The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-11-08

is that any reason why you
should not remember heayenT said
Father Uric. Surely God may
well forget us if we forget Him
And though l did not feel MS
though l cared what Father Uric said
Just then, | remembered his words
when | was alone, in the dead of the
night, and also that had not prayed
that Jean Baptiste might he spared to
me ; and felt as though if | prayed
heartily and from my soul, an answer
might come, and | felt comforted.
And next morning dressed myself in
my very best. aud went across the
meadows to the church, and then |
knelt down and tried to remember the
good words had been wont to say.
But / could not recall one, and | was
forced to use my own poor language,
and to say just this-no more:
Heavenly Father, who knowest
what mothers love is, let me keep
Jean Baptiste from the cruel war
81 said il over and over again.
There was no one near but one lady in
deep mourning, and I could not see
her face. She knelt also, and counted
her beads. And all was still rs death
only now and then I heard my own
voice, rs though it were another's.
And something seemed to say that my
prayers would be answered. And |
arose comforted. and | went ont into
the church-yard full of moss-grown
stones, aud walked there for while.
And the lady in mourning came out
also, and laid wreath of immortelles
upon soldiers grave, and kissed the
stone. on which sword was carved
and his name, and went away. And
went home also, and my heart was at
rest. And all day | watched and
waited for some strange answer to my
sad of heart again when the twilight
fell, and it was time to milk the COW.
| took my pail and went to find her.
She had strayed into meadow hard
by, and was cropping the sere autumn
grass. knelt down there to milk
her, and my poor pail would not be
full, | knew. II was another sign of
our great poverty. ! got my quart or
40, and set it down and leaned against
the fence and wept. And | said
"'There is nothing to hope for, and
prayers do no good. Jean must go to
the war, and his mothers eyes shall
never see him again.
"And my eyes were covered with
my apron, when hand as soft as silk
touched mine, and voice-oh, 50
sweet and heavenly-said softly:
"'No, dame, he shall not go. Hold
your apron This will keep him with
you
"And | looked p,snd there stood
lady. Her face was so beautiful
that it frightened me. And the sun
was act, aud the moon was up, and its
whitencss fell over her. About her
neck she wore black cross, and gold
en- hair rippled down over her fore
head. She was like the Madonna in
the picture in our church. / could
not stir. / could not speak. She
smiled upon me.
"'Hold your apron, dame she
said
"And / had just strength enough to
do it, And then shower of gold and
silver trickleI into it. And again she
said:
"'Your Jean Baptiste need not go,
and was gone herself like vision.
"And saved he was. God bepraised
for it l..
"Never but once after that did l see
n face like that saw that night. II
WAS when Madame La Fontaine, the
widow of the brave soldier, whose
tombstone with the sword upon il
stands in our own graveyard, lay in
her coffin, and we poor people went
to look ut her. Her hair fell over he,
forehead i'll just such yellow ripples,
and her face was Just as white and
sweet. And my Jean Baptiste be
lieves that she knelt near me in thu
church and heard my prayer, and be-
ing charitable lady, and tender to
all soldiers wives and mothers
brought me the money with her owr
hands.
''As for Father Uric, he tells ms
that, since it is God who answer,