279 



THE MOTHS OF THE BANNERS. 



A TALE. 



The wealth and territories of the noble house of A 



had for upwards of a century been gradually wasting away. 

 In proportion as these diminished, the Roman-catholic chapel 

 attached to the family castle, had declined from its ancient 

 splendour, and on the earldom passing for one generation 

 into a Protestant branch, it was permitted to reach the verge of 

 complete ruin. 



But behold, now, the holy edifice under process of restora- 

 tion. Where the voices of choristers once arose, where the 

 mouldering rubbish lately fell, there hammers are descending. 

 Where the organ once pealed, where the screech-owl lately 

 hooted, there masons are busy with the mallet and the chisel. 

 Where clouds of incense were once rolling, where the night- 

 dews lately fell, there whiffs of tobacco are rising through the 

 dilapidated roof. A new order of things is at hand : monu- 

 mental knights, whose spurs have been cut off by the scythe of 

 time, are being newly invested by the aid of the sculptor's 

 chisel ; whilst dames of chaste cold marble are receiving like 

 embellishment from Carpue-aii restorers of stone noses. 



But what is the magic power at whose bidding all these 

 wonders of renovation are produced ? The wizard is named 

 Wealth ; but from whence, and in what shape has he been 



