mothers' breasts, and then tossing them in the air, that they might die from the fall at their parents' feet, without being moved to pity, should so far have given way to their feelings, on the death of their chief, as to bend over his corse and bathe it with their tears. By such conduct, they certainly evinced, in the strongest possible manner, the love which they bore towards him when living, and their grief for his loss; a tribute to his memory, which none of his successors ever enjoyed, not even his gallant brother, Baldwin, who was a great favorite with the army, and was chosen their King, an honor which he did not decline. When Godfrey was made aware of his approaching end, he called Gerard to his couch, and gave him, for the use of his hospital, a large estate which he owned in Brabant, known as the "lordship of Montboire." This first property owned by the Hospitallers was not of so much importance to them for its yearly rents, as for the example which Godfrey had given to his wealthy followers, to take these poor pilgrims under their protection, and bestow on them a portion of their wordly goods. Within ten years, this single gift had been followed by so many others of a similar nature, that Gerard was enabled to erect a splendid palace for his hospital,-to establish branches of his institution at four different places in Europe, and to say that there was hardly a province in Italy, France, Spain, or Portugal, in which he, as the head of his Order, did not hold some princely estate. While, for eighteen years, Baldwin held sway as the King of Jerusalem, the crusaders were always in action. Sometimes called upon to defend their own fortifications from the assaults of the Saracens, and at others to follow their leader in his warlike excursions, they passed their lives in a continued state of savage excitement. Truly may we say, that, at this epocha, their swords were always drawn, and their lances were never at rest. Baldwin having, at different periods during his reign, successfully stormed the fortresses of Acre and Tripoli, of Sidon and Berytus, started with a large force in the spring of 1118 to conquer the city of Tyre. This was the only place on the whole coast, where the infidel flag was waving in defiance of his authority, and this he had sworn to reduce. So long as Tyre remained a Mahommedan town, Baldwin could not say, that throughout Syria, by right of conquest, he was its only ruler. To claim this honor he engaged in this expedition, and, in trying to obtain it, he lost his life. Hardly ten thousand were slain in the temple of Solomon, and a like number in the streets; while Aboulmahasen states that one hundred thousand perished in the mosques of Sakra and Akra, and one hundred thousand were made prisoners. We think the former number is as much too small, as the latter is too great. The Jews all perished also at this time. The synagogues, to which they had fled for protection, were set on fire, and their inmates". 'died in the flames."-[See July Mess., p. 421.-Ed.] had the King arrived under the walls of the city, which he had left his throne to reduce, before he perished of a disease, which had its origin only in the fatigues of his journey. Expressing a horror of being interred in land which was subject to a Moslem's rule, he made his followers swear that they would embalm his body, and place it near that of his brother, under our Saviour's tomb. The crusaders keeping their oath, this monarch's wish was complied with; he being the second who was burried in this holy place. About the time of which we are now writing, the Christians in Jerusalem, were destined to receive another shock by the death of Gerard. This meek and pious man breathed his last in the month of May 1118, and so long as the Christian world respects philanthropic actions, so long will his memory live. He lived to a good old age, and was succeeded by Raymond Du Puis, who, on his election, assumed the title of Grand-Master, and was blessed with a long and happy reign of more than forty years. Rome, Italy, 1843. SUNDAY EVENING VERSES. BY REV. WILLIAM B. TAPPAN. In weakness and in trembling, I spoke, O God, to-day,No threat of thine dissembling, No promise kept away;— Thy will to men revealing, With unction from above, Rebuked I sin with feeling, And comforted in love. Yet, were I ready Aaron, Yet, were 1 gifted Paul, Art thou, my soul, content, I count it lasting fame, Concealed in Jesus' Name;- I seem, where waves are dashing, To vanquish Baal, before me Go! Pleading that prepares; At altars waiting, o'er me Rise cloud of Christian prayers; In answer to their cry, Shall lick the trenches dry.. Called down at Prayer's desire, O'er shrine and pillar curled ;- Which dazzles aching sight,- Boston, Mass. TO THE EDITOR OF THE MESSENGER: Sir,—During a sojourn in the South, the incidents of the following story were related to the writer, as having actually transpired in the city of New Orleans; and, thinking, with a few necessary adjuncts of fiction, they might be embodied, in a manner, so as to interest a "light reader," it is thus submitted to your publication. The scene at the masquerade is literally true; the effects of which, for a long time, conspired to cast a well-merited obloquy upon that fascinating, but dangerous kind of pub lic amusement. LONA D'ALVAREZ. A TALE OF THE SOUTH. "This even handed justice Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice To our own lips."