The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-14

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fear.
Sergeant Duchene stepped quickly to th'
door, caught me by the arm and put his hant
over my mouth.
care you crazy" he said
/ But was not to be overcome. Releasing
myself from his grasp, / continued to shout il
a tone Of despair ''the comet the comet r.
And then | heard the people descending
the stairs it sounded like torrent rushing
down the mountain side. In a few seconds
the hall was empty. Duchene left me.
took my stand at the window and watched the
people running up the street then followed
crazy with despair
Ia passing the refreshment saloon I saw
Catherine LagoHte VITA Corporal Bouquet
drinking bowl Of punch. ''Since all is g
end, they said, ''let Us end it we'll
Above many were seated on the steps con-
Tossing their sins to each other. One said, : 4
have been q usurey." Another. 81 have
sold false weight. Another, Il have cheated
at play Then they would al eXclaim ''c
Lord, lave pity on rs | recognized the
Old baker feyre and mother Lauriz. They
smote their breasts and prayed for mercy
But these things failed to interest me 1 Lal
sins enough ot my own to think about
BY this time | had overtaAen the fleeing
crowd; they all saw the comet. ! tonnd that
1t had doubled III size and was rapidly APP
preaching.
The crowd, with one accord. cried aloud :
60 Ii Is over: it is finished. q Lord II is fin
.shed, and we are lost = And the women in
voked the aid Of St. Joseph, st christopher.
s.. Nicholas and all the other saints ia the
calendar
thought Of every sin I hal committed
and was Mortified at the number. My limbs
grew cold when | thought OF the terrible end
OH n 7
old beggar Balthaz II standing near me, lean
ing on his crutch. | embraced him, saying
@ Balthazar, when you are in the bosom Of
Abraham you will pity me, will you not"
lie replied: = AIN great sinner, Master
Christian. For thirty years | have deceived
the community through love Of ldleness.
am not as lame rs they Think.
''And 1. Balthazar, | exclaimed, Il am
the greatest criminal in Hunebourg.'
This is but an indication OF how the world
will meet the final judgment. The king will
cling to the beggar in his fri9ht-the high
born to the low. There will be no false
brother. Fire will purify all, and the fear of
being burnt will make the heart tender.
Abolish the doctrine Of hell and there Will be
no more good Christians.
We had been on our knees some time when
Sergeant Duchene came up out of breath. He
had been to the arsenal and had returned by
the way Capucins.
well" he exclaimed, "what We're you
shouting about Just now !? :"
Then he perceived the comet.
1.-The devil, he said, ''what is that :
The end Of the world, Sergeant, replied
Balthazar.
1.-The end of the world"
"les, the comet.
Then he began to swear and, suddenly |
lrawing his sword, cried
Forward we must reconnoiter'
Every one admired his courage, and /, |
lrawn toward him by his audacity, Joined |
lin.
We walked softly, very softly, our eyes
stretched to their utmost, watching the comet,
which appeared to be approaching at the rate
If a thousand leagues d second.
Finally we reached the old Capuchin Con
eat, The comet appeared to be rising. The
learer We approached the higher it seemed to
scend, rutl Duchene was compelled to look
traight above him. /, about twenty steps in
he rear, SAY the comet on one side. | asked
)uchene if 1t was prudent 70 advance, wucn
e stopped and exclaimed, in a low voice
'';Sacre blue H. the lamp"
!" he lamp: | said drawing nearer, SIS It
ossible: And | regarded it IL wonder In
ruth it was the old lamp Of the Convent 1t
as never lit for the reason that the Capu-
hins left in 1892, and everybody in Hume
ourg retired at ni9htfall; but the old keeper
t the Convent, Burrhus, thinking that some
the jewellers might take a glass too much,
nd find it difficult to reach home, chartably
the old lamp and retired to the side Of his
ife
We clearly saw that it was the lamp. The
lex was as large as your thumb and when
lie wind blew the light grew brighter and 8
this gave it the appearance of an
lvancing comet Discovering my error |
arted off to apprise the people Of it, but the ,
rgeaut stopped me and said: Do you
ant them to tear you in pieces: If they dis
'ver that we have charged an old lamp and
IT a comet, we will have to fly the town At
ntion Y He broke an old rusty chain, the :,
mp fell with a loud crash and broke into .
ousand pieces. After this we ran home
ne others waited some time, but as the
met had disappeared, they gradually took ,
urage and retired.
The next day it was said that the prayers
Maria fTnck ayerted the threatened de- n
ructlon, and since that time she is more of
saint then ever. And this IS what happened >
the good little city OF Hunebourg. :