weights of the great bells

"Ever been where bells have knelled to church"

"-have with holy bell been knolled to church." Among those who are considered as having carried the art of bell-ringing in England to its greatest height, are Francis Roberts, author of cater-ringing, and George Gross, who created a peal of 7,001 changes. The names of Stedman and Anable, too, are held in high respect, while Holt and Charles Wells receive their fair tribute at the hands of other historians. Also, the triumvirate, William Jones, John Reeves, and Thomas Blakemore, who wrote a compendium of bell-ringing.

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"That horse is thine, its price will aid To set thy lover free."

"Nay, then, his ransom shall be paid!" Cried knights and ladies three.

The second knight his dagger gave,
The finest work of Spain;

His mantle trimmed with ermine brave,

The third to doff was fain.
And each fair lady from her ear
Unloosed her rings of gold,

And gave them to her cavalier,
To help that maiden bold.

And by those knights and ladies three,

That ransom straight was paid,
And eke a happy wife was she,
That fair and faithful maid.

Nor ever lacked a charger knight
Who sat beneath that tree,

Nor ermined cloak, nor dagger bright,

To set a captive free.

But ladies fair and lovers brave,

All prospered from that day,

On which the noble spendthrifts gave

Their little al' away.

THIS very beautiful Engraving is from the pencil of the celebrated John Gilbert. It is intended as an illustration of the argument set forth in Tupper's Proverbial Philosophy upon the subject of "Mystery." As a work of art it is a perfect gem, and does honor to Mr. Gilbert, whose able and prolifie pencil is winning for him an exalted reputation both in England and this country. We have not room for Mr. Tupper's entire poem on this subject, but we quote a portion.

OF MYSTERY.

BY MARTIN F. TUPPER.

ALL things being are in mystery: we expound mysteries by mysteries;

And yet the secret of them all is one in simple grandeur:

All intricate, yet each path plain, to those who know the way;

All unapproachable, yet easy of access, to them that hold the key:

We walk among labyrinths of wonder, but thread the mazes with a clue;

We sail in chartless seas, but behold! the pole-star is above us.

For, counting down from God's good will, thou meltest every riddle into Him,

The anxion of reason is an undiscovered God, and all things live in his ubiquity:

There is only one great secret; but that one hideth everywhere;

How should the infinite be understood in Time, when it stretcheth on ungrasped forever?

Can a halting Edipus " of the earth guess the enigma of the universe?

Not one; the sword of faith must cut the Gordian knot of nature.

God, pervading all, is in all things the mystery of each;

The wherefore of its character and essence, the fountain of its virtues and its beauties
The child asketh of its mother.-Wherefore is the violet so sweet?
The mother answereth her babe,-Darling. God hath willed it.
And sages, diving into science, have but a profundity of words,
They track for some few links the circling chain of consequence,
And then, after doubts and disputations, are left where they began,
At the bald conclusion of a clown, things are because they are.
Wherefore are the meadows green, is it not to gratify the eye?
But why should greenness charm the cye? such is God's good will.
Wherefore is the ear attuned to a pleasure in musical sounds,

And who set a number to those sounds, and fixed the laws of harmony.
Who taught the bird to build its nest, or lent the shrub its life,
Or poised in the balances or order the power to attract and to repel;
Who continueth the world, and the sea, and the heart, in motion ?
Who commanded gravitation to tie down all upon its sphere ?—
For even as a limestone cliff is an aggregate of countless shells,
One riddle concrete of many, a mystery compact of mysteries,

So God, cloudcapped in immensity, standeth the cohesion of all things,
And secrets, sublimely indistinct, permeate that Universe Himself:
As is the whole, so are the parts, whether they be mighty or minute,
The sun is not more unexplained than the tissue of ammet's wing

A PAGE OF PARIS GOSSIP.

WITH the month of June commences the season

cause it shakes the flooring, and endangers the
safety of the best-built houses." It was but the

other day that an amusing scene took place between

one of these despotic landlords and a young gen-
tleman well known to the circles of the Faubourg
St. Honoré for his clegant person and agreeable

manners.

of suburban excursions in Paris. The Parisians are slaves to usages and dates. From the first day of this sunny month, and in despite of weather or circumstance, they hasten away to their It seems that Monsieur D―, after having given villas at Asnières, Ville d'Avray, Bellevue, and Nanterre. By a fortunate occurrence of time and notice to quit his apartment, had neglected to engage labor, the railway of Auteuil has been lately opened, another. The fatal day approached, almost before and now serves to convey the wearied habitués of he was aware of it, and he was obliged to go in the salons to a new and charming colony of rural quest of another, for move he must on the morning residences lately built, called the Villa Montmo- of the second day. His search proved fortunate, rency, and situated in the pseudo Parc de Bonflers, and his choice was soon made. In a pretty house near the pleasantest part of the Bois de Boulogne. In peopling the park with all kinds of elegant retreats, the builders have been careful to spare the finest trees, and have contrived to leave them standing in the gardens of the various mansions. architecture is polygener, and every dwelling bears

in the Chaussee d'Antin, he found a little room to
let, with which he was greatly pleased.