— Macbeth. conscious delinquency. She bowed her head low upon his extended hand, as she replied "My detention at vespers, holy father, was unavoidable, but if it causes you any interruption from other sacred duties, I can defer my confessions until to-morrow's early mass." "Oh no!" returned he in a somewhat softened tone, waving his hand towards the confessional chair, "enter daughter and avail thyself now of the blessed privilege of unveiling thy most secret griefs and human weaknesses, to a willing and most sympathizing ear. Full well thou knowest, ere this, that there is no balm more acceptable to the wounded spirit, than that of priestly consolation, for, from the holy book, thou hast heard, that it is only the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous, that availeth much."" In silent acquiescence she knelt gracefully beside the latticed aperture, to which the priest's ear was bent so close, that the soft breath of the fair penitent fanned his pale and sunken cheek. Occasionally some violent emotion seemed to check her articulation, which caused Father Clement to brush away the glistening tear from his benevolent eye, whilst various expressions passed over his face, as he listened to the low murmuring tones of her voice. She ceased to hear his proposed penance. "Alas! my daughter, I greatly fear thou hast yielded thy heart to the most sinful of all earthly passions, because of its absorbing and idolatrous nature. Thou hast permitted a mortal to usurp that place in thy affections, which thy Creator has claimed as his supremely, and thou wilt rue, with bitterness, as all who have likewise done, the dethronement of thine idol. Has He not said 'thy God is a jealous God?' "True, father, but has He not implanted within us certain feelings, and endowed us with certain capacities, which are instinctively nurtured, and which entwine so closely around us, that to cast off, or sever their influence, would be as a futile attempt to re-create ourselves?" The vesper bell of the Ursuline convent had pealed its last chime on the still air-and the brief hour of a southern twilight was faintly merging into the deep darkness of night, when the tall figure of a female emerged from the vestibule of its chapel, and rapidly traced her way through those narrow streets of the city leading towards the venerable cathedral, the pride and boast of Havana. As she paused within the deep shadow, which its high walls cast far and wide around, she drew aside, "Even so, my child, but, nevertheless, we are for a moment, the thick folds of her mantilla--as if enjoined in holy writ, to keep them in subjection, to catch the passing breeze, which was then faintly lest they lead us captive to Satan. If God has rising from the sea and sending once more an in- thus elevated us in the scale of creation, by such vigorating throb to the languid pulse-rendered endowments, how much more are we by the addidoubly stagnant by the intense heat of noon-day; tional gift of the power of self-control, that masbut she soon replaced it o'er her face, and then tery of will, which says thus far thou shalt go, and quickly passed into the gloomy arched entrance of no farther. Be assured such a love, as thou hast the building. confessed for the young American, is too soul-en"Daughter," said Father Clement, "what has grossing to receive from Heaven one propitious detained thee so long beyond the hour appointed for smile. It is also too sinful, because of his heresy. confession? Suppose the holy virgin were thus to Thinkest thou the holy virgin would bless thy union delay her intercessions for thee at the throne of with one so far removed from the privileges, and grace, as thou seemest to do recently in seeking the pale of the only true church? No, daughter, her divine aid, through the wisely appointed way of thou should'st and must subdue, nay, extinguish thy penitential confession ?" passion by strict penance." The priest's voice was The trembling motion of the maiden's hand, whilst stern and commanding, when he uttered the last adjusting her mantilla, betrayed the agitation of words. "Name thy penance, holy father," replied the laurea-mundi spread its graceful limbs over an trembling maiden, after a pause. Thou hast said thy lover leaves the city tomorrow-see him no more-refuse all communication with him; in struggling prayer and fasting, spend the intervening time, ere you again seek the aid of confession. If his love be true, he will soon be willing to abandon his heretical faith for thee, and if thine be of that pure self-denying nature, worthy of a daughter of the mother of all Christian purity, it will, by your pious subjugation, be pleasing in the sight of Heaven, and, perchance, through this ordeal be eventually blest." "Oh no!" said the maiden imploringly, “I cannot compromise my pledged word, by performing your required penance. For the last time, I have promised to see him this evening-any other restriction but that, which would cast upon me the imputation of faithlessness towards him." extended space, forming a shade, which, in the delicious coolness of the evening, wooed the retreat of even the most careless observer. The spiral leaves of the acacia, tremblingly agitated by every passing