The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-26

! novice dweit apart With God. and he watched
him and prayed for him as mother watches and
| prays for crippled child.
| In August, the bright old city down by the
broad lapse of water stricken by the cpl
| demic The people dyi ing by hundreds in
the hot embrace of the fell disease. The Flor
entines. with that vivid horror of death which
| Italians cherish. turned shudderingly from the
| procession of the Brothers of the Misercordia as
| they bore the putrid corpses forth for burial
| Those who could, fed. even if no further than
| to the hills across the Arno The news of the
| fatal scourge penetrated to the quiet sweetness
of San Ercoano's cloister. 1t iuttered the gen.
tie brotherhood sadly Many of them had
| father, or mother, sister in the crowded parts
| of Florence, and flesh and blood were strong
| enough in them to make their hearts beat
quickly aud the beads oftener in their
hands, and they repaired frequently to the shrine
of Madonna de Fiori at the end of the vice-cov-
| cred walk in the garden. They wrestled with
heaven for their impariled dear ones.
/ Fra Gennaio was sitting in his cell one morn
ing three or four days after the plague had
broken out. He was thinking deeply, and his
hands were folded on bis lap. Two light beats
fell upon the thin pine paneling of the door.
Come ini" said Fra Gennaio.
/ The door opened slowly and Fra Aeostino
entered noiselessly. He approached his supe-
| rior the white eyelids slowly lifted, and the
| look, full of restrained pain. directed to-
| ward Fra Gennaio's face. There was a
/ ments silence, and then it was the prior who
! spoke.
II do not know as can. fratello mio If You
to die. should feel very lonesome"
The novice smiled family. Il have prayed
I before coming to you, padre"
/ And have been trying to think whether
the Lord wishes me to say Yes, or No"
The strong figure stood motonless, with the
| look unaltered in his clear eye.
Regard this delusiou of the devil. Fra
Agostino," the prior remarked at length, slowly.
.lnstead OF going down to the dying men in
Florence you will take your place In the kitch-
| en- and help the living by assisting the cook
| prepare the food for the community You will
| begin this morning"
Fra Agostlno bowed. and without the slight
| est change of countenance withdrew as noise
lessly as he had entered. Fra Gennaio drew
| long sigh and took up his worn breviary. He
finished Mathis and Lauds and then left his
| cell. He went along the corridor and down the
winding stone steps, worn by the tread of CEN
turies of monks He passed through the old
kitchen with its brick floor and shining pots
and pans. The novice was sitting three
heads of lettuce The prior passed
by without word. The following
three days, the prior, i'll going to and returning
from the garden, passed through the kitchen.
Fra Agostno always quietly doing
scullion's work with reverent an air as if he
were in attendance on his queen. On the morn
ing OF the fourth day Fra Agostlno sum-
moned to the prlor'S CELL
Brother. you may now devote yourself to
the aling members of Christ in the city. You
will spend the nights in the hospital. God be
with you and remem Der me in your prayers"
The prior and folded his long arms
slowly around the novice he was sending down
to the pit of death He pressed his cheek against
that of Fra Agostino on each side of his face. 1t
was the accoiade of the monks when they were
going on a Journey. AFTER the form OF the
novice had disappeared through the door, tho
prior passed his hand over his eyes, and his lips
moved as he raised them to heaven.
For ten days the remorssless scourge ran its
desolating course through Florence. Fra Agos-
tno's absence seemed to make a great void in
San Ercolano's convent. The cook said count
less pairs of beads for him. Few of the monks
forgot to recall him at the morning
Every heart in the convent followed him in his
mission of charity TO the stricken town.
After fortnight Fra Agostino returned to
the monastery in its woody nest on the hillside
He was brought back stretched on a litter Fra
Gennaio had received a note from the physician
who came to the monks when they were i'll,
that Fra Agostno was sorely stricken No. not
with the plague, but with deadly fever. There
risk to the community in receiving the
sick novice. They brought him up the hillside
on litter, and the brothers took him in their
arms and carried him to his bare CELL His
followed cheeks blazed with q hectic glow and
his eyes glittered like agate. He slowly
burning to death with the heat in his vitals, but
the parched lips were quick to smile a grateful
acknowledgement OF the warm welcome of the
monks.
For three days he lay painting and wasting
away mis- iron bed with the fire of the fever,
patiently waiting for his release. Fra Gennaio
hung over him night and day. At the end of the
third day the community marched to his cell.
and knelt around his bed. Then the tinke of
the servers bell told of the approach of the
sacrament Padre Gennaio entered the room,
and holding the Host in his fingers heard Fra
Agostno VOW poverty. chastity, and obedience.
The monk of San Ercolano received the
blessed sacrament by way of Viaticum. After
this the brothers mournfully left the room, and
Fra Gennaio left alone with Fra Agostino.
He turned his calm face to the prior and said:
Padre. 1 shall not live through the night Be-
fore as taken illin Florence knew that the end
was not far off. have written something for
you 70 read. Few words have passed between
rs. but we have understood each other we'll.
When you have read what have written you
will pray for me better, and you will under
stand what JOY it is to pass SO soon.
have done nothing to merit this. but this year
has been a long waiting, and now it is over.
Give me your blessing padre. and am ready
to pass the border and meet what lies there for
me-"
Padre Gennaio raised his hand and made the
SIGN of the cross "Benedicat tie, Frater dice
tissime Deus Pater Omnipotens, Filius ct Spir-
titus Sanctus!" He said the words slowly and
solemnly, and then. after few words of encour-
sgement. he left the poor cell. Fra Agostino
closed his eyes and lay inotionless on his iron
bed.
The prior knew that there were moments in
which the creature should be left alone with
God. This of them He went to his
cell and placed the paper which Fra Agostino
had given him on his prize Dieu He would not
read it until the humble monk had passed away.
1t seemed the finer thing to do. After an hour
ne returned to the cell of Fra Angostino The
fat porter sitting on his chair, asleep! The
new monk lay like marble on the couch, the
strong figure outlined sharply beneath the thin
sheet. Tho face wore an. expression as of one
who was IN calm. rapt attention to distant mel
oily. Fra Gennaio approached him and placed
his hand upon she shapely head
Brother" he said.
Inero was NO answer. ia ARosuuo was
through his penance. While the fat janitor
slept Fra Aeostino bad also fallen asleep.
With no human gaze upon HIM. no kne cling
brother to sustain his passage by prayer, he had
gone into the Beyond. The prior summoned
the brothers to prepare the BODY for the grave.
The monk was clothed in new habit. and tall
candles were placed around the body. Then
Fra Gennaio went to his cell, took the paper
from the prize Dieu, and while the wax tapers
euttered themselves away around the rigid form
above, read what the dead hand had traced.
Father. l shall tell my story in few words
I was tutor of the proudest of your
Italian families The old Prince who it's
head, had but one child. daughter She was
my pupil Young beautiful, and carrying her
self like queen, she prouder than her
father Father thought had known love be-
fore, but the passion which conceived
for this glorious girl was a madness At night
/ would toss and chafe upon nv pillow, eager