The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-04-15
HEROTSM IN A BIG CITY.
BRAVE AND KIND HEARTS IN A
RlcH FIFTH AVENUE HOME.

An old Legend OF Rome Is EEacted In
Reality Right in the Midst Of Basy
and Thriving Metropolis People of
wealth Nurse Their Servants
Emerson In his essay upon The Con
servative- relates a legend Of the Frlat
Bernard in illustration Of the truth that
fhe best virtues are TO be found in all
of society. If the story were
merely an auologue with the essayist 1t
has. am glad 10 record. lately become
fact
This is the tradition:
~T'he Father Bernard lamented IN ms
cell on Mount Gems the crimes OF man
kind. ana rising one morning before day
from his bed Of moss and dry leaves he
gnawed his roofs and berries, drank OF
the spring and set forth TO 90 10 Rome
to reform tho corruption of mankind.
On his way be encountered many trav-
.elers who greeted him courtecusly, and
the cabins of the peasants and the castles
of the lords supplied his few wants.
When he came at last TO Rome his piety
and good win easily introduced him to
,nanv families NJ the rich, and on the
first dav he saw and talked with gentle
mothers. with their babes at thelr
breasts. who told him how much love
they bore their children, and how they
were perplexed in their daily walk lest
they should fail in their duty towsrd
them.
FMERsON's STORY.
/. ..Whatr ne said. and this on rich
embroidered carpets. on marble floors,
with cunning sculpture, and carved
woods. and rich pictures and piles OF
books around you|
".Look at our pictures and books,
they said. and we will tell you, good
father. bow we spent the last evening.
These are stories of godly children and
holy families. and romantic sacrihces
made ia old and recent times by great
and not mean persons, and last evening
our family was collected, and our nus
hands and brothers discoursed sadly on
whas we could save and give in the hare
times
Then came in the men, and they
said: What cheer. orother' Does thy
convent want gifts
Then the friar went home swiftly
with other thoughts than he brought,
saving: This way Of life is wrong, yet
these Ronacs. whom l prayed God TO
destroy. are lovers; they are lovers.
What can / do:
And TINS is the fact as friend re-
lates it:
I called last night upon my friend IN
/ Fifth avenue. His house is stately and
magnificent 1t abounds with every de-
vice Of luxury. If not tasteful it is rich.
If not elegant it is profuse i'll splendor.
While ! sat gazing around me at the
mirrors aud carpets and curtains and
| costly furniture my friend entered and
cordially welcomed me.
Where have yoa been so long: said
L 1T must be many weeks since | have
seen YOU.
"sYou know he answered. that we
were absent upon visit to Cousin
Charles Tor some time. and upon our re-
.nrn the doctor told US that two of the
servants lay III with the ship fever, and
that the children must be sent away i'm
mediatelv. So we sent them to theil
graudfathers. near Albany, and my wife
and remained TO take care of the serv
ants
EXPOSED TO DISEASE.
q" Did You know what terrible dis
ease il wasg
Yes, the doctor warned us. But W.
could not leave them when we knew
how critical was the situation. It wat
hard 20 part with the children, and the,
cried bitterly at gong. knowing to wha
dangers we were exposed.
And know answered /, for hav
had the ship fever. and for two weelS
lav utterly senseless, like one dead
Both6f the servants, continued IA.
friend. were deliriaAs for two weeks be
; fore they died. which increased our care
0 II Is very dreadful disease, and yer
hardly it bore ON my wife. But ther
WAS no one to assist rs. Al the Othe
y servants left, and wecould get no nurses
We took all possible precautions. Tn
o beds were placed IN the middle Of tn
two largest rooms, and by opening tn
folding doors we could throw them, wit
E the smaller one between, into one larg
room. There IS a passage from the cei
ing of the middle room directly to tn
sl5ylght in the roof, and by opening tina
! and dropping the upper sashes of tn
4 windows Of the room we could vcntilat
; the rooms perfectly
/, 1 see, said /. and they died"
"'They both died, and we buried then
in the Catholic cemetery.
why thought |, glancing at th
painted walls and glittering chandeliers
the smnptuous Vendome and the squali
TendeTioin precinct do not offer a NOR
> instructive contrast than this singh
5 hearted heroism IN the midst Of this re
gal splendor.
Here is another "deed for New Yorl
10 be proud Of" Gilt sometimes cover
: pure gold. Now York Herald