Let them have their old time, mumbling over beads,
With knowledge in the cloisters and freedom choked by creeds
Give to me the new, with its steam and lightning steeds,
With hearts for braver triumphs and hands for braver deeds,
Which follows not a beaten path, but venturously leads,
And evermore, by faith and will, in what it dares succeeds.

Let them have their old times, praise them as they may,
When the many only knew to suffer and obey,
When the highest lesson taught was ever 'fast and pray;'
Still the world keeps wagging, wagging on its way,
Surely growing better, wiser every day,

Spite what bigot doubters otherwise may say.

TALES OF THE BACK PARLOR.

NUMBER ONE CONCLUDED.

ASCENDING a flight of stone-steps guarded on either side by two ferocious images, we entered the wide doorway, which swung open at our approach. In the spacious hall into which we were ushered we found the countess herself, who graciously extended to us a welcome which contrasted strangely with the antiquated formality which had been thus far observed. It was a welcome, too, widely differing from that which usually greets the stranger on entering a lordly dwelling in our own time. It was of that free and generous nature, that open and cordial character, which dispels all backwardness and reserve, and places the guest as much at his ease as if he were entering the mansion of his father. Our own age may be in advance of the days of Richard and Saladin in literature, science and art; it may boast of cultivated and tempered refinement, but in my opinion it has proportionately retrograded in genuine, unaffected hospitality.

The countess possessed a remarkable face and figure. Though somewhat advanced in life, her features betrayed none of the marks of long-flown years. The lustre of her eye was yet unfaded, and her neatly-gathered locks were still as thick and glossy as in the days of her maidenhood. She was rather above the usual height, firm and erect in her carriage, and proud and haughty in her air and mien. Not a single article of modern apparel was upon her person; her weeds of mourning were not yet laid aside, but they were cut and fitted in a fashion which I had never seen before.

The furniture and decorations of the room into which we were immediately ushered were such as might have been expected in a building where no invasion had been made upon its antiquity within the memory of its oldest tenant. The room itself was apparently used as the parlor, or rather what we would call the sitting-room of the family; for it was large and commodious, though somewhat cold and gloomy. The

wainscot was of black and solid wood, set in thick and heavy panels; the door was of ponderous size and swung upon four hinges, which had been laboriously brought to their brightest polish. Some old pictures, chiefly of landscape and hunting scenes, hung from the walls in curiously-carved and gilded frames, while a set of large and cumbrous chairs rested their clawed feet upon the cold and polished floor.

The conversation commenced upon the objects of interest which we had visited during our tour, in regard to which the countess displayed a fund of various and instructive information. She had visited in her younger days the most interesting portions of Germany; and having associated with some of the most ancient families, had thus acquired some entertaining knowledge of their fortunes and history. Throwing aside that air of reserved formality which usually characterized her, she discoursed freely on those topics which she soon discovered were most in accordance with my taste and disposition. Like most ladies, however, in her station, she prided herself upon the antiquity of her family, and in speaking of others would often incidentally allude to it with an expression of conscious dignity that forcibly contrasted with the urbanity of her general deportment.

'Since you are so fond,' she said, ' of examining the fortified habitations of those who, like my ancestors, have preferred to live by glorious but profitless turmoil rather than cultivate the less dangerous but humbler arts of peace, perhaps an inspection of the various apartments of the castle which you are in may serve to agreeably diversify an hour or two before dining. You will find it not entirely devoid of interest, for the house of Ivenskoff has had its fights and its forays, its secret passages and its dungeons of torture. Beside, too, we are not without supernatural visitants, it is said, and they must of course have their exclusive apartments. Our major-domo, however, understands these things much better than myself; for he has been in the service of the family for many years, and takes a peculiar pleasure in being esteemed the oracle of its local history. You shall have the benefit of his company, as well as of his information.'

I gladly acceded to the proposal, and in a few moments the old servant appeared, with a ponderous bunch of old-fashioned keys dangling from his arm. His appearance corroborated the remark of the countess that he had been long connected with the household, as well as the suspicion that he was not unacquainted with the contents of the larder and cellar. He had also a look of communicative familiarity which especially recommended him to my respect and attention.

