The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 1, 1900, Page 9

THE SUNDAY CALL. /—_——_—————_fi—'_"—_m A Gospel for the Good-liver re of his devotion, e cold. He walked up- our nd that the s possible to nger or thirst t And experience thy faith s not er Francis, in great tes they co: the -, w Brother Francis €0,” he sald, ve the feebleness said Brother Leo, in & volce ems to me at + beatitude would sighed d in vain through the trees e narrow path that led to it, then he stopped and sald e, T think that we have lost the will of our Sa- us thus for the good Leo cried despairingly: Jranslated From Old French by Genevieve Green. God, my strength is ended. I And he fell exhausted on lifted him up, g him to continue the Journey, persuading him at length that they could not fall to find the road. Brother Leo, his back bent, his steps tottering, commenced again to put one be- fore the othar his poor bleeding feet, which were now nothing else than two chunks of ice. They plunged again into the thickness of the trees. The darkness was heavy about them; strange noiscs like the flighy of evil spirits filled the air. “Listen,” sald Brother Francis; *one would say that the angels were singing around us!” But Brother Leo had not the strength to answer. tried to raise the body of his companion, but though his soul was unconquerable his physical strength was not supernatural. He recognized his helplessness and began to pray. “Blessed Savior, consider thy poor servant. Behold him here stretched on the frozen soil, the snow beginning to cover him. However, in the purity of his heart he adores thes, It is for thy honor and glory and to render homage to thy daughter, Holy Poverty, that he has jour. neyed during many day: despised and abused by the passers-by, without other resource than alms. To please thee, he has rendered himself like the birds of the PCOSTUME BY Ivins b ANMOED o Buddenly a great rock barred the way before them. : “We must turn back,” sald Brother Frencls, “I cannot,” sald- Brother Leo. Leaning on his staff he seemed glued to the earth liks Lot’s wife changéd into the plllar of salt. g 3 Brother Francis continued to exhort: him. ‘“Take courage, my brother,” he said. *“Our Lord will show us the road. Confide in him and you will' find your strength. You will suffer no longer from cold or fatigue and we will arrive safely at-our convent.” g But while he spoké the limbs of Brother Leo gave way beneath him. He fell un- conscious on the ground, and thick flakes of snow descending steadlly began to cover him like a pall. Erother Francis reflected an instant. He air, who sow not nor spin, and that thy bounty feedeth. Among the brothers united to fast and to pray and to preach none {8 more ardent nor more faithful than-he. It is for that, O Lord, that I im- plore thee to save him by a miracls, if such be thy will. If, however, it please thee to recall him to thy kingdom we shall . mourn him gently, for we love him much —him whom we call the little lamb of our Savior. Yet, O Lord, we shall continue to pralse thy goodness and bounty. Thky will be done!” g Having thus prayed, he leaned over-the body of Brother Leo and remarked that he hardly breathed. He waited, and the eves of Brother Leo opened. He raised himself without assistance; a soft smile appeared upon his lips, He murmured, ,,Oh Brother Francis!” . : disappeared. The grim pines became pillars of gold. BSoft carpets like those that the Venetian merchants brought from their most distant voyages stretched before the brothers, where-all béfore had been ghastly snow.’ Instead of the cold north wind gentle perfumes richer than those of ‘Arabia filled the atmosphere. It was no longer La Versa cold and cruei, the refuge of bandits and murderers, but a splendid palace like that of - Solomon. And the two- brothers found themselves extended on downy couches. Before them a table appeared, bearing the most deli-, clous -dishes—wines to gladden the hearts of connoisseurs and fruits of wondérful luscleusness—all served in golden plates and the finest, rarest crystal. The table was covered with silk, rich with' superh WA pet SIS He fell unconsclous on the ground, and thick flakes of snow descending steadily began to cover him Ike a pall.’, . . Buddenly the dreadful winter landscape. embroldery. Surely no Oriental monarch ever offered to his guests a repast mors -splendid. The sound of harps and ylolins filled the air, while a host of beautiful womeén clothed in long white dresses, with floating hair and crowns of gally colored flowers, awaited the orders of the - Brother Leo quickly extended his hand toward one of the