versal consent, one of the very best—does sends its best man to the Synod, Conference any one believe that if the little knot of or Council, and after an ex parle statement worthy and honorable gentlemen to whom from him, describing the awful destitution has been conceded the control of that mag- and the glorious work, a resolution is nificent monopoly could have had now and unanimously adopted approving and recomthen a large infusion of new blood in their mending the society. If, on the contrary, old corporation by the addition of new as- the Council or Synod should detail comsociates, not of their own choosing, and mittees every year to attend the Annual could have had their operations authorita- Meeting of every society known to bid for tively canvassed by shrewd men from out- donations among its congregations, chargside their own circle, the American Bible ing them to look sharply into the whole Society would have continued to this day in matter, and make, not an er parte statement a method of business which makes it the but an impartial report, for the benefit not chief existing hindrance to the circulation of the Society but of the public, — this of the Bible in the town and village popula- would come as near, perhaps, to a remedy, tions of America ?

as the inveteracy of the disorder admits. What ought to be done about the matter? Of course, the average committee would do It is just the sort of subject which they deal what the average committee generally does. with in England by a Parliamentary Com- But it would happen, from time to time, mission. But I doubt whether it would be that some hard-headed, impracticable fellow thought wise to invoke upon it the attention would get appointed, who would hear no of the Legislature of New York, or of Penn- smooth talk, but insist on raking his society sylvania, or even of Massachusetts. It is open down to the bottom, and letting fresh every way a fit subject for the attention of air and daylight through and through it. clerical and ecclesiastical conventions, and And the mere thought of such a thing as an. one way, perhaps the best way that the case nually possible, would be a bitter but most admits, of relieving the difficulty, would be salutary and invigorating tonic to the simply to turn end for end the present rela- broken-down “constitution ” of every nation and communication between these two tional benevolent society in America. sets of bodies. As it now stands, the Society

Leonard Woolsey Bacon.

9

THE DONKEY'S MIRACLE.

I Cannot tell you how many years ago it of theirs would be hard to find. In spite of happened, for Mademoiselle, my black-eyed his unprepossessing appearance, however, conversation-teacher, forgot to mention; and unlike many of his contrary-minded but we will say "some,” and then no one race, Bimbo had an affectionate nature; can contradict us. Some years ago, then, and would frolic with the children like a big there lived in a small village of Northern dog; making no remonstrance even when Italy a poor peasant whom we will call Giulia pulled his long, leathery ears, or Carlo Pietro. Pietro had a wife whose name was hung on strenuously to his rope-like tail. Gigia, and two little children, a boy and a But Bimbo's life was not all play-time, by girl, name Carlo and Giulia. Last, but not

any means. His business was to earn the by any means least, he had a donkey, whom family's support; and many a heavy load the children called Bimbo. A funny name did he carry from village to village, and for a donkey; for Bimbo means baby, and many were the scant suppers that fell to his anything less like a baby than this long, share after a hard day's faithful labor. In eared, rough-coated, harsh-voiced playmate only one thing was he blessed above other

a

a

donkeys,-he got few blows ; for Pietro was It was mid-winter, and owing to the unboth a kind man and a lazy ; and had sel- usual severity of the storms, the last few dom either the inclination or the energy to visits to the monastery had been attended abuse his beast.

with great hardship and exposure, so that Now the village where Pietro and his little Carlo and Giulia who were generally family lived lay close by the foot of Monte quick to hear the sound of the donkey's Generoso,-one of the three great mount- returning hoofs upon the stone floor of the ains which render so picturesque and lovely arcade, which, as in most Italian towns, the upper portion of Lake Lugano. On its formed the principal thoroughfare for po summit stood an old monastery, and one of destrians, had been tucked snugly away for Pietro's regular duties was to load his the night long before the two wearied travdonkey with bread and wine and provisions elers returned. One morning, just ten days of all kinds, and wend his way slowly up after the last of these trips, the two chilthe long, winding path that scaled the dren waking in the gray of the early dawn mountain. Once in every ten days he must heard Bimbo in the stable behind them do this, for it was a rule of the order never crunching his dried bean-stalks, and saw to have more than a ten days' supply on

their mother in the outer room, bustling hand at once; a rule supposed to be con- about as she prepared the gnocchi and trived for the better mortification of the polenta for their unassuming breakfast. flesh in the case of the monks themselves, Pietro came in at the door just as the smokbut really falling hardest upon the poor ing hot dishes were placed upon the table, peasant and his donkey, who had in all and Giulia's keen little eyes spied upon the weathers, and under all circumstances, to broad shoulders of her father's rough coat make the toilsome journey, or feel that the several melting snow-flakes. holy fathers were suffering hunger for their It is a wild day on the mountains, wife,” negligence.

