The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1877-09-05

scrambled DacK, ana by sIgHsJ etc, gov
into the ranks again, and went up q rick
ETY. flight of stairs, and passing through
two or three rooms, came to their large
sleeping apartment; each one has his
" little crib" where he sleeps, or thinks
he does. The bed is a hard piece Of mat
tress with slight covering, and a curtain
drawn around it, and the name Of the
happy occupant placed above in black
letters on wood. There were such names
as " Frere," Antonius." Sebastian
" Descartes, ," Antonnius," names as
sumed, no doubt, fer there are many
within these walls that a close observer
could copy with
"Anobe soul and lineage high "
stamped upon their faces. We passed
along through this tabernacle, isle saint
ct pve," and came to the chapel hall,
with it's straight, awkward seats, enough
to give one the backache to think of, de-
scending the stairs that went into the
chapel or church itself where the yespers
are held. Here were large, ponderous
books, bound in vellum and leather, lying
upon the dark, nahogany-eolored stands,
with their brass clasps and latin inscrip-
tions Oh the covers, bits of paper with
letters sticking out through the leaves to
show where the place was left last. 1t
was very dark and mysterious in among
those dusty corners, and when night came
on it was even more so. Leaving the
church chapel and interior, I went OUT
side to the workshop.
I will not describe all The
"met1ers,n but there were al t
III oale aIsot aatiasa q hlae anli shs tae
hammer 5tlIae sasasiIs was an enor-
mously heavy one, and I thought it
would require more than gospel and
water" to swing that long thought it
required muscle; and tie "wielder" "
looked like the shadow of man. We
passed along and came to the gate where
"our boys" left for Antwerp, while |
kept on with the Two young priests and
the overseer, and then went back to the
cloister dining-room, and at five o'clock
sat down to supper. Having few mo-
ments to spare, | went outside, crossing
the path of monk who sweetly smiled,
stroked his beard and moved or.
1t was now getting towards evening,
and the spirit of the hour began to fall
on all things around me. The solemnity
of the place (for it is solemn) began
to tell, and as I looked around
there seemed to be rest and quietness
which " drew audience still as night or
summers noontide air." The last rays
of the setting sun streamed across the
garden, and the air was clear and brill
liant.
The convent bell tolled for the vesper
service. A few dark birds came up
against the sky, clear and distinct; the
landscape grew obscure, and the color
was richer and warmer. On entering the
chapel at the beginning of their service,
was surprised to notice two long rows
of monks on either hand in their dark,
heavy dress, and at the head three in
what we're once white robes, but time and
Edust had toned them down. After the
service was finished here, we went into
the church, or interior, where they finish
the vespers.
The silence of the hour was only broken
by the tolling of the convent bell, and
slowly the monks left the chapel. A
strange monk led me along through the
corridors with the two priests, and ne
words were spoken. l looked out through
a window and saw the graveyard with its
black crosses aud mounds of earth they
say each capuchin digs his grave in the
morning and closes it over at night.
Upon each chamber door there is the
name of some saint, and my amiable
monk gave me q chamber marked st.
Hilarius," which seemed to please hiG
and the two jolly priests very much.
When l got to my room the day was
finished, and all are supposed to be in
their rooms. The little convent clock
tolIed out the hour of eight, and even
thus early all was still and quiet. -" ST
lence, silence everywhere, on the earth
and in the air"
| After a broken rest | got up at a cal
at my door, and going down tothe dining
room the I" father" gave me cup of tea
with sugar and milk wanting, with
| little of the dark bread. l made ligh
breakfast, and bidding adieu to the ole
convent and my two young priests, wh'
smiled loudly when I asked them wh!
ales femmes" we're not allowed within
the walls, the gate closed between US
and turned my face once more toward
Antwerp.
An old darkey fishing on a wharf a
kaovd taTkipcr To the f.