The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-11-21
NUMBER AZ.

Of the head, she appeared to welcome her little
visitor.
The child rubs her eyes, shs 10 fully awake.
Instinctlvely she draws her beads from her
pocket and to guard herself from delusion. en-
deavors to mako the sign of the oross bat
her hand falls pcwerless by her side. A feeling
of indescrbable fear oreeps over her. Bat, ct
this moment, the Lady, with her right hand,
takes the cross Of her rosary, which hang
suspended over the left wrist, and slowly
signs herself with the symbol Of our salvatioa,
then with emile of unutterahle beniRnity,
she seems to say to the child; do % do.s
Bernadette now strives to initiate the action
of the vision; her arm has recovered its slaati-
city. The Lady joins her hands anew, and
commences to pass the grAins Of her chapIet
through her fingers Bsrnadetts recites her
beads.
Since a few moments her sister was looking
ct her. She saw her faoe overspread with .
deep pallor, her eyes Rxed on vacancy; she
noticed the double movement Of the arm, shs
observed her appearance, as of one absorbed in
intense prayer. "Well," said hsto her COM
psnion, "look ut Bernadette saying her pray
ers." "What fancy to come here to pray.
think tits enough to pray in church." replied
the other. "Bah let her alone: that 10 the
only thing she knows how to do"
They paid no further attention to Berna-
dette; but in order to warm themselves, away
they went running and jumping around, pick
ing up their little load of dried twiRs. Thus
did they busy themselves during the whole
time that Bernadette employed in saying her
beads.
Bernadstte, motionless on her knees, keeps
her eyes fixed upon that mysterious figure, so
mild and SO aniisble. With FsvishiDg sweet
ness, the Lady makes her sign to approach
nearer Bernadette, far from moving, scarcely
dsres to breathe. Finally, the Lady opens her
arms towards the child bows slightly, smiles
as if to bid farewell. Bernadette sees
but the cold, gray stone and the leafess Wild
briar, hears the gay laughter of her COM
panions-the heavenly vision bad vanished.
The Immaculate Virgin had withdrawn into
the mystery Of those realms, to pierce which
is not given to mortal eye in this world, except
By special dispensation of the bounty Of God.
Bernadette arose, hastily drew uf her sabotS,
crossed the canal, and coming to her COM
panions, exclaimed in a voice broken with
emotion: "Have you seen nothingT mo-"
replied the children, somewhat surprised. For
the moment Bernadette said nothing further.
The three children were soon on their way back
to town.
Prompted by natural curiosity, Mary
soubirous began to question her sister on her
eccen trio conduct at the grotto. Bernadetts,
unable to resist her opportunities, related all
that had occurred, but with the injunction of
keeping it secret. The mother heard Of the
affair she esteemed it all mere moonshine;
but fearing lest her daughter should be led
astray by some snare of the demon, ahe for
bade her to return to the grOtto. Bernadette
answered not word, but her little heart
swelled with grief During the evening
prayer, when she came 20 her fsvorite inVoca-
tion, 20 Mary, conceived without sin, pray for
US who have recourse to you," she burst into n
food Of tears. The dear child had not the
least thong that the Apparition of the Grotto
was, in any ways connected with her heavenly
mother. Bot how could she abandon the hope
of again seeing that beautiful Lady, who had
shown her such condescension: . reSistless
attraction towards the grottO spraDg up In her
bosom.
To be eontinuedl