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along these coasts" mothers have wept over their murdered infants, refusing to be comforted, "when the sword of Herod was red with blood, and every stain was from the blood of innocence."

Approaching Bethlehem, surnamed Ephrata or the fruitful, the olive and fig-tree become more plentiful, and the sides of the hill, on the summit of which it stands, are cultivated in terraces. The Latin convent, standing on a brow at its eastern extremity, is seen from hence to great advantage, and has a very imposing appearance; resembling, with its massive walls and embattlements, rather a fortress than the peaceable dwelling of monks. A nearer view was hardly sufficient to relieve us from the illusion. Part of the door-way, which formed the original entrance, has been walled up, and that which remains, is low and narrow, making it necessary to stoop to enter. On applying for admission, which we did by loud knocking, a monk appeared at a window above, and having satisfied himself that all was right, came down and removed the bar which fastened the door within. This outer gate opens into a roofed court, forming a sort of antechamber to the church of the conveut. Here we

waited, whilst the letter we had brought to the Padre Guardiano was carried up to him by one of the laybrothers. In a few minutes the messenger returned, and we were conducted by a winding passage to the terrace on the top of the convent. Here we found the whole community assembled, and enjoying the cool breezes of the evening, the early part of the day having been unusually hot. The sun was about to descend, but still it had sufficient elevation to enable us to see the different places of interest in the immediate neighbourhood, as they were pointed out to us by the friars.

In some part of yonder valley running east and west, where herdsmen are still seen tending the flocks confided to their charge, an angel of the Lord appeared eighteen centuries ago, to other

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shepherds, abiding in the field and keeping watch over their flock by night," to announce

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the good tidings of great joy "-"Unto you is born this day in the city of David," (here where we are sitting) 66 a Saviour which is Christ our Lord." As if we ourselves heard the rapturous music of the "heavenly host" as they ushered in the Saviour's birth with a song, the appropriate burden of which was

glory, peace, and good will;" we remained absorbed for a while in thought, and only recovered from our reverie, when the grotto was pointed out to us, where Joseph hid the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus before they fled into Egypt. "Arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt." (Matt. ii. 13.) In the same direction, but at a much greater distance, is "the cave" where David "cut off Saul's robes privily." It lies to the east of the village, in the direction of the Dead Sea. At the foot of the hill, facing the north, is "the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate," to which David's "mighty men," in spite of the Philistines, who were then garrisoned at Bethlehem, came and drew out the water, for which he longed. Nevertheless, "he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord," because it was "the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives." (2 Sam. xxii. 16, 17.) Other localities of minor interest, and resting upon less authenticated grounds, were successively pointed out to us. From these we turned to our recollection of the past, and referred to the period when this neighbourhood was the scene of those interesting transactions related with