was fitted to be distinguished even in the midst of such a court as that of Abderrahman III. or Alhakem, had she lived in that "golden age," necessarily led now a rather solitary life. But in Dolores she found a companion, some one to whom she could talk on all the different matters that interested her, and who proved to be a ready and sympathetic listener.

One day as they were sitting together towards sunset the call to prayer was heard from the little mezquita near. Dolores crossed herself, and knelt down to recite the Angelus. Maliba looked at her in

astonishment.

"After all,” she said, "you are a true believer, since you obey so readily the call to prayer."

Dolores explained to her that at about that hour all her countrymen were kneeling in prayer, and she had prayed that all those now following the religion of a false prophet might be brought to the true faith.

"But what was that sign you made ?" said Maliba, as she tried to cross herself in imitation of Dolores.

Dolores explained it to her, and in order that she might understand the high honour in which the cross is held among Christians, offered to tell her the story of the Passion. To this Maliba made no objections and raised no difficulties, in utter silence and with wrapt attention she listened to every word of that wonderful history.

The sun set; it was getting late, but neither noticed the hour, the one as she related, the other as she listened. Tears of mixed sorrow and indignation filled Maliba's eyes, "Why, oh why, did Allah let Him suffer like that?" and when Dolores told her of the Resurrection, she sprang up, saying, "Where does He live? I must see Him, and worship Him, and offer Him gifts; is He in your country ?"

The story had so fascinated her, that day after day she would send for Dolores, and ask her to tell her again and again about her prophet; and once she asked Abdallah if he had ever heard of the Nazarenes' prophet, and he said, "Yes," but he seemed to dislike the subject, and tried to turn her mind to other matters.

Still Maliba's thoughts went back to Dolores' story, and dwelt on it. Nothing in the world had ever interested her so much. GOD dying for the world! It was a theme vast enough for the universe; and yet Abdallah did not believe it, he ought to know what was right. And as she thus argued with herself, again and again there rose before her mind the cross, the Figure nailed thereto; the darkness that veiled and

shrouded GOD in agony; the unearthly mysterious silence, and that wild and bitter cry, "Eli, Eli," &c. It was strange that of all the history of the Passion, this one special episode should thus impress itself on her whose life hitherto had been one of almost unmingled happiness!

SACRAMENTAL MEDITATIONS.

"And they followed JESUS. Then JESUS turned and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto Him, Where dwellest Thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day. One of the two.. I first findeth his own brother and saith unto him, We have found the Messias. . . . And he brought him to JESUS."-S. John i. 37-42.

....

THOU hast heard the words, "Behold the Lamb of GOD," and thou followest JESUS in the way. Think before each of thy Communions that thou art thus following Him, and that He turns to thee with the question, "What seek ye?" Thou answerest according to the many desires of thine heart, which He alone can satisfy, and so He calls thee nearer to Himself, to His Altar-home, where He so often comes to rest on earth, and thus thou goest home and abidest for awhile in stillness with Him.

Strive to realise this, my soul, His turning to thee, His question to thine heart, His call to "Come," and then the peace of a day spent with JESUS.

But then we read that one of those who went home with JESUS, sought out his brother and brought him to the SAVIOUR Whom he had found for himself. And is not this the lesson learnt at His Altarhome, to seek out another soul to bring to JESUS? If thou hast found Him Whom thy soul loveth thou must tell others the good news; the prayer, "Draw me," must end in, "we will run after Thee." And thy own abiding with JESUS "that day" must cause others to say, "We have found Him."

But that is not all, now that He has ascended into the heavens, He would not have us linger ever on earth, even though it be by the Altar of GOD. We must look away, beyond earth now for JESUS' home. Master, where dwellest Thou?" Those dear Hands uplifted to bless beckon us, that "still small voice" from beyond the cloud which hid Him from sight answers, "Come and see.”

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'Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty GOD, that like as we do believe Thy Only-begotten SON our LORD JESUS CHRIST to have ascended into the heavens, so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend and with Him continually dwell." Not alone "that day," but always; the feet on earth seeking a brother to bring to JESUS, the heart in Heaven within that home which the Master has bid us 66 and see."

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And so when this life is drawing to a close, when the following Him on earth is ending, and through the mists which ofttimes gather round that evening hour, the cry is "Master, where dwellest Thou?" He will answer, again, "Come and see.' And then thou wilt rise up quickly to see where He dwells, and find-may it not be, with a glad surprise?-how like home it is-"all things new, but nothing strange," and so thou wilt abide with Him "that day."

That day only? Ah, but that day will have no ending, a "day known to the LORD, whose evening time shall be light," and from that Home thou wilt "go no more out."