said he; “I have not seen such a storm in Although in those localities the snow is twenty years. The holy fathers will have generally confined to the mountain slopes, to fast awhile, unless they have been wise and seldom falls in the valleys to a depth enough to keep a little of the last I carried greater than a few hours' sunshine suffices them; neither man nor beast could breast to melt away, still there comes now and the mountain in the teeth of such a blinding then a storm which leaves more lasting hurricane. The village street is white altraces, and gives the sun a good two days' ready, and hear how the wind roars in the work to do. It so happened that this very chimney!” Truly it did roar, and the tiles winter of which I am writing was an unusu- clattered on the roof. Carlo thrust his ally severe one; (well for me that it was, brown hands into the pockets of his baggy otherwise I should have had no story to little trowsers, and drew closer to the meager tell,) and snow storms on the mountains fire; while Giulia stared with wide-open had been both heavy and frequent, so that eyes into her mother's face. Pietro and Bimbo found their pious pil- • But, must the poor monks starve to grimages, always hard at the best, cold and death, then ?” asked the child. laborious enough; especially as they re- “The holy Virgin and the saints forbid !” ceived little in return save the prayers and replied her mother. Perhaps the storin blessings of the snow-bound monks, and will lull by night, and then tomorrow whatever joy of heart might be derived from Bimbo and the father may make their way the consciousness of an irksome duty faith- through the drifts. The beast is a good fully performed. In Pietro's case little beast, and the father, as thou well knowest, enough, and in Bimbo's — I was about to has the longest legs and the stoutest of any say none at all; but who shall read the man in the village.” workings of a donkey's mind ? Let me tell But when the morrow came, neither you what he did, and then say whether or Bimbo's goodness nor Pietro's legs availed not it sprung from noble motives.

them anything in the face of the storm that

66

66

a

still swept wildly down the mountain. At “The cunning beast has hidden himself away any other time the children would have that he may get rid of his troublesome jourlaughed to hear the wind go roaring through ney. That in itself would have been bad the valley, and would only have huddled enough, but he must needs take with him all closer together beside the fire, and told one the good stores which I had provided for the another stories to while away the hours. fathers. Now there must be more procured, But now the thought of the poor monks to say nothing of a fresh beast, and all this suffering from hunger, with no help near, will delay me till it is too late to start todestroyed all desire for merriment on their day.” part, and they were as glad as their parents Thus he relieved his mind by scolding when at sunset the wind moderated some- away at the delinquent Bimbo, while Carlo what, and the sharp flakes fell more slowly. and Giulia hung their heads, and could not Next morning when they awoke the sky find a word to say in defence of their guilty above the village roofs was clear and blue, favorite. but the wind still blew keenly through the Meanwhile how fared it with the inmates valley, and the great mountain was white to of the monastery ? its base; while heavy, sullen-looking storm- As Pietro had foreseen, they had been clouds yet hung gray about the summit. sparing of their supplies; but their frugality

“The storm is not over up there,” said barely availed to stretch the scanty allowPietro, “but Bimbo and I must start; it ance over one more day, and when the may clear by noon, and at all events we can second morning broke they had already been but try.”

fasting for fifteen hours. Wild as the storm So the donkey was brought to the door was in the valley below, up here on the and loaded, but lightly, for a hard scramble lonely mountain-top it was infinitely more was before him. Then Pietro stepped once so; and to the hungry monks the wild, more into the house to don his rough coat, sweeping wind that roared and whistled and and pull on his stout iron-shod mountain shrieked about their stone-walled prison, and boots. Carlo ran and fetched his father's the cold white snow-flakes that danced and staff, while Giulia brought the shaggy fur drifted and piled themselves higher and cap, and Gigia hastened to fill a flask with higher against portal and casements, seemed strong wine, which she stored away in one like a besieging, pitiless host, from whose of her husband's capacious pockets. advancing columns it were vain to look for

“ Drink this when the drifts grow deep,” mercy; whose relentless progress no flag of she said, " and thou wilt be able to go truce nor signal of surrender would ever stay, through them like a plowshare.”

until the helpless garrison lay vanquished Pietro nodded, as they hung about him, and overcome before their leader, Death! loth to let him go.

