The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-12-13
Leaves from tho Annals Of the Holy Childhood.

Leaves from tho Annals Of the holy Childhood.
In the last mum Der of the "Anpals of the
Holy Childhood" we find come passages OF
rare and very great interest, a few of which
we will place before our readers for their
edifcation and instruction. Amongst the
contents of the present number are three
very interesting letters from Hindostan by
Father Trincal, S. j., in the first of which
we find the following touching account of
the conversion of a heather
s'In this village of Oapont, there was an
old heather who bad lent a deaf ear to the
voice of God. Providence used singular
Of fifteen, an only son. who was baptized
with his fathers consent. The child took
the name of Louis at baptism, which name,
translated into the language of the country,
becomes Gnanapragassans. On his return
home after the ceremony, Louis told his
father his new name, requesting him not
to call him any more by his former name,
which was that of an idol. The father
promised to do so, but he had some diff
Guilty to recollect and even to pronounce
the long name Of Gnanapragassans. Con-
sequently the old name always came back
to his lips, in spite of his promise. The
boy waited patiently for awhile, but. per-
better, he resolved to make no answer
| when called by his pagan name. The oc-
casion soon presented itself. He was work
ing in the garden when his father called
him. No answer. The call was re-
peated louder, but in vain. The man aP'
| not deaf, but call me by my true name
| ooh cannot remember yoar queer name ;
| is not the one / gave you at your birth
good enoughf' NO, father; to a Chris
| tan, Christian name ia necessary. You
cannot recollect it because you are pagan.
it without difficulty. But, il you neither re-
tain my name nor be converted, declare to
you will leave the house. And then.
| when you die, who will be chief mOurner
You may depend upon it, it will not be
your son. Never shall take the RENAME
yard Tho father deemed it likely
that his son would execute his shreas
The fear Of being separated from
him moved him so effectually that on the
very day he repaired to the church with
the Christians. He received Instructions
that congregation. Now both father ane
son are happy"
In Father Trincal's second letter the fol
flowing is related:
"In one of the villages some ten families
to work to construct a small 0ratory, bu
the spot was rather narrow. Behind Their
YVES an eminence On which had formerl.
been placed an idol in granite, now al
black and greasy, by reason OF the OF
lpouged on il for many generations. 1t wa
!,no longer needed Yet they left it there
7 know not whether L must say ont OF re
ispectr fear, or compassion. The cntechIs
who Instructed them proposed to level thl
! eminenee, and thus to enlarge the groun'
fer the chapel. At this proposal our con
ysrts locked at one another, end nobod.
had the courage to begin the operation
Their instructor, nowise Disconnected, aV
allied hinself Of their absence daring DIN
ner to call the hoys together, and, showing
the m, the hillock and the statue of the oil
serpent, said to them, Let as denaolieS al
this No sooner said than doae. I'll
larger lads take up the pickaxes, and th
: little ones dig with their hands. The moan
flies into dust. Old Nick tumbiss dow
.. head foremost into q deep hole dug in fYen
of hia, the hole rs Siled up, and the Il, BOY
, dance over it With all their might. Whe'
the men retarned, all was over. The.
built their chapel, and, on the precise sPe
where stood the DEVILS image, is now 81
ected an altay on which 1 offer the Hob
| Sacrifice, whea. on visit to these ChTfa
tians."
These two. extracts will servo TO- sbe
i, how Thoroughly our holy missionaries sO'
, coed in imbuisg the minds Of the histat
} children with the love of religion and IL
true spirie of faith. And whaa is, gOlag 6
, | In Hindostau 10 going on with more as Ii
, similarity in all the heasben oosatsri'
where our zealose missionaries arc a. WOl
3 planting the vineyard of the lord.