The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-20
o.. RIOS. Of Lin. and Inc Mosquitoes.

FfOW ~ l0Otet.
Il was not always tia pet animal" that the Saint
loved. Anthony the Hermit had HE hog. 40 81.
Jerome hs lion. And IL was sometimes the animal
or insect who was kind 70 the Holy Man or Holy
Woman, rather than he or she who was kind 10
the animal or Insect. There waa 81. Rose Of Lima
IN her solitude with the ~gnats-or mosquitoes We
should say. There 10 no creature says the
chroniceY. more annoying 20 man; for II acts the
part OF q trumpeter and soldier; since II both stings
and by itS shrtl Bu1zIng haunts the sleepers. Now
s~arms and hosts Of them used 10 enter Roses
hut, chIeey when either the parching rays Of The
sun By day. CT 90 evening the calm. refreshing
breeEes Of the night. brought their minute bodies
down upon her. However. amid such myrisds Of
gnats. there was not one which ever touched Rose
in her cell. The walls were full Of them on sl
sides; the little door .Tesounded with them: the
window was crowded with q continuous stream Of
them coming and going; but they all took care NOT
70 settle on Rose.
Now, II happened that the Mother or some Of
the more devout visited Rose In her narrow dwell.
ing 20 discuss sacred topics. But an army OF gnsts
attacked them 40 soon 40 they approached the door
or window. and unweleome numbers began at once
to cover their faces and hands. One was driven
away. Il was followed by. fours; generally they Ivy
In ambush 70 suck the blood OF the ~cartICEs. rn1
left marks Of their presence by irritation and sN'u'
ings. They wondered how Rose could remain un-
disturbed for days together under this plague Of
Egypt; and they were more astounded when they
observed that there was not the least trace on hcr
lace or nAuQS OF tntb DlOOutnIsty NUISANCE. lntu
the virgin smiled. and replied TO the Mother and
others: when l entered this abode | made friends
with the snats. and formed q compact with them.
that they should never disturb nor modest me. snd
that l.. on my part. should in no way IN jure them.
Each OF Us has stood TO our agreement, snd we rot
only enjoy ihis UOIiiSOI dwelling Without strife.
but. moreover. the same gnats eagerly assist US,
In their measure, In sin ring Gods praises"
Thus II happened that as often as Rose st early
dawn opened the door Of her house, and undid her
shutters, she charged the gnats. who had passed
the night In crowds on the walls: Come. now,
my friends. II is time 70 praise Almighty God"
And forthwith they. beginning with a gentle sym
phony, burst out into deep ouSzing. and broke
up into circles, mineling their high pitched muir
murs In various keys. In such ordered array and IN
such ntly winding curves that you would havs
thought II was either . chorus or dance. presided
over by reason ss conductor. When they had hl.
nlled this duty they Dew sway TO get food. And
again, In like manner. when At SUM- set they returned
10 the hospItabls roof. again Rose pressed on them
the duty OF Joining with her for q certain space IN
giving praise 20 their common Creator before they
retired 10 rest. soon . joyful buEzing. In which
they Wed with one another. nlled the corners Of the
room. and the winged harmony exulted IN imitat-
ing the strains Of wind instruments until. az Roses
orders. al at once were still, 40 II under the single
rule Of silence after dark.
mals she kept up by her harmless ways. which she
developed In such q degree that she lived In her
solitary cell as II she were In paradise.