The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-06-06
( ,rning Star and Catholic Messenger.
Y @'""S @~<>5>~~>-S-->-~~~~-~~--
So 0PJ,TAH, sUNbAY. JUNE, 9. isys.i
IFrou the San Francisco Monitor.f
TUE TEAR-CLEANsED SCROLL a.

NE"
IRON the San Francisco Monieor.fF
THE TEAR-CLEANSED SCROLL
An. Lat. I pray 70. to q legend oiden-
4 ou.ipt, sweet story of the ages golden f
Rehe arsed In rudest rhyme
Vet hide the tale Q teaching pure and tenaer'
rhst bids each heart . fearful tribute renoer
Fen in colder time
The avesome midnight silent. 6ark and solemn.
HANG over stately street and arch and column
n In the prond oity's heart,
i've where the solve star" sereneiy shining.
lowed the now Bethlehem Of Loves enshrining.
Lone, hidden and apart.
hsre .oftest nurmurs broke the silence holy.
sbr grayrobed monks were bowed in worship lowIy
a Within that radiance dim;
FhiIe calmly slept the worldly throng unheeding
khro' the lone midnight their blended pleading
And sweetly chanted hymn.
be strain was hushed in sudden fear and wonder
Vide few the door, its fast'ning wrenched asunder
By ferce and frenzied blow;
giant man stood, framed within the portal:
ou rent he seemed with anguish more than mortal
With wild supernal woe.
Haste Father Abbot, ere sink unshraven,
= vision dread my sonl hath well nigh riven
Its prison walls Of olayl"
lhs Abbot rose-"I come. my son. to hear thee,
- patient. brethren. tbs case, I fear me-
81 That win not brock delay"
Ssy. Father. here let all my sins be spoken
b thus with shame the naughty spirit broken.
And crushed tho stubborn will.
bid were my crimes, and loud be their revealing;
Dc canoer-wound must needs have sharpest healing
To save from deadier ILL.,"
Do sinner knelt In establishment lowly.
I'd told his woes before those watchers holy.
Sooth. twas . fearful tale,
u foul, 30 dark that picture. penanoe-paintea,
ell might those simple hearts, by guilt untaiI ted
With shudd'ring horror quail.
hat horror ch anged to reverence deep and tender
hat kneeling form seemed garlanded with sllendor.
And by iss side they saw
~ figure fair, robed in dazzling whiteness
their could bear the Tabor brightness
That illei their souls with awe.
The crimson wreath. like ruby Jewels cleaning, r
Showed whore that brow, now thus divinely beaming
thorny garland wore;
&Ope wounded hand bestowed it's tender blessing,
Ind one unto His Sacred Heart seemed pressiBg
The open scroll it bore.
And that scroll the list of foul transgression,
AT each clear word Of penitent confession,
Waxed ever faint and dim,
sril every line Of that dismal tracing,
by Loves command and Sorrows skill effacing
Fled from the record grim.
And when, at last the woful tale was spoken.
IA nd died the voice In sobbing murmurs broken,
The gemmed brow bent above,
IThe nalrent hand received the teardrops shining,
With fondest the priceless pearls enshrining
Within its clasp of love.
per the dark list it poured the rain of brightness,
Till all one CLEAN of fair resplendent wilderness
Was now that dismal scroll;
And then they knew, those JOY full watchers holy.
How oontrite tears and reimbursement lowly
Had cleansed that guilty soul.
lsAid not rightly Of this legend olden-
his quaint, sweet story of the ages goldsn-N
Though told In rudest rhyme,
Reveals 1t not teaching pure and tender,
That bids each heart fearful tribute render
Zen in our colder timei
ph, grant me, Lord, such gift of true contrition
: Md be thou near, my ssul's benign physician,
To soothe its SICILY fears;
with Thy dear hand blot out say dismal story,
1 oodinR its record with the cleaning glory
OF my rePen tant tears. MARIE
Having beard the above legend related by an elc
auent Paulist Father. during OF their recent mid
ions in this city, and being much struck with tn
beautiful lesson therein contained have attempted
fudely enough-to render into rhyme this sweet ant
ender etory of the Ages of Faith. NJ