The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1870-04-03


heart. Without perhaps suspecting it, dear
BEL you have referred to the true cause of my
grief. You see me surrounded with every thing
| that can be desired to make one happy. 1have
DO wish that is not gratified as soon or even
before it is expressed, and yet am not salts
fed. feel that am not fulfilling the end for
! which have been created. The mental pow
ers, the intelligence, WITH. which God has en-
dowed us; the immortal principle within us
all, all, Isabel, indicate that we have higher
destiny than mere animal, or, indeed, mental
all have ever done has had no higher object
than present qualification. This world is all J.
have thought Of" 7
The solemnty, the deep fervour With which
attention of Miss Crawford, that some moments
elapsed before she thought of replying when
she hnsah said suppose then you intend join the
81 intend to give myself to God. Show me
His Church, fsabef, and shall be but too hap
py of the privilege You name to hesitate"
of the family of her friend, regarded her for a
moment with a look Of surprise, then said, II
thought your family were undivided on that
subject, Pauline: Would it not be the Church
81 know not, Bel; have there searched for
that after which my heart sighs but cannot
find it and yet it may be there"
thought flashed across her mind that her friend
might possibly be exercised upon the necessity
of o Liturgical service aud we'll knowing the
uNCOmpGOLlSInK DO6uuty Oh MT. S0WaIu 10 WOT.
ship God through the medium of Liturgy,
however excellent, thought she had now some
clue to Pauline's sadness, and observed, "Noth-
ing could be more beautiful and perfect than
our faith and mode Of worship, Pauline; per-
haps you might obtain smong us the consola-
tion you seek. If You think so, what pleasure
would it not afford me 70 assitt yon in an in
teryiew with our worthy pastor"
81 have sought it there, also dear Isabel !;
and equally without avail. And have sought
it where there was the faiptest shadow of hope
<I~-A -
same result. An almost audible voice always
says "Seek God in the Holy Catholic Church."
pauline, has religion turned yonr brain 2"
'fNO, Isabel, on the contrary though op-
pressed, never was more collected. An in
ward monitor impels me forward, and if knew
how to obey it's mandate, feel that should
once more be happy"
"Tben you are going to turn controversial
list, suppose"
81 am going to seek God"
"If you knew as much as do, Pauline you
"Tell me, dear Bel, all you know, and l will
bless you with my latest BREATH" said the ar
dent inquirer, u ray of hope frightened her
beautiful features, and a sweet but transient
smile curved her trembling lips.
"Pauline, did yOn know they were dark, de-
signing, and cnnningf Did you know that
they rob God of the worship due to Him alone,
sg ha
the very commandments of that God by max
ing and bowling down to images of wood, of
stone, OF silver, ana OF go1dT
"Isabel, if but one of those awful things
that you have named be true, it would be
enough, yes, more than enough to convince me
that God is not there to be found"
Leave the proof to me, Pauline and though
am no theologian, / will convince you of every
word have said, and much that is still more
dreadful"
Miss Seward had fully experienced the truth
of the proverb, Hope deferred sickens the
soul" Three long, weary years had she been
seeking the knowledge which now seemed al
most within her grasp. During that long
period she had kept her own secret. Except
ing her father, no one had the most distant
idea of the true cause of a depression which
was at times too marked to escape observation.
power to break what he termed the spell of the
demon of superstition that tormented her.
And finding that the object of his travels was
not likely to result as he desired, he hastened
homeward, determining if possible to destroy
it, by forcing his daughter into gay and fash
ionable society. His first brilliant effort had
been made, and though Pauline had acquitted
herself with her accustomed dignity and grace,
her sorrowing soul still breathed its plant in
secret. But here beams ray of hope. Her
friend comes to dispel the ray of sadness to her
mind by assisting her to knowledge on the sub
ject, whose mysteries she sought to have un-
folded; and although it may be deemed
mournful kind of comfort, which sought to de-
stroy her dearest hopes of attaining to the
knowledge of God; yet anything relating to it
was hailed by her as one step nearer its COM
rletion. Therefore it was that Miss Crawford
needed not to repeat her request to win smile,
and though it was given glistening amidst
many tear drops, it arose from the depths OF
her fervent heart, and those tears flowed from
the fount of joy, prospective joy, prompted by
the hope that she should yet be happy. Miss
Crawford took her leave. The clock
struck twelve as Pauline sat supping her coffee,
and the bell of neighboring church tolled the
Angelus She had an underlined impression that
it was for PRAYER, and dismiss the servant
she knelt, scarcely know ng why she should he
prompted to such an act, simpIy because she