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THE DIFFUSION or cA'rl1oLlc‘KNowr.nDcn AND-TIIE nvsrnucrtox or CYouTiI,' SHAM-
l
VOL 4.-No.‘ 23.
ifllILAl)ELl'Iit
ti
:'SAfl‘U :n.u'.'JbNu 9,‘ less.‘
" Be‘ oUn"on.iiicr','.kNo our: alllrl
fl ' V y I ‘ ‘ wllohr: NO. 153
Trim CATHOLIC vvl:l:K'rIv‘llx"s'r1iii<SroR,'
printer! and I’ublisIlcrl lveelily.
. . 4 ,- sir i
‘VILLIAM J. CUtV.VI.VGlIrlliI,
, H 104 South Third Street. 1'' iladelphia.
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Origttrat iiottttyj.‘
hvriucn for the Catholic Whvkly Instructor.
THE DYING BOY.
. By llmiom J.’ Chamberlin.
Death's chilly hand is on my heart,
I feel life‘! strings give in
Y;
So I once blessed with Love and Hope,
Must mingle with tile clay.
The summer winds sigh mournfully,
Among the lattice towers;
W'hcre in my young and healthful days,
W I spent my happiest hours. , , ,
The Golden sun has lost its
The babbling brook its t
All nature wears a mournful looli-' ' -
Hope’: brightest ray has flown.
vvonnlb, -
DE.
The brightest prospects
a Death n
Led by that messenger of gloom,
The herald of decay.
of my youth,
a I
Oh dimly fades the visions now .
c re my wi er igh
‘Ti: gone! my heart is chill and cold-
- Oh mother! it is Night. i
Philadelphia. May, 1349.
Written for the Catholic Weekly instructor.
EARLY IMPRESSIONS:
THEIR DURABILITY AND WORTH.
’ By '1'. W. lligg-ins.
Mhlcv years since. when all my thoughts
were joyous, when I knew not what it was to
mood in silence by myself or to have gloomy
soliloquies. when my every thought was of
pleasure. und when every object my eyes beheld,
seemed to be beautiful and pure; whenl wasa
small boy. I went to A schoolmaster who had
his rooms and his dwelling in a fine old building.
now in a thickly populated portion of the
District of Southwark. but (lien below tlle com-
mons and at a considerable distance from the
most outward skirts of the suburbs. This old
‘edifice was admirably adapted for the purposes
for which it was used. It was situated upon a
hill and had around and about it several acres
of ground enclosed bya fine fence. and this
enclosure ‘was hlled with the choicest kinds of
fruit trees and it had in it too. a fine swing and
ball alloy. Our Tutor was one of the old school.
an educated man and u rigid ‘disciplinarian
If we loitcred our time and missed our tasks.
we were “kept in” and soundly trounced, bill
if on the contrary. we knew our lessons and
were hidustrinus,'- we had free egress “at
IWEIVE". and .“ live" together with the privilcge
of the yard and its-appointments. and the right
to cull the fruits if they were ripc. What more
could boys desire! Nothing. We had no cares
to weigh upon our hearts. to keep them from
throbbing freely and lightly. Whatever we said
we would do for one another. we did do-we
were true. Sellishness and envy, hypocrisy and
falsehood. W9“? ““k“0Wnv 10 us, and hence we
‘"979 h-”‘l‘l‘Y- V9311)’ MPPYS for after all it is the
only way to experience the true felicity. to keep
the soul wrapped up‘ in the chaste robe of lnrio-
‘ but spotless souls were permitted to enter. Oh !
- In the very spot where the light of heaven first
i lsh sports and pleasures remained. By far the
all the time, the vicinage of demoralizing associ-
ations and all evil influences. Life. was then
more like a long continued dream ofysomeyfair
region between earth and heaven. where none
how often since b the convcntionalities of
socictyl reached that standard of years which
gives me the name of man. how often ‘I have
gone back in memory to that golden period and
surveyed again ‘ '
The haunts of my buyhood‘s hhppy time,
VVtvere earlydays were as d
Without a thought that time, with wings,
Flew constantly and fast. l
And as often as I have indulged in these recol-
lections. as long as the visions have continued,
I have felt that I was my former self and my
spirit has grown buoyant ansl my blood again
has coursed my veins with all its olden speed
and fire. But then when the vista has passed
and m eyes have opened themselves to the
contemplation of the present, a feeling of sad-
my soul a loneliness, because when I would
look around I have been like one astray. I have
felt myself alinosl: a stranger in my own home;
met my infant gaze. Andthis was attributable
to what‘! ’ To the change. To the change
made by -4 time whose waves are years“. 0
of the many.but few of the sharers of myboy-
greater number of them had been gathered to
their lhthers, their eyes had been closed in that
long last sleep, which is to endure until the
Trumpet of the angel is blown to summon the
dead and living to the last judgment; to com-
mand them to witness “ the wreck of matter
and the crush of worlds" amid a Tempest ofliv-
ing flame. Some oftlzem remained. were spared,
reservgd for dillerent fates. But, though they
were left. though we met occasionally. we who
had passed the happiest days of our lives to-
gether; evcry meeting only served to impress
me with pain. with the deepest regret for the
melancholy change wrought by ' me! Every
one of them had altered. They had been
made converts to wcrldliness. They had for-
gotten. or if they had not forgotten. they had
repudiated the ties formed in the simplicity and
innocence of youth. Yes! every meeting pain:
ed me. every nod of cold dignity. every formal
salutation convinced me that-with but very
few exceptions- ' ‘ . . V l ' - '
. The friendship formed in early youth,
In age in but aname.
