The Argosy — page 341: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

— Baa o— me an a> = In Sunny Clames. 325 lay upon all things, and a certain clearness of atmosphere which sharpened the outlines of the hills, and made Capri, across the water, more conspicuous and distinct than we had yet seen it. Vesuvius was smoking as usual; neither more nor less; as if storms and con- vulsions of nature were nothing to her. Of the latter she may possibly possess the secret and the controlling; and her storms are more to be dreaded than those which come to us from the air. It was a glorious morning. The sun shone and flashed upon the | blue waters of the Mediterranean. Everything spoke peace and har- | mony. One longed to stay here for days and weeks ; but it could not be. From our breakfast table—a picture in its way—we looked upon the fairer picture of the Bay of Naples, framed by our window. And presently we got up, and I felt that almost the pleasantest chapter in our journey was over as Mauleverer exclaimed : | ‘“‘ Now for Rome!” — Oreo 1 | A LOVE LETTER. A KNIGHT rode past the convent wall ; On something hidd’n a sunbeam shone ; He prayed for rest in bower and stall, ' The careful Abbess—noting all— : Treated him well—and he rode on. A dove perched on the convent wall, And something showed beneath her wing ; She preened and cooed with plaintive call ; The careful Abbess—noting all— Stroked, and let fly the gentle thing. A rose dropped o’er the convent wall, With something curled about its heart ; It lay a scented, crimson ball ; The careful Abbess—noting all— Had softly pulled its leaves apart. A Palmer by the convent wall Leaned—while the Abbess slept at noon ; The novice, setting plates in hall, Reached him a pitcher—that was all— He blessed the maid and passed full soon. Ah, steep and high the convent wall, Yet something slips thro’ lock and chain ; The maid has fled beyond recall— May Saints forgive her grievous fall— Nor let the Abbess nap again ! | G. B. Stuart. — ECOMicbooolkxs.com