The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-04-05
OUR BOYS AND GIRLS.
A Bible for a Pistol.


"See, mother, see what have
brought you'll" exclaimed young Bra
lillian, holding up to view well-bound,
gilt edged book. "Antonio Marques
told me that the priest ordered him to
burn it, but he did not like to destroy
so good book, and was afraid to dis
please the priest by keeping it., so l Of
fered to trade my old double barreed
pistol for it. / thought you might like
to have the book, for they say it is all
about religion, and you are religious.
1t might be of some use when you go
to repeat your prayers for people who
are dying"
The mother took the book from her
sons hands, and slowly reading the
title, " A Santa Biblia," said: "Ahr
this is good; this is the Rule of
Life am glad to have it," Then
beginning at the first of Genesis, che
glanced over several chapters until she
reached the tenth. Yes, you are right,
my son; here is just the kind of prayer
| want. Here is long list of names,
and as they are all in the Bible, they
must all be of saints, and some of them
will surely help the poor creatures"
The youth frequently found his
mother with the book before her when
he came in from his work, and had he
taken the trouble to look over her
shoulder he would have found her al
ways reading the tenth chapter of Cen
esis.
The woman, who had fame of
knowing by heart great many prayers,
was often sent for to 90 even long dis
tances TO repeat them for the hope and
comfort of the dying; and she was
faithfully trying to master the long
names so as to say them off giibly to
serve as prayer.
One day, as they sat taking their
noon. day coffee, a messenger came
from neighboring plantation, begging
her to 90 at once to see young girl
who was very ill. With book in hand
she set out, and, arriving at the house
a sad though not unusual sight met her
eyes. A girl of about fifteen lay upon
the bed, her beautiful black eyes look
ing strangely bright in contrast with
the pale features. The parents and sis
tiers, instead of caring for her, were
wringing their hands and wildly crying
OUT "She is dyingl She is dying :"
The sick girl feebly stretched out a
wasted hand, gasping: "They say that
l am dying; teach me quickly how to
die; tell me, what must | do?" The
old woman gently shook her hand, and
in soothing voice, said: " Don't be
nervous, dear; you will repeat after
me the Pater Noster, the Ave Maria,
the prayer of st. Joseph, and the rest,
and then prayer that have learned
from this good book, you need not be
afraid"
a sight never to be forgotten by one
:: who knows that there is but one 'name
,, under heaven, given among men
whereby we must be saved" was this
., death bed scene. The old woman, in
, clear tones, rapidly repeated among
other things, "Shem, Ham, Japheth,
Conner, Magog, Madai, Javan," and so
on throughout the long list. The dy-
ing girl vainly tried to follow her as her
voice grew fainter and fainter, for she
was, with all her failing strength
clinging to this false hope, as she
passed out into eternity.
Some years later the young man who
had gotten the Bible in such curious
way married and left the old house to
live at the wife's homestead. One
evening, as the old father sat in his
usual place reading, the husband said
" Anninha, what is that book your
father is always reading?"
That" she replied, is the Bible.
He often tells me about what he reads
and it is very interesting. l wish
could read it for myself; but it is q
French book, and | can only read
Portuguese"
If it is called the Holy Bible, y
said he, "then my mother has it in
Portuguese, for | gave it to her long
ago. | never read it myself, but she
used to learn things out of it for prayers
They never sounded very interesting
to me-"
Gould you get it for me, Jose"'
she asked.
Yes, | will 90 over and ask mother
for it tomorrow" promised he.
When the wife got the Bible, she
carried it to her father, who was much
pleased to find this favorite book in his
native tongue, and opening it at the
New Testament, he began to read aloud
The Young couple listened, and soor
grew so Interested that they begge
him to 90 on, till they kept him reading
late into the night. Deeply touched by
the "old, old story of Jesus and his
lONc, lutJ DSsah " ltau iOi ehoih
selves. Soon they learned that pardon
and peace had already been purchase
for them, and that what God required
of them was not penances and bond
age to fear through life, and masses
and the agonies of purgatory aftel
death, but childlike faith and loving
obedience-that godliness which give:
promise of the life that now is, and tina
which is to come.
The sons first wish was TO have hi
mother learn the good news, so he car
ried back the Bible, saying: "Why
mother, you never got the best out o
this book! You only looked for some
thing to die by, and it is full of gooC
words to live by, as well. Let me reaC
you some"
mo, my son." responded she: "
got what l wanted out of the book, anC
that is enough for me. do not care t