The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-01-09
NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY MORNING, JANUARY 8, 1876.

your ease, my poor friend" suggested she to
the mother. After a while, will envelop the
body in this winding sheet"
But the mother wept not. A wild hope had
sprung up from the depths of her despair.
g He is not dead" cried she. "The Blessed
Virgin of the Grotto will cure him for me-"
Grief has crazed her." said the husband
sadly.
Tie mother seized the nanimate body of her
child, covered it with her apron, aud nnde-
tered by the resistance of her husband and
her friend, bursts from the house like maniac
rubbing forward at the top of her speed, aud
praying aloud 81 go to the Virgi she had
exclaimed on leaving the house.
1t sunset, and as We ha"" said,
hundreds of people were still NOV III g ahont the
nei ghborhoud of the grotto. The stricken
mother cast herself her knees before the
grotto, prayed with all her soul, ard dragged
herself towards the little reservoir into which
the current of the spring flowed. She olsen
cages the body of her dead or dying child
from its covering, and pIunges it naked into
the miraculous water. The weather was ex-
tremely cold; the water was freezing.
Explanations of terror, indignant outcries
follow on the deed. This woman is crazy,
she is going to kill her child" Some endeav-
oced to interfere. Sue knelt immovable, hold
ing the body plunged in the water. Away
| away!" exclaimed she with energy. 81 wish
| to do all that depends on me; the good God
aud the Blessed Virgin will do the rest" Tho
little Justin was livid: not limb moved.
Life seemed extinct. "The child is dead" said
the spectators. Let us leave her alone. The
poor woman is crazed with grief"
This erased mother held the body of heI
son immersed in this freezing water for "a full
quarter of an hour. He would have died un'
der such treatment in five inmates, bad he
been in perfect health. Prayers, entreaties
! angry circumstances were thrown away on the
! woman. The body icy, deprived of move
! ment. Fail of faith Notwithstanding, she
wItLdrcS it from tho water, folded it in hc1
apron, and brought it home. In the mean
! time, she continued to assaII heaven by Lel
ardeut prayers.
Can you not see be il dead" said the
father. mo, no he it not dead the Blessed
Virgin will restore him to u.s." She laid the
child in his crib. moment afterwards sht
leans over him. "IIo is breathing." The father
hastens to her side the child truly
breathing, The eyes were closed, but nc
|
slum Der weighed upon them. From her throne
in Heaven, the Blessed Virgin whispered &c
the heart of this woman tho words that jesus
once addressed to her of Chanaan "Be it done
to thee as thou wilt"
Through the long hours of the night, the
breathing came stoong and regular. beneath
the yearnng looks of the mother she slep'
not, but prolonged her loving watch until thu
T.a x,y,,
plexion was fresh and rosy. Alone the traces
of his former leAnness were visible on his
countenance. Smiles of recognition greeted
the happy mother, from eyes that CLEANED
with health and life. He asked for the breast
and eagerly drank thereat. Then he that had
never made step, wished to rise from his era
die. The mother, all in a fright, did not dare
to trust him on the ground. She did not com.
prehend tue fullness of mis- resurrection. The
day passed without incident. The child, fire.
s1eutly and with avidity, sought his usua
nourshment; he wished to regain lost time.
The next morning, March 9th, both fathe
and mother went ont at an early hour to their
work. They left the Child sleeping quietly IN
his crib. After some hOurs the mother return
ed She almost tainted at the sight that rae
her eyes as she opened the door. Her boy
who had so far been powerless in she clutch o
paralysis who, only two days previously, wa
dying, if not dead, was hopping aud trUitinG
around the room, running from one p'ece oj
furniture 10 another full of life aud sprikhtli'
ness she was obliged to lean for snPpor
against the frame OF the door, overPowerinl
was the emotion that seized her. What a burs
of love and gratitude must have risen frou
that mothers bosom, and winged its wa!
straight to the maternal heart of Mary. Justii
threw himself into his mothers arms. Bob
biug with joy, she clung to him, and embraces
him over and over. "He wee fully cured yes