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Di3 Schoenste Perle.
KROM THE FLIEUKUDE ULAETTER.
Bickt an cler KircLithur, »nf Kaltem Stein.
Beside the church door, aweary and alone,
A blind woman sat on the cold door stone;
The wind was bitter, the snow fell fast,
And a mocking voice in the fitful blast
Seemed ever to echo her moaning cry,
As she begged for alms of the passers-by,
“ Have pity on me, hare pity, I pray;
My back is bent, and my head is gray.”_
The bells were ringing the hour of prayer,
And many good people were gathering there,
But, covered with furs and mantles warm,
They hurried past through the wintry storm.
Some were hoping their souls to save,
And some were thinking of death and the grave,
And, alas! they had no time to heed
The poor soul asking for charity’s meed.
And some were blooming with beauty’s grace,
But closely muffled in veils of lace,
They saw not the sorrow, nor heard the moan,
Os her who sat on the cold door-stone.
At last came one of a noble name,
By the city counted the wealthiest dame,
And the pearls that o’er her neck were strung
She proudly there to the beggar flung.
Then followed a maiden young and fair,
Adorned with clusters of golden hair;
But her dress was thin, and scanty, and worn,
Not even tho beggar’s seemed more forlorn.
With a tearful look, and pitying sigh,
She whispered soft, “ No jewels have I,
But I give you my prayers, good friand,” said she.
And surely I know God listens to me.”
On her poor weak head, so shrunk and small,
The blind woman felt a tear drop fall,
Then kissed it, and said to the weeping girl,
“ It is you that have given the purest pearl.”
■•«<«*••.
[For the Banner of the South.]
THE SCHOONER IRIS.
BY MRS. SUSAN H. WADDELL.
On the 10th of December, 1862, the
little schooner Iris was slowly sailing over
one of those beautiful bays, often seen in
Southern latitudes. So small was her
crew, and so quiet her movements, that
she might readily have been mistaken for
a fishing craft; yet many anxious hearts
and watchful eyes, followed the little
bark until it was lost in the perspective
line which separates the glittering waters
from the deep blue sky.
Evening had dropped into the West
her record of another day, and star after
star was lit in the heavens when the
Captain of the Iris left the bay for the
ever sounding sea. All was profoundly
quiet as the little ship winged its onward
way; and well might every sound have
been hushed, and every lamp extinguished,
for there were Dionysian ears and Argus
eyes ready at a whisper, or a movement,
to direct a rain of fire and iron upon them.
On they glided, and as day dawned there
was nothing visible but the laughing and
sunlit sea, and the gray line of the
horizon, which, like Spenser’s “ steadfast
star,
“ Was in ocean’s wave, yet never wet.”
The voyagers were bright with joy,
and buoyant with hope. They had “run”
the blockade, and now in the distance ap
peared the emerald isles, the waving
palms, the blue hills, and shadowy valleys
of the tropics. The breezes, as they rip
pled the sea, were soft and fragrant; the
mcck-eyM birds of the ocean sang upon
the billows—all nature appeared in unity
and tranquility.
On board of the Iris was a young gen
tleman hound for the West Indies upon
important business. lie had been fatigued
during the day, and retired earlier than
usual to his berth, and was sleeping pro
foundly, when he was awakened, at the
dawn of day, by the hatches being sud
denly thrown open, and the Captain call
ing, in au agitated voice, “ Come quick
ly ; we are in the greatest danger.” With
out hat or shoes, Mr. L bounded
upon deck, when he was overwhelmed by
the blackness of darkness, from which
forked lightning leaped in prismatic vivid
ness, and nearly blinded him. The thun
der crashed and rolled in deafening clamor,
the waves rose like mountains capt with
snow. There was moaning- and sighing
# ° Go
in the air, as though a dirge was chanted
above the storm —the Dies Tree of the
ocean. Surging and wheeling, the surf
swept over the ship and left only the
crew clinging to the masts. The naviga
tor lost all presence of mind, and steered
the schooner upon the Bahama reefs.