"I should have preferred a larger apartment," he
said to the concierge," and one not so high as the
fourth story;
The
What is the rent?"

its distinctive character. Here we find the Swiss chalet, the Italian villa, the English cottage, and the picturesque Russian homestead, ingeniously built amid a little shrubbery of firs and pines. The Chateau and Parc de Bonflers became merged in the Montmorency estates by the marriage of the Duchess de Bonflers with the Maréchal de Luxembourg. In changing owners, the estate changed its name, and hence the suburb is called the Villa Montmorency. The Duchess de Bonflers of whom we speak was that amiable and spirituelle protectress of Jean Jacques Rousseau, celebrated by Tressau in a chanson as flattering as it was severe.

but I have not time to seek a better.

an uneasy glance upon M. D; "I want 1,500 francs for it."

The young man uttered an exclamation of unaffected surprise.

"That is my price; I cannot take a sou less," said the propriétaire, with an air of determined resolution.

"But, monsieur, it is exorbitant! You will never let it at that rent!"

"That is my business. I have as much right to ask a high price as you have to refuse it." "But to-morrow will be quarter-day."

"All the worse for me if I do not let it before." "But, monsieur, I am compelled to move to-morrow morning. I had relied upon your room; where am I to find another between this and then?"

"I cannot help that. I must have the 1,500. It is for you to take it or leave it."

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Then I decide upon accepting," replied the young man, for he was rich enough to pay the sacrifice, and so avoid the trouble of seeking another lodging

that

night.

"You accept!” cried the propriétaire. "You consent to pay 1,500 francs for a room that is only worth 800! Then my suspicions were correct!"

"What suspicions, monsieur? I do not understand you."

"Spare yourself useless falsehood, monsieur. I see through your intentions, and I glory in defeating your odious plans! You shall not lodge in my house for any price, so there's an end of the matter!"

And he slammed the door in M. D's face, who

turned away, persuaded that he had been dealing

with a madman. And. in fact, the man was a monomaniac of jealousy, who imagined the whole world were in league to rob him of the affections of his pretty wife.

A correspondent of the N. Y. "Courier and En"Eight hundred francs a year," replied the boy. quirer" relates that during a visit to the Jardin des "M. D- had no obiection to economise a little, Plantes, in Paris, he strayed into the dominions of the place suited him, and he hired it. the hippopotamus. While leisurely regarding the "Très bien," said he, "I engage the room. Where unwieldy creature, a party of ladies and gentlemen is the proprietor?"

"He lives in the house," replied the concierge;
"but to-day he has gone out with madame.
haps Monsieur will leave his card."

M. D left his card, paid a week's rent in
advance to secure the lodging, and departed with
the pleasant feeling of one who has a settled home.

entered the enclosure from the opposite side. They were preceded by the keeper of the animal, who Per-"trotted him out" for their amusement. Among the gentlemen of the party was one short, stout person, in a round hat, brown frock, and gray pantaloonshe being the only one who had his hat on. Among the ladies was a remarkably beautiful, modest-looking young lady, with the sweetest possible expression of countenance, and clad in a simple dress of lilac colored silk. From her evident simplicity and the lively attention with which she regarded the movements of the animal, the visitor concluded that she

"It is I, monsieur. who have engaged your little was some innocent young flower, just transported room on the fourth story."

The next evening he presented himself at the house to see that all was in readiness for his arrival It is supposed that the extension of the Parisian in the morning. The landlord made his appearance suburbs will induce many familes to adopt the Eng- at the door, the gentleman bowed, and addressed lish fashion of residing out of the city-an altera-him with the most exquisite sauvity. tion which would seriously affect one class of persons in Paris, namely, the lodging-house keepers. These people, who call themselves "propriétaires," and who are the terror of strangers and the bane of residents, have of late years arrogated the most absurd rights to themselves, and, blinded by prosperity, have not only augmented their terms to an unconscionable degree, but have imposed the most irksome and imperious conditions upon their hapless locataires Some will not suffer their inmates to have a piano; some interdict the presence of children, under the pretext that they are noisy and destructive; others forbid their lodgers to give balls, "be

The propriétaire, a middle-aged and very plain man, looked at him with a suspicious and unwelcome air. He was silent for a moment, and then speaking with ill-disguised embarrasment,

from the wholesome atmosphere of a country garden. At length the lady, familiarly taking the arm of the short gentleman, turned to leave the spot, and a chance glimpse of the gentleman's face explained why all hats were off. The couple were the Emperor

"I beg your pardon sir," he said, gruffly, "but and Empress of France. As they left the enclothere has been a mistake."

