Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-02-07
THE IMAGE MAKER.

plateau Above rose the mountain covered
with frs; and the pointed roofs and turrets
of the holy mansion outlined themselves
against this dark background. Below lay IA
wide valley, with vines, wheat fields, pas
lures bordered with popars, and a village
stretching along the banks of a softly flowing
river.
The monks of this convent We're, at the
same time, good servants Of God, wise men,
and industrious laborers. IN the day, their
white robes dotted the fields here and there,
as they titled the soil and when evening came,
one saw them passing from pillar to pillar,
under the arcnways of The large clOister, with
a murmur of conversation or prayers.
Among their number was young monk,
named Norbert, who was a famous image
maker. He knew how TO fashion from wood
or stone, or even from clay, which he tinted
with warm colors, such beautiful statues of
Jesus, of Mary, and of the saints, that priests
and piouS persons came from atar to view
them, and paid high prices for them, that
they might adorn their churches or oratorieS.
Norbert was very pious He felt, above all,
for the Holy Virgin an extraordinary devo-
ton, and would often remain Frustrated for
hours before the altar of the immaculate One,
his face hidden under his hood, and the folds
of his robe spread around him on the stones.
he was u OIS&i4Iiei SolliebALIltSo. i1SltNl'NliJ
at evening, when he looked from the height
of the terrace, and saw the sun sinking below
the horizon, he became sad and restless. He
wished to Journey far-to see other corners
of the earth than that which he lived III.
AT such times, the prior said to him:
"What could you see elsewhere that you do
not see where YOU are! Here are the sky, the
earth, the clements; of these all things are
made. Even if you could behold the whole
world at once, what would it be but a vain
VisionN
The good monks very charitable, and
rs they were also rich a day came when
there was no longer single person suffering
from want in their neighborhood. Then they
resolved to build a magnificent church near
their convent.
They called to their aid several hundred
uorkmen who opened deep quarres that
looked like wounds, dazzling white, in the
flank OF the mountain. They drew thence
iumberess blocks of stone that they CHS
ecd artfully and all the convent was envel-
uped in a white dust like flour
They cut down, on the wooded slopes that
rose behind the monastery, the most beauti-
fu frs and oaks for the timber work of the
cumch. Sc " and all the convent was
eny,iopnd in yellow dust like gold
IN the midst of the immense solitude it was
like the humming Of human hive. Each
worlmar as he carved his stone for the flu
iurp cathedral, knew not where that stone
would he placed or even if it would be seen
by The eyes of the faithful. But all rejoiced
together in their co-labor and each one in his
humble part of the holy work.
And soon, slowly, stone by stone, the
church mounted, mounted towards the sky.
One Of the ancient monks of the convent,
dead in the odor of sanctity, had written
these words in little book of pous medta-
lions which he called 1.-The Imitation of
Christ:n
do not dispute over the merits of the
saints These researches are productive often
pf useless contest; they nourish pride and
Vainglory, whence spring jealousy and dis
EensIons-sone preferring one saint, some
preferring another. The examination OF
such questions, far from bringing forth good
fruit, is unpleasing to the saints
The good monks disobeyed this precept one
evening as they talked together upon the con
vent terrace, after the angeius. Not only die
they disEute about the merits of many saints
but even concerning that of the three person;
of the divine Trinity. Perhaps il
they had been less pious, they would have
found it better to steep themselves silently in
the peacefulness Of evening Not far Off, the
walls of the future sanctuary rose, DINNER
yet GIander, in the uncertain twilight, anC
the new walls seemed as beautiful and ma jes
tic as ruins. Below woand the river silver
as if frozen. The setting sun cast viole
glow upon the trees on the eastern side Of tn,
plain; and now and then the baying of n dog
the distant crealdng of the axletree O
some wagon, made the silence deeper
The prior spoke first;
''It is fitting that our church should b.
tl. e
Saint Onuphre, otherwise the faithful will
perhaps believe that there is greater sain
than the illustrinns anchorite who established
our order; and that would cast discredi
upon us.
The sub-prior sad:
1.-The most revered saints are but pale re
Elections Of their model, Christ. If you thinl
with me, we will consecrate the church t,
our Lord Jesus.
The monk Alcuin, more than a hundred
years old, 50 thin and so twisted with year
that his white robe fell about him in strang,
angles, like a garment that had been hung t.
dry upon knotty vine branch, now put il
his word, 81 propose God the Father. II
has been neglected a little. Although h
created the whole world he might he forgot
ten altogether, but for the custom of recitin
the Pater."
The monk Theobald shrugged his shoul
ders, He was the profoundest theologian 0
the abbey Never did he go forth into tn
fields; he lived in the library, buried il
parchnents, deciphering ancient writings
and 1t was believed that upon every subjec
he could express valuable opinion. at
to the Holy Ghost" said he that I wou
dedicate our church; for his reign is to come
After the revelation of God the Father t
Abraham, Of Christ to the Apostles, will
that of the Holy Ghost. In tn
world vice and impiety reign, and men with
out number commit ans that will damn then
eternally; the Holy Ghost will complete tn
redemption. 1t Is announced In the Gospel
only one must know how to read"
Here the prior frowned and the sub-prio
made sign to Theohald to be silent
Eginard, a monk thirty years old, wit
bold, imperious features, said in his POVERTY