The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-12-30

| fatherf"
-"Bscause the aspect of the tomb is calcu-
lated to inspire gloom my child. Bat, Adhe-
mar, ] do not wish to cast q shade OF sorrow
S ~ifs" 'n' p''''a '0'n'A'' "
an. le Count, perhaps Blsuc,e knows q
powerful means of dissipatiuR your sadness"
"Oh no, AdhemRr; what could console me
when / think OF SHIFTING my eyes forever
upoa the dear child who has been the joy OF
I say Hfef,
IBnt. dear father, It "a not forever. Eveu
should you 60 before your child, it will be but
q short separation"
| "Ah Blanche! at your age and with your
| health, it is easily TO speck lightly of death
| Bot when the roses fade and time has frosted
our looks, when the tomb opens before ns
| and another existence stsres us in the face,
then, my child, is tie veil withdrawn, and We
see the wortblessness If what We once priced
] most.
"Our vanished pleasures excite few regrets
and on looking back that life which was most
agreeable seems bu. q fatiguipg dream.
| "Ab then it is thss the grand object of life,
the future state OF the i'm mortal soul within us,
asserts It's supremacy We have no longer time
! to repair our fsults. Expiring nature urges
| us onward We are so i'll prepared TO meet
spairf
;" Blanche, have freq uently reproached my
| self for not having consulted Your ipcflnaEons
| in the choice of q husband; but plainly see
hat Heaven has Iecompensed your obedience
| to an imprudent father, by giving yoa, in Adj
hemAr, a faithful guide who will instruct you
/ neglected to teach you myself"
Blanche was too deeply touched to make
any other respou SO than the tears " hicb rolled
down Der cheeks Seated beside her father,
she pres ID her hand to her heart, willis Ad-
hemar. rising and going to the bed, affection
ately took the other.
my dear Adhemar." said be, "whst SD
occupation for you, nursing q miserable old
man overwhelmed with anguish st the
thoughts of approaching dissolution"
My dear Count, cannot look upon death
lie al
die who would act have prolonged their lives
had they been able TO do SO; and yet they
were In the bloom of youth, and had never
al can understand all that for your people.
They never lost faith in the creed their
mothers laughs them, and, with unshaken con-
looked forward to etrena al happiness. Bat after
having followed the age, and lived deis:-
has BEEN"
~ know, dear Count, that in the eyes of
the world it has been pure. If now you feel
remorse of conscience, it is because the light
of divine ruth has begun to penetrate the
shadows enveloping Your soul. Parer than the
wisdom of the world, it condemns many
things that tbs world excuses. But the re-
mem brance of our faults should not make us
despair. No living creature can be saved by
his owl merits"
"Still your Obscure mysteries! Who can
eemprenend you whsa you speak of impotiog
inaist upon this mystery, dear Count"
ssid Adhemar gently, because there is no
"nstriss ss ekPFess: aud at the same time so
cousolipg. You say death a.: e.. .ens you be- |
cause your life has been such as to render ,
you unworthy of appearing with confidence |
before the Great Judge. Bot dare tell you |
that no one is worthy, and We would all be |
lost did orr hopes rest upon no better founda- |
ton than an imperfect obedience to the Laws OF
God"
"weIl, in reality said the CONT after Q |
few minutes silence, 81 have not been wore !
than other men. For the last few years have |
science. In my youth it was different; but |
then very, very few krow how to varquish |
their passions. The Being who crested US With |
these passions will excuse their excess. He is |
good, aud merciful, and |
"Ah! Count" replied Adhemsr, with deep |
sigh, why will you vainly depend upon that, !
instead of listening to Him who declares that |
no unbeliever, no one det!ed with the least
impurity, can enter the heavenly kingdom. |
Wonld yon prefer clingipg TO D false interpre- |
tstion OF the divine mercy, instead OF obtain |
ing pardon OF your sins on the conditions our
Lord Himself ffers you"
"What are these conditioner
"What the Church teaches IA on this point
is very simple and very appropriate to the
tual state of our feelings. without faith,
says she, 1T is impossibt to please Cod Yoa, |
my dear Count, have said that you cannot be
lieve, WE'LL this good mother also teaches Us
to consider faith gift of Goo, which He will
never refuse TO these who ask that He always
regards an humble heart; that He alwAys
lendA an ear to our petitions"
Bat, Adhemsr, cannot pray"
"Coula you not listen to the prayers Of an
other. dear Ccnntf'
"of priessf Certainly not. All The neigh
borhood would resound with the news"
Could You not listen to the prayers of your
sonf"
"Te your prayers, Adhemari Icould," said
The old man, in voica of stified emotion. Ad-
hemsr looked at Blanche. A smile of mex
pressibie consolation ehope through her tears,
as they both cast themselves upon their knees
beside her dying fathers couch. Placing one
hand upon the head of his child, he covered
bis face With the other, and listened atten-
lively to Adheuars feFvent petition, which
indicated o thorough acquaintance with the
troubled state of 3 soul tDat, standing ON the
brink of eternity, saw foundation for it's
hopes beyond the vast abyss. The Count could
scarcely restrain his emotion.
al save me WHILE" said he, when Adhe-
mar rose. Leave me, Blanche; leave me,
dear, excellent Adhemsr."
Come, Blanche" said her husband, seeing
that she hesitated; believe me, dear, it is bet
ter for him to be alone just now"
When they returned TO his room, they found
him citing mp in bed, aud resting his head up
on his hand: Ho lifted his eyes and smiled, as