The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-04-12
wrHlN cLolsTERs.
solemn Services IF Holy Week Behind
Convent Walls.

Convent Walls.
Tho world is very wide awake and
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 saleswom-
Ell work early and late. In tho churches
there are crowds of chattering people
who make wreaths and talk in garru-
lous fashion. There are rooms where the
gaslight burns far into the spring morn
ing That is where the weary dressmak-
er 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 clergy
men are wondering if their Easter serv-
ice will be q success, and there are still
| jealousy and heartache among the wo-
men over their Easter bonnets.
In the convent garden it is very quiet
and different, says the San Francisco
Examiner. The lilac tree near the wall
is in bloom, and the little altar of the
Blessed Virgin in the arbor is draped
| with the yellow sprays of the blossom
ing currant. There is no one in the gar
den except bent little sister, with a
| sweet, worn face. She is watering lit
tie bed of pansies, 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 study hall, with its shin
ing floor and very straight clean chairs.
AS the girls enter they drop deep
courtesy to a tall inquire roDed In placK,
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 a 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. Tonight the
retreat will begin.
She makes pretty, gentle little adj
dress and urges every child to put away
all worldly thoughts and make herself
worthy to celebrate the glorious Easter.
She calls them children, yet there are
girls of Is or 20 among the crowd. In a
convent every one is child.
The refeotory is big and bare and set
round with long tables. There is read
ing desk in the middle, but no one reads
tonight The retreat has begun. Silent
sisters enter noiselessly and pass the food
to the silent girls. When the meal is
done, there is q 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 tho
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 murmur as of humming
bees. The big bell rings. It's time for
evening prayers There is 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 floors. AT
the door they turn and courtesy.
1t is 1880 o'clock-bedtime at the con-
vent. There is glimmer Of light in the
west yet, but the blinds are closely
drawn. Up stairs in the dormitory 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 any one wants collar or handker-
Chief she writes upon the slate and
signs her number In the morning the
article she asked for will be there, fold
ed upon her neat pile of clothing.
Tn foxu inn ae, no lalD |
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, 81 give you my heart -
Up in the chapel the nuns are pray
that the coming retreat
may be full of blessings to the "chil-
iren of the Sacred Heart "
Before 6 o'clock the next morning
there is long line of yelled figures fill
ing into the chapel. They are all plain
y clad and dressed in black. Each one
carries a prayer book and her beads. The
candles on the altar twinkle bright, yet
ar away. The incense swingers swing
heir burden monotonously. The breath
If the lilac comes in at tho window, and
;he day is begun. There are services in
tho chapel many times that day.
On Good Friday morning the very
small children are just little frighten-
I'd when they SEQ the chapel. Tho golden
lraperies are gone from tho altar, tho
lowers have vanished, and all the
lights are gone. 1t is gloomy
md grewsome i'll the chapel when the
altar lights are gone.
In front of the altar row of nuns
Ineel with their arms out like cross.
some of tho larger girls are allowed to
lneel there, too, and many of them are
obbing. One of them stays SO long that
he is borne out fainting. To the young
II children the gentle sisters tell the
I'D, old story of the dreadful day when
christ was crucified. 1t is so quiet and