Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-11-09
Father Paul.

The fisherman's wife went down to watch
Her husbands boat come in from the sea;
One baby lay at rest on mothers breast,
Another little one stood at her knee;
And they said, "Good even'," to Father Paul,
Reading his book by the old church wall.
His eyes, they followed them over the sand
Over the sand and down to the sea-
"Oh, never a woman in all the world
Will lull nly babe to her breast" sighed he;
"Mea clalpa :" moaned Father Paul;
"To wear serge and sandal is not ALL
Afar the CLINT of the isherman's sail
Caught Rosabeps eyes as she went to prayers,
"Ah, happy" said she, "the woman must be
Whojo and woe with her loved ons shares !
Would that boat sailed over the sea
Freighted as that boat is for me-"
Father Paul, b., the Convent wall,
Striving to read, striving to pray,
Saw with his heart, if not with his eyes,
What woman it was that came that way;
ooh, the heart is a SNARE" sighed Father Paul.
"And Satan tempteth us, one and ALL"
Father Confessor he sat in his chair;
Penitent knelt she upon her knee; ...
"The purest angels in all the skies
Might have more sin to confess than She"
Thus to himself said Father Paul,
Thus to hmself-aud it was not all.
He put the crucifx into her hand
Into her hand as she knelt at his knee,
"Thou hast not stolen? Thou hast not lied;
L,r+ I;,rI,to L. LaII -.
For this he must say, young Father Paul,
To kneeling penitents, one and all.
And to each and all of the things he said
Ofthe things he asked, as she knelt at his knee
The girl said, NO p yet her golden head
Lower and lower in shame bowed she.
"Then thou must tell me- sighed Father Paul,
"Whether thou hast done wrong at all"
Then in the silence one could hear
The silence that lay between the two,
The monastery bell ring out,
Frightened the swallows, as home they flew.
Daughter" he whispered, "tell me all"
She made no answer to Father Paul
Rung the bells on the twilight air,
Lengthened the shade at the Convent wall;
Silently still the girl knet there
Knelt at the feet ofFather Paul.
Not a word no; a word, not a word was said
But his young hand rested upon her head.
"Hast thou coveted aught:" said Father Paul,
As he saw the fisherman's wife go by,
Cuddling her babe in her knotted shawl,
Lulled by the Groom ofa lullaby.
at needeth our Lords grace most of all
To coyet nothing" said Father Paul.
She saw the fisherman kiss his wife,
And toss the urchin, who crowed with glee,
And under her lashes the hot tears crept,
"Oh, am a sinner of sinners" said she;
"Ihave coveted that, oh, Father Paul,
Which is Heavens only, and Heavens ALL"
'Is it the treasures our Golfers hold,
Or the gems on the shrine OF Our Lady fair,
Or the cups and flagons Of beaten gold,
Or the pearls that CLEAN in the Virgins hair,
Or the lands of our Church, ," asked Father Paul
"Or aught that our Church her own can call :"
"Oh, l am a sinner of sinners 3" said she;
"Oh, am evil beyond compare!
A heart has turned from this weary world,
And 1 TO covet that pare heart dare
It's love is given 70 things divine,
And l, a woman, would have it mine :"
She could not look up into his eyes,
But he heard the throb other frightened hear
And saw the flush to her forehead rise,
Where the pale gold tresses fell apart;
And his own hearts trembling told him all
She would have hidden from Father Paul.
"Chid, thou art holer thanI;
Nearer thy bosom the angels come,
Oh, soul SO Pure can never lie;
Life's hottest things are hearth and home
Holier far than the granite wall
Of monkish prison" said Father Paul
| And he did not kiss her, as often do
Father confessors, upon the brow;
On her mouth, his mouth, to kisses new,
Showered kisses warmer for that. trow;
And may God judge US, my love, for al
| Though the priesthood ban u.s." said Father Pau
The monks Of the monastery tell
How one midsummer eve, in wORan's guise,
At the ringing of the vestry bell,
Satan gave them = sad surprise,
/ And bore from the shade Of their sacred wall
Their best loved brother, young Father Paul.
But far away, under other skies,
Midst yellow waving Of golden grain,
A Aomestcad's happy walls arise,
Where love and plenty hold blissful reign;
| And him who is master of it all
His wife calls tenderly, Father Paul"