The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-11-21
II.
BERNADETTA.

Marie Bernardo Sou birous, of Lourdes, whom
We shall call by her familiar name of Berna-
dette. was, in 1858, a small tiny girl of four
teen, 14sls indeed even among the little things
of this world. The life of her family was one
of incessant toll and strict sparing-pcnury
itselfswas no unfrequent guest beneath its
roof,
From her birth Bernadette seemed doomed
for an early grave. On the completion of her
fourteenth year, she was yet thin, diminutive
in size, sickly in constitution. In her cradle,
asthma seized upon her feeble lungs, and
fastened obstinately on them. She had been
brought up in the neighboring parish Of
Bartres, and the greater part of her childhood
was passed on the green hillocks which sur
round that village, keeping watch over little
flock of sheep.
This alone distinguished her from other
ordinary children-the exuberant frolicsome-
ness of early yoath was quenched in her by
the habitual oppression of her breathing.
But in that wretched child lay hidden a
treasure, over which God himself watched
with complacency her heart-pure with the
virginia. glow of un ntainted innocence. Artless,
extremely docile, very affeclionate, of an en-
gaging candor, she was the embodiment Of
guileless simplicity. Look, speech, counte-
nance; her very trait bespoke the Ingenious
ness of her soul. Her features were not of g
refned stamp, but they were mild, agreeable,
and foil of sym pathy. Her hair was jet black,
her eyes of lustrous brown, shone with u
subdued radiance beneath her pale brow.
She was fourteen, and she had not yet known
the bliss of q first communion but, in her
soul, her baptismal purity must have been
assuredly preserved in its integrity.
Sin, evil of any description, filed her with
horror fault committed in her presence
caused her exquisite suffering. Her sister,
younger than herself by three years, often re-
lates with emotions of tender respect, how
Bernadette let pass no occasion of reproaching
her with her distaste for prayer, her pevish-
ness, her over-bold manners.
During the evening prayer, made in COM
mon by the assembled household, the attitude
of Bernadette was ever respectful and COM
posed she used no support whilst kneeling;
every thing in her betokened piety and de-
votion.
She was ignorant of even the primary ele-
ments of learning but she knew we'll how
to recite her beads. Twas her only prayer
che had learnt no other. With her well-worn
chaplet cIasped in her hands, she would, fire.
quentIy during the day, address herself to the
Blessed Virgin Mary, whom she scarcely
knew, we may say, except by name. But the
Virgin Mother of NaEareth knew Bernsdette,
and loved and watched over her. Let Der
grow in years, in piety and meekness Mary
is waiting for her.
Bernadette must return to the Paternal
roof; she is to prepare for her first commu-
nion. One day previous to her departure, the
good priest, to whose pastoral care the parish
of Bsrtres was at this moment entrusted, met
her driving along her little Rock. The aspect
of innocent candor depicted on her face in
stantly struck him. He bowed to her with
species of religious reverence; and looking
after her when she had passed. he exclaimed,
''The children to whom the Blessed Virgin
appeared on the mountain Of La Salette, must
have been like that little girl" The worthy
priest knew not that in his words, there was
the shadow of q prophecy.