Butte record. (Bidwell, Butte County, Cal.) 1853-1858, 1855-07-14

brought up a devoted Catholic and he
whatever bis private dogmas might have
been, adhered strictly to the forms of the
same church. He was unmarried, and
most people supposed him to belong to
that order called Heaven knows how
unlike Him fromwhom they assume their
name-ihe So.iety of Jesus.
We lived thus--I entirely worship
ping, he guiding, fondling, watching and
ruling BY turns, for two whole years.
was mistress of large fortune, and
though not beautiful, had, 1 believe, a
tolerable intellect, and keen wit, which
he used to play with, as boy plays with
fireworks, amusing himself with their
glitter-sometimes directing against 9TH
ers sand smiling as they flashed or scorch>
ed-knowing that against himself they
were utterly powerless and harmless.
Knowing, too, perhaps, that were it
otherwise he had only to tread them un-
der foot, and step aside from the ashes,
with the same unmoved, easy smile.
| never knew, nor know I to this day,
whether was dear to him or not. Use
frl, | was, | think, and pleasant, | be-
lieye. Possibly he liked me little-as
the POTTER likes his clay, and the skilful
mechanician likes his tools-until the
clay hardened, and the fine tools refused
to obey the masters hand.
| Was the brilliant West Indian heir
ess did not marry. Why should l
At my house-at least@it was called
mine-al sorts and societies met, carry.
ing on their separate games the quiet,
soft hand of NJ. Anastasius playing his
game-in, and under, and through them
all Mingled with this grand game OF
the world was lesser one, to which he
turned sometimes, just for amusement,
and because he could not cease from bis
metier--a simple, easy, domestic game,
of which the battiedore was that said
white hand, and the shuttlecock my fool
ish child's heart
Thus much have I dilated on him ,and
my own life in tho years when all its
strong, wild current flowed towards him
that, in what followed when the tide
turned, no one may accuse me of fckle.
ness or causeless aversion, Or insane ter
ror of one who after all was only man
''whose breath is in his nos.rlls.''
At seventeen I was wholly passive il
his hands he was my sole arbiter o
right and wrong-my conscience-al
most my God. As my character ma
tured, and in a few things I began tt
judge for myself, We had occasional sligh
differences, begun, on my part, in sh,
humility, continued with vague doubt
but always ending in penitence and tears
Since one or the other erred, of cours
it must be /. These differences wer,
wholly on abstract points OF truth O.
justice.
1t was his taking me to the ball at th
Tuilleries, which was given after Loui
Napoleon Bonaparte had seized the Or
leans property, and it was my watchin,
my Cousins conduct there, which mad
me first question, in trembling, terrific
way-like one who catches a glimpse Q
the miracle making priests hands be
hind the robe of the worshipped idol.
whether, great as NJ. Anastasius was :
a political ruler, as man of the world
as a faithful member OF the Society q
Jesus, he was altogether SO great whe
viewed beside any one of those who's
doctrines he disseminated, whose fait
he professed.
He had allowed nae the New Testa
ment, and / had been reading it a goo
deal lately. placed him, my spiritua
guide, first in generating love, then, wit
a curious marveling comparison, besid
the fishermen Of Gallilee, beside-rev
erently be it spoken-beside the Divin
Christ.
There was a certain difference
The next time we came to any argu
ment-alwsys on abstract questions, 70
my mere individual will never had an
scrupies in resigning to his-instead G
yielding and atoning, | ceased the con
test, and brought it afterwards privatel
TO the one iniallible rule of right an
wrong.
The difference grew.
Gr,dualiv heoan tn fata rnv norefr