There was one of my former companions.
with whom. although our residences were not
far apart. I met less frequently than I did with
the other remaining ones; but as his history is
to be my theme. I shall not digress by speaking
of our later meetings here, but shall go back to
the better days- i ; - s ‘ .
, “ Pictured in memory's mcllowing glass‘-"
and trace l'rom that period to his end.’ In
doing so, it wil be necessary for me to give the
shades, as well as the bold gleams of ligllt which
were peculiar to him. and as I had this to be
an imperative duty. I will omit hisreal name.’
and call him Robert. ‘ ' s ' ‘ l ’
' lle hai more genius than any boy lnschool
and by far a greater share of real talent. , He
studied as little as the most ldlc. pcrhaps,und
invariably knew more ,thrln'tlle most knowing
of us. He appeared to glance hilt superficially
at his hookshyct, he always had his lessons
“from mark to’ mark,", and as far as conduct
was concerned. he stood pre-eminent. in short.
he was smarter and heltcr than most schonlboys
are. and wasconstantly held upbyr the mothers
who knew him as a paragon for tllcirovm boys
to copy uI'ler.. I was one of his very particular
frlcnds lit (hi: time. land felt myself almost at
as much of a loss as Le Blanc‘s dove was when
ness has crept over my heart. and I have felt in th
Robert was taken away from school by his
parents, and placed in a store.to.learn the mer-
cantile business.‘ This was done some three or
lbur years‘ before any of us left, and it was
owing entirely to his proficiency. ‘ '
i For :i short time afer. he was fixed in this
employment, and during all the time precedent
to it, while he was at school, Robert was a rer
pious boy. His parents were members of the
congregation of 's Church.‘ where he
used to serve Mass every day of the year, and
attend Catechism on Sundays. It wasat this
time ofllis life, and in that consecrated residence
of the Most Holy. in that same, dear old Church,
wherein my own youthful mind formed its first
conception of God. of heaven and of eternity.
that he received his " early i‘nl]:re.rsl'am" from
Father >' its revered Pastor. Ills piety
was so ' remarkable indeed. ut this stage.
when his years were taken into consideration,
that his mother was anxious that he should be
taken from theistore and placed in some one of
e Colleges. or religious Seminarics as
student of Theology. This was opposed by
his farther and his Reverend guardian also.
both of whom said that he might possibly change
in after years, and that it would be far better. if
such should be the case, that the change should
take place anywhere else. than where he might
“X be placed as a student of divinity. And they
were right in their reasoning, they were wise‘, for
well they knew that most poor mortals are :-
‘- -Iiko forgotten lyi-cs‘. whose’ dissonant llrings
ive various response to each varying blast;
To whose frail frames. no lecond motion brings
One ood or modulation like the last.” -
There seemed to be something approximating
to the prophetic in the Idea that prompted them
to object to the mothers wish. for Robert did
altcr. astonishingly. sadly.-
Talte up the rose from its bcd,and plant it by
the way side amid the weeds and thorns. its
buds will be blighted, its leaves will wither
and its fragrance be" polluted, So take the
youth who has been schooled in purity.
disciplined in ‘religion..-ind place him among
those who‘nl'eluntrained, and who regard
blasphemy as an evidence of maturity. and.
my word for it. in most cases he‘vrill catch
the inft-ctirm. Associates have great power
either for good or evil. and just as they are
selected. so will the disposition be moulded and
the footsteps be turned. Till‘: is so, and it
cl
:1
Q.
