Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-17

It's churchmen, and lts congregations, snail
be whelmed beneath the sea.
" Thou mockest me" returned Saint
Cuthman, contemptuously :" but | know
thee to be the Father of Lies"
Disbelieve me if fail in my task-not
till then, said the fend. 90 With the i'm
plement which l hold in my hand l will
cut such a dyke through this hill, and
through the hills lying between 1t and
Hove, as shall let in the waters OF the
deep, so that all dwelling within yonder
plain shall be drowned by them.
And thinkest thou thy evil work will
be permitted ;" cried the saint, shaking
his head
"Thou, at least, canst not prevent it,
rejoined the fend with bitter laugh.
81 will take my chance of other hin'
drance."
The holy man appeared for moment
troubled, but his confidence was presently
restored.
"Thou deceivest thyself, he said. "The
task thou proposest to execute is beyond
thy power"
Beyond my power p exclaimed the
demon. Z" 1t is trife in comparison with
what can achieve. have had hand IN
many wonderful works, some Of which are
recognized as mine, though have not got
credit for 1.-THE of those have performed.
Devils bridges are common enough. me.
thinks, in mountainous gorges-devirs
towers are by no means rare in old castles.
Most of the camps upon these downs
were planned and executed by me-the
very rampant upon which we stand being
partly my work. The first Caesar has got
H.. g IS t1rrvl rag
and he is welcome to it. He is not the
only man who has worn laurels belonging
by right to others. Saint as thou art, it
is meet thou give the devil his due. Do SO,
and thou must needs praise his industry. :"
Thy industry in evil-doing is unques-
tionable, rejoined the saint. But good
work is out of thy power. Thou darest
not affirm that thou hast had any hand in
the erection of temples and holy piles.
ASK thy compeers, Saint Dunstan aud
Saint Augustine-they will tell thee differ
emily. But l disdain to boast. 1 have
certainly had no hand in thy ugly little
wooden church at Steyning."
"And thy present feat is 20 be per.
formed before tomorrow, thou sayest 2"
demanded the saint, highly offended at this
uncalled.for allusion to his own fayorite
structure.
Between sunset and sunrise, most
sanity sir.
"That is but short time for SO mighty
task, said the holy man, in an incredu-
lous tone. "Bethink thee, September
night is not long night"
The shortest night is long enough for
me" the fend replied. If the dawn
comes and finds my work incomplete, thou
shalt be at liberty to deride me-"
81 shall never treat thee otherwise than
with scorp, the saint rejoined. 'But thou
hast said it, and hold thee to thy word.
Between sunset and sunrise thy task must
be done. If thou failest, from whatever
cause, thy evil scheme shall be forever
abandoned"
''Be it so am content" the iend re.
joined. "But l shall not fail, he added
with fearful laugh. "Ccme hither at
sunset, and thou witt see me commence my
work. Thou mayst tarry nigh me, if thou
wilt, till it be done.
Heaven foIfend that it should be
done p calculated the saint, casting his
eyes upwards.
When he looked up again towards the
spot where the Evil 0ne had stood, he
could no more perceive him.
mo ~ exclaimed the good saint, allow
ing his gaze to wander over the smiling and
far-stretching weald, 60 cannot believe
that l am taking farewell of this lovely
plain. / cannot for an instant believe that
its destruction will be permitted. Its PEG.
pie have not sinned, but have incurred the
hatred of the arch-tiend solely because of
their piety and zeal. 1t shall be my bust
ness to defeat his hated design"
The holy man turned away, and quitting
the camp, proceeded in an easterly direc.
ton over the hill until he came to a small
stone structure, standing near great old
thorn tree, on an activity covered with
gorse and heather. The occupant OF this
solitary cell belonged to priory Of Bene-
dictine nuns, situated at Leominster, near
Arundel, aud attached to the Abbey of
Almenesches in Normandy. Sister Ursula
Braose had retired to this lonesome spot in
order to pass the whole of her time in de.
votion, and had acquired a reputation for
sanctity and asceticism scarcely inferior to
that of holy Cuthman himself She was
daughter of the noble house of Braose of
Bramber Castle. Once a week the pur-
veyor Of the priory at Lsominster brought
her scanty supply of provisions flor the
poor soul needed but little), and it was from
him that Saint Cuthman had heard of her
illness, and of her desire to be shriven by
him.
He found TIE recluse occupied il her de.
votions. She was kneeling before an ivory
crucifx fastened against the wall of her
cell, and was so absorbed as to be entirely
unconscious of the saints approach. He
did not make his presence known to her
till she had done. Sister Ursula Braose
had once been remarkable for beauty, but
years, the austere life che had led, and the
frequent and severe penances she had I'M
dergone, had obliterated all traces of love-
illness from her features. She was old and
wrinkled now, her hair white as snow, and
her fingers thin as those of skeleton.
She was clothed in loose black robe, with
a cincture of cord around her waist Rev.
erentially saluting the holy man, she
prayed him to be seated upon stool,
which, with another small seat hewn out
of stone, a stone table, and straw pallet,
formed the entire furniture of her cell.
An iron lamp hung by chain from the
roof. On the table were placed missal
written on vellum, an hour-glass, and
small taper.
After inquiring as to her ailments, and
expressing his satisfaction that she felt
somewhat better, Saint Cuthman said,
" Are you still fasting, sister? know
you are wont only to break bread and drink
water after the hour of vespers."
"Sinee yestere'en nothing has passed my
lips, holy father" the reeluse replied.
:" It is well, said the saint. "The pro-
hibition am about to lay upon you-pain-
fal to any other unaccustomed to severe
modification of the fssh-will by you be
scarcely accounted penance l enjoin
you to refrain from all refreshment of the
body, whether by food or rest, until to-
morrow morning. Think you you can prom.
Use compliance with the order %
''Do 1 think it, holy father:" Sister
Ursula cried. "If heaven will spare me
go long / am sure of it. was in hopes"
she added, almost with look Of disap-
pointment, "that you were about to en-
Join me some severe discipline such as my
sinfulness merits, and l pray you to add
sharp flgellations, or other wholesome cor
rection of the flesh, to your mandate"
may" rejoined the saint, smiling at the
recluse's zeal the scourge is unneeded.
You have no heavy offense, 1 am we'll as
sured, on your conscience. But keep strict
vigil throughout the night, and suffer not
sleep to weigh down your eyelids for a mo-
ment, or you may be exposed to tempta-
ton and danger. The arch-fend himself
will be abroad"
al will spend the hvelong night in
81 TTre,,1o ire