funereal hall. Fletcher, Dean of Peterborough, and cer tain privileged persons, to the number of more than two hundred, were assembled. The hall was hung with black 'cloth; the scaffold, which was elevated about two feet 'and a half above the ground, was covered with black frieze of Lancaster; the arm-chair in which Mary was to sit, the footstool on which she was to kneel, the block on which her head was to be laid, were covered with black velvet.

The Queen was clothed in mourning like the hall and as the ensign of punishment. Her black velvet robe, with its high collar and hanging sleeves, was bordered with ermine. Her mantle, lined with marten sable, was of satin, with pearl buttons and a long train. A chain of sweet-smelling beads, to which was attached a scapulary, and beneath that a golden cross, fell upon her bosom. Two rosaries were suspended to her girdle, and a long veil of white lace, which in some measure softened this costume of a widow and of a condemned criminal, was thrown around her.

Arrived on the scaffold, Mary seated herself in the chair provided for her, with her face toward the spectators. The Dean of Peterborough, in ecclesiastical costume, sat on the right of the Queen, with a black velvet footstool before him. The Earls of Kent and Shrewsbury were seated, like him,on the right, but upon larger chairs. On the other side of the Queen stood the Sheriff, Andrews, with white wand. In front of Mary were seen the executioner and his assistant, distinguishable by their vestments of black velvet with red crape round the left arm. Behind the Queen's chair, ranged by the wall, wept her attendants and maidens.

In the body of the hall, the nobles and citizens from

the neighboring counties were guarded by musketeers. Beyond the balustrade was the bar of the tribunal. The sentence was read; the Queen protested against it in the name of royalty and of innocence, but accepted death for the sake of the faith. She then knelt be

fore the block and the executioner proceeded to remove her veil. She repelled him by a gesture, and turning toward the Earls with a blush on her forehead, "I am not accustomed," she said, "to be undressed before so numerous a company, and by the hands of such grooms of the chamber."

She then called Jane Kennedy and Elizabeth Curle, who took off her mantle, her veil, her chains, cross, and scapulary. On their touching her robe, the Queen told them to unloosen the corsage and fold down the ermine collar, so as to leave her neck bare for the axe. Her maidens weepingly yielded her these last services. Melvil and the three other attendants wept and lamented, and Mary placed her finger on her lips to signify that they should be silent. She then arranged the handkerchief embroidered with thistles of gold with which her eyes had been covered by Jane Kennedy.

Thrice she kissed the crucifix, each time repeating, "Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." She knelt anew and leant her head on that block which was already scored with deep marks, and in this solemn attitude she again recited some verses from the Psalms. The executioner interrupted her at the third verse by a blow of the axe, but its trembling stroke only grazed her neck; she groaned slightly, and the second blow sepa rated the head from the body.

LAMARTINE.

A LITTLE BOY'S VALENTINE

L'

ITTLE girl across the way,
You are so very sweet,

I shouldn't be a bit surprised,

If

you were good to eat.

you

Now what I'd like if would too,
Would be to go and play-

Well, all the time, and all my life,
On side of the way.

your

I don't know anybody yet
On your side of the street,
But often I look over there

And watch you—you're so sweet.

When I am big, I tell you what,
I don't care what they say,
I'll go across-and stay there too,
On your side of the way.

DIALOGUES, TABLEAUX, ETC.

SPEECHES OF ZENOBIA AND HER COUNCIL IN REFERENCE TO THE ANTICIPATED WAR WITH ROME.

Adapted.

CHARACTERS.-Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra; Gracchus, a Roman and the Queen's chief adviser and head of the Senate; Longinus, a Greek philosopher and a prominent member of the Senate; Otho, a Palmyrean nobleman and a Senator; Zabdas, an Egyptian and General-in-chief of the Queen's army; also present, the Princess Julia; Fausta, daughter of Gracchus, and Lucius Piso, a Roman nobleman; two young and beautiful female slaves in attendance, one with cushion for foot-rest, the other with large fan of peacock feathers, seated at the feet of the Queen, to do her service.

Scenery and costume will add greatly to the rendition of this scene, and if used, should be in adaptation to time, character, rank, and nationality.

Disposition of Characters.-Zenobia seated upon her throne, surrounded by her friends, some sitting, others standing without order about her.

Queen. Good friends, I believe one thought fills every mind present here. Is it not better that we give it utterance? I need the sympathy and the counsel of those who love me. But I ask not only for the opinions of those who agree with me, but as sincerely for those of such as may differ from me. You know me well in this, that I refuse not to hearken to reasons, the strongest that can be devised, although they oppose my own settled judgment. Let us freely open our minds each to the other, and let no one fear to offend me but by withholding his full and free opinion.

Gracchus.-We, who know our Queen so well, hardly need these assurances. Were I as bitterly opposed tc the measures proposed as I am decidedly in favor of them, I should none the less fearlessly and frankly declare the reasons of my dissent. I am sure that every one here experiences the freedom you enjoin. But who will need to use it? For are we not of one mind? I see, indeed, one or two who oppose the general sentiment. But for the rest, one spirit animates all, and, what is more, to the farthest limits of the kingdom am I persuaded the same spirit spreads, and possesses and fills every soul. The attempt of Aurelian to control us in our affairs, to dictate to us concerning the limits of our empire, so far removed, is felt to be a wanton freak of despotic power, which, if it be not withstood in its first encroachment, may proceed to other acts less tolerable still, and which may leave us scarcely our name as a distinct people—and that covered with shame. Although a Roman by descent, I advocate not Roman intolerance. I can see and denounce injustice in Aurelian as well as in another. Palmyra is my country and Zenobia my Queen, and when I seek not their honor, may my own fall blasted and ruined. I stand ready to pledge for them in this emergency, what every other man of Palmyra holds it his privilege to offer, my property and my life, and if I have any possession dearer than these, I am ready to bring and lay it upon the same altar.

Longinus.-The gods weave the texture of our souls, not ourselves; and the web is too intensely wove and drenched in too deep a dye for us to undo or greatly change. The eagle cannot be tamed down to the softness of a dove, and no art of the husbandman can send to the gnarled and knotted oak the juices that shall