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oa0nIoN STAR AND CATHOLIC BEgE.GE.
LOVE'S STIA T. 'E1
From the hour when Eve sang her first
spring-song in Paradise, awakening into
life an echo from the throat of every tiny
bird as they sat in listening delight above
and arouud her-from that time has every
living thing coming from God's hand, Beem
ingl uttered a shout of welcome as spring's
Sfirst breatbhis wafted over the world. No
wonder, that the old Minnie-singers and
troubadours of the middle ages never
wearied of this theme-no wonder, that
those who bend under a cloud of suffering
and sorrow, pressed down upon them by
the palm of a mighty hand, can then raise
the blessed seasoitltude for
influence can penetrate evena . dlngeoni
gloom.
Thus, to one so confined as Alice within
the limits of four walls, during td ielg,
dark days of winter, every blade of graes,
every leaf and blossom, and note of bird,
seemed. to be a special messenger from God,
sent to baish from her mind the peast dark
---ienever it was possible, she spent a
part of each day in her garden-chair, drink
ing in all the
"Sweet look that Nature wears,"
and with it that perfect sense of rest and
peace that she alone, of all external minis
trants, can bring to a weary heart. Ex
cepting this variety, there was no other
change in her daily life. There were many
days when she wna obliged to remain in a
quiet, darkened i :I, soothed by the kin
attendance of i.. .annt, alternated
others, wherein her natural bnoyanc f
disposition- helped her to keep ta 9tely
down all manafestations of pain iat was
not absolutely overwhelming./
Each day, as it passed, gavee her more
satisfaction with Eugene ; end as she
watched him :from her dow, at work
among the flowers, or dacting some im
provement in the grouds, she often found
herself really admir his graceful move
mients. and wondeniug how such a man
could, by any cli$ce of fate, belong to the
situation he thn filled.
Not a little-triumph, too, in her own dis
cernment, mingled with her admiration.
Scarcely- day passed that he did not step
to her indow to ask her some question
rega ing the arrangement of a plant, the
tra ing of a vine, or to call her attention
the rapid growth of some beautiful la
orite flower.
As his first strangeness wore off, his man
ner assumed the most perfect ease, though
so tempered with respectful deference as to
leave no room for fault finding. He always
seemed to be on the alert-to have a pre
monition of all Alice's movements. Did
she ride in the garden, he was sure to be on
the path her chair would take. Did she
need other assistance than Mary's, from
one chair to the other, and " Dutch Jake"
not within call, he would offer his services
with such winning frankness,.yet timid re
spect, that Alice could not wound his feel
ings by refusing a service from him that she
accepted from another; though she after
ward said, that " when Jake lifted her she
thought no more of it than she should have
done had the power been that of a ma
chine;" but she felt a strange sense of
timid hesitation and a great weight of ob
-ligation when this act was performed by
Eugene.
Altogether there was a strange fascina
tion about the man, and she was forced to
admit to herself, though with a blush, that
be took up entirely too much of hek
thoughts, and that her mind 'ate not half
so tranquil as it had been previous to his
advent.
Mr. St. CyrO going into Alice's room one
e-enisng, on his return home, found her very
much atigued, lying on her conch, while,
has wife sat by her side, her busy lingers
en gaged in knitting.
'Why, Alice, I hope you are not going
to lcse this lovely weather by being too ill
to enjoy it," said the gentleman.
' Oh, indeed," replied his wife, not giving
Alice time to speak, " 1 am only afraid the
enjoyment of it is what is going to lay her
up; she becomes so excited and carried
away whenever she does anything out of
her.every day routine-and though Eugene
jidi bt' of great service, to the fwersY,
think it is a pity that he can't keep some of
his French enthusiasm to himself, instead
of turning Alice's head with accounts of the
Jcrdia des 'lanstec, the Tuilleries grounds,
and I know not what else, until our little
enthusiast is tired with ambition to turn
her own pretty American villa into a petit(
Trianon, or, for aught I know, she may
even contemplate a second larly."
