THE CONVENE.
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81 was at Palermo, when daughter of
one of the noblcst families of the island sg-
! r. flied her intention of taking the veil Her
family were avcrse to the choice, which, of
late years. is beginning to lose its favor in
the public eye. However, | was invited
to the ceremony As all the world knows,
this is Il sort of especial triumph of the
Church, and is solemnized with all possible
pomp. The young devotee would have been
handsome anywhere, but among the Paler-
mi,an women, whose chief beauty consists
of pair of brilliant eyes, she was quite an
angel. There was Il vast deal of sobbing
and signing, and the veil was about to de-
nuns, when young officer, in the uniform
of the Royal Italian Chasscurs, pushed his
way through the crowd, and stoutly forbade
the banns. All was confusion for the mo-
ment, and an attempt was made to carry the
| lady back to her cell; but she had, by this
time, got her arms round the chasseur, or he
his round her-it is much the same--and they
sworc to live or die together. The priests
shrugged up their shoulders, the nuns Shrek
ed, the sentimental among the spectators
were in tears or Mysteries, and the populace
huzzaed.--l was invited to their wedding
in fortnight after. The affair had been
lovers quarrel, on which the lady adjured
the world, and forsook the light of day; the
lover flew to his regiment in Calabria, in
the hope of being shot in the first rencontre
with the bandiui. The intelligence of the
ceremony brought him back, and the pair
of penitents settled their quarrel at first sight
in the critical moment.-From The biS. ola
Siciiian Tourist.


Open, ye gates of peace Behold the bride
In bushes come to pledge her virgin VOW
Oh not with mortal thoughts those cheek
Those splendid eyes not touched by NOR
Hers are the thoughts that light the seraph's


glow,


When, spreading on the cloud his star


dropt wine,


He gives the music of his soul to flow.
Upon the rich trumpet or the golden


string,


Rising, like incense-name, before his glori-


GUS KING,


Stay, vcstal, stay. Oh would thou court


the sting,


OF hope deferred Then come, and court


it here.


Scckst thou the dreams that from the torn


heart spring,


Like spectrcs from the tomb, all dim and


drear


Wouldst thou life's long, slow, sickening


burthen bear;


Feel passion restless, hopeless, burning


tide,


And flee for refuge only to despair ?


Come here; our gates Of darkness open
Come, Convent, grasp thy prey-comc,


Sorrow, claim thy bride
Come, |cstal, come to peace, to prayer and


praise,


Shrink from the dangers of Il mortal love.
Turn from earth's ilowery, but too fatal, ,
And fix thy treasures and thy heart above;
Gaze upwards; sec the worlds dim clouds


remove


Hear the high anthems of the choirs of


Heaven;


See STOPPING on thy head the silver Dove!
See life, ii sea before the tempest driven.
And leave weary world, torgiving and for


given.