breeze that murmurs through its thick branches, whose downy bloom, the slightest motion ever seems to threaten with annihilation-these, together with the silvery aspen, and many other trees, rendered the Rue St. one of the most inviting spots in the city. But its beauty was too familiar to the maiden, to elicit any other expression save that of "Thanks to the holy virgin, I am within the shade of my own home"--and, quickly crossing the paved walk on the opposite side of the street, she, the next moment, ascended the long piazza of a low Spanish-built, but very handsome dwelling, situated a little in the rear of the shaded pavement. "I have done," returned the priest, withdrawing Throwing aside her mantilla, she sank, breathhis ear from the aperture, "thy sins be upon thine less, upon a lounge resting against the stone-fretown head-but mark you, the holy virgin's face ted pillars, which were almost concealed 'neath will lie shrouded from thee until this, thy madness, the twining tendrils of the Spanish jessamine and hath past. It would be mockery to impose upon Grendalia vine. Every noise or rustle amongst thee, the sanctifying penance of prayer, since thou the leaves seemed to startle her strained ear, for it art not capable, or willing to deny thyself the in- was apparent, from the anxious expression of her terview named." His voice was one of calm de- face and attitude, that some one was eagerly looked nunciation,—but it changed, as he added, with ten-for. At length, as if incapable of maintaining her derness, "I pity thee my child-yea, most deeply position of quietude, she arose and hastily walked do I feel for thy dangerous condition in the eye of the piazza. There was a stately majesty in her God and of all his perfected host; return to thy home, step, a gracefulness of mien, that would have atI will see thee soon-farewell." tracted the attention, without waiting for a view of The feeble glare of the sacred lamp, suspended her face, to wonder if she was beautiful. Her over the richly decorated altar, gave to view the head was haughtily erect, though her finely formed robed form of Father Clement, as he reverently neck and shoulders bespoke none of that unbendbent his knee to the golden image of the Saviour, ing stiffness, which an elevated carriage of the perabove the holiest of holies. Slowly his slender son is so apt to produce. But her face was, indeed, finger signed the cross over his bowed face and most difficult to decide upon there was beauty in bosom, whilst his thin pale lips faintly uttered his it, if regularity of features constitute the possespaler noster-then, as slowly rising with head in-sion of that desired, though often fatal gift-yet to clined, he turned into the private ante-chapel of the the confiding heart, the yearning soul, and the wellcathedral. Whilst the movements of the priest attuned mind, it was a beauty that instinctively had thus been decided, the tottering steps of the caused each one to shrink from a prolonged exami penitent, had echoed through the spacious aisle, nation. Perhaps it was not a fit time to judge of and when she paused upon the threshold of the the maiden's claim to such a possession-for some arched entrance, the town-bell so startled her by strong, and probably unusual, disquietude conthe lateness of the hour, as to quicken into a run spired to mar the natural expression of her face. her speed homewards. Heedless of every passer With an impatient gesture, she parted the thick to and fro, she rapidly threaded several dimly lighted branches of a myrtle that swept luxuriantly o'er and unfrequented streets, that finally brought her the piazza, and looked anxiously around—no apinto one, in which she halted with evident relief. proaching step fell on her ear. The square was It was broad and spacious, and seemed the widely- entirely deserted, and the colored lamps, suspended extended point, from which diverged those many from the trees, were flickering dim in the star-light. narrow and uninviting streets intersecting the city The murmuring of the fountains near was the of Havana. It was appropriated for public prome-only sound borne on the perfumed breeze-the glitnades, and beautifully ornamented with trees, which tering spray of the evening dew over her person none but a southern, tropical climate could so luxu- soon warned her of a longer exposure to the dampriantly produce. The rich white bloom of the ness of the air, and withdrawing her fair hand from orange, intermingled with its dark clustering fo- the parted branches, she passed through a large liage, gleamed with scented brightness. The glossy glass door, into an adjoining apartment. Pausing before one of the lofty mirrors, that hung against drawing her towards the entrance of the piazza the richly decorated walls, the maiden started at the reflection of her disordered appearance, but ere her trembling hand could adjust the tangled mass of her dark hair o'er her proud and deeply furrowed brow-her ready ear caught the sound of approaching footsteps-but a deeper contraction of her countenance bespoke her disappoint-harbor lay in unrippled stillness; various, countless ment, when they receded and passed around towards the apartments of her brother. Casting her eye towards the gorgeous time-piece in the niche o'er the mantle, she started, for the hour pointed