The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-11-25

nurGQreQ In dis It's earliest AbptEAtlODA towards
the beautiful.
John, u thorough business man, sent ont
many chips to sea, but not content with all
| they brought him, has followed one to q dis
tant shore, where hS hopes to find even more
than the golden fleece of Jason.
Only one was left, Charles, the youngest,
ne who had sometimes wondered II his pa.
tient- mother ever -nssded anything in tue
power of her boys to give.
he had been away q week, long dreary
week, in which she had realize the bitterness
ed, only tho persistent ssnee of desolation
which sd followed her from day to day, made
her rejoice that the time had come when he
had promised to return: Bat would he, too,
not leave her sumo dsyf
She heard his footstep upon the threshold
as this thought crossed her mind, and with the
welcome sound there came a bitter look Of
pain, followed in an instant by q smile of per-
feet peace and patience.
Nevertheless the i've thin fingers trembled
perceptibly as she extended them to greet her
He held her hand tenderly in his own
awhile, looked at the basket near her knee,
| smiled at the one poor solitary pair of socks
she had prepared for him, and then said, low
ingly:
My weeks retreat has taught me this,
mother. 1t must be, indeed q strong voice
that calls an only child from widowed
mother. have renounoea for the present my
desire for the PRIESTHOOD"
He spoke though he knew his words
must comfort her, asd with a child's caressing
Ainst the bands of her soft white hair. He
was giving her now something of what she
had su lavishly bestowe On him, on all the
five, and yet he wondered there was no word
OF thankfulness, no sigh of unutterable relief.
1t had cost him many pang to reuoupce
this dream of his young manhood, to set
aside this vision that had transfgured earth
into holy Thabor. But he knew his mothers
smile would comfort him, and her voice ming
ie blessings with her gratitude.
AS be looked around the room, seeing only
,k4na o< HAa nhann hat thrr1rv
his sacrifice must surely compensate 70: all
that she had lost. How strange she did not
seem content! What more could she need, his
dear, good motherf
How little he knew her thoughts, her need,
her mother love?
Her thoughts were busy with her other sons
of whom the world had robbed her. Would
she hold this one back from God, when she
had given all the rest unto his oresturess
Dared she keep for little while on earth
what she was sure would always be her own
time what would be her recompense through.
out eternityf
What did she nesdf A little sslashness, q
Fathers watohfnlness; but these would have
made hor something different from the simple
Christian mother who, holding her last sons
poor distrust in Him whose name is to be
bleet even when He takes as when He gives.
The mother-love spoke out, clear and unan.
ses fSe @a9a 'as @
for my sake, moi / need your sacrifice. your
prayers. I give you willingly to Code seq
vice. Your high vocation will bring down
blessings upon me and mine." That last word
was the keynote of her soul. 1t told how she
still thought of all the five, and how she
hoped that one faithful servant of the Lord
might win graces for those who did not serve
Hin.
And it was done. The mothers will pre-
vailed. She encouraged him in the pathway
he had chosen aided him by her own high
ia thar6iu. and reiOic6d with
him wnen at last he reached the dignity of the
priesthood.
The little home was uutenanted, except by
berself and loves memories, bat the sacrifice of
one son seemed to awaken better feelings in
the Others, and gradually they all drew
nearer 10 the mother in their remembrance
=. Will, in his luxuriant mansion, thinking of
the old arm chair that still awaited his COM
ing in his mothers house, realiz sd how des-
oiate ahe was, aud poured out money and
with it little love, to place her beyond the
reach of want.
Tom sent her tokens of affection from bis
foreign home, and gave her name to the first
little girl th at smiled upon his knee.
Henry, learning how all the five had left
her, felt his heart overflow with tender memo
ries of bis boyhood, aud so it came to pass
that his mothers face looked down upon him
from a painted canvas, which brought him
after ards both fame aud fortune.
John brought back his ships from sea. and
tired of his eager search for gold, determined
soon, after his next voyage, to enjoy the
riches of q mothers love, the treasure OF q
quiet home.
And thus the years went by. The old home
empty, but the mothers heart full of peace, |
until there came day when she needed |
what only one of her five boys could give. |
The priest was more than any son ooud be-
Beside her deathbed he stood as physician of
the soul, bringing remedies that human love |
is powerless to bestow; the spirit's guide, he
showed the radiant way scross the sea OF
death; dispenser of q heavenly food, he |
siren gthened her for the journey which leads
up to the mount of God.
lin guished here on earth, oomforted by the
presence that she had given to be the com |
forter of others, and obedient to the sum- |
mons spoken by the lips she had dedicated |
to Gods service, thus passed away the |
Christian mother. Above the cold remains, |
as they lay before the altar on which the In |
finite sacrifice had been offered up for her |
eternal happiness, the priest of God bowed, |
with all sons deep sorrow, ss he murmured |
lovingly, yet hopefully:
'Rer task is done. She needs nothing |
now"