178 THE INDIAN ADVOCATE.
' SISTER ST. CLARE,
A Mother's Story,
It was in 1870. In a prison cell, dimly lighted by a slant
ing sun-ray, a young soldier was seated on his bed of straw.
That soldier was my son. His hands were bound and his
feet tied with a rope. His head was bowed upon his breast,
and his whole form was motionless as death. His thoughts,
however, were living, and the memories which came back to
him were very clear. In fancy he saw himself reading still
the letter which had brought him the news that his mother
was very ill and desired to see him before she died. But to
go and kneel at her bedside and receive her parting blessing
he must have leave of absence, and this the general was not
willing to grant. The Prussian soldiers had invaded France,
and it was necessary that all should remain where they were,
underarms: In the mental struggle which ensued filial love
overcame" obedience to military discipline; the young soldier
deserted in order to see his mother before she died. He re
turned after having seen her, but was immediately summoned
before the military tribunal and condemned to death.
While the prisoner was buried in his sad thoughts, a key
grated in the lock of his cell door. "I know," he said, "it is
Sister Clare; but she always comes with the jailer." It was
indeed Sister Clare, who came to console the unfortunate
youth. "But my pardon, Sister Clare, have you obtained
it?" , , ,
The religious bowed her head and made no answer. At
length she said: "It is refused, but you must still trust in
God. I shall go myself to the general, and if he will not
hear me I shall lay down all my medals on the table before
him, telling him that I am no longer worthy to wear them,
since he denies the favor which I ask the life of a young
French soldier, my brother in arms."
She bent over him to utter a few words of consolation.