Ihe vessel struck the rocks, the foaming
sun se.zed her, and lifting her forward,
spurned her with violence against the
crags. She shivered, creaked, and laid
upon her side. Her bow went down,
nothing remaining above the exasperated
waters but the bowsprit, to which the
crew clung. In the midst of the whirl
ing, foaming waves and craggy rocks,
with only a beam to separate thorn from
eternity, these poor captives of the ocean
remained all day without food and without
water.
The clouds began to separate, and swept
slowly away, the wind ceased, the billows
slept. Ihe sun brightened and sunk be
hind the distant mountains touching the
plumed palms with gold.
They now launched the small boat,
but found it too weak to sustain
more than three persons, and they con
cluded that the Captain and two sea
men should embark for assistance. The
islands were four miles distant The
boat rocked, it appeared not to move,
and now it glided like a swan, breaking
the water in furrows from its prow.
Sunken and weary eyes watched it until
the last flash of its oar was lost in the
distance.
Night had passed away, and the boat
had‘not returned—they believed their
companions lost. The tide fell, and a
small portion of the bow of the vessel
appeared above the water; upon this
they crawled, laid down and covered
themselves,with the jib-sail. They were
greatly exhausted, and soon fell asleep.
Mr. L was dreaming of his happy
home, when the rising tide touched him
and awakened him to the reality of his
wretchedness. lie rose with his com
panions, and, kneeling in the water, they
supplicated their Father in Heaven to
save them. They returned to the bow
sprit, where Mr. L , resting his
head against a rope, prayed until he fell
asleep. He had only slept a few mo
ments when he awoke, and turning to his
friends, remarked: “I have had a singu
lar dream. I dreamt that a boat painted
white and green, with three strangers on
board, came under our starboard side
and took us off the wreck.”
“ God grant that your dream may be
realized; but, I fear, it will never be,”
answered one of his friends.
“ I have been more composed and
hopeful since our prayers, and my dream
has strengthened those impressions,” said
Mr. L —.
Tho sun was gilding the wreck of the
Iris, and beaming upon the suffering,
famishing beings, whose dim eyes still
turned towards the east; when one of
them inquired if an object be pointed out,
was a light-house. An old seaman ex
claimed, “ A sail! Oh ! God, we are
saved! We will draw a veil over this
scene, as did Timanthus over the face of
Agamemnon.
The vessel came gallantly onward, and
nour they lowered a boat and rowed to.
wards the wreck. The boat turned, and
as it drew 7 nearer it ran under the star
board side of the Iris. It is the little
white and green boat! There are the
three strangers ! Now they are tenderly
lifted from the wreck. They are saved !
On the following day, six men were
seen kneeling upon the beach ; they were
looking towards the ocean, and chanting
with it
De Profundis.
Reader, truth is the foundation of this
little story.
For tiie Banner of tha South.
ANECDOTES OF THE WAR.
Among the members of the “Irish
Volunteers,” First Regiment, S. C., Vol
unteers, was a comical individual named
Tom Fleming, but better known in the
regiment as /Yankee Tom,” he having
served in the United States Navy ante
rior to the war. Fleming was a second
edition of Mickey Free, and, during the
listless inactivity of winter quarters, con
tributed no little fun.
During the memorable second battle of
Manassas, while Jackson’s Corps en
gaged Pope s army, the following rich
scene transpired at Fleming’s expense :
About ten o'clock the firing on our
part of the line slackened, which was
taken advantage ot by the men, to rest
and hunt after plunder. “Yankee Tom”
came across a “fat Fankee haversack,
containing, among other articles, anew
suit of blue clothing, and his own being
none of the best, he was soon arrayed in
the uniform intended for one of the de"
fenders of “the best government the
woild ever saw. ? Just then one of
General Gregg’s staff rode up, ;nd mis
taking Fleming for a Yankee—l beg par
don—“Federal”—said, “Are you a" Yan
kee?” The latter thinking he said, “Is
that you, Yankee,” replied in the affir
mative, whereupon the Staff officer or
dered him to the rear, which order “Yan
kee Tom” obeyed with alacrity, at the
same time saying, “May your shadow never
grow less, (the officer was very corpulent,)
3 on are the only Christian 1 have mot
with in this God-forsaken country.” As
he passed me, l directed him to come
hack ; the Staff officer , suspecting he
had made a mistake, turned, and said:
“Ah, is he a member of your company ?”
and, on my answering him that he was,
he ordered “Yankee Tom” to return, and
added ; “My man, I made a slight mis
take.” Poor Tom retraced his steps, and,
like Goldsmith’s Traveller. “Dragged at
each remove a lengthening chain,” mut
tering, as he rejoined the company, 1 I’m
devlilsh sorry you found out ymur mis
take so soon/’ in a few minutes we were
ordered forward, and I take pleasure in
stating that “Yankee Tom” fought gal
lantly throughout the day.
