The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-10-18

ing"
The stranger drew a small tablet from
under bis robe, and seemed to be abou
writing his name suddenly he approache,
near, drew simply line. AS he looket
up, he perceived the old woman lookin,
intently upon it.
"Look, mother" said he smiling, Scans
thou read that name Z"
She fixed on him a steady look. .sMy
eyes, replied she, fare dim with age, anC
never was taught your Greek letters bu
can read your face"
"And what dost thou read there 2"
"That which my master is seeking
Truth.
'.Dost thou think I am looking for it al
the bottom of we'll Z" said the stranger,
smiling.
"Ab, J" replied she, changing at once her
air and manner into one of wild sublimity.
-"thou art not born to look down upon it.
but up, up ~ and she raised her hand and
pointed upwards.
cart thou a soothsayer, good mother ~
said the youth, with reverence.
Who" replied she with solemnity,
'sthat has lived to see the raven hair turn
to snow,-wbo that has watched the sap.
ling as it grew into the sturdy oak, and has
heheld generation after generation swept
away,-who that has seen all this, and yet
stands blasted and alone, is not a sooth-
sayer All, young master, age and sor
row have tue gilt of reading the future by
the past"
"Thou canst number many years 2" said
the youth iuquiripgly.
She shook her head.-"I have outliVed
all that" said she.-.'I count not by years
know not how many times the winter
has come round life has been one long
winter to me-"
"May ask" said the stranger with in.
creasing interest, "if you are Greek 2"
~ am of no nation, of no country" re-
Piled she 81 was once g Persian"
The stranger at once comprehended that
che might have been torn az q captive from
her native land for the bloody laurels of
Asia were yet fresh upon Alexander's
young brow-and he hastily changed a sub
painful feelings.
"My Grand to Rhodes was to see Prote-
genes" said he 81 cannot depart without
an interview"
The old woman arose, and going towards
the lattice looked at the sun az it was fast
sinking into the ocean. "He will be here
directly, if You win have brief patience"
said she. This information rather seemed
to hasten the youth away for he immedia-
tely disappeared.
When Protogepes returned, the old wo-
man said to him, "There has been strang-
er ipQuiripg for the master of the house,"
"What name did he leave 7" said Pro
tog genes: :, -.,,,,., .,,.. ar.
he has written it yonder on the panel"
ProtOgenes drew near, and looked earn
estly at the line. Suddenly taking his pen
Gil, he drew another under it.---------------
"He is we'll acquainted with the name of
said the old woman, ."it needs
not be written. He will be here to. morrow
ut the tenth hour"
al shall not be at home at that hour"
replied the master "when he comes, show
him this" and he pointed to the second
inc.
The next morning, as the old woman saw
Protcgenes go ont, "Ah well !" she ex
claimed, how can age calculate upon the
caprice of yonth / could bave sworn this ,
vas an hour he would be at home"
Again the stranger made his appearance.
1T is not my fault" said she, ''that Pro-
Ogenes seeks the morning air but he has ,
written his name under thine"
The stranger stood before the panel, and I
,a1ed attentively upon it. Then seizing i
mother pencil he drew a third line. g
Farewell" said the youth, as he quilted 9
he dwelling. Protogenes returned i'm l
nediatedly after his visitor had departed.
He again approached the panel, and OBJ
erved the new character inscribed there
1t is he" be exclaimed, "I knew it could
Q no other !" 1
"It is not WE'LL" said the old woman.
to have thy panel thus defaced )" and she
0Ok piece of pumice stone with the in
entiOn of erasing the lines. u
"Not for q thousand worlds J" exclaimed j.
le artist, motionipg her away, while he
TODD gazing as if enraptured. "It will go
own to prosperity. Woman, if all the b.
'easures of thine own PeTsepolis, with =
very monument of Grecian art, were heap {
4 upon thee, thou couldst not purchase
lob line as that u; and were the whole
rcle of immortal sciences at thy command.
lou cOuldet not draw it. But come, if af
ou hast any of the gifts of thy magic, m Ia
me aud divine the name of this stranger" RI
lara slowly approached the panel. "Thou an
TIC not let me rub it out z" said she in tn
liringly.
stNot for the throne of Alexander" said ~ ~
San empire conld not replace it," 70
stln tF0tl. shen, will read it TO thee
pslies af Geo.