Leading the way, he conducted us through the main hall and up a circular flight of sand-stone stairs imbedded in solid masonry. On either side of the passage-way leading through the second story were ranged apartments of various sizes, which were formerly used as lodging-rooms. Many of them had not been occupied for years, but the furniture in each was carefully arranged, as if a visitor were daily expected. Some were hung with dark and sombre drapery, and others with hangings of a brighter and more cheerful hue; but the windows to all were in the shape of double arches, and admitted through the diamond panes a soft and mellowed coloring. Now and then our guide

would stop and inform us what princess or what distinguished guest had last honored the room in which we happened to be with their presence, and particularly if there chanced to be any incident or strange marvel connected with any one of them, we were sure of hearing it duly garnished and expounded. 'There was the place,' for instance, 'where the baron, many years before, had made a trial of strength with a knight who had defied him before the gates, and challenged him to an encounter; but the crafty baron persuaded him to meet him with his sword in this chamber, and here they fought for three hours before the antagonist of the baron was slain.' The old man pointed to some discolored spots on the floor, and affirmed undoubtingly that they were occasioned by the blood of the conquered knight. He would have gone into a minute narrative of the whole quarrel, and commented on the points of honor which were at stake, had not we signified our inclination to proceed.

We came at last to a large room pleasantly situated toward the south and west, but strangely hung in drapery of the deepest sable. The major-domo shuddered as he applied the heavy key to the lock and forced the door to swing back slowly upon its hinges.

'It is the room,' said he, 'where the old baron died. Strange lights were seen at his death-bed and terrible shrieks of laughter, mingled with mournful moans, were heard as he was struggling in his death throes. The bell of the chapel tolled of itself as he died, and at midnight on every dark and stormy night since, it strikes as it struck full twenty years ago. Others have seen his spirit too, standing on the tower toward the westward, but the blessed Virgin protect me from so terrible a sight. Masses have long been sung for his soul by the abbot of Saint Mary's, but it is to be feared that his spirit is troubled and restless yet.'

He closed the door carefully, as we passed the door way and soon conducted us to the tower which he had mentioned. The prospect which it commanded was most enchanting; the mist of the morning had entirely cleared away and the view of the whole country, with its quiet villages and its pretty villas, its luxuriant vineyards and its undulating fields, teeming with spontaneous profusion was spread out like a map before us. We had a fine opportunity also of surveying the architecture of the castle itself; it apparently belonged to no particular century, but seemed like a union of the tastes of the several ages combined. There were the tall gables and the high pinnacles, which were so much admired in the earlier days of the fourteenth century, while the rich and fantastically-shaped windows which ornamented the southern wing, indicated that it had experienced the benefit of the more elaborate taste, which characterized the structures of the century which immediately succeeded the Reformation. Below us, rose the walls, surmounted by small turrets, which were furnished with loopholes for the discharge of bolts upon the assailants in case of an attack. The sentinel still paced his lonely walk, but not with that air of watchful vigilance which might have been seen in those who stood at the same post just two centuries before.

We mutually expressed our delight at the varied scene which was

presented to the eye from this commanding situation, and turned reluctantly to descend. I observed that the major-domo seemed little inclined to linger longer than to satisfy our curiosity, and attributing his backwardness to his superstitious fears, I could not refrain from complimenting in a jesting way the taste which the old Baron's spirit displayed in selecting a position so eligible for his midnight observations. Hist,' whispered the old servant, as he crossed himself thrice: 'It is not safe to provoke the spirits of the dead, and he was a dark and terrible man.'

