place, and Malchus looked about to find some friend who would speak a good word for him. But though he scanned all the faces before him, he could not find a man or woman he had ever seen before, and it was all as if he were in a dreadful dream.

Word came to the ears of the governor of Ephesus that there was a great crowd in the market place, and a strange man among them; and the governor and the bishop sent to have Malchus brought before them, together with the baker and the baker's men. They heard the story that the baker told and they looked at the money. They asked Malchus where the treasure was which he had found.

"I have found no treasure," said he. "I have nothing but this coin and one or two others," which he took from his pocket.

"Where did you come from?" they asked him.

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I am a native of Ephesus," said he. “I have been away from the town but a night, and have returned today. I needed some bread, and I went to the shop of this man," pointing to the baker.

"If you are a native of Ephesus," said the governor, "tell us the names of your parents, and where they live." Then Malchus told their names and the street where they lived. The governor and the bishop looked at each other.

"There are no such people living in Ephesus," said the governor; "and, what is more, there is no street by that name. There was one once, many years ago, but it was long since destroyed to make room for the cathedral. And this money! why, it was coined in the reign of Emperor Decius. Now we see plainly that you are not speaking the truth. Tell us where you found the treasure, or it shall go hard with you." Then Malchus burst forth :

'I implore you in the name of God, answer me a few questions, and then I will answer yours. Where is the Emperor Decius? Is he still in Ephesus? or has he left the city?"

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My son," said the bishop, "you speak strange words. The Emperor Decius has been dead these three hundred and fifty years or more."

"I am sore perplexed," said Malchus. "But what I say is true. There are seven of us who fled from the city yesterday to escape persecution by the emperor. We went and hid ourselves in a cave on the side of Mount Celion yonder. Come with me. I will show you the cave and my comrades, if indeed I be not still in a dream."

"The hand of God is here," said the bishop to the governor. So they followed Malchus, and a great crowd went with them. And when they came to the cavern, Malchus called joyfully to his comrades; and they came out, much amazed to see Malchus returned, and with him so great a multitude.

Now when the bishop and the governor saw the sleepers, who had thus awaked, they saw that they had fresh, ruddy faces, as those who had slept well and well and were in perfect health. And the bishop and the governor and all the people fell down and praised God for this great wonder. Then a messenger was sent straightway for the Emperor Theodosius. When he

came and heard the strange news, he too was greatly amazed, and Malchus said, speaking for the seven:

"You behold us here, whom men counted as dead, and behold we have risen from the dead. So shall it be with all those who fall asleep in Jesus. They shall rise again, as if they had passed the night in sleep, without suffering and without dreams."

And when he had said this the seven sleepers bowed their heads, and their souls returned to their Maker. The emperor bent over them, weeping.

have had them inclosed in

And he would

golden caskets, But that night

to be kept in the cathedral. they appeared to him in a dream, and said that hitherto they had slept in the earth, and that in the earth they desired to sleep on, till God should again awaken them forever.

MEDIEVAL TALE.

QUESTIONS FOR STUDY

Why did the young men go into the cave? How did it happen that they were walled in?

What change had taken place in the empire? What convinced them of the change after their escape? Do you recall any more modern story of one who slept through great changes? How is this tale like Rip Van Winkle? How does it differ from it?

The author of this story is unknown. It was probably some monk of the middle ages.

HOHENLINDEN

On Linden1 when the sun was low,
All bloodless lay the untrodden snow;
And dark as winter was the flow
Of Iser,2 rolling rapidly.

But Linden saw another sight
When the drum beat at dead of night,
Commanding fires of death to light
The darkness of her scenery.

By torch and trumpet fast arrayed,
Each horseman drew his battle blade,
And furious every charger neighed
To join the dreaded revelry.

1 Linden, Hohenlinden, a village of Bavaria where a battle was fought in 1800 between the French armies of Napoleon and the native Germans.

2 Iser (pronounced E'-zer), a river of Austria and Bavaria.