The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-02-01
THE CROSS THROUGH LOVE
LOVE THROUGH TIE CROSS.

Mahelcth Cristalar was the daughter of n
Spanish jew: Her father had once been very
wealthy, and indeed until the age of sixteen
she had lived in princely splendor. The
beauties of her Spanish home were very dear
to her; she had many friends, and as much
time as she cheese to spend in study.
But ono day, her mother, stately, han some
matron, came into her little sitting room,
looking pale and worn.
tones, "w we have had some bad news this
morning. !! am afraid we in danger of
being totally ruined.
The young, girl looked up; she was very
beautiful, and the spiritual expression on her
face intensified and heightened her beauty in
unhappy about it 7"
happened through tho dishonesty of persons he
"shall we have to leave homer asked
Maheleth.
II fear we shall +; it is a heavy trial"
1t will be for our good in the end, mother
because you have always been used to riches ,
So have you, my poor child"
to root mp sapling than o full grown tree"
"Ah you hardly know what may be before
you, Maheleth your sisters are mere children ;
also friends will forsake us the shock will be
very Sudden, and We shall have to bear it
alone"
"You forget orr God" said the girl gently"
womans face.
eve do not hope for miracles now, child"
she answered; your father has worked hard
Tor his wealth, but God will not treat him as
he treated job"
depend upon it, if he does not mother
mine, it is because he knows what ia heat for
Us. You would not have us lose our hopes of
the hereafter for the sake of more or less COM
fort in the earthly presentW
MY child, you should have been n bow :.
such yipgs would tell we'll in q sermon Int
IN practical business matters they are but cold
comfort"
ooh! they are comfort sufficient, believe
me; besides, they do not debar us from prudent
measures and precautions in q temporal point
knew that; it remains to be seen if you can be
q stoic."
"What need of that, dear mother stoiosm
As not obedience nor resignation"
Hero q light step was heard and the half.
open door was pushed quickly back. A little
girl about nine years old, ran in with flushed
face, and, holding in her hands velvet
casket, cried out in gleefnl voice:
Shis in myself 1t has just come from the
jewellers, just as my father ordered it"
Aud she opened the casket displaying n
wonderful payMre of opals and diamonds,
exquisitely and artistically wrought Sonora
the child:
"Thamar, 1 am engaged; don't come foolinG
here about these Jewels; put them down, aud
go into the next room"
blankly at her sister. Maheleth reached out
her hand for the casket and half rose from her
seat.
81 will como to you presently, little sister,
if you wait in there never mind the pretty
gems just now"
And SO saying she kissed the little eyes that
were ready to overflow with childish tears and
setting the jewels on q table out of sight of her
mother, resumed her seat.
"There are the tirst-fruits of our oircumstan-
ces," said the mother bitterly. "The man
expects to be paid for those day, and shall
have TO tell him to take them backr
Come! if there were nothing worse than
hat! Now, mother, we will both go to my
ather, and pray together, and then consult
Imong ourselves"
Msheleth's father was very fond and very :
roud of his eldest daughter, and this indeed
7as his best trait. Shrewd and clever in t
'orldlY affairs, yet strictly honest in his .
ealings, he was not devoid of that hardness S
nat too often accompanies mercanti success, l
nd as oftens turns to weakness when that A
lcSess disappears. n
One thing seemed to sustain him, but 1t was b
lily hollow prop after all-his pride of race. L
Or generations his family had been we'll