Survivor.
Charleston, 8. 6'., April 28, 1868
In Paris, a gentleman of the name of
Michotte gave a performance at M. Gus
tave Dore’s last soiree, on an instrument
called “tne matauphone.” It consists of
graduated glasses tilled with water, on
whinh, it is said, he executes fantasias,
overtures, and every species of musical
composition.
The Laurate’s friends charge the pub
lication of his recent twaddle on * his
wife, who is said to have fished them out
from his waste basket and sent them to
the printer.
A writer in the last number of the
Bel grama, says that Charlotte Bronte
grossly misrepresented the school at
Cowan Bridge in the novel of “Jane
Eyre.” The complaint is somewhat late
Among the papers left by Alexis de
Tocqueville is said to be the manuscript of
an entirely new edition of his work on
Democracy in America. M Ratisbaune,
who read the manuscript, says that is is
certain to create a sensation, the author
having rewritten a number of chapters
and changed his views in regard to many
important points.
Pri nee Napoleon, who has already pre
sented the Imperial Library with a valu
able collection of gold coinsillustrative of
the history of the Ottoman Empire, has
lately presented that institution with a
curious and interesting collection of
American bank-notes. It consists of
seventy-five specimens of paper money,
twenty-five proofs on China paper, bearing
portraits and emblems.
The Gentlemen’s Magazine, famous
all the world over, is to undergo an en
tire change. On the first of June it will
appear in anew cover, under new editor
ship, and at one shilling, instead of half
a crown as heretofore.
M. Michel Levy, tho great Paris pub
lisher, recently met M. Ohampfleury, the
author, in the street, smoking a cent
cigar. The former said: “Great heav
ens ! Champlleury, how can yon smoke a
cent cigar ?” 31. Ohampfleury gazed at
the five cent cigar M. Michel Levy was
smoking, and said in a melancholy tone :
“1 am obliged to, since you are smoking
five-cent cigars.”
The Germans are beginning to print
their books in Roman type. It is found
much clearer and less trying to the eyes.
Ophthalmology—which killed half "the
poor compositors before they had been
ten years at. the business, and caused a
German printing office to be the funniest
assemblage of pale faces, small forms,
and big green goggles ever seen—will be
banished by the change.
Avery curious ar.d romantic work is
announced in LcbJou, giving the history,
secrets, and theology of the “Rosicruci
and.” It is prepared by Mr. Hargrave
Jednings, author of “Indian Religions ;
oi Results of the Mysterious Bhuddism,”
and will be issued in two volumes, con
taining about nine hundred pages. So
little is known of those “Invisible or Illu
minated Brothers,” and so much has
been famed and so little discovered of
those great men—Paracelsus, Robertus
de 11 net i bus, Cornelius Agrippa, Raimon
• lus Lullius, Thomas Vaughan, Arte
pjfius, and the other members of the so
ciet\, that the hook, it may be imagined,
will be much sought after.
Public Opinion condenses in a single
quatrain, the long tirades of the Satur
day Review, against:
“Men have many faults,
Poor women have but two ;
There’s nothing right they say,
And nothing right they do.”
Disraeli addressed, years ago, when
only a literary man, and a comparatively
obscure M. P., the following lines to
Lady Mahon. He has now become
Premier, and she is Countess Stanhope,
changes which naturally gives the rhymes
an enhanced interest. They now appear
in print for the first time :
ON THE PORTRAIT OF EIIE LADY MAAON.
