The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-11-16
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Token for 1910.
THE SISTER THERESE.
BY II. +. GOULD.


The following little story is drawn, as a
fine silver thread, from among the many of
sadder and more fearful hue, that make up the
crimson cord Of the history Of that bloody Pc
Rod, the reign of terror in France. 1t is given
in the writings of French author of veraciiy,
concerning the events Of that day, from whom
it is here rather recounted than translated.
Among the unfortunate PERSONS who were
cast into the prisons of Bordeaux, to avail,
their turns at the guillotine, should it please
those inhuman monsters in the human form,
Robespierre and his associates in cruelty, to
find them guilty Of opposing their designs, by
standing in their way TO rule, was Henri De-
lorbe, an inhabtant Of the city, and young
man Of birth and fortune
In the person Of Delorbe, a striking beauty
of face and form, and noble bearing and
winning grace OF department, were united with
a richly endowed mind and heightened vrtu-
Gus principles The horrors of his situation
and impending fate preying on his spirits and
the miasma of the prison infusing poison into
his frame with every breath, proved too much
for his physical energies 10 resist The
spirit OF a man may sustain his infrmities, but
a wounded spirit who can bear 7" Natures
forces in the constitution Of Delorbe Slapped
by his accumulated ills, were made for while
to succumb. He was brought low in a sick
ness, and thought near to death. In this state
Of prostration and languishment, it was per-
mitted him to be removed from his cell TO the
hospital, where the devout Sisters of Charity
lent their truly benevolent and Christian SER
vices, attending on the sick, relieving their
wants, and closing the eyes Of the dying.
1t fell to the lot of Delorbe to have his mi
nistering angel appointed in the form of the
young Sister Therese, a fair, compassionate
self-sacri6cing girl, who, having renounced
the world" and the two other persons Of
that federal head Of wickedness, which, occu-
plying the human heart, is the nucleus of so
much evil, felt only single desire to carry
out the principles of her profession into ac-
ton, while she watched over the suffering,
endeayoring to soften their pains and to keep
up the faint and Pickering flame of lfe-or
when it must be so, smoothed the pillow of
the dying.
The gentle nun had never heard of the his
tory of Cupid and Psyche, and their near ALI
ance; nor, though she owned that she had
heart desperately wicked" had she suspect
ed it OF having vulnerable spot, where
random arrow from the little, busy archer,
reaching her unawares, might strike and en-
ter, and bury itself beyond the power of ex.
traction.
The pleasing external of the young s,ran-
ger had at first won her notice, and drawn out
her sympathy towards him in his suffering
state. But, as his character disclosed itself,
and he recounted to her his misfornnes and
his fears, compassion completed what a ten
der interest had begun in the bosom that had
never suspected itself of being susceptible to
any but heavenly love while Therese re-
solved to do all within her power 10 restore
him to life and health, and then to effect bis
escape from confinement and peril, if the wits
OF nun could devise the means. And she
had not only charity, which hope,h all
things but also, ingenuity to seek out many
Inventions"
Her faith and works are at last blessed in
manifold signs that the disease had run TO its
limits, and was giving way, subdued by the
superior powers in the constitution OF her pa
tient. But her own heart had become sgitatcd