The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1874-07-19
@emIng Star and Catholic Messenger.
HEw ORLEANS. SUNDAY. JULY 10. ls74.

bly, went with tho incest portion and offered
TO tho Holy Child. One could have fauci
Our Lady smiled as these gifts were laid at Il
feet Of her Son.
On this beautiful summers evening tho bt
played till he was tired then no crept to b
mothers knee, and looked over the illum
nations In the manuscript. Mrs. Talbot WE
reading the story of st. George of England
and there was picture of the knightly Sair
in his armor.
There, mamma" cried the child " that
now see papa in my dreams-that is how h
looked when he started for the Holy Land.
too must be q knight"
"You shall be knight, if you wish )" replied
his mother. "What will you be-a knight of
st. George"
No." said Bertrand al shall be 'OuI
Lady's Knight care for other title. Fol
my shield will have stainless lilly on a field
OF blue am not worthy to carry the image
OF the Queen Of Heaven on my banner, but the
lily is her emblem, and it shall be my PRIDE"
Then you will want to go to the Holy Wars,
Bertrandi" said his mother. -
"Yes," was the blithe reply. ~ must be q
crusader, and you, mother, must take care of
the Heldc, and pray for me as you prayed for
my father before me-"
"Your father was slain by saracen chief"
the lady said-" wealthy and powerful man
who lives near Damascus. What should you
do, my son, If ever he fell into your handsfD
"Dop said the child hastily "why, kill
him, as he killed my father"
"Wonld that revenge be worthy of Our
Lady's knight ~ she asked.
In war;" murmured the boy-' it is all
different in I
enemy who offended me; but that saracen
cog who slew my father, could not forgive
him"
Yesterday" said the lady gently, "I read
TO you tho history of the men who murdered
St. stephen. Do you remember his prayerT
Yes" he said thoughtfully.
s-Do you think, !" continued his mother, "that |
when Our Lady prayed for pardon forr.an men |
she said, Except for those who murdered nv |
SOM"
"No," replied the boy I am sure sbe did
not"
"And if you call yourself Our Lady's
knight, who must you initiate Z"
"Our Lady herself" replied the child. "Ah. !
mamma sec all you mean. If go to the
holy Land, and the saracen who slew my
Eesnef should fall into my power, will pardon |
him, and show him Christians revenge
"This is my brave noble boy" said the lady.
You may never reach Palestine; you may
never see the man who is your enemy; but if
you do 80, do not forget the promise you have
made this fair summer evening""
II will not" replied the child. And then be
left his mothers side; for che had turned from
him. and lifted her calm face to the sweet
evening sky, while her lips moved rapidly in
prayer.
From that time the boy 8 destiny was settled.
no grew rapidly. He was strong and healthy.
gifted with wonderful strength and quickness.
de studied deeply all knghtly lore. He could
ade the widest horses, and with the sword. p,
no dagger and the orossbow he could do won
lers. - 4
His mothers eyes fingered lovingly on his
'omely young face. There was in it the !
'trength of brave warrior the tenderness of
woman, and the purity of child. At times
Vhen ne lay sleeping she would kneel by him
no pray. All, we know how good mothers l
ray for their sons. She never asked for h
iches or honors to be given to this her idol v
eco ooy she never asked for talent or genius o
Aef one prayer was, that her son might have v
race 10 save his soul that in this life he
aignt 90 and suffer as God willed; but that, a
S-A-S "Aop "oolu, ner son should win for him.
elf the kingdom Of heaven.
He was not softly and delicately reared, this a
hild whose life was one longing after the 8
loly Land. His fare was coarse and simple. T
10 was better satisfied with a goblet of clear Fl
rater from the cool we'll than with the richest a
nd most costly wine. Body and soul, he was r
aimed to be true Catholic knight t.
1t was proud day for his mother when he, c
kH,n r
don, received the order of knighthood-a G.
Toud day. although he was going from her, b
nd her home would be desolate without him,
no hour came when she kissed his comely face A
'r tho last time, when she clasped him in her fe
rms, and prayed God to bless her son. ="
CHAPTER H.
At was on one of the brightest of days that hi
% young knight set out for the Holy Land.
roudly enough did the gallant feet sail over til
70 sunny seas. Bright and beautiful were the yo
Ih.kn