The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1873-08-31

| tion Tor her-shame for myself; aDd also tb
Certainty that my views of women must be re-
| stricted."
He bad scarcely written down these thoughts
when he bit impatiently the pen between hi
| ave must not be hasty in our judgmehts
he wrote further. +" Perhaps it is my ignoranc c,
of the depth of the human heart that cause
currences in tho Siegwart family.
Perhaps it is o Kind of stupidity Of mind
an unrefned feeling, a frivolous perception o.
ss%ps s s ss ss sa
up. Angela may conceal beneath the lowell
| ness of her nature characteristics aud failing.
which may justify my opinion of the sex, not
With q peculiar stubbornness which strug.
| giles TO maintain favorite conviction, he clos
cd the diary.
On the second day after Eliza's death, the
body was consigned to the earth. Frank fol.
wed the diminutive cofhn, which was carried
by fonr little girls dressed in white. The
| their heads and blue silk ribbons about their
waists, the ends of which hung down.
After +; these ;t foiioTsd oS band Of girls also
fixed in their hair, and in their bands they car.
ried large wreath Of evergreens and roses.
The whole community followed the procession
"a proof OF the great respect the proprietor
enjoyed among his neighbors. Siegwart's man
ner was'quiet, but his eyes were inflamed. AS
the coffin was lowered into the ground, the
larks sang in the air. aud the birds in the
with the not plaintive but joyful melodies
which were Sung by choir of little girls. The
church ceremonies, like nature, breathed joy
and triumph, much to Richards astonishment
He did not understand how these songs of
gladness and festive costumes could be recon-
ciled with the open grave. He believed that
the feelings OF the mourners must be hurt by
all this. He remained with the family at the
grave till the little mound was smoothed and
finished above it. The people scattered over
the graveyard, and knelt praying before the
Eliza's resting-place, and the girls placed the
large wreath on the little mound. Siegwart
spoke words Of consolation to his wife as lie
conducted her s.;, to the carriage Angela sunk
grave. Richard approached and offered her
his arm. The carriage proceeded toward Sa.
lingen and stopped before the church, whose
was Richard surprised at the joyful melody of
the church hymns. The organ pealed forth as
on festival. Even the priest at the altar did
unfamiliar with the deep spirit of the Catholic
liturgy, could not understand this singular fu-
neral service.
After service the family returned. Frank
sat opposite to Angela, who vas very sad, but
in no way depressed. He even thong ght he saw
now and then the light of peculiar joy in her
oountenance. Madame Siegwart could not
succeed in overcoming her maternal sorrow.
Her tears burst forth anew, and her husband
consoled her with tender words.
Frank strove to divert Angela from her sad
thoughts. As he though it would not be in
good taste to speak Of ordinary matters, he
rial. 'O'' '0 ~ - '00 ' '''' '''''''
Your sister" said he " was inferred with
q solemnity which excited my surprise, and, I
confess, my disapprobation. Not u single
hymn of sorrow was sung, either at the grave
or in the church. Ono would not believe that
those white clad girls with wreaths of flowers
on their heads were carrying the soulless body |
of IL beloved being to the grave. The whole |
character of the funeral was that of rejoicing. |
How is this. Fraulien Angela; is that the GUS
tom here 7"
She looked at him somewhat astonshcd.
" That is the custom in the whole Catholic
Church." she replied. "At the burial Of chill
dron she excludes all sadness; and for that
reason masses of requiem in black vestments
are never said for them but masses of the an
gels in white"
Do you not think the custom is in contra
dlction to the sentiments of nature-to the
feelings of those who remain ~
=" Yes, believe so. she answered TRANQUILITY.
. Human nature grieves about many things
These words sounded engmaticllly to Rich
lrd,
AZ do not comprehend the meaning of your
words, Fraulein Angela"
" Grief at the death of relative is proper
or u.s. because a beloved person has been ta-
zen from our midst. But tho church, on the I
ontrary, rejoces because an innocent, pure
oul has reached the goal after which we all
trive-eternal happiness. You see, Herr t
frank, that the church considers the departure
u u Cnllu from JnlS wOrlu from u more exalted |
'ont Of view, aud comprehends it in IA more q
piritual sense, than the natural affection. @
While the heart grows weak with sadness, the t
hurch teaches us that Eliza is happy; that
ho has gone before US, and that wo will be
eparatcd from her but for n short tine that @
between us there is Il spirtual union which is q
'ased on the communion of saints. Faith t
caches me that Eliza, rescued from all atc- q
ions and disappointments, is happy in the l
iinGdom of the blessed. If 1 could call her t
,ack, would not do it; for this desire springs Il
rom egotism, which can make sacrifices to
ove" T.
Her eyes were full of tears as she said these I
asst words. But that peculiar joy which Rich IA
'rd had before observed, and the meaning of 8
which he now understood, again lighted up t
Ter countenance. He leaned back in the car
iage, and was forced to admit that the reli- +
cus conception of death was very consoliug,
Ven grand, when compared with that con il
option which modern enlightenme mt has of it. Il
The carriage moved slowly through the s.
lent courtyard, which lay as gloomy under p
he clouds as though it had put on mourning
IT the dead. The chickens sat huddled to- "
ether i'll 4 corner, their heads sadly dropping o
ven the garrnlous sparrows were silent, and o.
nuh hn l,,.x,