THE IRISH PEARL.

No. VII.

THERE was a long silence; when Father Eustace had concluded his narrative, he buried his face within his hands in deep and solemn self-communion, which, had I even been inclined, I could not have dared to interrupt; but far, far otherwise: wrapt in thought myself, this world and its fleeting interests had passed away ; and, following that bright spirit in its upward flight, I seemed to realize the things that are unseen. I was at length recalled from this abstraction by the low tones of that impressive voice, as thus again he spoke ;— 'When we reach the threshold of eternity, our spirits often take a forward spring, even though still encumbered with their house of clay; we are gifted with a clearer insight into futurity; and, casting aside all outward influences, all personal feelings, we behold the motives and consequences of human actions without disguise thus, whether it was in a spirit of prescience, or of experience, that your dying mother had spoken, her apprehensions with regard to your spiritual welfare, were equally verified: perhaps she had watched the dawning of the troubles that were gathering on the land; perhaps she might have vainly tried on the one all-important subject, to influence the noble heart that sought to gratify her in every lesser thing; or, as we are often made to feel the effect of our errors long after we have

abjured them, so perhaps the irresolute habits of her spirit's thraldom were never sufficiently conquered, to enable her resolutely to cast aside the veil with him she would have dreaded most to grieve-who may tell from whence she derived this sad foreboding-enough that it was too truly realized from that moment until now.

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During the first weeks of agony, your father would hold no communication, would receive no comfort; and when, at length, he joined in social intercourse again, he had set his face as steel against oné retrospective word. The traces of his heart's anguish were indeed legibly engraved upon his countenance, but it found no audible voice, and none dared to intrude within the barrier he had raised.

'His world was for ever changed-domestic life had lost its charm, and his energetic nature soon sought a field of occupation in the political struggle, the actual strife that soon rent this unhappy land; with eagerness he espoused the side to which his religion and his sense of loyalty naturally inclined him, and became at once a foremost man in their councils, and their deeds. None dwelling in the land, from the highest to the lowest, could escape involvement in the struggle; and even I, though not drawn into the vortex, felt its influence by being impelled in another direction: when the star of King James gained its temporary ascendant, as I could not coalesce with his party, I was compelled to withdraw; information had reached the royal ear, that even in papal Rome his antagonist had found partizans, and that for the sake of maintaining the balance of Europe against the exorbitant power of France, the Pope himself, Leo XI., had availed himself of Protestant resources, had relied upon Protestant impulses, and had actually entered into alliance with that Prince of Orange, who

was subsequently to secure the English throne to the Protestant faith: surely the Lord maketh the wrath of man to praise Him, for it was even so.

'My long residence in Italy, my comparatively secret return, my uncongeniality of opinion, and want of confidence in my professing brethren here, all made me an object of suspicion, and the bitterness of party-spirit bursting into violence on the discovery of this political secret, I found myself suddenly in a dangerous position; and, through your father's timely warning alone, was enabled to escape the accusation, the fate of a traitor, and a spy. I fled from this distracted country: once more I was a wanderer, and found myself eventually entangled in pursuits which forbade my return, when the original impediments were removed; in lands where the harvest was plenteous, the labourers few, it pleased the Lord of the harvest to bless my weak endeavours to glorify His name: and even for the precious duty I had vowed to discharge, I could not abandon this field until my place was supplied. But I waited in faith, and at last my way was made clear, a successor was raised up, and then the voice that had prompted so long, called me imperatively away; it seemed to say, "a door is opened in your own benighted land, and the pledge you gave, in other years, must now be redeemed."

I returned to find all changed: your father in exile ; the dynasty for which he had perilled all, swept as refuse from the throne; the country still bleeding with the wounds it had received; household hearths broken up, household feelings dissevered; and the poor, and the ignorant, and the wretched, clinging to the faith that had misled them, with the tenacity of a dying grasp. Now was my time, here my station, here I might pour * Vide Ranke's Hist. of the Popes. E

JULY, 1847.

balm and oil into many a festering wound: I could comfort, exhort, instruct them here; here where none approach, but such as feel their need of consolation and advice. In many an instance, I have reason to trust that my labour has not been in vain in the Lord, but the crowning mercy was yet to come, and even that has been at last vouchsafed. I could not have presented myself at your castle openly, I could not have resumed my former position without many an explanation, many an interruption that would have marred my usefulness here; but all was now within my reach; I knew an opportunity would be afforded; I knew the gracious Providence that had hitherto led me, would still open my way. I trusted in this, and lo—it is done.

'Oh, my daughter, you are the child of many prayers; the voice that now is still, ceased not day and night to bring your future course before the mercy-seat of her God; and, catching the last faint prayer that hovered on her lips, I have echoed it with a trusting heart, from that moment until now. At last, then, I restore to you those treasures, the reality, the symbol; uniting under one name "the pearl of great price." And, oh ! remember ever, in looking at the one, that it was freely cast aside when the other was recovered, that thus you too are called to part with every refuge of lies, to abandon all with gladness, for the sake of the priceless treasure here revealed. Remember too, my daughter, when you gaze upon this jewel in its soft mysterious shining, that notwithstanding the tradition which has so long assigned it an inherent power, its light is not in itself: it but emits the rays reflected from some brighter source, brightest of all when it catches the sunshine from on high; and thus may you ever seek to have the inward

darkness, the natural deadness of a heart, which haply you have been taught to think a bright transparent jewel, enlightened by the Sun of Righteousness, purified by the Holy Spirit may that Spirit lead you to look from each created thing; each work of man's devising, to that wisdom which cannot be "valued with the gold of Ophir, of which man knoweth not the price, neither is it found in the land of the living :" here only is it to be discovered, in this the inspired word, the revealed will of the Most High. Then seek it here with all diligence, all faith, all prayer, and assuredly you will find peace and rest unto your soul.'

(To be continued.)