Alice could not help laughing at hey
aunt's earnestness, and at 'the same time
raising her head and resting it on her hand,
she said:
" Now, uncle, listen to me, and I will
tell you all about this dreadftul piece of
work that has forced aunt Laura into such
a long sentence, contrary to her wonted
regard or the vaiue of words. Last fall, I
made up my mind to have a fine lot of moss
roses and some other raret and choice plants
that I knew Taft waa reaady to sell. The
purpose has never left inly mind' I have
only been waiting for such weather and
roatds as would make the ride an agreeable
and 1eneficial one ti, me. No time more
PropitiisU, surely, than snuch t day as this;
no I hadl the little carriage muade ready , and
after tx.l\ in, in vain t, persuade aunt ',Laura
to accompliuly ie. I started off alone with
Elgen', a:I I w;untedl his judgmient and ex
perience to k.,p 'l'Taft from cheating me,
which, you knlow. hie ihas tile reputation of I
doing, whentvci, ti. mRc.ts with a fi~ir sub- <
ject. The ride was rather longer and a 1
little rongher than I ;aeticiplated, but reall
I la._ l s'ttI a an igre:l~,: wnupauiouip.t..,tj1
look se' sheockcI --tlh.tl I didt.'t know how -
tired I .as- until I got hrnce.i
* Now. I want to talk to you seriouslyd, un
cle, about Eugene. You kgow l en
here n month, and. I hav
it ities of studying 1.
ding able of being s , or
eon 'udness into fami iarity, I
ve dr out in such a way, at dif
ieunt ti be fully convinced that
]ras never born to his piresent sphere;
hat, both by education and aspiration, he
is fitted for some higher walk of life, and
that only some terribly sad reverse of for
tune at home has driven him to this strange
land, and left him only a choice between
using his most i e no
starving. God
giving me set w ' ,nienu
tag me with liea tlt f eha
mensurate with my own ts. Whgt ac
counit can I give of my stewards4pp if I fail
to use it for the happisess of-my.,fellow
beings I Would it not he very easy, at
only a common act of mercy, forian toad
vance this man sunobh a sum of. money as
would give him a fair start in life at some
occupation more in accordance with his
tastes and talenits t. This is what I want to
do, but, df course, would not talkc asay et
in the'matter without consulting your bet
L-..MwUuB., ,,e= l- ehsutlld want you
to speak to im an arrange all the pre
limnnaries, for you know I never can unner
stand 'money"matters, or-give the 'almighty
dollar' the worship wliiclr our people un
fortnnsttely think itits due."
Mr. tt.'Cyr had listened attentively,.his
countenance varyinginexpreesion asAlice's
intentions and feelings werer made evident
by her own earneptalessof manner. A man
If the world, an a close observer of human
nature, he ma some -deeper. feeling than
one of mere ilanthropy, underlymig her
interest i e future of this fascinating,
mysterio man.
SH some moments silent, turning all
she said in his mind, perfectly con
vi ed, however, of her own ingenuousness,
en sebing her anxiety to ihear him speak,
e broke the silence by saying:
"-Your good intentions, Alice, in behalf
of this- person, are only in keeping with
your warm and generous heart, which
would, I verily believe, prompt you, if you
had the power, to make every beggar a
prince."
"Not unless I saw the halo gleam
through the -rags," quickly answered Alice.
" But this proposition is too sudden for
me to give an immediate reply to, or for
you to act upon, without further reflection
and knowledge of this person's antecedents,
In the meantime, take care ! you, who have
so rashly resolved to live a lonely, loveless
life, lest you find the golden gates taken by
a coup de imaiN, and we have, through you,
a modern version of the story of Catherine
of Valois -and Owen Tudor."
Food enough for reflection did this con
ver.sation give Alice, though it proved no
anodyne for her increased nervous excite
moent. Very little sleep visited her eyelids,
weary from weeping, that night, and the
next day she was unable to leave her
chamber.
