who found no more souls to purchase. Aided by an infamous servant, they broke into the retreat of the noble dame, and purloined from her the rest of her treasure. In vain she struggled with all her strength to save the contents of her coffers; the diabolical thieves were the stronger. If Kathleen had been able to make the sign of the Cross, she would have put them to flight, but her hands were captive. The evil deed was effected. Then the poor called for aid to the plundered Kathleen, alas, to no good: she was able to succour their misery no longer; she had to abandon them to the temptation. Meanwhile, but eight days had to pass before the grain and provender would arrive in abundance from the western lands. Eight such days were an age. Eight days required an immense sum to relieve the exigencies of the dearth, and the poor should either perish in the agonies of hunger, or, denying the holy maxims of the Gospel, vend, for base lucre, their souls, the richest gift from the bounteous hand of the Almighty. And Kathleen hadn't anything, for she had given up her mansion to the unhappy. She passed twelve hours in tears. and mourning, rending her sun-tinted hair, and bruising her breast, of the whiteness of the lily; afterwards she stood up, resolute, animated by a vivid sentiment of despair. She went to the traders in souls. "What do you want?" they said. "You buy souls?" "Yes, a few still, in spite of you. Isn't that so saint, with the eyes of sapphire?" "To-day I am come to offer you a bargain," replied she. "What?" "I have a soul to sell, but it is costly." "What does that signify if it is precious? The soul, like the diamond, is appraised by its transparency." "It is mine." The two emissaries of Satan started. Their claws were clutched under their gloves of leather; their grey eyes sparkled; the soul, pure, spotless, virginal, of Kathleen-it was a priceless acquisition ! "Beauteous lady, how much do you ask?" "A hundred and fifty thousand pieces of gold." "It's at your service," replied the traders, and they tendered Kathleen a parchment sealed with black, which she signed with a shudder. The sum was counted out to her. As soon as she got home she said to the butler, "Here, distribute this: with this money that I give you the poor can tide over the eight days that remain, and not one of their souls will be delivered to the demon." Afterwards she shut herself up in her room, and gave orders that none should disturb her. Three days passed; she called nobody, she did not come out. When the door was opened, they found her cold and stiff; she was dead of grief. But the sale of this soul, so adorable in its charity, was declared null by the Lord; for she had saved her fellow-citizens from eternal death. After the eight days had passed, numerous vessels brought into famished Ireland immense provisions in grain. Hunger was no longer possible. As to the traders, they disappeared from their hotel without any one knowing what became of them. But the fishermen of the Blackwater pretend that they are enchained in a subterranean prison by order of Lucifer, until they shall be able to render up the soul of Kathleen, which escaped from them. ERIN By G. R. I STAND, the King's harper, to make him a lay, Fair Erin is wearing her golden hem. The King's Peace lies as yellow as gold; The King's Peace is as green as the grass: BY DANIEL DEFOE: Tour of Great Britain IF a Stranger was only to ride through or view the City of Norwich on a common Day, he would be induc'd to think there was a Town without Inhabitants; but on the contrary, if he was to view the City, either on a Sabbath-day, or on any publick Occasion, he would wonder where all the People could dwell, the Multitude is so great: But the Case is this; the Inhabitants being all busy at their Manufactures, dwell in their Garrets at their Looms, and in their Combing-shops, as they call them, Twisting-Mills, and other Work-Houses; almost all the Works they are employ'd in, being done within Doors. The Castle is antient and decayed, and now for many Years past made use of for a Gaol. The Walls of this City are reckon'd three Miles in Circumference, taking in more Ground than the City of London; but much of that Ground lies open in Pasture-Fields and Gardens; nor does it seem to be, like some antient Places, a decayed declining Town. But the Walls seem to be placed, as if they expected that the City would in time increase sufficiently to fill them up with Buildings. The Cathedral of this City is a fine Fabrick, and the Spire-Steeple very high and beautiful; it is not antient, the Bishop's See having been first at Thetford; from whence it was not translated hither till the twelfth Century; yet the Church has so many Antiquities in it, that our late great Scholar and Physician, Sir Thomas Brown, thought it worth his while to write a whole Book to collect the Monuments and Inscriptions. BY MARY RUSSELL MITFORD (1787-1855) I NEVER, though tolerably eager and enthusiastic at all times, remember being in a more delicious state of excitement than on the eve of that battle. Our hopes waxed stronger and stronger. Those of our players who were present were excellent. William Grey got forty notches off his own bat; and that brilliant hitter, Tom Coper, gained eight from two successive balls. As the evening advanced, too, we had encouragement of another sort. A spy, who had been despatched to reconnoitre the enemy's quarters, returned from their practising ground with a most consolatory report. "Really," said Charles Grover, our intelligence-a fine old steady judge, one who had played well in his day-" they are no better than so many old women. Any five of ours would beat their eleven." This sent us to bed in high spirits. Morning dawned less favourably. The sky promised a series of deluging showers, and kept its |