The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-08-03
From the Catholic World.
A N c. T L A
TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF
CONRAD Won LANDEN.
CHAPTER II.
The Weather-C Cross.


CHAPTER II.
The Weather Cross.
tContinued)
An old man with D load Of wood on his
ehoulders Game up to the place. Breathing
heavily, be threw down the wood and wiped
the sweat from his face He saw the stranger
and respectfully touched his cap as he sat down
Frank went to him.
"You are from salingen, I suppose" he be-
sa"niY Yes sir."
at is very hard for an old man like you to
carry such load so far"
ut 10 indeed. but I am poor and must do it,
old man, his coarse shoes, his stockingiess feet,
and meagre body, and felt compassion for him.
80 For us poor people the earth bears but
thstles and thorns~ After q pause, the old
man continued, I've have to undergo many
tribulatiens and difficulties. and sometimes we
even suffer from hunger. But thus it is in the
world. The good God will reward us in the
These words sounded strangely TO Richard
Raised as he was in the midst Of wealth. and
x without contact with poverty, he had never
and now the resignation of the old man. and
his hope in tho future seemed strange to him
de was astonished that religion could have
such power-so great and strong-to comfort
FORTRESS life. o''' WIN
,. but what if your hope in another world
The old man looked at him with astopish-
ment "'''''"
SLOW can 1 be deoeived' God is faithful
He keeps his promises."
And what has he promised ouw
Eternal s happiness if persevere, patient
wonder at your strong faith p
1t is my sole possession on earth What
would support Ms poor people what would
keep us from despair if religion did not :"
Frank put his hand into his pocket
q" Here" said he. 81 Derhapa fbi. ,,,,o.x ~,
relieve your wants." VIII
The old man looked at the bright tbalers in
ms hand. and the tears trckled down his
This is too much, sir; Cannot receive six
thalers from you"
" That is but trihe for me put It in vour
pocket and say no more about it,"
May God reward and bless you thousand
times for it,"
"What does that cross indicate ~
"That is n weather cross, SIR We bave 81
great deal of bad weather to fear. We have
frequent storms here in summer they hang
over the mountain and rage terribly. Every
ravine becomes a torrent that dashes over The
fields, hurting rocks and sand from the noun
tain. Our fields are desolated and DESTROYED,
Inc people Of salingen placed that cross there
against the weather. In spring the wbole
community come here in procession and prav
God to protect Thorn from the storms
aacnaro renecoed on this phenomenon; the
confidence OF these simple people in the nro
lection Of God, whose 6mnipotence must In
tervene between the remorseless elemental and |
their victims, appeared to him as the highest |
degree Of simplicity. Bot he kept his thoughts
to himself, for he respected the religious senti.
ments OF the old man, and would not hurt his |
feelings. no
And the Virgin, Why is she therePu
All ! that is . wonderful story, sir" he nm.
swered apparently wishing to evade an expla-
Which every one ought not to kpow."
Well-but perhaps the gentleman wonld
laugh, and wonid not like that!"
why do you think 1 would laugh at the
Because you are a gentleman of quality.
ana ana IRON the oity, and such people do not be.
This observation of rustic sincerity was mot
Pleasing to Frank. 1t expressed the opinion that
the higher olasses ignore faith in the super
81, III promise you not to laugh, will you
II will; you were kind to me, and YOU can
S ask the eS story of mo. About thirty years ago."
= wealthy farmer at Salingen whose name was
SoheDck. Schenck was young. He married
E1ch maiden aud thereby increased his prop.
did not like to work and look after his f.lds | !
ac let his servants do as they pleased, and a
nie Heids were, Of course, badly worked and t
~ sI1a NO T.; more ore tnan half crop Schenck
5iaye6 cards and dice Almost every night be =
anne home drunk. Then he would Quarrel
' Hasn niS VIE, Eh9 FeproSGhed hfn He abused Il
bout tho room, and behaved vefy badly aitasI II
ether. SehsnGk sank lower and lower. and nj
ecaneat last great sot; His property was "
oon squandered. He sold one piece after au- o,
ther, and when he had no moro property to
ell, he took it into his head to sell himself TO {"
ne devil for money. He went one night to a "
IosS;road and called the devil, but the devil ii
Sonld not come; perhaps because SGhenck be.
THngSo 70 him already, for the Scripture says, tl
a 1Ea'd cannot enter tho kingdom of an
;" AT last suit was brought against to
IN ana Cne last of his property was sold and
Q e. ae driven from his home. This hurt at
q very much; for he always had a GER
u NJ AlHo or PRIDE. He thought of the past w;
ow ne bad lost all respect with his neieGboIs. ON
9 tnonRht OF his wife and his four children
nom ne pad made poor and miserable. All
- Sh0'o MN 20 despair. He determined to Of