WVhatevel. plan her intentions might sub
s sequently have taken in behalf of Eugene,
they were speedily frustrated by his own
I announcementof JAis intention to leave at
the expiratioz of his month. To all her
questions he/gave some evasive reply, or
looked at her with such beseeching, unmis
takable eyes, that she felt obliged to let the
matter drop. When the day arrived, and
she told Mary to send him to her to receive
his wages, to her great astonishment she
heard that he had left the pxrmises before
breakfast, not, however, without a polite
good-bye td-'a the kitchen department,
" just like a rale ginlemnan," added Mary,
" which same I believe he is."
f We will not dwell on the lady's chagrin
as she thought over the seemingingratituide
of Eugede's conduct, nor on Mr. St. Cyr's
evident pleasutre and triumph at the unex
-pected .turn matters, that began to look
Sthreatening, had taken, but leave each- and
all fou a few days to the influence of their
respective views and feelings.
Iv.
•. My! bride, my wile, my life!
(ed. I love thee ; come .
Yield thyfs'f up; my hopes aod thin- a-r.' ue.
SAccomplish thou-my manhood adin mvlf
Lay thy sweet hand in mine, and trut to .'
Achille had faithfully kept the prolnise
made to Egmont, of reporting himself-hyv
his presence every Sunday, the friend.*
always speuding the greater part of that
I day together.
In spite of all Egmont'sYankee ingenuity
I to tind out Achille's secret, he found him
self foiled by his invulnerable secretive
r powers. " Only wait," he would say, " and
I you shall soon see the whole play, the lset
f scene inclusive. The drama is drawing to
a close, and if you will call at my room on
l T lug~r py next and, dine with me, I promise
f to reveal to yonu 114" iit'iery of the, pastr
I month."
Egmont was punctual to the minute on
the day appointed, and was rejoiced totind
Achille in fine spirits and a loquacious
1 mood, two things that of late had seemed
to leave deserted him. Dinner being served
and the servant dismissed. Egmont at once
dashed into the sulbject of his long pent-up
curiosity by saying:
" Now that you are tired of playing
Ulysses, and have returned from your wansm
derings, futlfill your promise. and give uls
a history of your adventures hy land and
sea.
"'Theyad p bie told in a few words. M1Iv
~wanderings have been n;itlooutl of vousr
churci bells; my occupation, atttending_
flowers and studying the heart of that hfair
lady whom you polnounced so ftr- olut of
the reach of any man's art to know. I told
you I should find a way to corplass mx i
end, and I did. Fortune favored me, asi
she always does a strong purpose and a;I
brave will; so, I have not only atall
seen and talked to the lady in ]her oWi
home, but I have watched all her jwojnault.
daily pursuitsl, studied-her tastes, gathlcra'dl
her flowers, heard the loveliest rendering,
of Casta 1ica and other musical gensr bIv
her exquisite voice, and, t, r;um -lp all,
have actmially held hel in tnce arms! Look
out, Egmont, you will hau:;' everything off
the table, turning yourself about in your
chair like an eel out of water !--and all this
has been accomplished by one Eugene
I evasaBut,greeu-$-house attendant of Maclinu
Hiampton. "
Then Achille proceeded to give an ac
fall em ploy - '
surprise, and was lost, row in * at
the temerity of the act, now in a tio
at the versatility of the geniug that could
sustain so admirably two tihtinct charac
ters and calltii . "But,' said Egmont,
when the sto bi d4 u tinlshed, "I can
understand how,.with your talents, you
could pilay Claude ~elnotte among the
tldwers, under the eye of your mistress, to
great p .at that you could, wth
all y, r 4 c- proclivities, eonde
d, avee f ' geat a prize, y
ile tie 'ru~ eur, and desedo
bea kijhedh aºt 'rpasses belief.'
