The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-04-16

VIM WAC DOhB AND FAhAL1ZED.
! On Saturday, the 18th of July, 1868, about
excited public sympathy at Lourdes. Two
| strangers were carrying chair through the
| streets, each holding it with one hand. On
the chair boy of fifteen was seated, resting
| his arms around the neck of the bearers. One
| of these men was his father. The boy could
scarcely sit up, his head shook, his paralyzed
limbs swung helplessly as he was carried along.
Where were they going Every one at Lourdes
guessed. "They are going to the gro:to,"
people said. Poor child poor fatheri
they are going to that grotto where despair
ing misery is won't to hasten; whittier the
Blessed Virgin attracts, because she loves to
manifestthere the power of her mercy. .
This boy, Jean Puoheou, was originally from
Gouze, in Lager. district of Orthez, tBasses
Pyrenees). He had always been of q quiet,
gentle, amiable disposition. For nearly two
years past his health had been failing. He had
felt q strange and unconquerable aversion to
his ordinary food. He grew visibly thinner
and his weakness became extreme.
On Easter Sunday, the 18th of April, 1868,
before Vespers, Jean, who was standing at the
time, fell down in a faint. His mother took
him in her arms and laid him on the bed.
From that time the poor boy was little more
than corpse. His withered limbs refused to
carry him his head shook without his having
tanned their power according to his fathers
expression, all his limbs were disjointed."
He had to be carried as when he was in the
cradle. In this sad state he became heavy
burden to his parents, whose only means of
support was their daily toll. Either his father
OF mother had to keep continual watch over
him. He could not stay in bed all day, and he
was placed on little straw chair but it WAS
impossible for him to hold himself up. He was
bent double, and some had to sit beside
him to support him.
One day the sick boys face assumed astrange
expression His mouth opened he seemed as if
trying to speak there came from his throat
only hard, husky breath. His tongue was
suddenly gathered up in his mouth. Poor
child already paraly zed, he became dumb.
His PARENTS were heart broken. He was
their eldest son he had always been most
kind and stfrctionate. The worthy people had
neither laud, nor house, nor trade the father
simply farm laborer his wife had never
learned any thing but house work. The
younger boy, now of an age to support himself
soon to be hired cut as servant. The
future looked very gloomy. However, he had
not lost his reason. Jean could communicate
with his parents by signs and deep breaths, by
which he attracted their attention. But his
dumbness afflicted his parents very much,
made the care of him still more difficult, and
rendered heavier q charge already so burden.
some. The sick boy often suffered from acute
pains in his stomach. When they became very
great, he felt them go up through his body
even to his head. The pain in his head made
him forget everything else 1t was then
pitiful to see him. His loud and painful
breathing the only complaint possible for him
to make grieved the hearts of his parents.
Not knowing what to do to relieve his pain, be
struck his forehead with his clenched fists. If
the attack lasted long ne WOuIo put MS nBnO |
on his breast with sings of distress, and point |
towards his bed. They would Immediately |
take him and lay him on it. He would remain |
motionless, with CLOSED eyes, breathing huskily, |
his mouth half open, for ten or twelve minutes; |
then, coming to himself, he would point to the |
arm chair, where they would place him once
more. This happened once OF twice every day
From the manner of the physician who
visited him, the parents were persuaded that
he knew nothing about this strange and ter
rible disease, and that he had not the slightest
hope of saving the boy. The mother had pre-
pared the shroud for his burial which every
one thought was near. This species of agony
lasted more than three months.
Towards the end of June the boy often called
them by his loud breathing and began to make
very animated gestures which Poz1'ed his
parents. He madea Sign for something far of,
which they could not guess then, he made
with his arms as is sprinkling
" alter, showed the action of drinking Joined
his hands as if praying fervently, and, with
extraordinary viva0ity, he pointed to his legs,
initiating the movement of walking, then
moved his lips as in speaking. During this
he showed an inexplicable joy. His
parents, who interpreted his wants and his
day, were bewildered by these
mpOtent manifestations of ideas unknown to
hem. When, after having attentively followed
his movements, they said TO him: 81 do not
the boy was grieved and seemed
discouraged. The father and mother
,ften asked themselves what it OOuld be that
The dear child wanted.
One dMv after A renowRI of Shfs painful !