Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1866-10-27

THE CONVENT OF SAINT LUCIA.

IL was on the IeStlVai OF tue AsCEnSioit
of our Savior, in the year 1874, that the
bells Of the beautiful convent Of st. Lucia,
not far from Rome, rang for morning
prayers. A crowd pressed toward the
gate. The picturesque attire of the pit-
grims, the charming wone decked with
flowers. wearing white wells upon their
heads, the proud, slender men with or
snge blossoms upon ther breasts, formed
q spectacle very pleasing to the eye
Iba glowing orb Of the sun fervently kis-
sed the brown, richly-colored cheeks, and
cast his rays apon forms beautiful Ia
their strength.
The windows Of the little church were
flaming with light. Within, clouds OF
inctn use arose, and the faint glimmer OF
the consecrated torches could scarcely
penetrate through the mist. A gantle
twilight prevailed the pedestal Of Saint
Lucia was so hidden by beautiful wreaths
AMI flowers that the saint looked ike
the queen of flowers herself The belieg-
ing multitude fell upon their knees, as
the priest with extended arms, gave the
blessing ; then resonnd4d the Ktrse ellie
son +" from the lofty, concealed choir of
the pious nuns. How softly flowed the
voices down, how glorious, how eIeva,ing
was this serious air OF the maestro Pales-
trina! The chief melody steps so majes-
ticalIy and clearly through the charming
wreath of entwined Voices, they seek to
cover. 10 envelop, to drown it-but com
quereJ, humbiy withdraw, and at last
unite in a soft accompaniment to the glo-
rious whole. The quivering souls Of the
listeners rejoiciDgiy mount upon mighty
pitions to heaven, then sink with n pleas
ing ssduess-as though held by gentle,
invisible chains of h,wers-to earth.
Then arose suddenly in the Gloria" a
soprano voice, whose astonishing volume
reused the multitude from their sweet
reverie. 1t had q penetrating clearness
almost piercing in its purity and over,
wheIming in its power. It had no aim
ity, nor did it mingie with the other vol
ces solitary, woadrous, full and high, i,
swelled throughout the church.
a In the Gredon it Was silent, another
voice took its place but at the conclu.
sion, in the touching Z Agaas Der and
"Dona nobis pacem," it pierced anew
like a shining, highly snarpened spear
used to victory-through the dense veil
of incense. No emotion trembled in it
it was a voice alike without either age OF
sex "a voice which gave the impression
that it had ever been and would ever re-
main Interchangeable.
The people were much moved. " Holy
Msris,D murmured an old woman, THAI
was not the voice Of a human being +
She hastily crossed herself, and prayed
softly. Her frightened, black-haired
neighbor nodded assent, and repeated
the words to a man who knelt beside her
who with fiery g~lances strove in vain tt
penetrate through the grating Of the
choir.
The mass vas over. The women for
sock the church ia violent emotion i; the
men shock their heads !: every one spoke
Of the magic sounds !; but none knew til.
name of the hidden singer. The torches
were ex,inguished and exuberant tia
lian springday brought forge,fulBess q
doubts, ~terrors, aud superstitions.
On the following day, when the laugh
ing, beaming Italian morniag looked with
loving eyes into the little church, it wa.
amazed to fnd already assembled there
vast multitude. Every face was tarnee
with an expression of strained expecta
ton towards the choir, from which tbs
Hora sounded. The enigmatical voice
again Hoated over them, and the heart o
every listener palpitated anew with a
mixture Of joy, anxiety and awe. Sud
denly a young woman. trembling with
emotion, exclaimed, Holy Queen O
Heaven. see the wonder Mari. assis,
as, it is a child that sings Behind The
grating the delicate form of a little cir
about ten years old was seen, from whose
opened lips proceeded the wopdrous tones
Tue child appeared to have sharply cut
regular features ; but her figure was al
yet undeveloped, and a transparent pale
ness covered her youthful cheeks. The
excitement of the multitude increased
hourly after this discovery daily crowd.
made pilgrimages early and late to the
convent in order to Iieat the singular lit
tie singer whose voice could be recogniz
ed even in the fullest choir. Its fame new
Throughout the whole n%eighborhood, il
wandered evea to Rome. and the visitors
thropged ever more and more to listen t.
the masses said in the convent of Sain,
Lucia.