The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1874-07-19

u erighsest Of diadems, suffering and sorroy
and 90 conform 10 10 the Life Of HIS son. or
allow the sunshine Of His love 10 play arcun
IT, he who has won this conquest is q bray
man before God, he is the trus warrior, and hi
victory 10 more glorious by far than the tr
umphs OF Cesar or Alexander.
Our Lady's Knight, though good and cour
ageons, had not reached that sublime heigh
yot human wishes and desires, human love O
glory and OF fame, clung to him strongly an
dimmed the brightness of beautiful soul
When these should be conquered and trample,
under foot, the true warrior of Jesus Chris
would be ready for his reward
But the struggle would be long and painfu
before this was accomplished, and Gods swee
will fulfilled in this dear SOUL
When he was considered well, he had Ger
tain portion of labor given to him, and it was tt
work in the gardens and help in the cultivation
OF flowers. Life was not then quite so unen
durable he liked the hours spent out in the
| orisht sunshine amidst the beauty of blossoms
ana trees. There were even times when he
forgot that he was captive and while the
sun shone and the perfumed breeze sighed
around MIN, he sang again the sweet simple
stories that had charmed the lion hearted king.
one day there came to his cell the great chief
solymon himself; he wished to arrange about
the ransom. 1t was q heavy sum he asked.
amounting to what would be now over five
thousand dollars in gold. Our Ladv,s Kniobt
answered him cheerfully, for he knew the
gentle mother in that far off home would raise
IL ioe hin'' even should she sell the last jewel
IN her case and the last inch of ground belong.
ing to the Helde.
At first his face flushed when he stood in the
presence OF the man who had treacherously
slain his gallant father. Fer one moment oply
his strong young figure trembled, and his
hands were tightly clenched. 1t was temp
tation, for the old chief was there in his cell
alone ; but the christian murmured to himself
prayer, and the dark thought fell away be-
fore the sweet names of Jesus and Mary.
1t was no easy task, when the Saracen chief
had left him, and sent to him roll of parob.
ment, to write to that gentle mother at home
the history of all that happened; to tell her
that his martial hopes of glory and high re-
nown had ended in q captive's cell, and that
for life he must remain there, unless she could |
send this heavy ransom, the raising of which
would impoverish her SO greatly.
Ills mother did not value the parchment any
me less for the bitter tears that had fallen
lpon it. Not one word was said to Bertrand
u how it should be sent, or how the ransom
would be conveyed. But when it was taken
rom his hands, he felt new hope in his heart.
nd he sang that evening sweetly and clearly
mong the howefs-so sweetly and clearly
hat the Saracen's daughter Solyma overheard
i'm, and asked who was the captive with a
oice more musical than that of the bulbul.
They told her it was one of her fathers pris-
ners, brave young knight who had won
reat fame in the Christian camp. They could
OF tell his name save that it was Bertrand,
nd he was known as Our Lady's knight. On
Is blue shield he carried a stainless lily, and
9 was always singing the praises of Mary his
ueen.
Alb, and still more: in his cell he had a cross
laoe OF TWO pieces of wood on the wall with
10 own hanos ne mad designed pure lily, and
noer tne cross there hung picture of beau- {
fnl and gracious Lady, whose face was more t
've'y than the sun, and in her arms she held . .
iietle Chlid. VINO 1t was they did not know; t
u' underneath her feet, in small letters of o
DID, was written the name of Mary, and .
olym ma murmured over and over again to her. il
'lf that wondrously sweet name. o
Nothing then, would please the saracen's Ii
aughter but she must see this Christian h
night. One evening, when he was at work a
nong the flowers, she, with her maidens. +
ent into the garden, and there she saw the o.
mely noble young knight who was 80 h
rangely to influence her life. She said no
ord to him, but something in the pure face fl
10 gazed upon filled her with wonder, and she h
ought much about him, and how dearly he o.
we'd Mary his Queen. y
Bertrand had been some time prisoner be. pl
re- he saw any of the Christian captives. "
leir labor was harder than his. But one ee
'rning early he saw them chained and led To to
'rk. His heart sickened at the sight s,mo To-
re young as himself, others gray-haired and s; OF
'ble For some there was hope of ransom oW
Others all hope had fed. All, if his mother wi
onid be sick-if she should fail in raising Oh
heavy sum demanded-then his fate wonIG
even worse than theirs. du
Vh,1C /