" Whly, you seeý,at the start I entirely
lost sight of the sacriticesr such a puasuit
might entail, and I confess to losing cour
age for a moment when I found Twas eo
pected to take my ieat at a table having for
company tbh e -snoJ ticated luhters ol
the Emerald sleo al st-ptdof 'eo i
man. Of course, I was never. read3 when
called, and received sundry black looks
ann heas mutterings about people who
have no right to be ' stuck up when they
have to work for a living,' from the cook;
yet-ldid not d8tpair of arranging this de
partment likewisq..to my taste. Hearing
ridget.expreas greatanxietyfone day to
fnd some one who would write a letter for
her to the 'o~ld counthry,' I offered my
services and asa accepted. Thus the ditll
cultie wesre-:al, at an end. ' Misther En
gene' from that time was indulged in what
Bridget termed his 'lonesome notions,' and
my mealsserved quite as neatly and. com
ibrtablypas:any man taking his gret lessons
in demoeracy could wish. So far, all has
gone quite to my satisfaction, but you must
see that there is a great. deal yet to be done
before the realization of my hopes is com
pleted. I think you told me once thlht -ou
were well acquainted with the madam's
uncle. Of course, I cannot take any steps
in my proper character fo),the furtherance
of my widses, without being irst known to
him, her guardian and protector; so I want
you to go with me to-morrow and call on.
that gentleman and introduce me in due
form. He will, no doubt, be very angry at
tirst, and have serious ideas of calling me
out, but it will end by our being the best
of friends, or I am no reader of human na
tu'e."
According io engagement, the two young
men met the next morning, and proceeded
at once to 11r. St. Cyr's counting-room
Egmont's mind filled with misgivings as to
the result of the impending interview,
Achille too much interested in the end to
think of the means by which it was to be
attained.
When the two gentlemen entered the
private room of Mr. St. Cyr, he was en
gaged in writing, and not until he heard
She .voice of Egmont, saying "' he ha"
brought a friend who particularly desired
to make his acquaintance," did he raise his
eyes.
The introduction proceeded in due form
Mr. St. Cyr's counrtenance expressing alter
nately doubt, surprise and vexation. At
length, after a long Iook at Achille, he was
satisfied that he had seen himn before, and
his identity with Eugene was fully estab
lished in hia own mind. Achille eqmpre
hended at a glance his exact position, but
without giving dMr. ft. Cyr a chance to ex
press his convictions or sentiments, he made
his confession with such volubility, grace,
and earnestness as to cor!i.Tetely mollify
the indignatioln which he naturally felt with
the person who had practised such an im
position on his niece; and though he would
rather some other means had been tried by
this young Quixote for the accomplishment
of his wishes, still he could hot help admir
ing the feeling that prompted the adven
ture, and the courage that had risked so
much to attain his end. Then, too, he re
membered how perfectly respectful and un
obtrusive his conduct had been, when an
unprincipled man could, and might have
taken advantage of such an opportunity to
create a great amount of unpleasant feeling
in the family. All these considerations
passed rapidly through his mind, but ended
in his giving his hand to Achille, and prom
ising to help him in the prosecution of his
wTshes. But Achille refused to accept any
overture from Mr. St. Cyr until he had
promised him first to call at the officeef the
French consul and examine fully into his
name. position, and .prospects.
"' When yon are perfectly satisfied on
that point, said he, "then I will be only
too happy to enter again, as a guest, the
house that I left as a servant. But I hope
vou will allow me-the privilege of disclos
ing, in my own way, my true character
and position to your niece. With this ob
ject, will beg you to take charge of a note
to be delivered to the lady on your return
home. What tthitinav fail to explain, my
first interview will."