But will thy work be over then? will there be no more seeking of a brother to bring home to JESUS? We know so little of that life, who can answer such a question rightly? Yet may we not think that as the blessed Angels always do GOD service in Heaven, and succour and defend us on earth," so it may be part of the work of our loved ones, part of their service to GOD in Paradise to seek, and rescue a brother here on earth. Who can tell what the subtle influence of their presence may be, in bringing memories to mind, a word, a look, a prayer? Or may it be there is more distinct work for them to do, such as we may not yet know, but which is in some way a real seeking and drawing a brother to JESUS' Home? We cannot tell, we must leave it with Him Who "has constituted the services of Angels and men in a wonderful order," sure that He Who is Himself "Wonderful" and the "Everlasting FATHER," hath in this, as in all other things, done "well."

MEDITATION ON THE HOLY GHOST.

When the nations of old gathered together to build the Tower of Babel, their language was divided, and they were scattered over the face of the earth. When the Spirit was poured forth, the multitude exclaimed, "How hear we every man in our own language wherein we were born?" The Spirit of GOD then unites what the spirit of man

divides. Sin causes divisions, holiness unity. "Hear, O Israel, the LORD our GOD is one LORD," and they that are His must bear upon their hearts this stamp of unity. The "gods many, and lords many" are of this earth, the "one LORD" is the LORD from heaven. "Other lords beside Thee have hitherto had dominion over us, but henceforth will we only make mention of Thy Name." Wandering of the desires is man's characteristic, "a single eye" the gift of GOD. The Spirit of GOD harmonises, gathers into one, the many tones of earth, resolving discords into their own key note, uniting scattered melodies into one grand sweet song."

Let this prayer then be thine, a prayer for the unity of the whole life and its manifold desires. Lay thine heart before Him, that heart with its many languages, its many tongues, but fear not, the multitudes cried out, "how hear we every man in our own language?" and they shall be thine own languages still, though if laid before thy GOD, His Spirit shall take them, translate them into a higher meaning, and speak in each one the Name of JESUS.

"The wolf and the lamb shall lie down together, and a little child shall lead them."

SACRAMENTAL MEDITATION. No. II.

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold thy King cometh unto thee: He is just and having salvation; lowly and riding upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass."-Zech. ix. 9.

"Thy King cometh unto thee." What a thought is this! How wouldest thou feel if an earthly king singled thee out of a multitude and said he would come to thee? then think of this Heavenly King, Who, time after time, looketh upon thee and offers Himself to be thy guest in the Blessed Sacrament. Place thyself in that wondrous presence chamber described in the Revelation of S. John, and then imagine this mighty King coming home to thine house.

But at this thought dost thou "rejoice," or is thy poor heart so cold and dead thou canst not receive Him gladly? Alas, it is too often so, but then thou must not rest content with this acknowledgment, but rise up quickly to discover the cause. It may be from the LORD,—that He suffers thee to walk in darkness for awhile, that "He has laid thee in the lowest pit, in a place of darkness and the deep," if so, do not despond, "rest in the LORD, wait patiently for Him," "tarry thou the LORD's leisure, be strong, and He shall comfort thine

heart." He is trying thy faith, and when patience has had her perfect work, He will make the day break, the shadows to flee away, and thou shalt bask in the full sunshine of His smile. "I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my Love until He please."

But there may be another cause; some sin, perhaps, some shortcoming that makes thy heart so cold: "Thy King cometh," but is He thy King? is He King over thy whole heart, LORD of every thought and passion and desire? hast thou brought down every high thing that exalteth itself, and laid it at His Feet? Ponder well this question; pray Him to examine thee and prove thee, to make thee to know what is in thine heart; and then when next thou kneelest at His Altar, offer and present unto Him thy whole spirit and soul and body, that when He comes thou too mayest be able to rejoice greatly, for "thy King cometh unto thee."

And what are the attributes of this King? "He is just and having salvation." To an earnest soul this thought of His justice is full of comfort—that He Who knows thee is yet just concerning thee. Thou art, it may be, very hard upon thyself, mournful, and downhearted about many things, while He all the while is only pitiful and patient; for "Thou, LORD GOD, knowest Thy servant." He knows the infirmities, the weariness, the oppression, and He feels with all, for Himself took our infirmities," He knoweth whereof we are made, He remembereth that we are but dust;" and "His Name is called JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins."

"Having salvation," then does well to follow upon "He is just," for infirmities, weaknesses, oppressions, though there may be, there are sins also. So then, if the thought of His justice gives comfort, the thought of His salvation gives more; that "we have a strong city, salvation will GOD appoint for walls and bulwarks," that the Name of the LORD, that Name which is above every name, is our strong tower, wherein we may run and be safe.

And next: "He is lowly,"-in another place it is, "He is meek,” and is it not so? Think of what thou art; what He is. Thy King cometh to thee;" but no sooner has He come, before thou leavest the Church, it may be, even the chancel, somehow thou dost grieve this thy King, wandering thoughts as thou kneelest in prayer, schemes for thine own profit or pleasure, perplexities suffered to overwhelm thee, when He has come "to make a silence through them all" and give