The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-08-23

OSn to ascend the deep nurIOw ravinc, than
20 felt the keen cutting wind blowing
reached the two little, low roofs of the win
ter refugees, halfway up, our hands could
hardly feel the brides of the mules.
We mounted up and up among the green
and yellow lichcn covered rocks-amons
the patches of snow, and beneath the high
bare mountains, too elevated to have any
other covering save snow-and still we saw
no signs of the convent. l grew impatient
to be told ut least about where it was.
1--WE shall not see the convent till we
are close to it," said my guide. alt is
uuitc at the top Of the pass, in Il sort of
BASIN"
But ut last, just as the sun was sending
Dale yellow slanting light over all the scene,
we turned n corner, and there, at the top OF
n short steep bit of mule track, stood the
wcll-known building which has such a
world celebrity.
stands the strong pointed building with its
rows of tiny windows.
There is not tree or rock in it's lmme-
diate vicinity there it stands alone, thanked
on ore side by the low roof OF the Mnrguc,
and on the other by a high narrow building
used as a store house. 1t looked strange,
weird, unlike anything we had ever seen
before, in the pale, cold, yellow fiSht-so
silent, SO dead, l might almost have said, If
there had not been before us the solitary
figure of one of the good Fathers, who, re-
turning from his constitutional i'll his walk
ing costume of shovel-hat and knee
brooches, stood looking back on the guests
he saw arriving.
We all felt very stiff and numbed on DO
ing lifted off our mules, and were glad to
hear the bell ring, and he told by our men
that it was for the guests to go and be re-
ceived and conducted to their rooms.
We traversed the long low granite pas
sage and mounted some stone steps, and
found ourselves IN the presence of a young
monk, with very pleasant face, dressed i'll
n long black gown with a white girdle, and
square-topped cap.
He bowed graciously and affably, seemed
pleased we could talk French, asked us if
we thought many more travellers were
coming that night; and then he LED the way
up stairs, and showed us into y long room
with wooden floor, ceiling, and panels,
where several beds were ranged along the
walls.
8. Would that room suit us = he asked.
"Did we mind being altogether Z"
"No.n
."That was good. In about half an hour
the dinner bell would ring" And then he
left us, bowling again.
Very soon a man-servant tapped at the
door to say that when we were ready dim
ner would be served; so we fastened down
to the large room which serves as the
guests dining and sitting-r room, where we
found o blazing log fire and about thirty
travellers assembled.
The dinner was a very simple one, but
quite sufficient for all purposes of sustain
ment, marvelOusly good when one con
siders the immense distance every article
must be carried either by men or mules
We had two dishes of meat and potatoes;
afterward came boiled rice and stewed
prunes, with nuts for dessert. The rim OF
dinaire was brought in in little barrels, and
came, suspect, from the Italian side of the
pass.
l was so fortunate as to be placed at din
ner by the side of the young Frerc Infrmer,
who chatted away with great good-nature,
telling all about their winter occupations
and amusements, and answering the
numerous questions rained upon him from
all sides of the table with obliging readi
ness.
After dinner we all gathered round the
fire, and then the Chanoine, Clavandier, or
Bursar, whose duty is to receive guests and
attend to all active management of the con-
vent, went round among the company en-
treating some one to sing. ,Unhapply no
one was able or willing to oblige him. In
vain he showed us the piano sent by the
themselves carried up from the canteen on
poles; in vain he entreated and besought,
saving that it was their greatest delight and
pleasure to hear a little music; no one
could be prevailed upon. Then, at last,
with great good nature, he cried:
"I believe it is a good example that is
needed most, after all; and he sat down
himself and sang simple little thing
about q beggar- girl, with a long plaintive
refrain. After that cups of tea were handed
round, and then we gathered about him
and he told us pitiful stories of how this
last winter a poor man, his wife, and her
baby was lost in the snow on the very path
we had come. 1t was early in the year,
and the snow did not seem very deep when
they left the canteen, anxious to secure a
bed and supper for nothing, if possible, at
the hospitable convent. But it was too late
in the day; the dark came quickly on, be-
wildering wind was blowing, and the poor
woman soon sank down unable to proceed;
her husband tried to push on for assistance,