"How so?"

sure to visit other parts of the menagerie, the hats of every one whom they passed were raised in affec"My concierge was in error as to the rent of the tionate and respectful salutation, and the obeisance apartment." of all was received without ostentation by the Emperor, and rewarded with the sweetest of smiles by "There he was wrong," replied the other, fixing the Empress.

"He told me 800 francs."

ANIGHT IN THE LIFE OF A PHYSICIAN.

Now this was far from pleasant. In fact it was a very awkward fix to be in. I did not know how to act. The madman made a grasp at me, but fortuI WAS sitting dozing in my chair, when a tremendous knocking was heard at my door. The nately I eluded his grasp, and thinking it better to servant opened it, when a man rushed in, in the wild-fight in the dark, I seized his lamp and cast it on the floor. The room was now dark. The madman set up a terrific yelling, and I could hear him lock the door and put the key in his pocket, while he kept muttering.

est disorder.

"For God's sake, doctor," said he, "come with me! It's a case of life or death. A young girl has stabbed herself; she is bleeding to death. One thousand dollars if you save her! Come, oh, do not. delay." And he rushed towards me, as if to drag me along.

I hurried away with him, snatching my instruments from the table as I passed it. I think I never saw before such conclusive grief as this man's face expressed. He was a handsome man, with one of those faces the ladies so much admire, jet black hair, clustering in waving curls over a white forehead. The lower part of his otherwise feminine features was relieved by a deep jet black beard.

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We reached the house. On a satin couch, in a splendid room-the rich Turkey carpet covered with her blood-lay a young girl. I think I never saw such a beautiful creature. Even with pallid countenance and bloodless lips she was more of heaven than earth. What she was when the roses played on her downy cheeks I could fancy.

There was a deep wound over the heart, and it was quite evident that the blow had been given with right good will. On the floor, covered with blood, lay the weapon -a slight Damascene dagger, the handle richly set with pearls, strongly lit up with the reflection from the blood-stained ivory.

I was too late! Alas, the life-blood was slowly dropping away. That masterpiece of creation was soon to be cold and inanimate. She slowly opened her eyes and fixed them with dying love upon the young man who had summoned me to this scene of

death.

"Sidney," she said, "Sidney, I am dying. My own Sidney, I could not live neglected. I told you I would love you to death. Kiss me, Sidney." She sank back, and death closed upon his victim!

My companion sat for some time strangely staring at the lifeless form on the couch. I could perceive that reason was tottering on its foundation. I was fascinated by his strange look. At last I went up to him.

66

Sir," I said, "she is no more. Death has released her from her troubles."

"Dead! Did you say she is dead, doctor?" said he, with a strange and curious stare at me. "Ah! and you have murdered her," yelled the madman, for such he was now. "You have murdered her, and I shall murder you. Ah! ah! it will be rare sport." Before I could prevent him, he had picked up the dagger. "Yes," said he, with a yell, "I will murder you with her dagger. I wiil stab you in the same place. Oh! it will be rare sport to see you groan and struggle like she did. Ah! ah!" and he nade a bound at me.

"I will kill him, I will kill him! rare sport to see him die like she did!”

his reasons and circumstances, I am accused of interested and almost fraudulent designs by this Loffmann !"

"Alas! he does not know us, brother," said the

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girl, gently. They have filled him with prejudices against us, and he has believed them, because it was his interest to do so."

"And so," replied Michael, bitterly, "the land I have cultivated for twenty years, and earned by my Oh! it will be unceasing labors, is to be taken away from me by a foreigner, simply because he happens to be born a fifteenth cousin!"

"The judgment has not been given," interrupted Florence.

"Ah, but I have little to hope from it," answered Michael. "This Loffmann is young and active; he has friends, too; perhaps the decree has already been pronounced

He stopped on hearing his sister sigh.