We passed through several winding and circuitous passages, upon whose walls the moisture had collected, and was now dripping upon the floor. Stopping now and then to examine some curiously contrived angle in the complicated structure of the building, or to observe the diversified features of the landscape, tinted with different shades and colors, when seen through the stained panes of the windows, I observed that our guide as we were conducted through a lonely corridor, passed a heavy door thickly studded with bolts and hung on hinges of ponderous weight. I inquired for what the apartment was used and why we were not admitted. He informed me that within his memory it had never been entered by any one except by the countess, and she visited it only on some particular nights in the year, and then for secluded devotion. It was built, so I learned from the date on the wall, in the days of Halbert, the first baron of Ivenskoff, who attended, it is said, the Council of Clermont, and joined in the enthusiasm and sufferings of the wandering Peter. On his return from Palestine, it was used as a private chapel, but after his death it was closed to every one except to the inheritors of the baronial estate and name. A sad tradition, the major-domo said, was connected with the circumstance of its being closed, but what it was, strange to relate, he would not inform us, and when questioned more closely, maintained an inflexible silence. Perceiving that on this subject he was as reserved as on others he was tiringly garrulous, we were compelled to satisfy our curiosity by useless surmises and unsatisfactory conjectures.

After visiting the extensive cellars of the castle, which were stored with old wines of the richest flavor, as well as with some rusting vestiges of feudal rigor, we returned to the oaken parlor where we found the countess quietly engaged on a piece of embroidery, after the fashion of ladies of her rank in the days of love and gallantry.

It was now quite late in the afternoon, and we were ushered into the feasting hall, which had so often reëchoed to the song of riotous revelry. It had never been altered, but was as spacious, as cold and as gloomy as when the first hunting party collected within it, to pledge their successful lord in claret and brandy. The walls were variously decorated with the branching antlers of the stag and with the grinning tusks of the boar; here and there hung the black and shaggy skin of the wolf, with the savage teeth still bristling from the gaping jaws; while spears and lances, cross-bows and long swords, shields and helmets, were profusely interspersed among the trophies of the chase. There was also a complete suit of Eastern armor, which had been preserved in the

family for many years, and which had been brought home by Sir Halbert on his return from Palestine.

The servants received us in a long line as we entered, and the majordomo bowed most elaborately, as my friend conducted the countess to her seat. I had expected an unusual display of hospitality, but was surprised at the sight of the tables. There was a profusion for a famished regiment; flesh of almost every known animal, and the breasts of almost every feathered fowl. Most of the dishes were dressed in a style which I had never met with in my travels, but which to the taste far exceeded in delicacy any thing that I had ever seen. The Countess, her relative and myself were the only persons who appeared to partake of it; but far up and down the table were placed salvers and ewers, as if the company of a host was expected. Í ascertained afterward, that our visit had happened to be on the anniversary of her marriage, the commemoration of which event she thus singularly and faithfully observed. The service of the table was of massive silver; it had evidently been molten in foreign crucibles and ornamented by foreign tools; they were covered too, with hieroglyphics which I could not decipher, and with designs that I could not understand. I felt my antiquarian spirit rising, but my attention was diverted by the repeated calls of a vigorous appetite, rendered none the blunter by our cool ride in the morning mist, and to this day I am ignorant of their mysterious import.

After the successive courses had been finished, which I will not attempt to enumerate, but of which he who has dined at the table d'hôte of a German hotel, can form some conception, wines were produced in heavy pitchers of curious workmanship, but in keeping with the rest of the furniture of the table. It was quite late when we rose, and I fear that my friend and myself became somewhat garrulous; for I talked long, and I fancied profoundly upon ruins and antiquities, genealogies and hereditary titles, to all of which, however, the countess listened with patient and lady-like attention, occasionally correcting my inaccuracies, or detecting the complete history of some legendary occurrence, which I had blunderingly attempted to relate. Again the deep goblets were filled to the brim, and draining wine in a style which I remembered was peculiar to knights when originating a gallant sentence, I wished our hostess a period of longevity, only rivalled by that of Methusaleh.

The evening wore away in delightful conversation. It seemed to me that all the natural reserve which a stranger usually feels before the lapse of a few days has fairly domesticated him, had entirely left me. I never was esteemed unusually gifted in verbal fluency, but on this occasion I felt so uncommonly communicative, that my friend, who was aware of my general character, was utterly confounded.

Toward the close of the evening, an immense vessel of German beer was introduced, which was recommended by the Countess as excellent before retiring to bed. At the same time she related how many flagons were drank in the old baronial hall of the castle on the night of her marriage, and assured us, good naturedly, that she would have repeated one of the songs that were sung on the occasion, had our visit