Book of Lecan (Leckan), the Yellow Book of Lecan,

These contain much the Book of Leinster, - with but they are not nearly

and the Book of Ballymote. same kind of matter as the pieces very different, however, so old. The Speckled Book, which is also in Dublin, is nearly as large as the Book of Leinster, but not so old. It is mostly on religious matters, and contains a great number of lives of saints, hymns, sermons, portions of the Scriptures, and other such pieces. All these books are written with the greatest care, and in the most beautiful penmanship.

The six old books described above have been lately printed in such a way that the print resembles exactly the writing of the old books themselves. The printed volumes are now to be found in libraries in several parts of Ireland as well as in England and on the Continent; so that those desirous of studying them need not go to Dublin, as people had to do formerly.

Many people are now eagerly studying these books; and men often go to Ireland from France, Germany, Norway and Sweden, Russia, and other countries, in order to learn the Irish language so as to be able to read them. But this requires much study, even from those who know the Irish of the present day; for the language of those books is old and difficult.

PATRICK WESTON JOYCE.

Dr. Patrick W. Joyce was born in 1827 in the village of Ballyorgan, County Limerick. He is the author of the "Origin and History of Irish Names and Places," three Histories of Ireland, and "A Reading Book of Irish History." He is a collector of Irish music, on which subject he is a recognized authority.

:

expert skillful.-half-penny: a British copper coin, measuring about an inch in diameter. derived drawn from. - Continent: Europe as distinguished from the British islands. -desirous: experiencing a wish.

A Story of St. Francis.

The saintly Francis like a child

Was pure and meek of heart and mild,

So that God's birds and all dumb creatures

To do the will of him were beguiled.

And thus it came that there befell

For his sweet sake a miracle,

Written in Francis' Life and Legend
By one who knew him and loved him well.

The holy man, one afternoon,

At Venice, on a day in June,

Had taken boat with certain brethren
To row the length of a broad lagoon.

There, as they floated down the tide,
The day to evening quickly died,

And birds began their vesper anthems Among the rushes on either side.

St. Francis smiled for pleasure: "See,
Our brothers sing to God; and we,

We who are blest of all His creatures,
Shall we not join in the jubilee?"

Louder the friars sang; more loud
Clamored and shrilled the winged crowd,

As when the storm breaks o'er a forest,
And lightning darts from the thundercloud.

Louder and louder, till was heard
By no man there an only word

Of David's psalter, for the chatter
Of bird that answered or called to bird.

Then to the saint the brethren spake:
"'Tis useless quite, the toil we make ;
Order the birds that they be silent
And cease a little from chirp and crake."

So Francis turrted, and raised his hand
For peace, and all the warbling band

Were still as though a spell had bound them, And thus he gave them his strict command:

"Brothers and sisters mine, be still,
And make no sound, I pray, until

I and my brethren cease our praises;
Then sing once more at your own sweet will."

So said the saint, and now no note
Was heard from any feathered throat;
Only the chanted words of David
Arose to God from the gliding boat.

Till that the last Amen was sung,

No sound was stirred but reeds that clung

And scraped when ripples broke and washed them, Or breezes blew through the flags that swung.

REV. J. W. ATKINSON.

beguiled charmed away. - lagoon: a pool or lake.clamored: uttered loud and repeated outcries. psalter: psalm. - crake: a sharp, creaking sound. -flags: certain plants that grow in water or moist places.

St. Cecilia.

Cecilia, who lived during the reign of the Emperor Alexander Severus, was the only child of wealthy and noble Roman parents. They were pagans, but thanks to the influence of a Christian nurse, it is said, she herself was brought up a Christian.

Though she had a comfortable home, kind parents and friends, and attentive servants, Cecilia felt quite alone in the world in which she lived. All around her were pagans, worshipers of idols, and there were none to whom she could talk of her religion or learn about it. She was, however, so faithful to the grace of her Baptism that God spoke to her soul, and taught her secrets about Himself which she could have learned from no one on earth.

When Cecilia was a child, she made a solemn vow of virginity, and promised our Blessed Lord that she would be His spouse and His alone all the days of her life.

A fierce persecution broke out against the Christians while Cecilia was still quite young. This persecution took the Christians by surprise, for Alexander Severus was not only a kind-hearted man, but had almost an affection for the Christians.

Unfortunately, however, the emperor left Rome for a long absence, and appointed as governor in his stead a man named Turcius Almachius. This man detested Christians, and as soon as Severus was at a safe distance he began to persecute them cruelly.

Urban I. was Pope at that time, and against him the hatred of Almachius was first turned. He sentenced the holy Pontiff to be put to death as soon as he could be