The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-11-18
BROTHER FELIPE'S MEMORY.


monastery that it could be no difficult
matter Tor Brother Felipe to forget the
world. The difficulty for him would
have been to remember IL. He could
not even remember the little worldly
calls which, even in monastery, must
needs be hardened to from day to day,
and though in themselves trivial are
yet, when properly responded to, of
no small use in keeping the devil at
bay. For example, the call to meals.
Fasting to the proper and enjoined ex-
tent is an excellent thing; no brother,
not even Brother Antonio, would have
dared deny it. For by fasting the flesh
is mortified, as 1t should be. But to for
get the times and seasons for the par
taking OF food altogether, as Brother
Felipe sometimes did, is to 30 to ex-
tremes. And when, as also sometimes
happened, Brother Felipe forgot when
he was, as a matter of rotation, kitch-
ener Tor the day, the mortification-of
other people rather than of himself
was excessive.
If nc did not forget to prepare n
meal, Brother Felipe was as likely as
not to err on some other sue of his
memory. Such was the case when, be-
Ing engaged in the composition of
liquor for which the monastery was ia
nous throughout the province, he
used, qui,e unsuspected. soda by mis-
take for sugar. Brother Antonio suf-
fering from a sharp attack OF rheum
which required in the abbot's opinion
uatI In Irnf har nj
warming draught, was the victim of
this monstrous brew. His words, as
he rushed from the buttery plucking
at mas chest, which the torrid liquid
was burning from within, were such
as had never been dreamed OF in that
unworldly place, and caused mis- broth
ers to hang their heads for weeks af-
.erward.
Brotner Antonio did penance for the
wordr as Gid Brother Felipe for the
brew Brother Fenpe did it without
grumble. lie dengnCed in dong pen
ance-another strange thing.
Often he implored something to be
put upon him when from his confession
there was no need of it. Only it must
be borne in mind that he never could
remember anything-not even his sins.
"And that in itself becomes a SIM
said the abbot upon one occasion.
Punish me, therefore; punish me,
Father" Felipe replied, and was given
his wish; though, it must be admitted,
II absent mindedness made him a sin
ner, it also prevented him from being
q sufferer, seeing that he usually for
got that what he was 4oing was q
penance, and ne had none of the pangs
Of conscience. OF this doubtless, the
Abbot was aware.
The Others often wondered what
Brother Felipe had been like in the
outside world. They themselves had
been so different in some ways. Not
In all, of course. Brother Antonio had
mover hated meat and wine then any
more than he did now. The difference
was that now he tried to nate them.
They all tried to hate the past, and if
they ever spoke of it, which was sell
dom, they spoke of it with fear and
toathing.
Brother Fedpe, on the other hand,
had thrown thunderbolt once or
twice into their midst by speaking of
some incident of the past with obvious
qualification.
His devoutness was beyond question,
his docility equally so, the only proofs
of his having been not unvisited by
the devil in his youth being certain
suggestions of quick temper. Once
for nothing at all he had knocked
a brother down, sign of depravity,
Indeed. in anybody else but Brother
Felipe. Somehow it was, like its
cause, nothing at all in him. The alb
bot had visited it mildly, plainly find
ing 1t impossible to punish overmuch
one who was beyond doubt as uncon-
scious of his sin as a. summer sky that
q moment before had been streaked
with lightning.
Every one was agreed, in fine, that
Brother Felipe was without guile. But
Dor his wool gathering wits he might
bave been saint. Also-but for what
follows.
II Is possible, though not easy, to
lorget the world ID all times except
pe. That is in time Of war. If the
penny thunders on ones gates, he
.tings the world with him. Neither
layers nor communications can
fep him out. And SO. one might say,
! captain is stronger than the devil
himself, who is not, at least, at his
sase in a holy place. If this be any
excuse for what Brother Felipe did,
et 1t be told in his favor
1t was after the melting of the SHOWS
In the year 180-. You know the events
Df that year? The arch enemy Napo-
leon had thrown his men, with equal
aisdain and cunning. into the PENN
sula, and the Spaniards, remembering
their glory, had risen. Slfirmishes, be-
ieaguerments, defeats. victories, all
these the patriots had tasted, and It
was by one Of the last--briefy. since
this is no place for the details of the
Gghting-that Capt. Herpolet. with 400
conscripts. mad with hunger and de-
fsst. was cut O6 from the French main
nl1ny Of thA Pyron0os and led than