golden cups, but Broth- er Francis stopped him: “Oh, my brother,” he sald, “do not hasten to quench .thy thirst from this beverage. All of this Is too beautiful. These flowers, these fruits, this wine, this musfe, these women—I cannot belleve that they ¢ome from God. Have you not heard that such temptations often assail the holy hermits in the desert? The devil alone can offer pa s0 maxy delights to tempt the fleah™ Whersupon he fere vently made the sign of the cross. Un- doubtedly he expected to ses the palace melt away, the tempting dishes changs into vile smelling flith, the women Into sows or vipers. But the harps played servitors were not less beautiful. “You see, Brother Francis,” Brother Leo, “we have hers nothing wicked. It the goodness of God which And declares {tself in this magnificence.” again he extended his hand tow: golden cup, but again Bro rested him. ““Brother Leo “beware! The devil has many resources for snatching souls.” Brother answered, “I am so said Brother “It is sweet to suffer thirst for of God.” *“I am so hungry,” sald Brother Leo. At thi ent & large, luminous cross appeared on tha wall before Brother Francis and a hand of fire wrots beneath { “Infinits and multifold is the goodness of God.” Theny Brother Francis recognized the hand that bad warned Balthazar and his heart was sssured, He fell on his knees, rendered thanks and sald to his companion, “Ver well, Brother Leo, since such is the wiil of God, we may do honor to this repast.” However, he remained sad at heart. Dry bread and clear water, such was the re- pest that he had hoped to Tecetve from God. This extravagant luxury shocked ahd grieved Rim. The beautiful women began to serve the repast, presenting exquisitely delicions viands. Fish of sflver sheen in golden sauces, roasted peacocks garnished in their plumes, game of all sorts, grapes as large as nuts and a. hundred other fruits coming from the four quarters of the world. Brother Leo ate with a vigorous appe- tite. Brother Francis his palate £ which they p on warmed thetr poor frozem ep, lulled by al harps. took in p: blood and comforted t bodies. They finally f the gentle music of When they awoke selves .on the sid far from the first Mour ir trees which crowned the summit. “Oh, Brother Francis,” said Brother Leo, “what a delightful experfence we have had And it was n I feel n members & good repose But Brother Francis remained standing, leaning on his staff and plunged in & pro- found meditation. “O Lord, blessed be thy mame,” he sald in his heart, “for Brother Leo was dying and behold y have saved him. We wers h and. th ar 2 gave us food and drink. We and you gave wers palace, the musfe, the women? ild have transported to his on the wings of an angel our po ther; ceiald have made sprin fountain of nd a morsel of d have his thirst. W us to a repast in the days of For a long t dered in_this man qQuestion that he led his mantle, urging him to hurry. ten thou, said to him: “we } convent to perf Brother Fran mained plunged in his me« ing that the light 1d ev to him. And fir self the mysterious v epoke to him. And t Bro read an the only thir t God has creat of the good tkh and all of ful things are also his work his sun tha gives the gl beauty In eve: of the flowers ¢ & cant that tre eyes and the e ets of thy and see It there be for the beau- emands of thy yme pride ! ties of earth T again sald s morning and ¢ s to perform.”™ Francis hardly heard him, flowers, wine and women viston. ord, Lord,™ himse! how many ise thee in pect forms a greag contrast to the famous Elizabeth Petrow- na, daughte r the Great. The latter while Empress had earneq the title of “Elizabeth the Good,” because she never approved of any executions in her empire. On the other hand, she was much criticized for her extravagance and eccentnicity in dress. After her death the fact became known that she had 15,000 costly gowns in her wardrobe, none of which had ever adorned her royal person. Now, when the dress of court s a more serfous matter with the royal and nobia women, Russia has a Czarina who ob- serves the strictest simplicity in her gowns and requires the same from hep guests and attendants. This has caused endless dissatisfactfon. The ultra fash- lonable lady myst bear the chagrin of ap- pearing at court functions in a very piain toilet, for otherwise the scrutinizing eyes would pick her out as a mark for disape proval. This extraordinary plainness baffles her admirers all the more because 1t is a well- known fact that the Czar is extremely fond of chic and has often expressed his admiration for elaborate, costly ladies® tollets, _ PSSRSO s .|, i parel,