The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-04-30
Anselm and tho Boys.

An Abbot, noted for his piety, came ono
day to the gentle Abselm, the greatest the
olORian of the eleventh century, and said,
The boys in our convent are worrying
the life out of me. We use the strictest
severity upon them, and yet they learn no.
thing. What are we to do with them
They are utterly perverse. We beat them
night and day, and they only get worse"
And you do not cease beating them +"
replied Anselm, whose fame in managing
young men was extended widely beyond
his monastery at Bee. "What do they
turn out when they grow upf"
ish."
"well. you have bad luck, if, with all
your pains in training them, you turn men
into brutes."
But what are We to dof In every way
use"
" Constrain them !" exclaimed the pro-
found thinker. "Tell me, my lord Abbot,
if you planted tree in your garden, and
tied it up on all sides SO that it could not
stretch forth it's branches, what sort of
gave it liberty to spread itself7 Would it
not be good for nothing, its limbs all
gnarled and tangledf And whose fault
but your own, who had put such constraint
upon It'll This is just what you do with
your boys. You plant them in the garden
VI
threats, terrors and blows. that they have
no freedom. Thus tied down, they collect
in their minds evil thoughts tangled like
thorns. They see nothing in you of love,
or good will, or tenderness towards them.
They cannot believe that you mean them
any. good. They attribute all you do to
dislike and i'll nature. For the love of
God, tell nue. why you are 80 harsh with
them. Are they not human beingsf"
Human enough, certainly"
Did you ever see a craftsman fashion a
fair image out of gold or silver by blows
alonef Does he not, with his tools, now
gently press and strike it, now with wise
art still more gently raise and shape it I
So, if you would mould your boys to good
you must, along with the stripes that are to
bend them down, lift them up and aid them
by fatherly kindness and gentleness."
"Ah," said the Abbot, i" what we try to
do is to force them into seriousness and
of character
You do WE'LL" replied Anselm, who
wished to see thoughtful aud oaken men,
e but If you give an infant solid food you
will choke it. Suit yourself to the weak
and to the strong. Lift these, and lead
those: Show to all cheerful encouragement,
and the fOrbearance of charity"
"Alas," sighed the Abbot, !" we have all
been wrong. The light of discretion hath
not shone on u.s."
Then, falling at Anselm's feet, as the
story is, he confessed his error, and prom
ised to amend it. ..,
When Anselm became prior of Rec, he
had an opportunity to illustrate his prin-
ciples of training the hayward and wilful.
Older inmates of the monastery whispered
their envy, and party was formed against
him. In it was young Osbem, who hated
the prior, and pursued him canine more,
=" with the savageness of dogs Auselm
saw that there was talent in him it was
worth while to win him and cure his OBJ
situate temper. He began by. showing lit.
tie acts of kindness, by entering into his
peculiar ways, by indulging him as far as
the rules would allow, by overlooking, or
ignoring many faults, and by Keeping up
an immovable good humor even under in
snlt. The iron will bent; the gold separa-
ted from the dress, aud imaged itself into
a more manly form in the Masters hauds.
The lad was enchanted 10y love to his teach
er. The attachment was strong; conf
dence was fixed.
Then Anselm gradually withdrew the
earlier induIgences, and put him under
strict discipline, ''pnntshiug him not ouiy
with words, bnt with stripes" Osbem
stood the test aud ripened under the mo-
nastic rigors.
Z" He will make good monk, and be a
great man." thought AHselm, "aHd he will
be- Of yalnnble service to the Church"