The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-11-21
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY II, 1858.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY IL, 1895.
On Thursday, February 11th, 1858, Nine.
Soubirous allowed her daughter to sally ont,
in company with her young sister Mary, and o
little girl of one of the neighbors they were
going to the torrent near the Massabeille rocks
for the purpose of gathering any refuse wood
which might be lying around. Bsrnadette
wore poor dress of coarse, black wool, all
patched her head was enveloped in that
pretty Golf, named capalet, in use among the
peasantry of the Pyrenees. Bernadette's was OF
pure, white wool it fell gracefully over her
shoulders, and protected them from the chill.
ness of the air.
OF 60 the three children-it was about
half past eleven-laughing and chatting gaily
on the way. Half an hour afterwards they
were at work on the town lots, bordering on
the torrent, directly opposite the grotto. The
cold was pretty sharp, the sky was clondy, but
not the slightest breath of wind disturbed
the motionless air.
Bernadette was o few steps behind Less
lucky than her two companions, shc had not
met with the smallest twig of dry wood. The
former had passed over the bed of the mill
| canal mentioned above; only o meagre
stream it was at this moment. They had
crossed with naked feet Whilst putting on
their sabots, they cried ont to Bernadette that
the water was icy.
Delicate as she was, and weakened by her
| asthma, poor Bernadette hesitated to wet her
feet ~ don't dare to get into the water" an
swered she, "my cough is too bad" Neverthe-
| less, after a few moments she decided to risk
it. Supporting herself on q large stone, she
began to get ready. A sudden noise, as of q
her to lift her head and to look around.
Strange! Not leaf trembled on the taperiuR
poplars that lined the banks of the torrent.
~ must hare been dreaming :" muttered the
astonished child; and again she leaned down
to bare her feet. Bat, 10! the mysterious
noise is heard anew; it seems now to coDfine
itself to the grotto. BernRdette raises her
head, casts glance before her. She at
tempts to scream aloud, emotion chokes the
sound. Struck with amszement at the sight
which greets her, and trembling in every
limb, she instnctively sinks to the earth on
her knees.
A wonderful apparition stands before her,
within the shadow of the grotto, in the recess
of the niche.
At this very moment the sounds of the An
gelus bells came from every quarter, floating
musically through the Silly air, over the hill
sides and meadows of Lourdes.-
THE FIRST APPARITIoN.
In the midst Of dazzling light, cleaning
with the intensity of the suns MONDAY
splendor, but without it's binding glare, there
appeared before the child lady of incompa-
rable beauty. She was of ordinary size. The
charming fresh ness of maidenhoOd was dffused
l. -bnla Che VA clothad
in q long white robS, blasing with q slvery
brightness, and of a texture unknown to hu-
man skill. An azure girdle encircled the
waist. A veil, similar in material to the dress,
shrouded tho head and shoulders, and fell in
many folds to the ground. The feet, of viz
ginal whiteness, seemed to rest on the wild
briar bush. Two roses, luminous with gold |
like glitter, shone on the upper portion of the |
Lady's feet. The two hands were held Joined |
before the breast, in the attitude OF ferVent |
prayer. From the Olasped fingers hung long |
rosary, with beads Of snowy whiteneSs, and /
chain of pure gold: to it was attached large
golden cross.
The counteDsncs of the APparition was Of
nuspeaksble beauty. Upon it was mirroEed
the impress of peace, innocence, bounty, ma
jesty. The brow was one of marvellous at
traction !; the eyes, Of q deep ky-blue, beamed
With \ mild eHoIgence, that melted the heart
of Beruadette. Upon the lips played smile
of heavenly tenderness and mansuetude.
Here was nothing vague and vaPOry; no
illnsioD. The child beheld living
reality. That body, though glOriacd, was
still body, thing Of life and action.
Out of herself with wonder, Basnadests
could scarcely trust her eyes. TIE beautiful
Lady smiled upon her EraoiOuSly With gen
tie Eave Of the hand, and . slisht inclInatiOu-I