Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-04-11
Holy Week Behind Convent Walls.

noisy in the spring of Easter week. On
the street the boys sell huge bouquets,
crying their blooming wares with hoarse
voices. In the shops the tired sales
women work early and late. In the
churches there are crowds of chatter
ing people who make wreaths and
talk in garrulous fashion. There are
rooms where the gaslight burns far In
to the spring morning. That is where
the weary dressmaker is hurrying her
work.
The orchestras are rehearsing new
music, the actresses are planning new
dresses, the florists are haggling about
the price Of rose, the choir leaders
are nervous and anxious, the new
clergymen are wondering if their Eas-
ter service will be a success, and there
are still jealousy and heartache among
the women over their Easter bonnets.
In the convent garden it is very
quiet and different, says the San Fran
cisco Examiner The lilac tree near
the wall is in bloom, and the little
altar of the Blessed Virgin in the ar
Dor is draped with the yellow sprays
of the blossoming currant. There Is
no one in the garden except bent
little sister, with a sweet, worn face.
She is watering little bed of pansles,
but inside the big brick convent there
is sound of many feet The sewing
class is Just over, and the girls are
filing out into the study hall to put
away their workboxes--the big, cool,
clean stndy hall, with its shining floor
and very straight clean chairs.
AS the girls enter they drop deep
courtesy to tall figure robed in black,
which sits upon the platform. Then
each girl, after she puts away her box,
walks quietly to one of the chairs.
The tall nun at the desk shuts little
signal box she holds in her hand, there
is sudden rap, and all the girls are
seated.
Children says the religieuse, 1--WE
are entering upon season of great
JOY. Let us prepare ourselves. To-
night the retreat will begin"
She makes pretty, gentle little ad-
dress and urges every child to put
away all worldly thoughts and make
herself worthy to celebrate the glori-
Gus Easter. She calls them children,
yet there are girls of Is and 20 among
the crowd. In convent every one is
a child.
The refectory is big and bare and
set round with long tables. There is
a reading desk in the middle, but no
one reads tonight. The retreat has
begun. Silent sisters enter nolseless-
ly and pass the food to the silent girls.
When the meal is done, there is big
dish of warm water passed. Each
girl thrusts in her spoon, her knife
and her fork and wipes them.
1t is warm in the garden yet, and
the girls go out there. They walk in
little groups of three and FIVE. A few
Of them walk alone. All of them are
telling their beads, with a murmur as
of humming bees. The big bell rings.
It's time for evening prayers. There
is a snap of the signal box every one
rises. Another snap; they form in
line. Another snap; they turn and
walk from the room, their footsteps
echoing on the hard hoors At the
door they turn and courtesy.
1t is 7.30 o'clock-bedtime at the
convent. There is a glinmer of.light
in the west yet, but the blinds are
closely drawn. Upstairs in the dorm
itory there are rows and rows Of white
beds, hung with snowy curtains. In
the middle of the room is table with
a slate on it. If anyone wants col
lar or handkerchief, she writes upon
the slate and signs her number. In
the morning the article she asked for
will be there, folded upon her neat
pile of clothing.
In few minutes the rustling be-
hind the white curtains ceases. A
velvet footed religieuse walks from
bed to bed to see that all are quiet.
Then her low voice sounds distinctly
through the room:
Sacred heart of Jesus, immaculate
heart Of Mary"
From behind the curtain comes the
answer, Il give you my heart"
Up in the chapel the nuns are pray
ing-praying that the coming retreat
may be full of blessings to the "ehil-
dren of the Sacred Heart"
Before 6 o'clock the next morning
there is a long line of yelled figures