The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-24

Break speare frowned upon his sons tmdly OK
prpsscd aspirations, ard Nicholas could neither
read nor write. The lad sinking into
despair, when accident, or Wntt men call such,
bcffieudCd him. One Of the monks Of st. Adams,
q Father Wilird, was rescued from some immi-
nent peril, whilst stIOlling through the woods by
the address and courage of Nicholas (the nature
Of the peril is not stately, and In rcquital he uu-
dert0ok 10 teach the ambitious sgineherd to read
and write. The lessons we're given at irregular
times, rs suited the monks convenience, and
always i'm the woods.
Nicholas proved an apt scholar, and before his
twentieth year knew pretty nearly as much Of
Latin gs his prcCCptor Many wears afterwards,
when Nicholas Brcakspoarc had become Adrian
", lie told his famous Coun'ryman, John Of
Salisbury Bishop of ChartrgsI, that the happiest
days OF his lie were those pissed in the llert-
fOrdshitc woods, tending his SWINE and coming
his lessons with the good Father Wlltrd; and
that he would gladly cast of the tiara which
bound bis temples as with rcd-hot steel, and all
the pOmp, dignity, and power Ot Popedom, to be
again a ragged, careless boy, with no riches bur
health, no TASK but that of watching his herd OF
swine, and mastering the mysteries OF the monk
Illuminated missal. So true o. As that sowing,
watering the seed, not its trutiou-the chase, not
the seizure Of the quarry make up the charm OF
life.
As GOOD a scholar as his instructor, Nicholas
Breakspoure took courage 20 make formal ap-
ulicaiion to become candidate for priests orders.
Tie request was perCmptOrily refused by Abbot
Richard, he being urged 60 do sn, 10 was believed
70
blow, but Father Wiltred again stood his friend.
The monk advised him to 60 30 Paris; furnished
him with letters OfinuoductiOu TO several trater-
mites of monks in that city, and a few crowns for
his purse. For some unstatel reason, Nicholas
did not meet with u favorable reception in Paris,
which he soon left, and wandered through q con
siderable part Of France, vauy seeking 10 be ad
mittCd as a seryitOr in the mouastcrics at
which he applied for food and rest, TILL he
arrived at that OF St. Rufus, without the walls OF
Aviguou in Provence. The brotherhood CHANGED
10 be Just then in want of n strong, willing, in
teligeut seryitor, and Nicholas was at once
engaged.
The handsome young Hnglishman proved to
be q wonderful acquisition, fulfilling his duties,
and more than his duties, with uniiring zeal.
Never had the garden Of the monastery been SO
skilully cultivated; the church furniture kept in
such bright condition; the rCfeCtory table so
punctually, neatly set out and arranged. Aud
then his cdifying pety not in the least obrusively
Haunted as il were i'm the face Of those in whom
long practice had somewhat dulled the appetite
for spiritual things; quite the reverse of obru-
siyc, and for that reason the more cdilyng.
And though he never tasted any other liquid
than water, and confined himself strictly to
the meagre dietary of the order (wine and rich
meats did not agree with HIM, who ever saw
him reprove by a look the transgressiOns of the
brotherhood in the matter Of reflection How
diligently he studied, too The result was tha
Nicholas Breahspeare succeeded so completely II
gaining the favor of the monks of ST. Rufus and
| their Abbot William, that be was unanimously
| invited to become a candidate for the prcstly
office and the precedent conditions having beeI
/ fulfilled in accordance with the canon, he wa
/ regularly consecrated priest Of the most high God
/ The sWneherds foot was ut last hrmly place.
upon the first rung of the ladder which was in tn
| end found to reach 50 high.