to that, verging towards midnight—a small silver bell was quickly rung, which summons a servant as quickly obeyed. and leaning against the embowered pillars,) could even thy most fervid imagination, or that of the most soul-inspiring son of science, picture a more lovely, a more bewitching scene?" The view, that the eye then drank in, of the rare fruited isle, was indeed surpassingly beautiful. The "Bianca," said the maiden, "has my brother Julian returned, or was that Pedro who has just gone to his apartment ?" "He has not my lady-it was Senno-for my master left him, in place of Pedro, to attend you in his absence." Very true, I forgot Julian will be gone some days, retire until I ring again-but stay, see that no light flashes from my window-nay, darken the hall, for my aunt has just retired, and I would not have her disturbed." sails rested on its watery bosom-some of which were folded in inactive, luxurious ease, whilst others were spread on their tall masts, with their white pennons floating in the motion of a speedy launch, upon another voyage. The fine public walks, the palace of the Governor, and many splendid private edifices, each and all surrounded by a citadel of sweets, then greeted the eye. Stretching far in the distance, rose the unchanging blue line of the mountains, which ran through Cuba's whole length, and one glowingly fancied, even in that distance, he could distinguish some of those many pearly streams, which pour their chrystal waters over the plains, and whose banks are said to be so richly garnished with the Jerusalem and African rose, the bright scarlet cordium, and the silver, silky leaves of the port landia: flowers that have so often attracted the curious admiration of the stranger The lady was obeyed. "I feel relieved that Ju- botanist. If the verdant earth seemed so beautiful, lian is absent," mused she, "for his strangely im- how much more so the cloudless azure of the bibed prejudice against Romanzo is the source of heavens, in that sunny clime! The nights are more much discord between us. Perhaps it proceeds calm and serene, and the moon is said to shine more from a too jealous care for his only sister's happi- brilliantly, than in those that are colder; but, on the ness, we being the sole remaining links of a proud one alluded to, the absence of her broad light was, and noble race. But ah! my brother, did you but in some degree, compensated by the luminous efknow, or could feel one half of the deep, yea, un- fulgence of countless planets, whose twinkling fathomably deep love, I have yielded my heart to, light then shadowed forth distinctly, and more beauhow your lip's curl would be banished when taunt-tifully than the sunbeams, the enchanting beauty of ing me about my cherry cheeked bon homme north-Havana. To Lona, the scene was grand as well as erner. Methinks Romanzo plays the laggard to-picturesque, because it was her home, and she had night, for it is long past our hour of meeting-he would not dare to be the first to, but avaunt such dark thoughts—they are more worthy of my own suspicious heart than of his—for love, with one of my race and nation, has, throughout time, either proved the pabulum of life, or the drug of death to its object. Hark, 'tis he!" In a moment the lady stood on the piazza, with one by her side, whose face, even in the shadowy light of the night, gleamed with the brightness of rapture. "True as the prophecy of my own true heart, in its better noments," said she, placing her hand in his, "but, alas! Romanzo, that this should be only a meeting moment to part, although thou hast said it will not be long ere we will again renew our trysting vows?" "Even so, my beauteous Lona," returned the young man "ere another moon smiles on our green earth, I trust we will again stand with the same feelings of confidence, that we now do, on this most beautiful spot. Look forth, (continued he, never seen any other; but, to Romanzo, it was doubly so by the power of contrast, and that impulsive assent, which one of his cultivated taste, and inherent susceptibility, ever yields to all that is sublime or beautiful. "The scenery on my own majestic Hudson, I have thought, could not be surpassed," continued he, "that it bore nature's grandest impress, and embraced every feature calculated to fascinate the gaze-but it yields to this the advantage of a delicious, dreamy climate, which can only be conceded to the soft balmy south. This is, indeed, a home for bounding fairies--blushing beauty and rapturous love. Alas, alas! what a binding fetter the two last have cast o'er my bewildered senses." Lona liked not the deep drawn sigh that escaped her lover, nor the averted look which followed it. Her tone was bitter when she replied: "If thou hast yielded an unwilling heart, no fetter will prove lasting—and that sigh speaks some inward rebellion at thy present subjection." She had withdrawn from his side, and stood be fore him, towering in all the majesty of her haughty | mortal man to give another absolution. Disguise beauty-the fire of suspicion beamed from her al- it as you may-place it before the mind in every most staring eye, whose unnatural brilliancy shot light, it is nothing more than an impious delusion,— a pang through Romanzo's heart. He was star- the offspring of a corrupt and superstitious age." tled by her unusual