Year: 1876

Tue WnOleSOme iTuit OI numlllty anu lnc
immortal flower Of charity Henceforth
no bitter word ever fell from his lips,
though for a time he had many provoca.
tions, and " Honi soil qui NAL q penSe,"
was the rule of his heart. He made him
self Of little account, and outlived all en-
mites. He lived much in his cell, and
prayed so often for the soul Of brother
John that at last he got to love him dead
whom he had hated living.


Time rolled on. The knights hlir
turned gray and the good prior died.


Then there was great commotion in
the little priory, and three or four Of the
leading friars each hoped to be prior.


That appointment lay with Sir Rich.
ard Erpingham. He attended the funeral
of the late prior, and then desired the
b.prior to convene the monks. Good
brothers." said he, "your prior is brother
Richard. | pray you to invest him forth.
with, and yield him due love and obedi.
ence."


The knight retired and the monks
stared at each other awhile and then
obeyed, since there was no help for it
they invested brother Richard in due
form, and such is the magic of station
that in one moment they began to look
on him with different eyes.


The new prior bore his dignity so
meekly that he disarmed all hostility.
His great rule Of life was still "Honi soil
qui nal ypense," and there is no course
more apt to conciliate respect and good
will. The knight showed him favor and
esteem; the monks learned to respect, and
by and by to revere him but he never
ceased to reproach himself and say mas.
ses for the soul Of brother John.


The years rolled on. The knights gray
hair turned white and one day he sent
for the prior and said to him, Good "a.
ther, | have grave matters to entertain
you withal."


Speak, worshipful sir" said the prior.


The knight looked at him awhile, but
seemed i'll at ease, and as one that hath
resolved to speak, but is loath to begin,
At last he said "Sr, there are men hat
waste not their goods in sin, or meanly
hoard them till their last hour, yet leave
them freely to Mother Church after tt elr
death when they could no longer erioy
them. Others there be whose breasts are
laden with secret crime they ought to
confess and clear some worthy man sus.
pected falsely, yet they will not tell till
they come to die. Methinks this is to be
charitable too late, and just when jus, ice
can neither cost man aught nor profit
his neighbor Therefore, not 70 be one
of these, will reveal to you now q deed
that sits heavy on my conscience.


"You would confess to me, my son ?"


"As maa to man, sir, but not as peni.
tent to his confessor for that were no
merit in me it would be no more than
bury my secret in aeshy grave. Nay,
what | tell to you you shall tell to all he
world, if good may come Of it,"


Hero the knight sighed and seeMed
much distempered, like one who wres' th
with himself Then be cas-, about low
he should begin, and to conclude be
opened the matter thus "Sir, please YOU
read that letter, it WAS writ by bro, aer
j Ohm unto my wife"


The prior read it but said never I'd.


"Sir, said the knight, "do sou rem IN.
Der sad time when you lay in Nors ch
Jail, accused of murder and cast FOR
death ?"


81 do remember it we'll, sir, aud he
uncharitable heart that brought me to
that pass.


whilst you lay there, sir sometl ing
befell elsewhere which [ will hide no
longer from you. The king being al his
palace in London, knight who had
fought BY bis side in France sought an
audience in private 1t was granted Tim
at once Then the knight fell on mis-
knees to the king and begged that his
life and his lands might be spared though
he had slain a man in heat OF blold
The king was grave, but gentle; then
showed him that letter and owned he
trnih-that | and my servant. IN cur
fury, had strangled that hapless molk." :"


ALAS sir, did you take my guilt up.
on yourself 10 save my life, so fully Tor.
felt Twas | who hated him-'twas
who flung the stone"


"At dead body, tell thee, man. We
straugled him and set his body up whore
you saw it; hand in his death you had
none"


The prior uttered strange cry and
was silent The knight continued Ia
low voice:


I'VE set him in the yard and when we
found him in the porch, being half mad
with terror aud drink together, We bound
him on the horse and launched him. All
this told the king and he, considering
the provocation and plying too much his
old companion in arms, gave me my lie
and lands, and thine which indeed was
but bare justice So now, SIT, you ow
that you are innocent Of bloodshed and
and It's am guilty"


Tie knight looked At the churchman
and thought to see him break forth iato
thanksgivings. But it was not so. The
prior was deeply moved, but not exult.
ant. Sir" said he, like man that is
near choking "let me go to my cell nd
think over this strange tidiugs.'


"Aud pray for me, do implore yea"
said the knight.


GAY, sir, aud with all my heart


Some days passed and the knight lcok.
ed TO hear his own tale come round again.
But no ; the prior was silent as the gra We.
Then after a while the knight sent for
him again and said, Good father, Aat
told you was not under seal of con es.
sion"


81 know it, sir said the prior. Yet
will it 60 no further, unless should out
live you by Gods will. Alas sir you
have taken from me that which was the
health of my soul, my belief that had
slain him | hated unchrstianlike This
belief made humility easy to NE, and