May the blest echoes of the Sabbath-bell

Sweet on the quiet of the woodlands swell,
And from each cottage-dwelling of thy glades,
When starlight glimmers through the deep'ning shades,
Devotion's voice in choral hymns arise,

And bear the land's warm incense to the skies.

There may the mother, as with anxious joy
To Heaven her lessons consecrate her boy,
Teach his young accent still the immortal lays
Of Zion's bards, in inspiration's days,

When angels, whispering through the cedar shade,
Prophetic tones to Judah's harp convey'd;
And as, her soul all glistening in her eyes,
She bids the prayer of infancy arise,

Tell of his name, who left his Throne on high,
Earth's lowliest lot to bear and sanctify,
His love divine, by keenest anguish tried,
And fondly say-"My child, for thee He died!"

NOTES.

NOTE 1.

Patient, because Eternal.

"He is patient, because He is eternal."

NOTE 2.

ST. AUGUSTINE.

Fly to the City of thy Refuge, fly!

"Then he shall appoint you cities, to be cities of refuge for

you; that the slayer may flee thither which killeth any person

at unawares.- -And they shall be unto you cities of refuge from

the avenger."

-NUMBERS, chap. 35.

NOTE 3.

And dark the chambers of its imag'ry.

“Every man in the chambers of his imagery."

NOTE 4.

EZEKIEL, chap. 8.

-Must drink the cup of trembling.

"Thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.”. -ISAIAH. chap. 51.

NOTE 5.

Come in the still small voice, and whisper-peace.

"And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.". KINGS, book i. chap. 19.

NOTE 6.

To set the sign of fire on every height.

"And set up a sign of fire.”.

JEREMIAH, chap. 6.

A TALE

OF

THE SECRET TRIBUNAL.

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A TALE

OF

THE SECRET TRIBUNAL.

THE Secret Tribunal,' which attained such formidable power towards the close of the fourteenth century, is mentioned in history as an institution publicly known so early as in the year 1211. Its members, who were called Free Judges, were unknown to the people, and were bound by a tremendous oath, to deliver up their dearest friends and relatives, without exception, if they had committed any offence cognizable by the tribunal. They were also under an obligation to relate all they knew concerning the affair, to cite the accused, and, in case of his condemnation, to pursue and put him to death, wherever he might be met with. The proceedings of this tribunal were carried on at night, and with the greatest mystery; and though it was usual to summon a culprit three times before sentence was passed, yet persons obnoxious to it were sometimes accused and condemned without any citation. After condemnation, it was almost impossible for any one to escape the vengeance of the Free Judges, for their commands set thousands of assassins in motion, who had sworn not to spare the

1 See the works of Baron Bock and Professor Kramer.

3*

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