I felt my courage rise with the emergency. I half determined to try a struggle with him; but I knew the increased strength that the insane possess, and I thought it scarcely prudent. What should I do? I must do something. It would soon be daylight, when I would again be in his power. I felt for some weapon with which to defend myself, and, as luck would have it, found a heavy dumb bell in the corner where I lay concealed. Presently, I heard the madman slowly searching for me. I raised the May God forgive me," I said; it deThe madman lay stunned on the floor. I rushed to the door, smashed in the As he said thse words, they turned a corner of the lock with the heavy metal, and rushed down stairs. path, and came suddenly upon the open glade, where Presently, the house was all in commotion. the balloon was floating a few feet above their heads, The girl dead in a pool of blood-sustaining a light, pretty car, which seemed to be the man insensible on the floor, with the dagger swimming over the grass. firmly clutched in his hand. But reason never returned. He slowly recovered.

dumb bell:

scended, and I was free.

what a scene!

is a madman to this day.

Oh !

I bled him and he

I never heard the history of my patients of that night. They were strangers in the house. I never will forget that night's adventure.

A NIGHT AMONG THE CLOUDS.

THE

HE sun was setting on a certain Sunday in
August some years ago, at Mannheim; and

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"Is there no danger?" asked the girl. "None in the least," answered the man; more the pleasure-gardens which surround the town were than ten thousand souls have taken these little rapidly becoming silent and deserted. In one, how-rides." ever, the crowd still remained--the cottage-garden, then famous for its entertainments, its fireworks, and its balloon ascents.

These latter had long been so popular as to attract great crowds, perhaps the more so as the aërial voyages were as little dangerous as they were short. The balloons were strongly attached to the ground by ropes, which could be lengthened or shortened at pleasure, the ascent never exceeding the tops of the trees, even among the bravest of the adventurers.

The crowd were now leaving the balloon for the fireworks on another terrace, when a young girl, leaning on the arm of a man about forty years of age, appeared at the end of the avenue. They were talking slowly, and appeared pre-occupied by some serious matter. After a silence, the man said, energetically

"No, sister: as long as I live I can never forgive that Christian Loffmann for disputing my inheriting Loerrach, my cousin's property; for Heaven knows it was not left to me as a gift, but as my right for what he owed me."

"He should have said so in his will, Michael," answered the young girl.

"And just because he did not, I am despoiled of my due! Because a dying man did not explain all

"And can one descend when one likes ?" "You need only ring the little hand-bell." "Let us go!" cried Michael. And so saying, he lifted Florence into the car. The man loosed the ropes, and in another moment the balloon slowly began to ascend. The young girl turned pale. The stranger saw it, and moving towards the hand-bell said, smiling-" Shall we stop?"

"A thousand thanks!" said Florence. "I shall soon be used to it ;" and her color returned. They rose above the trees, and the girl forgot her fears in the newness of the sight. The Black Forest and the Rhine appeared on either hand, and the Neckar meandered among rich meadows dotted with villages towards the horizon.

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.

Michael sighed, and said in a low voice. "Happy, indeed, if one is not under the ban of persecution and calumnies !"

The stranger turned to him.

“Ah, sir!” said he, "no one knows that better than myself!" "Are you, just rights?"

then, also condemned to defend your

"Yes, and from an adversary who neglects no ties-and stiffness in their limbs-Florence at last means of annoying me."

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glided down from her seat, unable to support herself any longer. "I am sleepy," she murmured. "Oh, waken up! waken up!" cried Michael; I sleep here is death! Get up, Florence! get up!"

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But she did not move. "Florence!

Oh, my God! she does not hear

"And all my hopes will be destroyed to profit a me! and I have nothing tohypocrite!"

"Ah, I see," said Michael, "our positions are alike; you plead against some Christian Loffmann, like me.'

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"Christian Loffmann!" cried the stranger. "Why that is my name! And my adversary is Michael Ritter!"

"Why that is mine!"

And the two men exchanged glances of surprise, passion, and hatred. Florence looked frightened. She laid a hand on her brother's arm. "Let us descend!" said she. But he would not listen. "What Mr. Loffmann said of his adversary is a calumny!" exclaimed he, with glittering eyes. "And what Mr. Ritter said of his is false !" plied the young man forcibly.

"Take this cloak."

conducted his two companions after their common deliverance. Their mutual congratulations had at first quite occupied their minds; but now that the first feelings of relief had passed away, Ritter began to feel his menaced interests re-awakening within him.

How far does your demesno extend ?". Michael started, as if his conscience told him his guest had divined his secret thoughts.

"Ah! you want to know how much your cause

He turned, and saw Loffmann stripping himself will gain for you?" he answered, bitterly. of his coat, which was lined with fur.

