Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-11-16

/ upon eternal glOries, Marcel watched
close beside her, not far away was the
nurse Prudence. "Poor little one she
sleeps" said he.
When the morning came he looked
at Martha. Martha pale but smiling,
the eyes closed, the head half off from
the pillow. Marcel reached to cover
her white shoulder from which the
cover bad slipped, fearing that she
might be cold. His hand touched her
arm, the arm was like ice lie uttered
cry of anguish, dead, she is dead,
all my God sister Prudence, Martha is
dead"
Then comprehending that he was
not alone, he turned to go; for it is
exquisite torture to have heart grief
exposed to the eyes of even a tender
friend. Without quite knowing how,
he reached his room and seating him
self before his desk, burst into tears
Then 1t was that he knew how much
he loved. He, Marcel he loved, or
rather he had loved, and all was fin
1shed. ''What Is science?" said he to
himself, "Of what use Is it, since it
cannot teach us how to keep alive the
beloved one" After a time he went to
look once more upon Martha. The
bed was covered, the curtains fell in
stiff folds; he did not see her. The
paper had been taken from the head of
the bed, it was finished Number 2,
was dead. Sister Prudence looked at
Marcel who stood guite absorbed, his
eyes fixed on the bed.
''Poor little oneW said she, "Poor
child"
''She was named like my motherl'
murmured Marcel mechanically. His
mother, he had never known her, but
he loved her, she was his mother; and
that is how he commenced to think of
her. Without doubt she resem bled
Martha; he would have been a good
son, his good mother, ana like Martha
she was dead, dead like all those who
had loved him. The dead, the dead
everywhere, and everywhere nothing
ness.
"Ahl l was right" said he in a lond
voice, ''all is false. all is vain" My
child" said sister Prudence simply
.'Faith is true" Marcel looked at her
fxedly, the humble woman seemed
like saint to hun. "PraY for herr
said Prudence with a soft smile.
Marcel was not penniless; he bought
for Martha a plot in the cemetery of
Montparnassee. "When L grow feeble"
thought he, 81 will go there" BE went
there often. One of his old comrades,
who one day visited the cemetery to
copy the grotesque and droll inscrip-
tions upon the tombs for the purpose
of sending them to one of the daily
journals, found Marcel there praying
and weeping before an humble tomb.
MARCEL said he, "What bends your
proud head?" Sometime after Albert
Lefort talked science and philosophy
with him. "All WISDOM" said Marcel,
is contained in these three word
Faith, Hope and Love- "Ah, what a
said Albert Marcel
replied, ''I was caterpillar, very
foolish caterpillar, now l am afbutter-
fly with golden wings" A Complete
revolution had taken place 10 his mind
de felt the strong armor of doubt in
which he had enveloped, himself, drop
of piece by piece and became what he
Imagined his mother to he, pure in
heart He believed, or rather he
learned to believe. 1t is science in
law as 1t is a revelation in grace; Mar
Gel possessed at present this science
and he believed it the truth. Bat his
nature intense in all things, could not
be confined in its exact limits He
had carried philosophy even to athe-
ism, 1t was possible to push faith to
mysticism. year passed, Marcel
became priest; to him ambition was
he followed duty's call For
a long time he begged to be sent
to the small and insignificant parish
Of Limousin, which was finally given
him. There isolated, in the very heart
Of nature, be found himself free to
study and near to God,
He became q familiar figure to the |
peasants of the surrounding country a |
he penetrated the forests in search OF |
rare or curious flowers and plants, and |
as he bent over the plants, they said, |
The priest prays." In truth Marcel |
did pray; be saw God in the flowers of |
The fields and woods.
poor woman in the village died |
leaving little babe. Il Will care for |
her" said Marcel. He took the little
one and it became his greatest conso-
alton and Joy to mould and instruct |
his young soul. OF all bis flock, she
became the dearest. The child loved /
books and read with avldity all that
;ame in her way. ''Take care"
laid Marcel, "all is not to be found in
books, they contain only the letter"
And the spirit?" asked the child,
Who already comprehended his mean
ng. ..It is yonder," replied the priest,
pointing to the sky.
Marcel died last year, wept by all,
owed by all, forgotten by those only
Who should have remembered him.