The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-02-27
Translated for the Morning Star from tho French OF
Mgr. de Segur.
THE WONDERS OF LOURDES.
lContinued.l
XVIII.
LITTLE PETER EsToURNEr.

LITTLE PETER ESToURNRT.
Estournet was q plump, chubby faced babe,
whose experience of life had but very recently
begun yet in this brief career, the little fell
low was afflicted with soreness in the eyes.
The mother did not bother her bead much
a5out the matter (; she considered it one of those
thousand and one ailings to which all suck
lings are subject. As she was one day carry
ing the child in her arms, doctor, an old
family friend, stopped her to take a peep at
master Peter. His eyes trouble him some
what, said che "What q fine boy you have"
exclaimed the good physician: "but what is this
eye afair {? let me have look" He examined
the state of the case attentively. After an
anxious scrutiny, he declared the result to
Nine. Estournet. Your child is becoming
blind"
The poor mother was thrown into conster-
nation. 'You are not in earnest; can it be
possible p The doctor answered her by lift
ing the eyelids of the child SO as to disclose
the seat of the evil. The pupils were in q
frightful condition ; they appeared TO be sim-
ply balls of flesh, Redeemed with O blood-like
color, and enveloped in q film of purulent
matter. Nine. Estournet returned home with
anguish in her soul A CLEAN of light sudden
II burst in upon the darkness Faith reanima-
ted hope the water of the grotto would save
the eyes of the child.
She nevertheless consulted another phyai-
Dian. "The case is serious, very serious" was
his decision. 1T is greatly to be feared that
sight will be destroyed remedies may come
too late. Why have you waited till this e1-
tremity :" ooh, my God I little suspected
this" sobbed the mother. A prescription is
committed to paper. Every day, upon the de-
seased part, was TO be poured q drop Of avery
active liquid compound, which would in o
short time eat away the tainted flesh.
Nine. Esrournet was possessed of rare deoi-
sion of character she was moreover q woman
of ardent, lively faith. She had soon deter
termined on the course to pursue. All her
confidence conferred in Mary. away with
medicines ! You, o Mary, you alone will cure
my son, by the water of the grottO." The doc
tors prescription was thrown into the fire.
She examined again the eyes of the child
they appeared to her in q truly lsmentable
condition she clearly saw the gravity Of the
evil. Trembling with fearful apprehensions,
she casts herself on her knees, before 8 statue
of Mary, and long and earnestly repeats her
prayer, "Oh cure him, cure him for me-"
With q tremulous hand, she lets few drops
of the miraculous water fell upon the eyes of
little Peter. The eyelid remains closed. She
begns to lose hope. ooh, he will not be cured;
no, no, it is not to be. am unworthy of q mi
racle"
She YVES in perfect fever of anxiety. After
q while, unable to control her impotence, she
snatches the child from his cradle, laves his
eyes anew with the miraculous liquid, and
then holds him up close to her own eyes, as if
the intensity of her longing case could force
ray from the depths of those decay
ing sockets. Her father-in-law, and member
Of the household were in the room. She
utters the name of the child, and |
fondles him, with all the endesring art of q |
mothers caresses, in order to draw from him |
an answering look. Peter slightly uncloses |
his eyelids, and languidly turns his head to-
" ards the side whence the voice came. "Alas |
alas he will be blind, }" moaned the despairing |
mother. "Not at all see, madame, he looks |
1T you" said the woman present. So great
was her trouble that she could not perceive it,
Nevertheless, her trust in Mary rose above her
fears confidence awaked afresh.
Three days rolled away. They were spent
in anguish and prayer. "Our Lady of Lourdes
Virgin of the GrOtto, cure my child" At
every instant, that wailing cry rose up from
her heart. Her lips never tired with repeat
ing the same earnest prayer.
The sole remedy employed consisted in q few
drops of the water, applied daily on the
stricken eyes. On the third day she had just
dried the lids, and wss examining them with