The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-10-30
SKETCH OF A PARRICIDE.
Bu the Rep. C.. II. .hafuin.

erraneuus passage, waiting the fall Of
vening, on purpose to make their escape
rom monastery. The parricide, after
ne commission Of the dreadful crime, had
,und shelter in this monastery, and, by
ne most deprived services, had endeavor-
dto recommend himself to bis Superior,
nd, at the same time, to glut his liendish
assions by making others as miserable as
,imself. This is relation from his own
mouth, Of one of his deeds, while ser
sant in monastery.l
l was desired to attach myself to a
Young m, nix Of distinguished family, who
nad lately taken the vows, and who per-
ormed his duties with that heartless pune
ualty thnt intimated to the community
that his heart was elsewhere. was soon
put in possession Of the business; from
their ordering me to attach myself to him,
l instantly conceived wns bound to the
most deadly hostility against him. The
friendship of the convent is always a
treachrous league--we watch, suspect,
and torment each other, for the love OF
God. Thisyoung monks only crime was,
that he was suspected Of chcrshing an
earthly passion. He was, IN fact, the
son Of distinguished family, who for the
fear of contracting, what is called de-
grading marriage, 4. e. of marrying a wo-
man of inferior rank whom he loved, and
who would have made him happy, as fools.
that is, halfmankind, estimate 'happiness,)
forced him to take the VOWS. He appear
led. at times heart-brokcn, but at times
there was light Of hope in his eye, that
looked somewhat ominous in the eyes o!
The community. 1t is certain, that hope
being an indigenous plan: in the parterre
Of convent, must excite suspicion with re
gard both'to its origin and its growth.
Some time after, young novice. enter
ed the convent. From the moment he did
so, change the most striking took place
IN the young monk. He and the novice
,ecame inseparahle comranions--there
was something suspicious in that. My
eyes were on the, ~atch in moment. -
! Eyes are particularly sharpened in discov
ering misery when they can hope to ag-
gravate it. The attachment between the
young monk and the novice went. on
] They were forever in the garden together
they inhaled the odours of the flowers
they cultivated the same cluster Of car
nations---they outwined themselves rs theJ
walked together--whon they were in the
choir their voices were like mixed incense
Friendship is often carried to excess in
conventual life, but this frie ndship wastoc
like love. For instance, the psal,ns sung
IN the choir sometimes breathe a certain
langnage; at these words the Young monk
and the novice would direct their voices
to each other in sounds that could net be
misunderstood. If the least correction
was inflicted, one would intreat to under
go it for the ether. Ifa day Of RELAXATION
was allowed, whatever presents were sent
to the cell of one, we're sure to be found
!, in the cell ofthe. other. This was enough
for me. / saw that secret Of MYSTERIOUS
happiness, which is the greatest misery
to those who cannot share in it. My Wig
lance was rcdouhled, and it resulted in
the discovery of a secret---a secret that
had to communicate and raise my conse-
quence by. You rannot guess the impor
tance attached 10 the discovery of secget
in convent, (particularly when the re-
mission Of our own offences depends on
the discovery oithose of others. p.
One evening, when the young monk
and his darling novice were in the garden,
the former plucked 'p' ach, which he
Immediately offered to his iavorite; the
latter accepted il with movement tho't
rather awkward-it seemed like what /,
Imagined to be the reverence Of a female
The young monk divided the peac'. with
a knife: in So doing, the knife grazed thu
niger OF the novice, and the monk, in ag
station inexpressible, tore Lis habit to bnt
up the wound saw il all--my mind wa.
made up ON the business went to tn,
Superior that night. The result may be-
conceived. They were watched bui
cautiously at first. They were probabl,
on their guard for some time, it dcfeo
even my vigilance to make the sightesi
discovery. 1t is a situation incompa,a-
bly, tantaizing, when suspicion is satisfied
at her own suggestions, as Of the truth or
the gospel, but still wants the little fact t,
make them credible to others. One night
that had, by direction of the Superior.
taken my stand in the gallery, (whcre ]
was contentcd to remain hour after hour.