The gentlemen parted good friends
Egmon1 t congratulating Achille on the suc
cesstiul and happy termination of a piece of
business that, to his mind, but a few mo
ments before, savored very strongly of
ragupowder. M.r. St. Cyr repaired, in the
course of the day, according to Ihis primise,
to the office of the French consul, what he
heard there seeming very materially to
allay whatever latent feeling of resentment
there may still have been in his mind
against 4chille. On Ihis return to the
cU"tiing-rmoo. he found the note for Alice,
as lrPmised bv-Achille. -This, with some
papers, on reachig home, he handed to
MaIy, to take to her mistress, whilst he,
contrary to his custom, proc&'eded at once
to his own room.
Alice lhad evidently been out of spirits
since Eugene's strange leave-taking. Her
nature was so delicately organi.ed that
event the slights or ingratitude of an inferior
hail power to wound. Beside, she could
not bear to believe in the tlapravity of
human nature, but clung to every trihtle
t·hat could encourage her faith in the powerl
of kindness and trust. This luman she haId
looked upon with so much interest, allowed
him so many privileges, and luad planned
so Inudch for the elevation of his future life;
and, more than that, had so implicitly be
lieved in his superiority and deservings,
that at last to find herself forced into
believing him a mere hireling, stung her to
the soul. The wreck of our trust in each
et on a dest lessons we live
i. It, but struggled
rience only making
- it hat might be placed
inxteas I/ offender's acts.
In this mind she was w
Mary handed her note and papers.
recezved them listlessly but the st
hand and aristocratic sear soon aro
faculties into curiosity. She open
note and read these lines:
" Will Madam Hampton allow Eugene
Levasseu remind h r that he has not
ceived s wages, rther, that -he
. _ osi or , but, with a
-btnd on knee, begs
th ls late mistress
ass e ' T t
' Why, the man is crazy!" exclaimed
Alice, letting the note fall, in her amaze
ment, from her hands. "But let me finish
and. see what he savs-next. Certainly I
was right in pronouncing him an uncommon
specimen." -
" Do iioth·ie-aety" (tlhe oteýos ptiniued,)
"iu your conclusiois. Think oT th1iprice
less value of a truet loving heart, and do
not scorn that which is now offered because
you believe it to belong to one whqse station
is inferior to your own.. AllI aaik'is~per
mission to. see you, to explain, as I only
can, my seeming presumption, and the
hope (though I fear a vain one,) that you
may be. willing to grant to the gentleman
what you woald refuse to the poo gar
dener. Not as such, however, do I ask
from your hands the greatest gift that man
can receive; but as the posse.sor of a high
name and fair estate, do I Iay at. your feet
the true heart of
" A'CIILEi DE BEACMONT."
IConluded neat week.|
CaTHlO LIC BOLaMI IN 7M WAnVUNU -AmXt.
Traly, we are often called upon to witness
strange contrasts-humiliating contradic
tions. Countries professedly Catholic
such as France, Austria, and Italy-fre
quently throw obstacles in the Church's
way, as if with the design of neutralizing
[her holy mission of evangelizing tie world;
while Protestant countries-such as Hol
land, Prussia, and Geneva-are willing in
struments in God's bands in paving the
way to a return to the centreof unity. The
following striking particulars we gather
from the correspondence of the Mlessenger oq
the Sacred Heart :
Our readers know already how the Cath
olic soldiers of the Prussian army were, in
the late wars, well )provided by the govern
meat with chaplains, and the regard with
which the latter were treated by the mili
tary authorities. There was, in this, a
striking contrast with the Catholic Austrian
government, who refused and even treated
with contempt a similar assistance asked
by the Catholic men of their army. '" You
may ask," says a writer in this connection,
" what are the fruits which the presence of
a priest in the army has produced I" First
lee me say a word of the disposition of the
soldiers. It has been said, and many times
repeated, that there can be nothing more
beautiful than the bearing of the Catholic
Prussian soldier. Always. and in every
place. fearless of human respect and faith
ftll to the lessons of youth, he has shown
himself to be. as he really is, deeply pene
trated with religious feeling. And all these
generous Christian heroes who lately hurt
ried to the help of their country had ap
proached the holy sacraments before theai
departure. All desired to be clad in the
sacred livery of the Blessed Virgin. such as
scapulars, medalsh-and beads, which .many
amongst them wore outside their uniform.
