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we soon entered the narrow channel called the Dardanelles, or Hellespont. Just before entering the channel we coasted

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along the plains of ancient Troy, now so desolate; and the Professor pointed out to us Mount Ida, rising up in the distance, on the south. Just as the sun was setting, we gathered in the saloon of the steamer, to listen to stories of the Trojan war, as told by Homer in his famous Iliad, and of other events that occurred in the surrounding country of Asia Minor, thousands of years ago.

29. Before morning we had passed through that great inland lake called the Sea of Marmora, and partly around Constantinople itself; and, just as the sun was ushering in a golden day, we anchored in the Golden Horn, a little north of the city. Here our steamer remained until we had visited all the wonders of the Turkish capital,-the Seraglio, or Palace of the Sultan, to which we obtained access through the kindness of the American consul,-the Mosque of St.

Sophia, the bazaars, the baths, the cemeteries, the twentyeight gates of the city, and the fortifications.

30. But while the appearance of the city from without is imposing, within it consists mainly of a labyrinth of crooked, ill-paved, and dirty lanes, and crowds of low-built and small houses. But, oh! the dogs that infest the city! Lazy, starving, sleeping curs! they are always in the way: you stumble over them on the sidewalks, at the crossings of the streets, and at the entrance of every dwelling! But they have their use in partially cleansing the filthy streets, and that is why the people do not destroy them.

31. On board of our steamer in the evenings we listened to what Prof. Howard had to tell us about the customs, manners, habits, and history of the Turkish people. Besides this, the Professor, who is always picking up acquaintances, had fallen in with a kind of strolling teacher, poet, and story-teller, whom he first met at one of the bazaars, -an Arabian by birth, who spoke quite passable English. The Professor had invited him to pass his evenings with us.

32. Our visitor told us many Turkish and Arabic stories, some of which were filled with adventures so strange, and adorned with such poetic fancies, that they seemed to us like a continuation of the Arabian Nights' Entertainments. I hope to write out several of these stories and send them to you at some future time.

CHAPTER XVIII.-MORE ABOUT FATHER BARDOU.

1. In the last reading that our friend Father Bardou had given us from his diary, he had closed by telling us he had sat down at the old writing-desk to examine its contents, and had just taken out a mother-of-pearl casket

which exhaled an odor of roses. On a subsequent occasion, Mrs. Wilmot, referring to the circumstance of the writingdesk, remarked to the old gentleman that we should be pleased to hear the continuation of the reading, if it would be agreeable to him.

2. "Nothing would please me better," he replied; "for although these souvenirs of the past recall many cherished memories, yet I enjoy them the more by sharing with sympathizing friends the reflections that they suggest." Then, going to his little satchel, which he had brought with him, and taking from it a small volume of manuscript, in an exceedingly neat and plain handwriting, he sat down at the table, and resumed the reading, as follows::

I.-Looking over an Old Writing-Desk.

1. "The examination of a writing-desk long in use is not an unimportant event. Who, indeed, can be certain of penetrating with impunity into these archives of the past, —of recurring, without embarrassment, to the impartial records of his sentiments and his habits?

2. "What accusations are often to be found in the mute witnesses of our past life! It seems as if each object that attracts our notice raises its voice to recount a chapter of our history; and, be the recital displeasing or not, it is in vain for us to thrust back the troublesome narrator, and depart; its voice continues to vibrate, for we carry it within.

3. "To speak truly, the examination of our writing-desk is but the examination of our conscience, drawer-wise. The time has now arrived to examine mine. Let us put aside the little casket for the present, and see what else is to be found.

4. "The Top Drawer. This contains receipted bills only. At first their appearance gratifies me. They are all arranged in order, according to their dates, and seem to pro

claim my prudence and regularity; but a little reflection cuts short my pride. If I were to look through them, how many would testify to my negligence or my caprice! How many expenses injudiciously incurred! How many barren purchases! How much dearly-bought experience!

5. "Of all the money represented by these bills, how little has really conduced to my advantage, or my gratification! How numerous the resources frittered away through want of reflection! I fancy I read on the back of many of these bills an accusing sentence traced by the hand which wrote in Belshazzar's banqueting-hall :'Vanity Folly: Self-gratification.' I will not read a word more, and rapidly I shut up these ungracious monitors.

6. "Second Drawer. Here are physicians' prescriptions and the remedies supplied. Bills again, settled with the most exacting of all creditors! Those just thrust aside recalled the ransom paid to secure the necessaries or the luxuries of life; these recall the ransom paid to our infirmities. They are at once a souvenir and a warning. Like the preacher, they seem to say to me, after a day of some frivolous entertainment, Dust thou art, and to dust thou shalt return.'

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7. "Third Drawer. The disclosures of this drawer are not so serious, and its lessons are less severe. It contains only specimens of minerals, shells, and a few antiquarian remains. This is the nucleus of twenty natural history collections, repeatedly commenced, and repeatedly interrupted a new proof of man's inconstancy and love of change. Madame de Staël has said that, All things below are but beginnings.' My drawer could be brought forward as proof of this assertion, in case of need.

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a Madame de Staël (Stäl), a brilliant French authoress, born in Paris, April 22, 1766, died there July 14, 1817. Her complete works, in seventeen volumes, show that she excelled in every branch of prose composition, while a love of humanity and constitutional liberty were leading traits in her character.

8. "Fourth Drawer. Historical and literary notes; manuscripts going no further than the titles; numerous illegible or incompletely expressed thoughts; hieroglyphics which will never find a Champollion! My life has been passed, like that of so many others, in mentally composing the preface of a book which will never be produced. Some minds resemble certain trees; in the spring they are covered with blossoms, not one of which ripens into fruit in the autumn.

9. "Fifth Drawer. Here are the letters of friends long lost to me. Some who perished by the way possess no longer a name but on their tombstones; others have changed their route, their faith, their hopes, and worship at new shrines. Alas! the former are but dead, whilst the latter are deserters!-But let me not dwell on these thoughts: I do not wish to read the evidences of forgotten. promises and outraged confidences.

10. "Sixth Drawer. The casket is in this drawer-the casket which I am now at length to open. But stay! My heart beats more rapidly, my hand trembles! There!the cover is raised! Behold them!-the treasures of my poor home, the diamonds of my domestic crown-all the sweet mementos of the past are gathered here! Each object that my eye rests upon recites a chapter.

11. "The faded wreath of laurel recalls the triumph of my son William when leaving his college loaded with prizes. That orange-flower, taken from the bouquet of my daughter Annie, brings back the day of tearful joy on which her mother and I intrusted her to the love of another protector. I press you to my lips, pale flower and poor faded leaves, which are now to me the sole representatives of my son and my daughter!

12. "But how many souvenirs lie beside these! The wedding-ring, taken from their mother's finger before

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Champollion, a celebrated French Egyptologist, and translator of the Egyptian hieroglyphics.

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