The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-22
LII


When he saw such a rivalry of praises and
so great harvest of tributes. Barnabe was
Away lamenting his ignorance and stupid
ity. "Aias!" he would sigh. as he walked
alone in the little shadeless garden Of the
convent, Il ain very unhappy haf | cannot
like my brothers worthily PRAISE the holy
Mother CT God, to whom / have vowed the
tenderness Of my heart. Alas! alasl | am
a rough man and without skill, and have
for your service, Nine. Virgin, neither
learned sermons nor treatises divided
according to rules, nor fine paintings nor
beautifully cut statues nor verses counted
cut into feet and marching by measure |
have nothing, alas! And then he would
groaa and give himself up to sadness.
One day while the brothers were talking
during their recreation he heard ole Of
them tell OF monk who could say nothing
but retite the Ave Maria" This monk
was despised for his ignorance, but when
he died there came out of his mouth five
roses in honor Of the five letters of the name
of Maria, and his holiness was thus mani
tested. AS he heard this story BarnaDe
once more wondered at the Virgins good
ness, but he was not cOnsOled by the ex-
ample of the blessed dead monk, for his
heart was full of zeal and he lOnged to
exalt the glory Of his Lady who is in the
heavens.
But he sought in vain for a means of do
ing this, and he grew day by day more
grieved, until one morning he aw0ke full OF
joy, and. running to the chanel. remained
there for more than an hour, going back
again after dinner. From that time he
would 90 every day 10 this chapel at all hour
when it was empty. and he spent there a
great part OF the time that the other monks
conseeraied 10 artistic and ordinary labors.
He Was no more sad and he no longer
grOaned.
SO singular change excited the curiosity
of the monks and they began to gossip as 10
the frequent retreats OF Brother Barnabe.
The Prior, whose duty it is to pass over
nothing in the conduct IF his MONKS with
out scrutiny, resolved to observe Barnabe
in his solitary devOtions. and one day, when
the brother was shut Up as usual in the
chapel, came my Lord Prior. with TWO IF the
oldest brethren, TO spy ont through the
CRACKS of the door whatwas going on inside
Soon they saw Barnabe before the altar
of the Virgin on his head. his feet In the
air. and tossing up and catching again six
copper balls and twelve knives. lie was
playing, in the honor of the holy Mother OF
God. the tricks which had formerly won
him so much praise, but not und Outstanding
that this simple man was thus Offering up
his one talent and his only knowledge TO the
service of the Holy Virgin. the two old
monks cried out at the sacrilege. The
Prior knew that Barnabe was incapable of
any such thing. but he judged that the I0Or
man had fallen from melancholy into lnSaH-
lily, and thev were all three about to drag
him by force from the chapel, when they
saw the Holy Virgin come down the steps
OF tie altar and gently wipe off with the
fold of her beautiful blue robe the drops of
sweat which stood thick on the forehead OF
the iuggler.
Then the Prior knelt down with his face
on the marble pavement and recited these
words: blessed are the simple hearted,
for they shall see God"
"AmeDp answered the reverend monks,
kissing the floor. - Translated from the
French OF Anatole France by Annas c.
Brackett.