The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-05-06
From the Catholic worid.l
the BRIGAND'S G0D-CHILD.
\ LEGEND OF SPAIN.

Once upon time, as the legends say,
there lived in good old Spain poor
workman, to whom destiny had given
twelve children, aud nothing for them
to live upon. Now his wife was ex-
pecting thirteenth, and perhaps with
it would appear q fourteenth also, to
run about loved bat unclothed and un-
fed, as the others had before them. The.
bread was almost gone, work not to be
had, and the poor man, to hide his
sighs and his misery ronl the patient
partner of his misfortunes, wandered
far from home and into the woods, cali
he came to the ill-reputed cavern aud
stronghold Of the bandits.
He almost fell over their captain, and
CAME very near receiving sabre thrust
for his pains; but his extreme misery
made him no object for robbery, SO he
was simply catechised as to his eondi-
ton.
He told his story, which moved even
the brigand's heart to pity, and was in
vited to supper; bag of gold and n
fine horse were given him, and he wss
sent home with the assurance that, be
the newcomer boy or girl, the robber-
chief would stand as godfather. The
poor man, in ecstacy at such good for
tune, flew rather than rode to his we'll
filed dwelling, and arrived there just
in time to welcome number thirteen.
a boy! He gave his wife the money
and caress, and, although the night
was far advanced, mounted his charger
and gallOped back to the cave. The
brigand was astonished at his speedy
return, but true to his word appeared
within the neighboring church In the
disguise of a rich old gossip, made eve-
ry requisite promise for the newborn
babe, and disappeared leaving bag OF
golden crowns and another purse OF
gold.
The angels, however, claimed The
baby, and the briSands god-chiid fiew
To paradise on golden wings, and IN the
splendid swaddling- clothes that his
charity had provided forit.
st. Peter, porter at the gates celestial,
stirred himself to welcome the little
fellow to heaven; but no! ne would
not enter unless accompanied by his
-.
And who may he be?D asked st.
Peter:
Who responded the god-chiid;
- The chief of the brigands.p
My poor little innocent," said the
% Co,n ou n,f. n" h,,s no ,oass, ~rs ~" as a7~ nj
Coiie III youIsen pu' heaVeh "as hoe
haae tI ior s9ch as ne.
Inc cniiu SAT uowh oy the uoor re-
soiVed not 10 enter, anu planning inhis
Iittie nead All sorts oil schemes 10 ac
;0mpllsh hls purpose, when the Blessed
Mary passed that way.
"Why do you not enter, my angel:''
she said.
would be tngrateful," he answer
III, to partake of heavenly joys II my
sod-fatlG did not share them with
ne."
st. Peter interposed, and appealed to
he Holy Mother, saying:
If he had only been a wax-carrier
,ut this man, satan's own emissary-
An incarnate demon:
obber, healthy and robust, Who has
AIKEN every opportunity to dS MISCHIEF.
Holy Mother. could sucka thing be
hought OFF,
But the gOd-child Insisted. bent his
'retty blonde hea1 Joined his little
lands, fell on his knees. prayed and
veI,.,. The Virgih had COMMISSION ON
I'M and bringing a golden chaIicc from
he heavenly i;LIosure. said:
Take this go and seek your god
ather; tell hin that lie NAV come
Tith you to heaven 5but he must first
ii this cup with repentant tcars.u
Just then, iby the clear moonlight, -
epOsing on froqk, and fully armed,
ny the brigaind. In his dream his
agger tremblef in his hands. As he
woke, be sawnear his couch q beauti-
IL winged infant. With no fear of the
ivage man, 1t approached and pre-
.nted the golden chance. He rubbed
Is eyes, anu thought he still dreamed;
ut the infant angel reslssured him say
lg:
" No: it's not fancy. have come
invite thee to so with me. Leave
lis earth. am thy god-child, and I
Then the little fellow related his mar