The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-05-19
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.NO.:44;.

'7i2 --7l ii .sy" o:;E ~ !. - :'-"-.--9s
nj NO. A. z'>
..a -1...;2 uo,!.:n ycb-yt or,ti s::4..
;ly sonbihio'ial;: rh., creeping 'eT, -,
II,ad shades gave I'it,aa tone and ,effae..
llto 'dthe pa.is.tty scene. L: z1,a, Indoor.
! th' fires ri v.rre aariDs' ~ and crack
Ing, and presently the church bell
came r7nging up tbs street in 1ery
} sweet tintliog tones, calling the Wills
gers to the salut, or evening" service.
The peaceful twilight prayers, coming
At tho close Of the days work, seem to
sanet,ty to silence the busy cares of the
long noisy hours-to absolve, to tran
quilise before the darkness OF tho
might. :':'| e:
! The bell tolled on-the cure left his
house and walked through his wild
overgrown wilderness to the ve.t;ary.
Poor little Catherine, who had been
fitting along the hedge of the great
field, heard it too. She had walked
till she was weary, then she bsd rested
till her heart grew 20 sad that sh.
could not sit still, and she jumped up
again and walked to Arey without
stopping, and without purpose, and
then came back along the Gifts and
across into the fields. She v,s weary
Of pain; she felt ~ if she had no !
strength, loft 10 bear, or even to suffer
Or - repent; abe dragged on, utterly
worn and dispirited, holding one Or two
poppies in: her hand still With the
white drapery Of her dress. Cath.riue
was delicate and orderly person, aud
she held up her dren with: unconscious |
care, eysn when she was struggling in
the Slough Of Despond. 1t was indeed |
the Slough Of Dsspond for her. Al
vision of the future came before her 20 !
utterly unendurable, with = struggle !
between right, and duty, and wrong,
tor which she felt herself so united |
that she longed to lie down in the |
hard brown farrovs of the field and |
die, aud own herself vanquished, and
give up the fight, and struggle no long,
er.
I think it VA jnst then tho bell b.
gan to toll. It seemed like . sudde1 |
sympathy, and companionship, and
comfort to the poor thing. It turned
her thoughts, it gave her some present
object, for she began to walk in the
direction Of the church. She crossed
the brook, along which the figures were
coming, with the great glowing west At
their backs. She turned up tho quiet
and Of the villsgs; and followed N. 10
Cure at 4 distance IS he led = the way
through the back court Of the church
into which the vestry opens d =; aud the
side door near the siter of St. Joseph
was where the poor little heart-petition
was offered mp for strength. and help,
and peace: 81 "
! Cssharine saw the people prostraae
oil about. She knew what passionate
prayers some Of them were praying.
There was poor Therese Fouruier,
whose little girl was dying. There was
Joseph Leroux, who had cruel trouble
in his ihome: aud then presently Ms-
dame Fontaiue caught sight Of some
one kueeling on = low straw chair, and
che recognized her husband, although |
his face was buried in his hands.
It was very quiet aud solemn. Very |
few Of rs can come in to an evening
service untouched or unsoftened. To
many it il but the contrast Of the day.
light and the candles which makes the
scono impressive. But some of us !
must BE- content 70 b dashed BY . can
die in this wsrld, ts-msasurs the suas
light by:a tapsrs fame. In this naa's, !
candles srs shining at the high alter,
which seem bright enough for . tine {: !
only whsa ths5serviee Is: over and the
/ prayen are ended shall W CONS out in
TO ths:opea sir, and shall our eyes be-
hold the faahonlegs waSss of the mighty
light os heaven.
Cathariae, who Was worn out aad ex-
haustsd, i sank into the chair in hsr
dim corner, srstsfal for ease aftsr her
pain. She was no longer feeling
much 4 sort OF calm hsd come after
l::ths ssnr.. TIE priests voice ceased at-
tsrilG, the ehoriatsrs vsre silent, the
Nv III iies tss sndsd, and people rose from
tthsir knees, took up their baskets and
ashbsellas-eos old woman slanI o. hse
kotss again-ead thsy III xeAts svay'
fCathasisss nsehaaiesAy kisd "a; sseaps
b. tho aids door .throsgh !kAish shs
had ept1red. Her chief troubles in
life had dome from tho timidity and
want Of courage and trust ID hsrself.
She did not kaew Why she vas tying
from her husband now-from poor
Foataias, who also had besa Offering
up bis p.titions. He prayed for bis
mothers: rheumatism he prayed for =
blessing upon his wife aud child; for
Cathazins's eeayersioa and happiness;
for little mose calm and rsposs It
hone in the chalet for little gavety
even, if possible. Foataine did: not
Ike TO- ssk fortoo. much At once ): and