"Upon my word I was not thinking of it!" replied

"But you yourself?" hesitated Ritter, touched Loffmann, but he looked disconcerted. and surprised.

"You need not blush about it," said Ritter: "we each have confidence in our own rights, naturally.

"I am stronger,” he answered, briefly. Both stooped to wrap it round the girl, and their I will show you the demesne." hands met. Michael seized his adversary's

And he pointed out woods and fields, one after

"It seems a wonderfully well-cultivated property,"

"Let this wipe out the past. I am sorry I said another, far and near.
so much to wound you!"
"Regret nothing," answered Loffmann. "I was observed Christian,
most in the wrong!"

"Let us forgive each other, then," answered
Michael; 66
'we shall all three soon be before the
re-judgment seat of God. Let us throw away our an-
ger before that!"

"Oh, heavens! let us descend!" said tho girl, tremblingly.

"Yes," said Michael," explanations will be more satisfactory on the ground."

"I have none left," cried Christian. "Here is my hand, Ritter, and it is a true friend's hand!"

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I accept it as such. Loffmann, we have both been deceived, each believing the other to be ill-in"And I hope they will be decisive," added Loff- tentioned, because our interests were opposed; and man, in a significant voice. we had no means of learning the contrary by acHe rang the bell; but the balloon remained sta-quaintance. Let us thank God that in our last hour tionary: again, a second and third time, with as little He has brought us together, that we may appear effect. They looked over the side of the car.

"Gracious Heavens!" cried Michael, "there is an emeute in the gardens! They are tearing down the railings, and making a bonfire of the seats, and breaking the lamps !"

"There! they are now under the balloon!" "What are they doing?"

"By Jove, they are cutting the cords!" The three travellers shrieked aloud—but in vain believing the car empty, the students had cut the cords, and in another moment the balloon darted high into air, and disappeared from their eyes in the gathering clouds of night.

The unfortunate prisoners in the air waisted some breath in useless cries and exclamations; but despair soon succeeded, and they remained silent and quiet, believing themselves doomed to a speedy but inevitable death. Florence hid her face on her brother's shoulder, but he had no words of consolation to give her.

Loffmann sat at the other end of the car, seeming somewhat less disturbed, and now and then casting a look of pity on Ritter and his sister; but the recollection of their enmity and their reciprocal insults so lately uttered, kept them from communication even in their common danger.

before him without rancor in our hearts." "Amen!" answered Loffmann, "and may God forgive us as we forgive each other!" Then, looking up, they perceived a pale light on one side it was the dawn.

The wind appeared to change and sink; the balloon began to descend slowly; and a little hope re-animated their hearts. The sun rose, and the country began to re-appear. It seemed like a resurrection to them. The earth existed still, and for them; and the balloon continued to descend. They soon distinguished the villages and fields. Suddenly Ritter joyfully exclaimed,—

"It is Loerrach!" and Florence, revived and thankful, recognised their old house and meadows. But at this moment the balloon seemed beginning to re-ascend on a fresh wind. Florence clasped her hands.

“I have given every thought and hour I possessed to it,” replied Michael. “I had hoped to continue my improvements; but who can tell how many or how few days it may perhaps still be mine? Perhaps, already"

As he said these words, Florence entered; she seemed troubled as she advanced, holding a letter in her hand.

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Ritter and Loffmann looked at each other. moment they each hesitated, and then held out their hands both together.

"Ah," cried Michael, "it shall not be said that in "Is there no means of stopping it?" she cried, danger alone our hearts were disposed to mercy! imploringly. Saved by the goodness of God, let us prove our We have left our "There is one," said Loffmann, "but it is a dan- gratitude by our submission. gerous one." enmity in the clouds-do not let us return to it on

"Oh, let us try it!" cried Ritter; "nothing can earth. Whatever this letter may announce, I declare be worse than last night!"

Loffmann stepped cautiously on the edge of the car, and hanging on by the cords, thrust the spike of his walking-staff through the silk of the balloon. Meanwhile the balloon, at the mercy of the night- The gas rushed out with a roar; the balloon sank winds, floated through the sky, with the rapidity of with frightful rapidity, and the travellers shut their a swallow returning to its nest, while its inmates eyes in terror. A violent bump came, and they could but just perceive the glimmer of some town or found themselves entangled in the branches of a pine city over which they were passing. But, by degrees, tree, with the car but a few feet from the ground. even this failed them: the balloon mounted higher, Towards the close of the same day, Loffmann and and the cold became oppressive. Dull rumblings Ritter were leaning out of the window of the old came in their ears-sharp tinglings in their extremi-house-the disputed property-to which Michael had

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