The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-01-28
1srnIug Star and Catholic Messenger.
MEW oRI1KANs sUNbAY. JANUARY as lsi7.

heart, and can't find it in mine TO be hard
we're no two of just alike in these things
and dare say shouldn't understand IL M self,
If hadn't once in my life sd occasion TO sec
what love can bring . man to when it's crossed
Bert's Of a nervous constitution, just like his
father. Well nov, Wanna, would You believe
that your poor father, before We were married.
lay at the point Of death, so "a already to have
received the last sacraments. because Onr pa
rents had separated as and he wasn't allowed
"Gracious heavenw exclaimed Wanna, in
sudden terror; bot added, almost immediately
recovering herself, I" we'll. but father got well
over it in the end, for all that; didn't he,
1notherf"
$50 he did, Wanna Int howl Our parents
Rad quarreled about q right of way across a
field, and things had come to such pass be-
tween them that they were at downright dag
gers drawn, and couldn't bear 10 hear one an
Others name. Well, ! wasn't allowed TO see
your father; and he, poor fellow, who was more
in love with me than knew of, piusd away till
he lay upon his death bed Thanks be TO God,
the good priest, out Of pity to the poor yoong
fellow, reconciled or parents. aud was al
lowed to visit him before he died. The tears
come into nay eyes when think Of that day /
won't speak CT it; bnt n month after that he
was able TO 60 to church with me and our pa
rents for 70 be promised together"
Wanna was looking hard at her mother, with
giistening eyes.
Look" you, Wanna" resumed the latter,
"your father was just a poor peasant such as
we are now; but snre and certain II is, there
was that in hi u that made him one of L thou.
s sooe and :" 1t may well be With our poor "'''
The maiden shook her head in thought, with
her eyes fixed on the ground. After q few mo-
ments che looked up again.
sits strange enough" sire said. that one
person should pioe away ont Of liking for an
other, juAt because hes OF a nervo0s trWperh-
meut; for my part, don't zee how II can be.
But, mother my poor father IL 4tch fox
you; so that wasn't 20 out-of-the- wuy. wish
Bart and Cecilia the msttcr's quite d horeGf;
that can never come to any good. And 80 be
must just knock the foolish thought out of his
head"
Mother Ann mean while had sank away into
. deep reverie; she paid no attention 10 what
Wanna was saying. and gnzad de7pairingty
upon the ground. After thus sitting " bile III
silence, che sighed heavily. and began to speak
as to herself alone:
something yesterday that made his eyes
light up with joy; but she told him something
TOO that made him grind his teeth with veIa-
ton. And last night in bis sleep be talked aud
cried and called QUIT quite gave me a fright
asI listened TO him And now this morning he's
ell lapguid. and psler than ever, and bis eyes
look dim and dead. Alas, alas! my poor
Barti my unhappy child"
In the same moment that these lass words
fell from her lips and sounded through the
] room in tone painfully expressive OF heartfelt
= grief-jnst in this same moment Bart came in
4 through the back door with rake in his hand.
Struck by the tone of his mothers voice, he
stood still, and for q while fixed his eyes stead
ssThen, slowly going up to her, he pressed bis
flips to her forehead, and as from his eyes two
WARN drops fell upon it, in sweet and almost
Yinapdibe voice:
n "My poor dear mother !" be Paid lab, for
ekgive me! indeed, cannot help it"
H And again turning about with his head
4 bowed and one hand before his eyes, he passed
on ont of the honse.
Even under the bright sunlight and amid the
universal gladness of nature which surrounded
bin, Bart still could not lift his head. With
ak0 mir aD1o al p he n a * I'd
along the footpath like an old man bowed down
under the weight of years. Que might almost
have thought that as he was walking he was
occupied in looking for something among the
From time TO time be stood still, mntt cred
something TO himself, plucked a leaf from tree
or bush, rubbed it to pieces in his hand. aud
then, still murmuring, resumed his course; or
he unconsciously dismembered the petals of n
flower or listened to the nswerng call of the
birds.
What it was that all this said to him he very
likely knew not himself; but for all that, the
effect upon him was profound, and threw hlm
OF into deep reverie till, waking up again.
he slowly resumed his onward way.
But all at once as though suddenly seized
upon by some more potent thought he Came To
o distinct halt, and fixing his eyes Dpon the
ground at his feet, III much emotion muFm nted
out:
cecilia, since yesterday know what You
Auffer how you are ill treated even with
blows! how yon are piuIng away with desola.
Oh, how cowArdly aud how weak does sorrow
make one! l have neither spirit nor strength
more I'm nervous aud afraid l know not
what to do; cant collect myself; my
thoughts all confused; fm sick 10 body aud
soul"
sad and bitter smile distorted his pale
Cohntenance.
"sick! sickl" he cried; yes, put fine
name on your cowardice But if had bot spirit
or power to act, what sh"uli dJf Let heI
def Her that loves me 7 On, that wonld be il
done indeed But-but what then Kill hun
And at this question he started back as II ht
had suddenly perceived poisonous serpent il
his way, ready to spring upon him with open
jaws An iuartiCulate Eruan Of horror broke
slowly from his bosom tuen hh resumed:
"Ah there Is a GOD above us!-ny iumor
tai soul and then, my mother! No, no; there
no help for it but to bow my neck and waste
away with eorrowi 10 bear my cross, bear IL Oh
TO the churchyard. All me! ali me-"
And again he pursued his course, sad aud
spiriJless before, pressing his hand to his
forehead as though ne feared Its bursting.
While the young peasant, thus fslL of suffer
ing aud of despair, WAS making his way aionE
the shady footpath, which with every step be
made was bringing him nearer to tue Abbey