- should teach alcsson that ought nevertobe
V forgotten, for happiness through the mutable
ways of life ma depend on it. and ‘possibly,
the inheritance of the eternal kingdom beyond
stars. ‘ ' ‘ ‘
- The change in ltohert was brought about in
this way. Shortly after ‘he was placed in the
store, owing to the commencemrnt of abrisk
trade, the bustling scenes b which he was
daily surrounded and thc carlincss of the hour
at which he was obliged to be at his post. he
was necessitated to forego his customary rule of
hearing early Mass. It was a great dcprivation
to him then. but when he grew in little older and
mingled murc with the young mm with whom
he was thrown in contact. he appeared to regard
his ycarnings as mere childish regrets for an
old habit and he thewfbre banished them. i The
mere recollection of them , afterwards often
brought a smile across his countenance. ' ,'
' Ilur. this was onlyvu commencement "0-
untarily. he began to absent himself frequently
from the late mass. and. Enally, did so altogeth-
er; rreferring an idle lounge at home. a stroll
alongsomc ,0!‘ the fashionable streets. or the
association of some of his ncluly made friends.
llis parrots were pained greviously. heartily.
at his lamentable alteration. but they consoled
thenisclrcs with the thought that it would only
bemomcntary.und that he would return, like
I‘ the prodigal son." weeping fgrghis errors, and
E
m
ware and truth. and to eschew, not’ once.-. but
:1 reckless sportsman killed her rnnt<':..'when
begging for forgivencsss
When a youth permits himself thus to slight
the God who gave him everything-his immor;
ta] soul. the heart that feels. the eyes that see.
hlm 3 Not much. certainly. The com-
panions of Robert were young men who cared
nothing about religion. They were of those.
who, knowing naught of it. mocked it. and
saw not the grossnoss of their impiety. They
used to ridicule the treasuring of sacred things
and tell him that religion was all llumbug. aml
that the man who never went inside ofa church
would be just as near heaven at the end of
time. as those who had spent all their days in‘
one. It was unfortunate for him that this coarse-
ness and vulgarity did not check him; but. for
a wise purpose probably. it was not so ordain-
ed. Their passions and appetites were unre-
strained. they played and drank together.-
Robcrt's attachment to this last and abominable
habit, wrecked hiln here and was very near
being the utter destruction of his hopes here-
after.’ For. whenever the voice of his inner
self would chide him, whene'er it would call him
from his evil courses. he would grasp the cup
and drown its whispcrings in the drought of
poison. Whenever he was alone. and would
think in solmrncss of his follies.
u Regrets would glide through his spirit: gloom,
‘- An with solemn voices -peak" . r '
until he was humbled and subdue ' but his
humiliation would not be‘ thorougll,'hls subju-
gation not complete. andlhe would seek for
company. and with his company drink until he
was oblivious $Vhen‘ this unnatural slumber,
this stupid forgetfulness would wear away
u The ghostlilte voice or memory
. whisper in his car," - ’
and he would shrink from thecontemplation.
But. then again he won ' con- .
tinuc to do every time virtue would make a
This was his course. And by it he lost his
situation. lost .his drunken friends. (for they
shake otfu comrade the instant he grows more
dcgraded than themselves) lost his reputation.
become an object of scorn, robbed his parents
of their peace. and called the crimson blush of
shame to their wrinkled cheeks. lle contracted
diseases that fastened themselves in hiln. that
mingled with his blood and pulsated through
his veins until he was transformed into a living.
or rather a dying mass of corruption-a with-
ering persanification of the deformity of sin.--
It was when he had thus brought himself to his
death bed. (for such it proved to be) that I saw
an illustration of The I)urnbl'll'ly of Early lm-y
presvions. and afterwards. at his demise. that I
saw an example of their-worth. When he
was so won and wasted that he could scarcely
turn upon his coucll, when the “ damning stim-
ulant" wzls from him. he “looked into himself?‘
as one of the Saints advises us to do. and was
sickened by the picturc>away in the back
ground was the beautiful landscape and play
ground of his early youth. while here. was the
desert waste and barren wild of his‘ manhood.
lie wished to renew himself; he wished to lave
himself at the pure and holy fount-he sought
to do it unobserved by those around him. He
sent for me. - I lost no time in obeying the
message sent. and was soon at his bed-side.
We had not been associates from our boyhood,‘
and of late years we had barely spnkcn,and
the reader will tlierefbre presume. I suppose.‘
what was the character of our intcrrlcw. if
he does not] regret to say that I can‘: deg.
tribe it here-‘the space is not sufficient. But
this much I can say. Robert told me that he
wished to make a general confession and want.‘
ed to receive all the rights of the Church. lie
said it was aware that I still continued to be
on terms or intimacy with his jirst father can.
-v
E‘.
fcssor. and that he-wished to see him. His late
conduct had bocn such that he disliked to men-
and the ears that hcar--what can be expected ,