Four new girls have joined the school to-day. We have now just returned from the evening service. There was another address; partly to us and partly to the rest of the community and a fine piece was sung by the choir. Kinder Fest is a happy day!

19th. At four o'clock this afternoon we went, all in white, to the Love-feast given by Brother and Sister R., in honour of their Silver-wedding (i.e. their twenty-fifth wedding-day). Some beautiful pieces, suitable to the occasion, were sung by the choir, and also some verses by the congregation. The venerable old couple sat in chairs in front, facing the desk. The church was decorated with flowers, and the desk hung with white, bound with blue (the married Sisters' colour), festooned with heath and blue cornflowers. The tea and buns were excellent. Professor R., who had written a poem on the Silver-wedding of his parents, read it after dinner. They had many presents made them. A beautiful carpet, a handsome flowered tablecloth, two easy chairs, a silver salver, worked footstools, and mats, were amongst the gifts.

This is the venerable couple whom I mentioned in

an earlier part of my journal, as living in the large

Sister Z. says we are here 25,000 feet above the level of the sea! It is very warm to-night.

24th. Missions Fest. The sermon, as usual, was at ten o'clock: after it, the Probe, i. e. rehearsal of the piece to be sung in the afternoon. I was one of the twelve chosen out of the school to swell the choir on the occasion. The Missionarymeeting was at half-past one, and lasted till a quarter past five. The church was filled with Black Foresters. The school sat in the gallery, which, properly, belongs to the Sisters' choir; and most of the Sisters sat in the "boxes" on either side of us. Brother C. prayed, and made the opening address, after we had sung our piece and some psalms : then three other clergymen of the neighbourhood spoke, one of whom had been missionary in the Crimea, and related many interesting camp anecdotes. The Inspector offered the concluding prayer, and a collection was made at the door.

We are going to Stockburg to-morrow; and the R.'s, from Strasburg-i. e. the mother, two eldest daughters, and two little ones, who have recently

E

See

IN

50

A MORAVIAN SETTLEMENT

been put to school here-are invited to accompany

us.

26th. I trust dear papá received my birthday wishes this morning at nine o'clock. I have thought of him a great deal, and through the kindness of others, have been enabled to keep the day in fine style: imprimis, by having an egg for breakfast; then Sister K. brought me Straussel-Kuchen instead of bread, at half-past eight, and offered me her congratulations; which is always done here on the birthday of one's nearest relations. After this, as the rain threatened to disappoint us of our projected excursion, Sister Z. lent Hélène and me Father

66

Clement" in German, to read to each other while we knitted. After dinner, we were thus employed, when Sister Z. came in and said to me, "Beatrice! why did not you tell me this was your papa's birthday? I have just learnt it from Sister K. You are a baby; and, through being so silly, nearly lost an opportunity of keeping it, my child! However, there is still time; and at two o'clock, you shall drink coffee with me in Sister R.'s room."

I put on a pair of white sleeves and my best apron; and at a quarter past two, Sister Z. fetched

me.

When we entered, the assembled company was standing; and each in turn shook hands with me and congratulated me. I felt so pleased! We all sat down round the table, which was covered with a white cloth, and before each person was a small plate and knife, and in the middle, a large dish of heart-cakes, and other dishes containing rusks and short-bread. Sister Z. poured out the coffee at a side-table, and Sister R. handed it round. There were present Sister S., Madame R., and her four daughters, Sister B., our two hostesses, and myself. When we had finished our coffee and cakes, we took our work from our bags, and knitted or embroidered, while conversation flowed pleasantly, and then coffee was again handed round. At length, the weather brightening a little, Sister R. proposed that we should put on our shawls and adjourn to the summer-house, which we accordingly did; and there we found a table spread with sponge-cakes, macaroons, and a large bowl of lemon-cream. Work, conversation, and eating went on simultaneously, as indeed they had done before, for I think the sips and the stitches had kept pace with one another. I found the R.'s very agreeable com

panions. They belong to the Moravian Society in

Strasburg.*

At six o'clock, Madame R. rose, and the party

broke up. All shook hands with the Sisters, and thanked them. Sister Z. said afterwards, I must tell papa we had celebrated his birthday, though not as well as she could have wished.

27th. This afternoon, at one o'clock, we walked to the Schloss-hof. The schloss, or castle, of Waldau is a very ancient ruin; and its remains show that it must once have been a gigantic fortress, though

now

"No human figure stirs, to go or come;

No face looks forth from shut or opened casement;

No chimney smokes; there is no sign of home

From parapet to basement."

HOOD's Haunted House.

* The name of "Society" is exclusively given to those religious associations, in connection with the Brethreu's Church, the members of which still attend the public ministry, and the sacraments in the parish churches, but have a chapel of their own, where they hold private meetings for edification among themselves, and who adopt such parts of the Brethren's constitution as are suited to their circumstances.

In Germany there are twenty-two of these Societies; in Switzerland, five; in France, five; in Denmark, five; in Sweden and Norway, six; in Russia, chiefly in Livonia, thirteen; and in Russian-Poland, onc.