New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-05
The ChildheeA Of vsperable Bede.

Below 10 translation of passage foun,
among certain ancient Saxon manuscript
entitled "The Lives Of Holy Men" purport
ing to have been written by Father Gregor,
Gapeseed. should the extract fail to Civ,
satisfaction tho translator is willing to sub
init with humility to the charge of inca
pacity, if he can but be credited with {
laudable intent:
Venerable Bede 1.-THE name was originally
written Beadl, . native of London, was thu
youngest child Of very picus parents, and
the age of Eve years he regularly accompa
MED his parents, brothers and sisters te
church. So large . family naturally at
| tracted observation from the dwellers on
| the streets through which they passed, al
| ways in Indian file. On one occasion an
irreligi0us woman. seeing the family pass
ing under her window, remarked ir.
reverently: There goes . string Of
beads" immediately she became dumb
Her terrified friends sent for a
physician, but he could afford no re.
lief, and after she had remained in this
deplOrable state for week, her relatives
decided to seek counsel of the father of the
Venerable This Christian name was James,
but his sterling honesty and worth had
gained for him the affecti0nate sOubriquet
Of CATER Gloss). to toll him the mocking
speech which had drawn such swift retri'
button on the offender, and ask his pardon.
He promptly came, and when told all that
had happened, said he freely fOrgave the
poor woman, and hoped God would do like
wise. He said, however, he was doubtful
where to look for remedy, a. he had never
before witnessed such an occurrence. Upon
this, little Venerable (who because of his
u-Kont entreaties bad been allowed to &C.
company his father. spoke, and said, "Papa
how would it do to put her in Q tub of holy
water?" The father replied: II can see no
objection to such treatment, but we had
better have the sanction of the bishop"
to whom he immediately went, stated the
case, and mentioned the suggestion of little
Venerable, on which the bishop exclaimed:
"A capital idea" He then directed that
six Sisters of Charity should fill . bathing
tub with holy water, into which the offend
or, after having been totally immersed for
above water. She was then kept, pursuant
to his direction, in the same position for
twenty. -four hours without food. Before
she had been in the bath ten minutes her
speech was restored, but che had entirely
reformed her mocking and cruel form Of
utterance, and was as meek as q lamb
When the term of immersion had expired
she said: II have been 80 wicked that I'm
afraid may relapse after my release, for l
would cheersully spend month in this
blessed tub if it could thoroughly soak the
sln out of me-" When the bishop was in
formed of her reluctance to be re-
moved from the tub and the reason
therefor, he said, cheerfully, "Oh, she
has become . good child, and PEN
itent. That holy water had q double
share of salt in it, and she was just
in the state to be taken out of pickle"
After this decision was made known to the
Sisters Of Charity the penitent was taken
out and rubbed dry and dressed. They
then gave her some food, which she ate
with much relish, and said the discipline
che had experienced was the most blessed
event of her lite.
The foregoing passage relates to only
one of many particulars set forth in Father
Gspeseed's manuscripts. Whether any more
extracts will be given is yet to be seen.