St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-05-04

was ready, the bride was draped in
her marriage veil-but our son had
gone, leaving us only this letter"
Big tears were falling from the
eyes Of the aged couple. The hermit
sighed and lifted his gaze toward
heaven. The old man went on:
Prom that day our happiness was
gone; we have sought him, but in
vain. Oh, # he were living yet, for
we are near the grave. We may
never see him again"
The old mans tears burst out
afresh, while the priest seemed to be
making strenuous effort to check
some strong emotion.
20, father you alone can advise us.
Some pilgrims to whom we gave
hospitality in Mentone told us mar
Vicious tales of you, and hope has
given us the strength to reach you,
Have pity on us! Pray to Cod!
He may at least manifest to us
whether we may hope to sec our be-
loved son again"
They wanted to kneel at his feet,
but he prevented them and said,
gently consoling them:
"Only heaven can have inspired
your son with such an extraordin-
airy decision. Console yourselves,
and hope, for he may return to you
when you least expect him."
At that moment the aged le.dy,
who had until lhcn wcpt silently,
cried out: "Oh how wretched are
the poor mothers who have impor-
tuned God for son, who is to be the
cause of such cruel sufferings!'
The pious Bernardo said gently:
God tried Abraham's heart, and
his faith saved him. If he tried you
do not murmur. The Christian
must bear his cross"
The hermit was fighting a battle
with his own heart. He feared that
the strength of these aged ones
would not support longer talk
Begging them to wait, lie hurried to
the church, and knelt at the altar
with fervent prayer Meanwhile
the aged couple sat waiting, fearing,
hoping, uncertain, yet with a vague
presentiment.
vain hopesl' exclaimed the father
, But let it be of good omen" said
the mother. LET him at least tell
me that may see my adored son
. before | die
Thus they sat, watching the door
, by which the the hermit had left and
trembling at every noise. At last he
came, his face full of an overpower
!, ing joy
p "Be consoled Your son lives. He
, left you only to follow the voice o
his conscience"
So saying. his eyes fill with tears
and no longer able to check the emo
y ton which holds his heart, he ex
/ tends his arms, looks lovingly upor
them and says: 81 am your son Der
= nardoW
The mother gives cry of joy; thu
i father springs up, and soon the tear
v of sorrow have changed into tears o
q happiness, and Bernardo is held il
;. the loving arms of his father an,
mother.
r After having given many days t.
6 the pleasure OF relating to eacl
!. other the story of the cares and sor
+ rows of the past and to enjoying tn
q reunion, the old couple returned t,
9 their home, and Bernardo to his higl
p charge and his beneicent work.
Meanwhile the hospice was -four
:. ishing, and to make it a perpetua
!. institution, he went to Rome il
e 1909, to beg the pope's protection
d He started joyfully upon his retur
IS from the Eternal City, with the dc
p sired mandate, but it was not give
70 to him to see his beloved Alps again
"a A sudden illness seized him at Nova
=. ra, and he surrendered his beautifu
o. soul to God, with that supreme st
q renity which comes from a dut
i, done. He had ceased to be, but hi
d work was accomplished, and it cor
q tinues to this day, while in his hor
or Mount Jupiter has been name
y Mount San Bernardo.
III This mountain lies between tn
a valleys of Entremonte and Aosta
If The famous hospice is situated upo
d one of the most practicable passe:
,e and gives hospitality to all trave
N lers, from the proud prince to tn
e. poorest tramp. The pious monk
ID of the hospice and their strong faitf
# full dogs 60 in search of tired an
,e freezing pilgrims, and usually SUI
At coed in saving them. These touch
e ing scenes are renewed every year i
o the cold season; but the most ma
,e vellous sight ever witnessed up ther
ID was on May 16, 1900, when Fathe
d. Luigi Luder was superior of til
1e hospice. On that day, it gave ho
ID pitality to eighty thousand mel
o with thirtyeight cannon and othe
,e baggage. 1t was the French arm
Sc which was descending into Italy,
ID few days previous to the battle {
H. Marengo.-[ Romance.