precisely the stir began, the first rank emerging from the door of the Vatican just as the hour arrived.

“What are these grim soldiers?" asked Minnie, as a regiment of soldiers, with stern countenances and looks as grave as if they were marching to the field of death, came slowly by.

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They are French soldiers. You should know the uniform by this time," answered Walter.

"I do know it, but could not tell why French soldiers should be in this procession. Who are those now coming?"

"This is a company of the famous gens d'armes."

"Yes, and ugly looking."

"Here are some boys— who are they?" "Boys that are being educated in Catholic schools," replicd the lad, as several hundred boys, wearing white robes, and carrying burning candles, and, as they moved on, sending out strains of music from their young lips, deliciously wild and discordant, went marching by.

Next followed the friars, white, gray, and black, of all the different orders, with large wax candles burning in their hands.

"How do you like the looks of them, Minnie?" asked Mr. Tenant.

"I don't like the looks of them at all."

Why not? Some of them are good looking men.'

"I should think they were. They are barefoot, unshaven, filthy, and superstitious."

The friars, priests, cardinals, having passed by, a mitre on a velvet cushion was borne by, at which the people bowed low, and then followed more monks, and all the time bells were ringing, cannon firing, and the people shouting with joy. An hour was thus occupied, when the bell of the Cathedral announced that the pope was leaving the Vatican. He came on, preceded by his body guard of soldiers, dressed in their singular uniform, which gave them a most grotesque appearance.

"What is coming?" asked Minnie.

"The pope," replied her father.

"What, mounted on men's shoulders!" "Yes silence!"

"O, dear," said the 'little girl to herself, "I can't talk; so I must look with all my eyes. Then that is the pope. Walter, Walter!" she whispered.

"What?"

"He looks as if he was seasick."

"Hush!"

The pope passed by. He rode in a car trimmed.

with gold and decorated with spangles. Over his head was a canopy of gilt and crimson. The car was borne upon the shoulders of ecclesiastics and princes of high rank, and his head was bowed over a golden crucifix.

"What does he look like, Minnie?" asked Mr. Tenant.

"Like a man riding on an elephant," answered the child.

"How do you like his looks?"

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Very well.

How old is he?"

He seems mild and inoffensive.

"He was born in 1792. You can calculate from that."

"Let me see. From 1792 to 1800 is eight years; from 1800 to 1858 is fifty-eight years; fifty-eight and eight are sixty-six. He must be sixty-six years old."

The whole procession having passed, the party hurried to the Cathedral, where the pope performed some religious service, and gave his benediction to the populace. After this they saw His Holiness, as the pope is styled, on several occasions. The children thus became very familiar with the Vatican and its princely occupant.

"THE

CHAPTER XIII.

THE CARNIVAL.

HE CARNIVAL! What is the Carnival? Every body is talking about the Carnival. People tell us not to leave Rome until Carnival is over. They ask us if we are getting ready for Carnival. Do tell me what it is?" said Minnie, hurriedly, and almost out of breath, as she had been listening one morning to the two gentlemen as they conversed about the approaching festivities.

"Minnie, are you crazy?" asked her father, disturbed by her vehemence.

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No, pa; but it seems to me that the people here are all going crazy about the carnival, and I wish to know something about it."

"Well, here is Walter; he will tell you, while I attend to some business matters with Mr. Tenant."

the carni

"Well, Walter, what about about the val?"

"I don't know much about it; only that it is a season of festivity, continuing several weeks,

when the people of Rome give themselves up to pleasure."

"How do they get it?"

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They begin with religious services, and end with all kinds of jolly nonsense.

when it comes."

We shall see

They did see. The religious services which precede, rather than form a part of the carnival, soon commenced. To those who are not interested in the imposing ceremonies and gorgeous shows of the Papal church, these days drag heavily. Pleasure in the usual forms is prohibited, and the churches are filled. The religious services over, the people give themselves up to unrestrained mirth, fun without wit, frolic without

sense.

"To-day," said Mr. Tenant, as they were going out one morning," the fun commences." "O, I am so glad!" replied Minnie.

"Why?"

"Because Rome is so tedious during religi festivities."

".You will find nothing dull here for the next eight days."

About noon, the party, seated in an open barouche, with two gentle horses and a careful driver, that Mr. Percy had taken great pains to secure, started out to see what was going on.