The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-05-07

months, unable to stir. When wished to NOV,
my leg, called my wife or one of my littl.
children, who climbed up on the bed. Ny
suferings were excruoating. could at length
get up and move around with orutches, but
with great difficulty; I dragged myself around
slipping my feet along the ground.
My situation was cruel. We only lived by
our labor, and so many days lost. My wife
| gained ten francs month at the station; we
had three very small children. One day they
| asked for bread there was none; things had
come to that with us 1 felt worse for them
| than for my own sufferings. Charity came to
our aid. The priest gave me broth, and from
lime to time some forty sous pieces which were
always acceptable; the castle furnished us
with wood for the winter, and the station
master gave me bread for q long time; only for
that, what would have become of us! Ahl
suffered!
81 went out q little about three months ago.
friend, who read the Annas, told me of Oar
Lady of Lourdes, and of an old soldier who was
cured by bathing in the water of the grotto.
My comrades on the road said to mo- 'Jahard,
there is Supreme Being; you are unfortu-
nate; You must pray and go to Lourdes If
you have not confidence, do not go. But God
can do everything; have confidence, and then
go
"Before this, did not think Of God 1 did
not pray. But whom misfortune comes upon
one, he begins to remember. All this made me
reflect. 1 had hope, and began to pray to
God, aud we made our little children pray.
Sometimes got discouraged. 1T is not posi-
ble,' thought I; 'you will never be cured you
are condemned to misfortune.' Bot the good
thought came up again, and said to myself:
we know that there is Supreme Being; let
rs have confidence 1 determined to start
something told me: You will be oured'
For two or three days BEFORE l did nothing
but say Hail MaryS. At last set out. Every
one pitied me on the way to Lourdes. had
been given little money-a carriage took me
to the grotto.
~ PRAYED. thought, Tho little girl who
saw the Blessed Virgin was very happy that
will not happen to me; am not worthy of itp
wanted to put my poor feet in the water of
the grotto man helped mel was not able |
to take of my shoes. He held me while
plunged into the fountain Oh! how prayed
then! thought wonld leave my crutches
there. i felt, it may be. q slight relief, but |
al most nothing. That did not discourage me- |
said Well will come again. On seeing
81 had brought bottle of the water from |
Lonrdes. Before going to bed we put some in |
a vessel, and my wife bathed my fees with it.
You may believe that prayed; Whom this
began TO walk: could walk easily. / ex-
claimed: Wife, am Guredp Ny poor wife
stood there amazed. looking at me. At last
she said 'AhI poor Blessed virginl there are
some who will not believe in her. Oh! abe u
goodr And she began to cry with joy.
Then, 1 was 80 happy l said to her: i
No; I can walk as well as you.' carried my
and we set out. Ny wife said to
ne: Do you wish us 10 leave the children =
The Blessed Virgin will take care of themp
We arrived at our neighbors, 200 metres from
bur house, bad road They got up. Judge
# their surprisel You should have seen them! II
hem all drink a little of the water which 1 had
brought The next day reached the station
Of Lesponey without q stick 1 had walked o
good distance. On seeing me, the wife of the
8 Jahard be is walking! Oh this is q great
miracle! Every one was astopished. l went
.lonG the road. Ny comrades stared at me-
hey could not believe that it was 1 they said
o me: You did we'll to 60 to Lourdes, Jaf-
ard they may say what they like, there is a
supreme Being. Confidence is everything
zero 10 miracle.' promised to como and
'riDG my crutches; 1 have come now
Ny comrades all along the road congratu-
ated me. At Lourdes, when they saw me with
ny crutches in my hand, they said There 10
,afsrd carrying his crutches to the grotto.'
lot one eaid anything against it. The fTst
lme had been told that would do better to |
% to the hospital Of Vslence dARen, near my
lace, did not even listen I walked from the
own, carrying my cFutche6 in my hand.
suffer little yet; am not very active,
mt hope soon to be. Ny feet were enormous
the swelling is now gone from them. could i
ot bend by back ut All 1 was as stif a. Q (
iece Of wood. It is only y little while since |
athed in the fountain, and now can bend 10 {
be gound. Obi the Blessed Virgin has en- !
bled me TO earn q living and feed these little
hildren. Now am always praying, and my
rife and ], ! warrant you, need not Be told 70 1
Q our duty 90 good Christians. Oht will bo I I
ere n.s.ss-a1..s,