excitement of manner-for, The maiden's cheek became deadly pale, as she hitherto, the glow of sentiment had only deepened listened to her lover and marked the deep scorn on her full, round cheek-soft and delicate emotions that curled his lip, when speaking of that religion, had alone seemed to bid the deep current mingle which had, from the earliest dawn of reason, been so with the rich brunette of her complexion, and love-devotionally cherished and closely entwined with trusting love, had ever lent its lustre to her dark her every thought-for no feeling is stronger, within eye-but now, what a change had passed over her a Spaniard's breast, than his most holy religious face! one terrible to behold, for it spoke the vol-faith. Amongst the females, it superstitiously canic fire of hidden passions, whose eruptions would blends, and assimilates with every other passionpour a searing lava on the most confiding heart. it is often the sesame to the hidden store of their With that one moment's reflection, passed a like withering change over his feelings-the penalty of which he afterwards so sadly experienced. natural affections—and colors, with its tinge, their every principle of action. This devotional bigotry gives an additional vehemence to their love, which 'Lona," replied he, calmly, "surely some fiend- from the defective nature of their education, the inlike influence has filled your mind with such vio- fluence of many pernicious national customs, and the lent distrust. Bid back the torrent of suspicion native ardor of their temperament, has often rein your bosom, for when once the soul yields to its sulted in much misery, and brought many deploradashing force, chaos and darkness become its sole ble evils upon them. They have the elements of occupants. This is no time for doubts or fears-greatness, which, under more favorable circumand I would not that our last meeting should be stances, would elevate them in the scale of human thus shaded, or one gloomily remembered." admiration and moral excellence-but, alas! the Her proud bearing was somewhat subdued by galling manacles of ecclesiastical superstition have his calm, but sad manner. “Ah, Romanzo-I fear Father Clement's prediction may fearfully be fulfilled, for I feel now the extent of my idolatry. His words, this evening, seem to ring in my ear, and fall, I know not why, like an ominous knell on my heart. Nought but the removal of the hated barrier-thy religious,-nay, thy heretical faith, can ever procure me unalloyed peace. Oh! would that I could persuade you to abandon it, as wretchedly spurious in the sight of Heaven." so fettered the Spanish race, that they have fallen from their once high estate, and the end of an evil age is gradually coming upon them. This is the case collectively; but, individually, there are many who exhibit the spirit of their ancestors of Castile and Aragon, who maintain the same invincible, inflexible, and noble heroism, that fired and exalted them in the age of Cortez and Pizarro. From such a lineage, sprung Lona D'Alvarez. Her parents were natives of the beautiful city of Seville, but emigrated to Cuba, when she was a mere "Lona, in justice to you as well as to every prin- child, and died soon afterwards, leaving two chilciple of truth and honor within my own breast, I dren, Julian and herself, to the protection of their now declare, with all due respect for your views widowed aunt-a lady of vast wealth and habits of religion, that not even to gain, or secure your of strict conformity to the revered religion of her love, could I become a Catholic. Think not it is forefathers. Madame de Virar's life was one of through the medium of a jaundiced prejudice, that pious vigor and ascetic devotion. With such a I have examined the tenets of that faith-for, as I train of influences, it is not to be wondered that have often told you, I have been reared without Lona's very soul shuddered at the heresy of one any particular bias guiding my religious opinions. so dear to her, and that her feelings were more I have searched in vain among its sophistries for than ordinarily embittered, when listening to his the slightest ground of reason, for all its ceremo- scornful detraction of the holy church. There nies, glosses and traditions-but I have only found was a terrible conflict within her bosom, one of a most corrupting system, every feature of which, equal passions-her love and religious faith—had is subversive of the plain simplicity and purity of it not been for the faint glimmerings of hope, with the gospel, and inimical to the clearly taught pre-which the indomitable spirit of proselytism never cepts of the Bible. No one of which is more re-fails to sway the mind of a Catholic, the former pulsive to me, than that of auricular confession. would probably have been sacrificed to the latter; I regard it as a fatal lash to every victim within but with woman, too surely, its power, and it has been the instrument of more sinful delusion than all the other requirements of Catholicism. Independent of its dangerous tendencies-I hold it a daring profanity towards our and thus vanquished, Lona dared not dwell upon Creator, to esteem it in the power of one erring, the fearful price, or heed the loud denunciations of -"in the parting hour, Victorious Love asserts his power, O'er coldness and disdain," |