The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-02-15
THE CHlLDREN'S HOUR.
THE LoAvEs FOR THE POOR.

Years ago in the city of Florence
lived Nicholas Nerli, the banker.
At six in the morning. when the
church bell rang for Terce, he sat at
his desk, and at nine, when it rang
for None, he was there still; and all |
day long he wrote and wrote figures |
in his ledgers. He gave loans to the |
Emperor and the Pope. He had &C
quired great wealth, and robbed many |
people. And so he was honored in
the city of Florence. He lived in a !
palace where the light that God made
entered but through narrow windows
and. this was prudence, for the dwell |
ing of the rich should be like cita-
del, and those who have much wealth
are wise in protecting by force what
they have gained by craft.
So the palace of Nicholas Nerli was
provided with iron gates and chains.
Within, the walls were decorated by
clever artists with paintings of the
virtues, the patriarchs, the prophets,
J and the kings of Israel. Tapestry,
| hung in the rooms, displayed the his
| tories of Alexander and Caesar.
| But in the city were the riches of
Nicholas Nerli displayed in pious
foundations. He had built. outside
| the walls, a hospital, the frieze of
| which, in sculpture and painting. rep
resented the most honorable actions
of his life; and in gratitude for the
sums of money he had given towards
the completion of Santa Maria Novel
la, his portrait hung in the choir of
that church.
And there he might be seen kneel-
ing. with his hands clasped, at the
feet OF the Holy Virgin; he was easily
known by his cap of red wool, his
furred cloak, his fat face, and his
small, keen eyes. His good spouse.
Mona Bismantova, with quiet, sad
air, was at the other side of the
statue. in an attitude of prayer
| This man was one of the foremost
citizens Of the republic; and as he
had never spoken against the laws,
and as he cared not a jot about the
poor or those whom the rulers con-
demned to fine or Punishment, moth
ing had lessened, in the opinion Of
the magistrates, the esteem he had
acquired by his great wealth.
Coming home one winters night
later than usual, he was surrounded
at the very door of his palace by a
troop. of half naked beggars, who
stretched out their hands for help
With SCOTS he babe them be gone
But hunger had made them bold and
fierce as wolves. Gathering round
him in a circle, they demanded bread,
in voices hoarse and sad He stopped
down to pick up stones to cast at
them, when he saw one of his serv-
ants approach carrying a basket Of
poor, black loayes for the stablemen,
cooks and gardeners
Making signs for him to draw near,
he took the loaves in handfuls and
threw them among the beggars.
Then, entering the house, he went to
bed and slept
In his sleep he was struck with
apoplexy and died so suddenly that
he thought he was still in his bed
He saw, in place, silent from it's
very brightness, st. Michael cleaning
with a light that streamed from his
body.
The Archangel, balance in his
hand, was filling the scales. Recog-
nizing in the heavier scale the jewels
OF widows which he kept in pledge. a
heap of coins which he had unjustly
retained, and certain very fine pieces
of gold which he alone possessed, and
had acquired by usury or fraud, Mich
clas Nerli felt sure that ST. Michael
was at that moment weighing before
his eyes the life he had just laid
down. He became grave and anxious
Good ST. Michael" he said, If you
are putting in one scale all the gains
Ii have made when alive, put in the
ether, please. the beautiful founda-
lt.OnS by which | so maonificently dis.