As the day wore to its close and darkness May the saints preserve us !” he cried. for the second time shut them in, the monks “Now then, my brave Bimbo !” But as he began to despair. The great fire blazing in gained the doorway his face fell, and he the hall was insufficient to warm the frames stared in helpless astonishment. “ Brave chilled alike by hunger, and the bitter, Bimbo" had disappeared. Whither ? that searching air which found its way through was the question. In vain did his master every crack. fume and fret, and run hither and thither; Here, my children,” said the Father there was no trace of him to be found. Superior, “there still remains to us this one None of the neighbors had seen him pass; small flask of wine ;” and he drew it as he his hoofs had left no mark upon the hard spoke from beneath the folds of his robe. gray stones of the arcade, and where these “ Drink sparingly of it,-here are ten of us; ended the light, blowing, powdery snow had and to-morrow our need may be more sore long since smoothed away all tracks. What even than to day.” was to be done?

The nine brothers drank each his portion “ The evil one is in it,” grumbled Pietro. in silence; and when the Superior had fol

66

lowed the example, he bade them -all go to knew not whether to be glad or fearful; but their pallets ; " for hunger is more easily the Father Superior advanced boldly, and borne in sleep," said he.

drew the massive bolts, and flung wide the All night long the wind raved, and the heavy door. “It is the hand of the Lord !" snow deepened, and the cold grew more in- he cried. Crowding about the open

doortense. In the gray of the morning the Su- way, peering out eagerly into the dusk and perior rose up, and the monks gathered storm, the brothers caught the dim outline about him. They looked out upon the storm of a white, silent form, that stood motionthat still swept wildly round them, and then less and made no sign. Was it a man, or at one another, with gray, stony faces. was it a spirit? Neither; it was a donkey! They could not know that down in the val- No human being accompanied him,--no ley the sun was shining from a clear blue hoof-prints in the drifting snow told whence sky; they only felt that all the world had or how he came; but slung across his back turned to clouds and snow.

were panniers full of bread, and wine, and " The storm does not abate, my children,” meal; and to the grateful, happy monks, it said the Superior; “no earthly aid can ever seemed that the Lord had indeed wrought a reach us now; our only hope is in heaven. miracle in their behalf, as of old for the Let the chapel bell be rung, and let us holy St. Antony; and so he had. gather before the altar to spend the strength Next day came men from the village, led that remains to us in prayer and supplica- by Pietro, and bringing food to the snowtion. Who knows but that if our petitions bound fathers. But these were already cared be true and heartfelt, the Lord may work a for, and Pietro's eyes grew wider with wonmiracle in our behalf as he did of old for the der and dismay than they had at the donholy St. Antony of Thebes !”

key's disappearance, when they rested on So all day long the poor monks prayed the quiet countenance and twinkling ears of and fasted. Their scanty stock of wine was Bimbo himself, who was placidly enjoying gone, and with it went their last ray of hope his well-earned repose, profoundly indifferas darkness fell around them for the third ent to the effect that his remarkable exploit time, and no aid, human or divine, seemed had produced. The holy fathers now heard

Then rose up the Father Superior in for the first time the true explanation of the their midst, and began a hymn. One by mystery, and Bimbo was praised and petted one the

poor old trembling voices caught it to his heart's content. His portrait was up, and the pinched, wan faces brightened painted upon the great door of the monasas the brave words of hope and trust stirred tery; and after all these years his story was their hearts anew with faith and courage. related to me, a simple traveler from far beAs the last strain died away there came a yond the sea, as I sat beside the fair Lugano strange sound, ,—a sound as of knocking, at Lake and looked across it to the mountain the great door of the monastery. The where the donkey's miracle was wrought. monks looked in each other's faces, and

Caroline Leslie.

near.