“Fair lady ! thee the pencil of Vandyke
Might well have painted; thine the English air,
Graceful yet earnest, that his portraits bear,
In that far troubled time when sword and pike
Gleamed round the ancient halls and castles fair
.thatshrouded Albion’s beauty; though when need,
They, too, though soft withal, could boldly dare,
Defend the leaguered breach, or charging steed
Mount in their tramplod perks. Far different scene
The bowers present before thee; yet serene
Though now our days, if coming time imx>art
Our ancient troubles, well I ween thy life
Y ould not reproach thy lot, and what thou art—
A warrior’s daughter . and a statesman's wife!
B. Disraeli.”
CAB h K NE Ws.
Eu&laid,
London, May 4, a. m.—The animated
debate which was commenced in the House
of Commons last, evening on the subject of
di-endowment of the Irish Church estab
lishment, as involved in the first resolve of
Mr. Gladstone’s three resolutions, which
were affirmed in principle by the previous
vote of the House, was continued to a
late hour, and, the House being in Com
mittee of the Whole, the discussion in
creased in interest as it advanced, the most
prominent men of the House making
speeches at the close.
It soon became evident that a division
would take place before the end of the sit
ting
Lord E’cho opposed the Gladstone re
solves as untimely and unnecessary.
Mr. Gladstone closed the debate on the
liberal side with a powerful speech direct
ed against the continued maintenance of
the Irish Church as a State establishment.
Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Disraeli followed
before the division.
The Debate.
London, May I—p. m.—The House
of Commons went into Committee of the
Whole immediately after assembling last
night on the first of the Gladstone re
solves on the Irish Church establishment.
During the debate Mr. Walpole, in the
course of his remarks in opposition to Mr.
Gladstone’s resolves, said these attacks on
a clergy, such as that of the Irish Church,
who w“re noted for the purity of their
doctrine and lor their elevated learning
and Christian zeal, were sure to lead to the
most disastrous results.
Lord Kleho followed. lie said that the
introduction of these resolves at the pres
ent time was unnecessary and unfortunate.
The Roman Catholics of Ireland would
never be satisfied with anything short of
supremacy in ecclesiastical matters. He
regarded the issue presented to the House
as an imperial one, for the Church estab
lishments of England and of Scotland were
menaced ns well as that of Ireland, Hence
blows were struck at the whole system cf
the Union of Church and State in the
United Kingdom.
After the conclusion of Lord Elcho’s
argument, and at a rather late hour, in the
presence of a lull House, there being au
unusual attendance of members of both
parties in expectation of a division, Mr.
Gladstone rose and was loudly cheered.
The leader oi the opposition commenced
by saying that he. could not complain of
the result of this long debate, as eleven
night’s of discussion had fully demonstra
ted that the Irish Church establishment
never did and never could fulfill the end
of its creation. It was not the Church of
the nation ; it was not the Church of the
poor, nor was it a missionary Church. It
existed there only for the purpose of
sustaining political supremacy on a form
most hateful to the people upon which it
was imposed. This was unendurable. No
minister dared to say that it should con
tinue to exist. Now was the time to ap
ply the remedy. The ministers had raised
the Cabinet question and had broached a
policy in regard to it, upon which they
subsequently failed to agree. He would
say nothing concerning the disposal of the
Church property in Ireland ; for more and
better information was needed on a ques
tion involving interests so extensive. The
duly of Parliament now was to accept
justice to Ireland.
Mr. Gladstone subsequently, alluding to
the personal attacks which had been made
upon him, denied, in the most emphatic
manner, that he had any connection with
or interest in the policy or plans of either
the Ritualists on the one hand or the
Roman Catholics on the other. Discussing
the arguments made against his proposi
tions he said two leading objections had
been presented to his plan for the disestab
lishment of the Irish Church. One was
that it imperilled the existence of the Es
tablished Church ofEnglan and; the other ob
jection was that the time was inopportune.
Ten years ago, said Mr. Gladstone, tin
people of Great Britain were indifferent,
and the introduction of a great reform
would have been untimely. Now t! e
people are aroused, and the opportunity
presented itself for an early and sound
settlement of the question. The strength
or the Church of England lay in its own
merits and in the voluntary zeal of her
votaries far more than in her connection
with tie State. He expressed the belief
that the Church of England would lose
none °. her strength, even if parted from
the otate Mie had more to fear from her
partisans than from her foes, and the re
form of the Irish Established Church
wou.d strengthen the Church of England.
