The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-02-24
all the ages-made up to be cursed and
bitterly dispised and hated by all the
sons Ct men foreveri

at every step with the blood OF the
weak, there is nothing worse than this
Let the axes ring as timhers are cut
and fagOts laid to make the funera
pile.
And away off at the cottage of Dom
remy, hard by the Meuse, let the ole
father and mother bend their aged
heads and pray for the little girl who
used to give all her coins to the poor
who had soft words and ready help fol
all the sick, who would give up hel
bed and sleep on the floor when the
tired stranger came by and asked fol
rest and shelter! They will see her nc
more.
The French have basely sold her:
the English have basely bought her
the king he served has fogotten her
the church she served has drawn the
dead-line about her-and look where
eyer she may, no valiant arm strives
for her deliverance, no friendly lips
speak audible defense Those who
least deserved to live are living. She
who most deserved to live, is to live
no more. What wonderful, dread
full thing is life, that the best are ever
at the mercy Of the worst.
tears and deep devotion.
Cad in woman'S long gown, she is
put into cart, and, guarded by eight
hundred soldiers, she is taken through
the crowded streets.
Who is this comes rushing through
the multitude, breaking through the
ranks Of the soldiers and striving to
reach Joan? 1t is haggard, misera-
able monk.-Loyseleur the false
friend
Rackcd by remorse, he had come to
ask her forgiveness. The soldiers
drive him back.
Joan. weeping and praying, her face
bent upon her hands, neither sees nor
hears him.
What were the people doing?
Grieving, lamenting, sympathizing,
nothing more.
20 Rouen. is it here that I must
die?" she cried.
Here and now, Joan. The time is
come, poor child, and the white arms
of death will take you soon into his
infinite rest. A little longer, O brave
sister, and thy tears will cease forever.
and thy splendid courage be tried no
more!
In the old Market place they have
built three scaffoldS, one for the bish-
OPS and the mobiles who wished to see
the execution; another for Joan and
some priests and officials; the third
for Joan alone.
The last selm N is preached: Joan
60 in peace. Inc church can no long
er defend you"
God save us all from such defense as
the church gave Joan.
hrly n fn M. .,Y,,n n = q rn q tn no
Time gliaes from under her bruised
and bleeding feet; eternity folds her
in it's deep and solemn spell.
She does not see the crowd any
more; nor hear them. She kneels and
prays aloud, prays fervently, prays
passionately:-pray for her king;
prays for her friends, prays for her
enemies.
Ali VINO hear her are touched with a
great compassion.
Even the bishop weeps. She begs
for cross. She embraces it, weeping
calling upon God and the saints.
Hurry UP this business. Are we
going to wait here for dinner" thus
cry the English soldiers.
Take her. Take her. and do your
duty" hastily exclaimed the Bailiff Of
Rouen to the eXecutioner
Soldiers brutally drag Joan to the
third pile, which, as we said, was made
for her alone. She is fastened to the
stake, high up on the scaffold that the
flames might be slow in releasing he r
to the dread keeping Of death.
They set fire to the pile. A monk is
by her side, praying with her, and
comforting with her. His heart so
yearned over the desolate girl that he
did not notice the ascending flames.
Praise to thee, royal soul! Never
wilt thou do nobler thing.
She saw his danger and bade him go
down.
But hold up the cross that l may
see it," she pleaded.
Up spring the flames, fercely leap
ing, wildly playing; and they catch the
shrinking flesh in their red and hung
ry arms.
But she feels no fear. The good
priest holds the cross, almost in the
midst Of the fire: and out Of the terri
bic furnace Of flames she is heard cry
ing: Jesus. Jesus, Mary. My voices. =
Then uttering one great cry-"Jc-
sus," she dropped her head upon her
breast and died.
"Ten thousand men were weeping.
Some Englishmen alone laughed. or
tried to laugh" says the historian.
The ashes were collected and thrown
into the Seine.
That ends it.
And the church and the state can
now divide the blood money; the re-
wards direct and indirect Of the crime
which came nearer realizing on earth
diabolism which would degrade hell,
than any other that blackens the rec
OrdS of the human race.