The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1876-04-02

ment of bis pontificate, at his first solemn en-
trance into the cathedral, the concourse had
been great hat his life was In peril. Some
gentlem sn who were near him, drew their
swords to keep back and alarm the crowd
Sncb was the rude violence Of the times, that
even in the general disposition to do honor to
their archbishop, they were on the point of
crushing him: and this defence would not
have been sufficient, il two priests, OF great
vigor and presence of mind had not raised
him in their arms, and carried him from the
church door to the foot of the great altar. His
very first entrance into the church, therefore,
might be recorded amidst his pastoral labors,
and the dangers he had run.
Entering the church, the cardinal advanced
to the altar, and after having prayed some
time, he addressed, as was his custom, some
words to the people, on his love for them, on
his desire for their salvation, and how they
should dispose their minds for the duties Of
the morrow. He then withdrew to the house
of the curate, and among other questions
which he put to him. he Intercepted him
with regard to the character and conduct Of
Repzo. Don Abbondio replied that he was
rather oholeric and obstinate: but as the
cardinal made more special and precise en-
quiries, he was Obliged to confess that he was
an honest, peaceable youth, and even he him.
self could ret comprehend how he had COM
mitted at Milan the conduct which had been
imputed to him,
"As to tho young girl" continued tho car
dinal, edo you think she can return now with
safety to her housef'
"At present." replied Don A6bondio, "she
can come and remain for while / say, at
present, but," added he with q sigh, your il
lustrious lordship should be always near at
hand"
God is always present." said the cardinal
"But will use my Efforts to secure place OF
saf fsty for her"
Before Diminishing Don Abbondio. he ordered
him to ssnd litter, on the folio wing day, for
Lucy and her III other.
DON Abbondio went away quite pleased that
the cardinal had talked to hun of the young
couple, without even all udiug to his refusal to
marry them. "He knows nothing of it," said
he F.; agnes has kept silence wondsrful She
will see him again, tbs true, but she shall have
further instructions from me, 80 she Shall" He
little thought, poor man, that Frederick had
only deferred the enquiry until he h0nld have
moro leisure to learn the reasons of his con-
duct.
But the solioituds of the good prelate for
the disposal of Lucy had been rendered use
less. by . circumstance which We will relate.
The two females had as far possible re-
der the roof of tho tailor, their usual manner
of life. As she had done at the monastery,
Lucy, in q small chamber apart employed
herself in sewing and Agnes, keeping much
daughter. Their con yersations were affection.
ate and sorrowful both were prepared for Q
separation, since the sheep could not dwell in
the neighborhood of the wolf. Bat how long
was this separation to continue 7 The future
was dark and inexplicable, but Agnes, not
wthstandng, was full of agreeable ansicipa-
tiop. After ALL" said she, IF no irreparRble
misfortune has befsllen Renzo, we shall soon
hear from him. Ii he has found employment,
(snd who can doubt it y and if he keeps the
faith he has sworn to you, why cannot we 60
aud live with him 7" Her daughter felt as much
sorrow in listening to her hopes as difficulty
in replying TO then. She still kept her secret
in her heart and although troubled at the
idea of coucealmeut with good O mother,
she was nevertheless restrained by a thousand
fears from comm nioating it. Her plans were,
| indeed, Very different from those of her mo
| ther, rather, she had none, having commit
| ted the ture into the hands of Providence
she therefore endeGvored to change tho sub
| ject, saying in general terms that her only hope
| was to be permanently re united to her mo
| ther.
'Do you know why yon feel thus = said
| Agnes; You have suffered SO much that il
| seems impossible to you that things can turn
ont happily. But let God work aud if-Let
| o ray of hope come-a siuGle ray, aud then we
| shall see that you will think differently"
| Lucy and her mother entertained q lively
| friendship for their kind hosts, which was
warmly reciprocated; and between whom car
| friendship exist more in its purity, than be-
tween the benefactor and the recipients of the
| benefit. when both have kind hearts! Agnes
especially, had long gossips with the mistress
of the house, and the tai or afforded them N uch
| amusement by his tales and moral discourses
at dinner particularly he had always some
| thing to relate of the sword of Roland, or oi
| the Fathers of the Thebaid.
| At some miles distance from the village there
dWelt n certain Don FerrAnte and Donna Pras
sede his wife; the latter was a woman of hie i
birth, somewhat advanced in age, aud exceed
inRly inclined to do good, which is surely the
most prasewortby employment one can be
engaged on in this world; but which, in.
dulked in without Judgment, may be rendered
hnrtfnl like all other good things. To do good
| we must have correct IDEAS of good in itse
considered, and this be acquired only by
control over our own hearts. Donna rrsssede
governed herself with her own ideas, as some
do with their friends she sd very few bat to
these shs was much attached Among these
few were a number unfortunately little mar
row and unreasonable. and they " ere not those
she loved the leas'. Thence it happerei that
she reg arded things as good, which were not
really 80, and that she used means which were
calculated to promote the very opposite of til at
which she Intended. To this perversion of her
intellect may also bs attributed the fact that
she esteemed all measures to be lawful to her
| who was bent on the performance of duty Ia
short, with good intentions, her moral percep-
! lions were in no small degree distor ted Hear.
ing the wonderful story Of Lucy she was seized
! with desire to know her, aud Immediately
sent her carriage for the mother and daughter.
Lucy, having no desire to go, requested the
| tailor to fad some excuse for her. If they had
| been common people who desired to make her
acquaintance, the tailor would willingly have
rendered her the service, but under sneb cir