and love and victory: “God has wiped away all tears from all faces.” And now I leave you in the hands of Dr. Walsh, the author of this book. He will show you Mary, the model of all womanly, wifely, motherly excellence—the Madonna hanging in the Louvre of admiration for all Christendom, and for many millions in the higher Vatican of their worship. T. DE WITT TALMAGE. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I.—THE QUEEN’S PORTRAIT. “A form beloved comes again”—Inspired painters in a voyage of discovery—Tributes to Mary, honoring all womankind—Guido’s wish—Madonnas of many climes. Raphael’s “Transfigured Woman”—Savonarola’s bonfire—St. Luke’s picture of the Virgin—The Vandal spirit. Page 29 CHAPTER II.—THE PILGRIM, CRUSADER AND VIRGIN. Life a pilgrimage—Pilgrims of many faiths—A struggle for holy places between the Pilgrim-Crusaders and Moslem—The harem and the home—The rise of Chivalry—The Knights and “Our Lady”—The results of the Crusades. Page 36 CHAPTER III.—ARMAGEDDON! “THE KEY AND SICKLE.” “The wandering hermit wakes the storms of war”—Acre and Esdrælon, the “Armageddon” or “Mountain of the Gospel” of the Scriptures—The battle-field of nations—The City of Jeanne d’Arc. The jewel in the sickle-haft—Prince Edward, the Crusade leader—Sultan Kha-tel—The sacking of Acre—Actors introduced. Page 48 CHAPTER IV.—SIR CHARLEROY; THE SOLDIER OF FORTUNE AND KNIGHT OF SAINT MARY. The flight from Acre to Nazareth—The born-leader—Life estimates with Death holding the scales—A prince honors, a bishop blesses, and a mother loves—An epitome of paradoxes. Page 53 CHAPTER V.—NAZARETH. Nazareth, the place of Mary’s nativity—The choice of a leader—The coward king—The Virgin’s Fount—English songsters—The Knights’ mountain Litany—Longings for home and mother—Nain and Endor’s lessons. Page 61 CHAPTER VI.—THE FUGITIVES. A night bivouac amid sacred scenes—The “Knight of the Holy-Sepulcher” who fled on “a white charger with black wings”—The funeral at dawn—Mary’s palm-bearing angel-guard—The twelve knights separate into two parties—Will-makings and farewells—By Endor to oblivion. Page 74 CHAPTER VII.—ICHABOD.