Though they had already been reconciled
witth-i their God, yet, so soon as these de
vout soldiers arrived at Dreisden and
Wartzburg, they hurried at olice to the
churches and eagerly sought for priests to
whom they might make their confession.
As their number was very great, they were
obliged to go out into the streets, where,
casting themselves on their knees on the
flags, or in the very mire, and rivaling one
another to get nearest to the feet of the
first priest who came up, they made their
confession in the open air, in a 'public
'ploe, and i' the broad light of the day!
Having doihufesq tbhe*s:weeei' of joy,
whilst the people looked on in utter aston
ishment. Enter a church at any hour of
the day, and you were sure to fnd soldiers
kneeling with great recollection, and de
voutly telling their beads. No mass was
celebrated at which some of them did not
communicate; and on Sundays and holy
days the number of those who approached
the holy table was beyond calculation. In
Bohemiza, especially, the truly- admirable
behavior of the Catholic troops has made
a lasting impression on the minds of the
people. Often were they heard to exclaim:
" If piety weighs anything in the scales of
fortune, these strangers may be sure to see
their efforts crowned with success." Cath
olics and Protestants alike have admired
their ardent piety; abd in justice to the
latter we must observe, that, so far from
interfering with their Catholic brethren in
the exercise of their religion, they, on the
conity, shqfwed them every mark of kind
ness. Thus for instance, on the day of the
battle of Sadowa, and but a few moments
previous to that bloody combat, a Catholic
chaplain, degiroune of addressing a few words
to his soldiers, asked permission of the
aptain, who happened to be a Lutheran.
The latter immediately called out, with all
ithe force of his strong lungs: " Catholic
soldiers, out of the ranks-your chaplain
wishes to speak to you!" and at once these
pious heroes came forward and formed
into a semi-circle, manay files deep, in order
to hear the last words which their priest
was about to addres, to them. The priest,
in order to be more easily heard, had got
on horseback, anud from this novel pulpit
e spoke to them as follows: " Soldiers of
Jeuns Christ, a few nmomuents more, and tihe
battle will begin! Mlrec than one of you '8
now perbaps near his last moment! Are
you ready now to appear before your God
if you have still some faults to reproach
yourselves with, have cnfadenco; ror, by
rictus of the Divine power which the
Church has entrusted to me, I can efface
them all !" Having next passed quickly in
review the faults most common among so!
diers, he caused all to make an act of con
trition. of which he repeated the formula in
loud tone. - Having then made them
that if they survived the battle
o nfes all their sins to a priest,
g lution. During all this
S ors-werts on their
-,es esand respectfully
own the blessTa
in; a Solemn silence
reign hlinh ks as the whole
army, reco e repentant, witnessed
to tliis scene, h -ng and so , -cep
tional to the annals f war. There wasnot
there any fear of"' what people will say,
but, on, the contrary, human respect was
fearlessly trampled pder foot.
Now, we may well expect to see such
lively faith as this honored by miracles.
And so, in fact, it has been, In proof
thereof, I will cite one witness, whose evi
dence cannot be suspected. The following
are the words which fall front the Ups of a
Protestamtenem. - I kindw-t," said he,
in a numerous circle "how to explain this
singular fact. Of alp my sldiere the Cas
olics alone have been-remarkably spared,.
They ' were ever in the vanguard of the
,battle, ever foremose in the columnas where
they fought with the boldness of lions; yet,
strange to may, nearly all of thema hive
escaped unhurt.- It--,s.-reully, :wonderful.
.hey attributed their safety to a little
image stamped' on linen, which they wear
with great respect upon their breasts or
shoulders. I do not know what foundation
there is for this belief,'but one thing I
know viz: they hate been wenderfully
shielded from shot and shell; and these
deadly missiles seeined to shun them in
order to'seek out the soldiers of our reli
gion,-and to strikothoem to the earth.