IN THE CHURCH TOWER.

Only the owls live in the church tower the dingy stairway up to the little balcony that overlooks Drooge. Through nine that hangs high up on the church tower. months of the year they have it to them- The owls wink their eyes, and listen; but, selves ; but, in the summers, when Drooge whatever they may hear there, nothing is gathers into its dwellings and its one hotel ever repeated by them in the town. a small crowd of city people, it occasion- On one midsummer night a single figure ally happens that a pair of lovers will climb stood on this balcony. It was Miss Dora

Lovel, a lady well known in certain fash- Elsie's head was held so high that she could ionable circles in a certain city. She lived only give a little formal bow, but Miss Dora with her brother's family, and, as they were felt that there was triumph in it. This may spending a summer in Drooge, Miss Dora have been only fancy, for Miss Dora’s gaiety was there also. But when, in the cool of the had given away to gloom. Not far beyond afternoon she had left the hotel, she had no she met the younger niece with a party of intention of visiting the church tower. She lively companions, and they nodded gaily to had dressed with her usual care and ele- Miss Dora and then passed on. To them gance, and had gone out on the beach. there was nothing attractive in Miss Dora's Miss Dora knew everybody worth knowing, plain face, with its crow's feet, dull gray and one after another gave her a pleasant eyes, drawn-down mouth, and large nose, all greeting as she met them. The Brands in- set in a frame-work of bright little curls, vited her to join them. Others fell into the and surrounded by a halo of fine straw and party, and soon there was a merry company lace. In a lonely part of the beach sat strolling together. Miss Dora was gay, and Mary Mills and George Ashman, 80 abchatted in her airy way. They all sat for a sorbed in each other that they did not see time in a pavilion, and the merry talk went Miss Dora; but she noted the bright light of on. Then some of the party joined their happiness shining in both faces, though that children playing on the beach; two ladies of Mary Mills was as plain as Miss Dora's walked down to the train to meet their hus- own. Miss Dora could bear no more, and bands; the Brands went for a sail; three turning aside from the beach, she walked young ladies departed in search of younger into the town. companions. This left in the pavilion only She wandered aimlessly on until she Mr. and Mrs. Graves and Miss Dora. Mr. came to the church. There she paused, and Graves proposed to his wife that they should looked up to the balcony. It was empty, walk to “ The Point," a full mile distant; and illuminated with rose-red lights from and though they asked Miss Dora to ac- the sunset clouds; and Miss Dora felt it company them, she felt that there was no would be a relief to be lifted up there out heartiness in the invitation. She did not of the shadows in which she stood under the blame them for not desiring her company, trees. There came into her mind a Drooge for they were newly-married, and, naturally, legend of a pair of long-divided lovers who liked to have only each other. But she was had happily found each other in this church not altogether pleased to wander alone from tower, drawn thither from distant parts of the pavilion. However, she thought she the earth, and re-united in their old age. would soon fall in with another company. Old memories crowded into Miss Dora's But no one paid her any especial attention. mind as she walked back and forth before Some were out in the boats thickly strewn the church, occasionally glancing up at the over the bay. Now the carriages came roll- tower. She had no defined thought that ing along the drive. Her brother and his she would gain any new happiness in the wife passed in a buggy, and nodded to her. church tower; but she at last entered the It was right; she knew, that he shouid take open door, climbed the narrow stairway up his wife whenever he went for a drive in the to the tower room, and stepped out upon the buggy. When the whole family went a balcony. carriage was hired, and then she always She had lingered below so long that the made one of the party, and paid part of the rose tints had climbed to the spire, and, after expense.

She had thought of taking a all, she stood only in the gray twilight. drive that afternoon, but her nieces did not But she could plainly see the crowded beach, want to go, and so the buggy had been de- the black line of vehicles winding along the cided upon. She soon met Elsie, the elder road, and the numerous white sails against niece. With her was John Morley, the son the red eyening sky. So many, many peo of a rich banker, and the most eligible young ple, and not one of them missed her! If man of the season at Drooge. Consequently she were to pass out of life in the same quiet

a