Mr. Gladstone resumed his seat amid
loud cheers, and
Mr. Disraeli immediately rose in the
ministerial benches to reply and close tlie
debate. The Premier, in a moment of the
most attentive interest, commenced a hit
ter speech, calling the scheme for the dis
endowment ot the Irish church one of con
fiscation and violence, and likely to end in
its abolition in that country, a plau and
result to which the people of England
would never consent. Mr. Disraeli con
tinued in this strain and line of argument
to the termination of his address, lie de
piorcd the act or injustice contemplated by
these resolves. It was an act which in
volved wide confiscation*of* property uni
menaced the rights of every corporation
and of every person in the United King
public mind for a similar attack upon the
Church of England, and it undoubtedly
was intended to have such influence. But
in spite of the virulence of the press and
the pressure brought to bear by the advo
cates of change, he firmly believed the
English people would never sanction the
sacrifice of sacred things to party necessi
ties, leading, as it was sure to lead, to re
sults only to be described a.s revolutionary.
The Division.
At half-past two o’clock this morning
the House divided on the first of Mr. Glad
stone’s resolutions, which read thus: —
“That, in the opinion of this House, it is
necessary that the Established Church of
Ireland should cease to exist as an estab
lishment-due regard being had to all per
sonal interests and to all individual rights
of property.”
The tellers announced the result thus:
For the resolve 330
Against the resolve o^s
Majority against Disraeli 05
The announcement of the result was re
ceived with loud and prolonged cheering
from the liberal benches. This is an ati
creased majority of seven over the majority
by which the government was beaten
before the Easter vacation.
Mr. Disraeli then rose, and amid tho
most profound silence, said this decision so
altered the relations of the Ministry and
the House of Commons that the Govern
ment needed time to consider what action
it would take. He accordingly moved
that the House adjourn until Monday.
The motion was carried and the House
accordingly adjourned, at three a. m.,
until Monday n.’xt.
The Premier Leaves for Osborne.
London, May 1, p. m.— Mr. Disraeli
left Downing street this morning direct for
Osborne, where Queen Victoria is stav
ing.
The Premier will consult with her
Majesty on the ministerial crisis inaugura
ted bv the vote of the House of Commons
on the Irish question, and act as deemed
best in the executive exigency.
Parliament Likely to be Dissolved.
London, May 1, evening.—The belief
has become general that after the passage
of the Reform Bills for Ireland and Scot
land, the Disraeli Ministry will dissolve
Parliament and appeal to the people on
the Irish Church question. The Globe—
the Ministerial organ—of this afternoon
in an editorial confirms this opinion.
What the British People Think
London, Mayl, 1868.— A1l the city pa
pers this morning comment at length on
the debates, and generally consider the
division a decisive one.
The London Times says no one can deny
the immense, significance of this event.
Since the motion to go into committee the
tories have gained three seats in the Com
mons, yet the sixty majority has grown to
be sixty-six.. A dissolution is talked of
merely to frighten members.
The London Herald says the House of
Commons, by a vote, the importance oi
which cannot be denied, affirms that the
Irish Church should be disestablished; bu:
the House of Commons does not speak the
voice of the country, as the late elections
show.
The London News says it is satisfactory
to find that the Premier disclaims the de
sign of advising the Queen to act against
the vote of the House of Commons. His
duty is not to dissolve Parliament or re
sign, but to aid the progress of the re
solves.
The London Standard deprecates th<-
vote of want of confidence as compelling u
dissolution, but fears that the liberals in
tend to pursue that course.
“Mark Twain has some novel geogra
phical ideas. Writing to the Alta Cali
fornia, from a town in Palestine, he
says : “The real name of this place is
Cesarca Phillippi, but I call it Balrhvins
ville, because it sounds better, and I can
recollect it easier.”
Young men who complain of uneven
sidewalks will find them less so bv going
home at an earlier hour.
W hat is the difference between a hungry
child and an afternoon shadow? One
longs and the other lengthens.
3