These are tlings which I beheld with my
own eyes, and for which I cannot account.'
Such is the testimony of fhi Protestant
general. A few instances will t 6 tre to cor
roborate what lie says. - "Our Sodaliets -
have been the objectof very special protec
tion.. There were.great numbers of these
devout children of Mary scattered through
the different regiments of the army, and
everywhere the same remark has been
made, everywhere striking proof has been
given that an invisible hand seemed to
shield them from the shafts of death. We
have not heard that any one of them has
been mortally wonndeiimen this fact alone
bears the visible impress of Divine inter
vention. A Protestant soldier had observed
that those among the Catholics who wore
the scapular were always fortunate enough
to pass upscathed through the danger ot
the tight. This might easily be remarked
as the habit of Mary shone conspicuo-s
outside the uniform of those undaunted
heroes. He then asked the Catholics what
it was that preserved them from the fire of
the euemy. Many of them replied together
""Mary protects us-Mary, whose livery we
are proud to wear." The Protestant be'ame
very auxious- to obtain a 4 atpular, and ac
cordingly he offered a Catholic soldier eight
thalers- for the one lie wore. The latter
spurned the offer; he then offered ten, .and
on that being also rejected, he offered .im
t Eighteen thalers was a large
sunt for a scapular ! This time the tlmpta
tion was too strong, and the unloval servant
of Mary yielding to it, parted-with his.lre
cious talisman. From that time the pro
tection of Heaven's Queen was withheld
from him, and extended to his ,compan:on
in arms. a in the following day he was left
dead on the battle-feld, whilst the Proa-:
ant returned, safe and sound, to the bos'ra
of his family.
now To REFORM RUnRAKrD.
A correspondent of the New York Te,4w t
thus narrates a method adopted by a West
ern priest to reform drunkards in his par-
ish. When he first took possession, the
peojle were sadly " demoralized," the
church $'25,000 in debt, and the congrega
tion anything but popular, owing to the
scandal given by the people. One of the
first steps taken was to form a temperar.:e
society. Many kept aloof.
" I did not scold them," he remarked with
a knowing smile, "but I begged the people
repeatedly to pray for them, and we did
pray for them with good effect. A number
of those' who at- first refused, finally re
lented, abandoned their cups, joined the
society,.and became sober men. Still there
were a few who seemed quite incorrigib;e.
At last I went to each one of them in t':'e,
and after expostulating with him in :Le
most earnest manner to no effect, gave Lint
warning that if within a certain spec:ted
time he did not abandon his habi:- of
drunkenness I would ask the congregatn:;,
to pray for him individuqly by name."
In a short time" hise-jpeople be,.~acec
steady, and a wonderful reformation :tok
place; order, industry, and thrift bec.a,:e.
prevalent, property was accumulated, the
debt of $25,000 paid, and Catholic clarac: r
redeemed in the region around. Still, t.ere
wele some who adhered to their old lui.t:*
who were thus dealt with:
" I did not scold them, but I prayed fc:
them; and even when I threatened to pr.qy
for them by name, they could not find tf"k:
with me, for the whole town knew tlihKt thy
were'drunkards, and they knew that :the:"
were a public scandal, and how could :h~"y
be angry with me or find fault with o:r;
praying for them ? They could have bo.t,-"n"
a good scolding, and even gloried in it, and
answered back with stout hearts, IUt to ,
prayed for, to feel that the whole conmrl.gt.
tion, with the pastor at their hIe;td, war
compassionating them, and praying f1or t:, ,
from dlay to day and week to weelk, th,
was A little too milch for them. It r:atnkle
in thir breasts; they could not forget i'
It disturbed their conIsciences. Above all.
the grace of Godt in answer to ';ray"
touched their hearts, and they relented an
came and begged to be includlet among th
sober and the good of th0coi'igastion."
This pastor adopted a charitable and wi
course-" I did not scold themn, but I prayeJ
for them."
