The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-07-28

him there in company with brass CANDLE
stick four feet high, which stood on the
floor with candle in it two feet high, and
a wick half an inch thick and two inches
long, The bed was eight feet square and
five feet high, with huge canopy and
heavy curtains and there was ladder to
ascend by. The young traveller had re-
freshing nights rest, and before daylight
he was on his way. The lady had little
sleep, and spent most of the night in re-
volving in her mind thought after thought.
In the morning she rose earlier than was
her custom, and went to the balcony to
watch for the coming of her chaplain.
lie came at last and as soon as she
could discern him in the distance,-his
form bent with age, his steps slow and
tottering, his eyes evidently dim, his hand
leaning upon a cane and occasionally using
it to feel the way-her heart burned with
indignation. "The scoundrel ~ said she,
the old scoundrelp' But wonder wheth-
er he will dare to say mass p
| When he approached nearer, and was
preparing to cross on the draw-bridge, she
could with the naked eye count every
patch on his garment. "And with that
robe on too that robe, every part of which,
by the innumerable patches which it bears,
stands as a witness of his abominable sins
But must prevent that. l must not per-
nit such horrible proclamation of the
holiest ordinance of our religion"
So she went rapidly down stairs, and
met the father at the door of the sacristy,
going to prepare for mass by putting on
the priestly garments, "Holy Father"
said she, elf this expression is not mock
cry, perceive that you are not in fit
condition to say mass. Return to your
convent and tell your superior that re-
quest him to send in your place another
priest more worthy than you"
AT these words of his penitent ordinarily
so docile, pronounced in tone of voice so
different from those to which he had been
accustomed to hear her employ, the old
ascetic at first felt his heart dsmayed and
his mind dizzy. But he soon recovered the
balance of his thoughts and of his feelings,
voluntary humiliation to be met unprepared
for any insult that this world might still
have in store for him. So he answered
with meek voice, tremulous through age
but not through evil conscience, "Your
ladyship is very right. You are very right
my child. God knows that am a poor
sinner, very unworthy to say mass. l
trust the Reverend Father Superior will
send you priest worther than II
So he resumed his way toward the con-
vent in the same manner as he came.
When he reached it, he went to the cell of
the superior, asked his benediction, and
delivered his message without comment.
The superior, supposing that he had been
overtaken by some scruple of conscience
just before saying mass, spoke to him en-
couragingly, saying, cit will be well, my
son. God is merciful to us sinners. Go to
your cell and pray. l will come after
while and hear your confession"
The old father went to his cell /; and the
superior began to think within himself,
But whom shall l find to send now, if
Father Anselm is not holy enough There
is none holier than he, unless it be perhaps
Father Romuald. So he sent orders to
Father Romuald to go to the castle to say
mass instead of Father Anselm.
The lady of the castle had been all this
time on her balcony waiting to see whom
the superior would send to her. At last
Father Romuald came, walking slower than
his colleague, for he was older, and having
his garment, if possible, more full of patch
es, for he was, if possible, holier. This
sight was too much for the lady. She did
not even give him time to get into the
castle, but sent him orders by page to
return to the convent, and tell the superior
that she would write for further explana-
tion. She Immediately went to her writing
desk, and began to write two letters. The
first was as follows:
"To the Reverend Father Superior of
the Capuchin Convent
"REvEREND FATHER.-The salvation
of our soul being the principal thing, it is
of the utmost Importance for us to intrust
our spiritual direction to none but the
worthiest hands. AS you do not happen
to have in your convent any holier men
than the Reverend Fathers Anselm and
Romuald, / shall henceforth dispense with
the ministrations of your order"
The second letter read as follows
"To the Reverend Father Superior of
the Carmelite Convent.
REVEREND FATHER.-I am anxious to