The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1840-02-15

priest was sent for; and ere long the tinkling of
little bell i'll the street announced his approach,
tie bore in his hand silver vase containing the
Iconsecrated wafer, and small vessel filled with
the holy oil of the extreme JUNCTION hung from
ms neck. Before him walked boy carving a
little bell, whose sound announced the passing
OF these symbols of the Catholic faith. In the
rear, lew OF the villagers, bearing lighted wax
taPers, formed short and melancholy process
sion. They soon entered the sick chamber, and
the glimmer Of the tapers mingled with the red
hight OF the setting sun, that shot his farewell
rays through the open window. The vessel of
OIL, and the vase containing the consecrated wa
fer, were placed upon the table in front of cru
cihx that hung upon the wall, and all present.
excepting the priest, threw themselves upon their
knees. The priest then approached the bed Of
the dying girl, and said, in low and e5lemn
tone:
The King of kings and Lord of lords has
passed thy threshold. Is thy spirit ready to re-
ceve him -
at is, father"
Hast thou confessed thy sins ~
Holy father, no. .-...
! "Coniess myself, then, that thy sins may be
forgiven, and thy name recorded in the book of
life"
And turning to the kneelng crowd around he
waved his hand for them to retire, and was left
alone with the sick girl. He seated himself be-
side her pillow, and the subdued whisper OF the
confession mingled with the murmur of the
evening air, which lifted the heavy folds of the
curtains, and stole in upon the holy scene
Poor Jacqueline had few sins to confess a Sc
cret thought or two toward the pleasures and
delights of the world wish to i've unuttered,
but which to the eye of her self-accusing spirit
seemed to resist the wise providence of God -
no more. The confession Of "a meek and Iowly
heart is soon made. The door was again open-
ed; the attendants entered and knelt around the
bed, and the priest proceeded,
g And now prepare myself to receive with
contrite heart, the body Of our blessed Lord and
Redeemer. Dost thou believe that our Lord
Jesus Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
and born Of the Virgin Mary ;"
Il believe.'
And all present joined in the solemn response.
Il believe
"Dost thou believe that the Father is God,
that the son is God, and that the Holy Spirit is
God three persons and one God ~
81 believe" -
"Dost thou believe that the Son is seated on
the rght-hand Of the Majesty OH high, whence
he shall come to judge the quick the dead ,"
II believe.''
"Dost thou believe that by the holy sacre-
ments of the church thy sins are forgiven thee,
and that thus thou art made worry of eternal ,
lfe?"
II believe
"Dost thou pardon, with all thy heart all
who have offended thee in thought, word, or
deed?"
81 pardon Them
"And dost thou ask pardon Of God and thy
neighbor for all offences thou hast committed
against them, either in thought; word, or deed ?''
81 do
"Then repeat after me: O Lord Jesus, am
not worthy, nor do merit, that thy divine Mai
esty should enter this poor tenement of clay
but according to thy holy promises, be my sins
forgiven, and my soul washed white from all
transgression."
Then taking eonsecrated wafer from the
vase, he placed it between the lips of the dying
girl, and while the assistant sounded the little
silver bell, said;
Corpus Domini nostri Jesu Christi cusfodiaft
amman tuam IN titan eleraan'.'
And the kneeling crowd smote their breasts
and responded in one solemn voice:
"Amen!"
The priest then took from the silver box on
the table little golden rod, and dipping it in
holy oil, anointed the invalid upon the hands,
feet, and breast, in the form of the cross. When
these ceremonies were completed, the priest and,
his attendants retired, leaving the mother alone
with her dying child, who from the exhaustion
caused BY the preceding scene, sank into DEATH
like sleep.
" Between two worlds life lowered like star,
'Twixt night and morn upon the horizons verge
The long twilight of the summer evening stole
On the shadows deepened without, and the
night-lamp glimmered feebly in the sick cham.
Der; but still she slept. She was lying with
her hands casped upon her breast her pallid
,heek resting upon the pillow and her bloodless
lips apart, but motioness and silent as the sleep,
If DEATH Not breath interrupted the silence
If her slumber Not movement Of the heavy
md sunken eyelid-not a trembling of the lip
lot a shadow on the marble brow told when the
pirit took its fight. 1t passed to better world
han this
"There's perpetual sprng-perpeual youth
No joint benumbing cold, nor seorching heat,
Famine nor age have any being there"
Coleman being once asked If he knew Theo-
ore Hook, answered cob YES Hook and Eye