The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-07-01


renonnce the happiness Of hls lie, ana eacti-
fice friends, fortune perhaps liIe i.set, TOT .ne
defence of the Holy Seef Goo wills ~!
cried q voice within him, Irresistible % tine
wnr-cry Of the ancient Crusaders; and as ne
listened to It, though he folded his arms and
threw back his head defantly, hie nostril q1l-
yered, his breast heaved. ana neavy s sgd.'
bitter almost as tboee that had fallen on ms
fathers coffin. With these tears the oDhict
seemed to cease; for after drying his eyes
quickly, ashamed Of his weakness, he drew
| book from his pocket and began to turn over
| the leaves. It was q email copy of the SPrH
| nal Conbat-Father Donovan's parting gitI,
and as his eyes wandered among hs oesu u;i;,n
once more returned. At length he cioeeo IL,
and once more tbrOwiog bimseif PACK IN ! nis
seat began to repeat sloT's sn asa soisi,nsS
a prayer that from his earliest boyhood had
been his unfailing refuge in moments OF doubt
and distress. Nor did He to whom it Was ad-
dressed fail him in that moment OF perPiextsi
for as the words,
Foye aod frigidum,
q soldier of the Cross, and the danger of his
Affection for q bsretio, seemed to rice before
him and as be gazed upon the two pictures,
thankfulness, enthusiasm, and even Joy once
the couptenance lately 30 desolate and cast
down. Nor did this brightness pass awsy; but
the next day in Paris, before the altar OF
Notre Dame des VICTORIES, Richard OAears
once again offered bimseif to the service of
God N the person Of His Vicar, and promised,
by His grace never again to look back from
the plough on which he now laid the most
willing of hands, and went on his way re-
joicipg.
He spent the remain of that day in wan
derng about from one object of interest &c
another with friend, and at his solicitation
had Just consented TO pass the remainder of
the week with him when news suddenly ar
rived from Rome which, though vague and
uncertain, was more than Sufficient to warn
him that If ever true hearts and sturdy arms
were needed round the Papa throne they were
needed then and there. The very next train
lat started for Marseilles bore him to that
city whencs he embarked on board q steamer
for Civita Vecchia, aud two days later i'll
Rome.
What his sentiments might have been under
other circumstances at treadipg for the first
time the hsllowed soil OF the Eternal City,
r 'chArd OMeara had little leisure to consider.
TIE evil tidings that had reached him in
Paris had fallen even short of the reality, and
countenauce re met Three days before his
arrival. the Gsribaldians had suddenly en-
tered the Papal States at four different points.
and had already possessed themselves Of the
strong town of BARuorea. On reaching the
barracks, Notwithstanding the excitement
that prevailed there, the doctor was most
warmly welcomed by the English and Irish
recruits, who clustered round him in the
tm all amount of reflection soon convinced him
tn at with his ignorance of military discipline,
enrolment in either the Zouaves or Drsgoons
at such u moment was simply out of the q1es-
ton. It was, however, with no little envy
tn at he watched the evolntious of certain fine
young fellows, who formed part OF detach.
ment that had received orders to start next
morning for Bagnorea with hundred and
ffty Romans of the line. Suddenly an idea
struck him. He craved an audience with the
commanding officer, and having obtained it
| asked permission to accompany the regi meut
as a civilian, to assist the staff surgeon in the
ambulance, a task for which his superior sur.
| gical skill eniuently qualified him. His re
qIest was granted; and after IA short bu
| sound sleep, his first experience of soldier
| life. hs set out on HIS holy mission with o JOY
In bis heart too deep for words.
Bot although Richard O'Meara's erran6
| wRs one of mercy rather than war, he never
day than many hoary veteran in the EnglisI
| army sees in a whole lifetime. For scsrcel
had they gained the nigh ground that encir
a'es BAguorea, from which the Italians Ietiret
a. their approach, when n shower of ball
rained ont upon them from certain vineyard
in the vicinity, in which tho latter had take
refuge. UofinohiuEly O'Mears passed throug
} the fisry ordeal, though many q comrade 5e
wounded at his side. Furio1sly he Joined /
the charge that dislodged the enemy fror
: their vantage-ground, and " hen the coward
} took shelter IN neig hboring convent, h
joined in the attack on the gate with the but
end of n musket thrown away by an Italian
his digit, and was one of the first to rush /
to victory. By three O'Clock the town vas
= possession OF the PApal troops, the action ha'
Z ing lasted four houIs, That night the victo
I rested from their tolls; come in the warrior
= couvents, others in the hospitable homes
q the grateful townspeople. Not 80 the docto
!. for though weAried aud even eighty wOun
d ed, the night that gave rest to others on
8 gave him fresh work. Hour after hoar
n passed with the patient sisters, from Oh
d groaniug sufferer to another, tending z Iua'
II and GSribAldian Unfortunately -reiIevir
J. their sufferiugs with his skilful touch, al
d raising their dropping spirits with bic chez
j. voice, Not once in the proudest aud hAppie
moments of the last nine months had so bri Il
n a smile beamed on O'MeaTa'S face as the o.
II that ehoos there that night, nor would
70 have relr quished his post beside those low
IS pallets for any other earthly happiness tn
q his heart could have imagined.
a CHAPTER Xxx.
y Interesting as the theme of the Papal v
9 tories of 1867 undoubtedly ie to every Cath
/. Ito heart, it 10 not our purpose TO pursne the
~ any further. More than oee of those wi
d during their course. braved tho dangers of Il
Of ali after waved he sword nj Y