having a willing heart, are equally accepted; for that which in temporal goods is regulated by the vow of poverty, is in spiritual and intellectual gifts equally regulated by the heart's desire of humility." The bell now rang for supper; and Geraldine followed to the choir, and thence to the refectory, trying to banish as a distraction her comparison of the two religious sisters, who had formed the subject of her conversation. She continued to meditate, however, on these two states of spiritual prosperity and adversity, for it was in that light she principally viewed them; and at length decided, after some days of observation and deliberation, that the grace of God being the most conspicuous in the lovely humility of sister Gabrielle, He must thereby receive the most glory, and the sisters the most edification. Yet she could not but think that the most glorious reward was prepared for her who had shared the most in the sufferings of her Divine Spouse. "Sister Gabrielle," thought she, "through His grace, dies to the world; but sister Ignatia is crucified to it." VOL. III.-23 CHAPTER XXI. Weep not for the saints who ascend THE SACRED HARP. "I CANNOT feel so perfectly at peace, reverend mother, as you exhort me ever to be," said our heroine one afternoon, during recreation, when the former had taken her aside to give her a little remonstrance for over-grave looks. "I am, thanks be to God, without interior or exterior trial; but I cannot disengage my heart from all sympathy with yours, and I see there is some unusual care pressing on it." "Ah! do not watch me so closely," said the mother-superior, smiling. "Mere trifles can press upon an unfaithful heart." "No," said Geraldine, "trifles have no power over you; and why will you not confide in me? Must I think, dear reverend mother, that you repent of the precious hours we have passed together, and wish me, when alone with you, to be as ceremoniously the novice' with her mother-superior,' as when with the community?" "Never can I wish that," replied the mothersuperior; "for it is I who must then feel the privi leged person. Believe me, sister Mary Paula, I find comfort, real comfort, in the time we pass together; and I fear not to intrust to you, as you request it, the cause of my anxiety, or, as I ought to feel it, rather that of greater reliance on Divine Providence. A Sister of Mercy must not be so wanting in faith, as to be anxious. The same God who guards us when we leave the enclosure, and causes our safe return, will protect us when danger is within our walls; or, if he permit our mortal part to sink in His service, will mercifully receive our souls.Two of the sisters have caught the fever." "You mean the typhus fever?" "I do. Sister Placida and sister Gabrielle are now in the infirmary; and the door which opens from that corridor into the dormitories, will be kept locked. Mother Juliana will give you all other instructions, as she will receive directions this evening." 66 "I trust, reverend mother, you will permit me to nurse the sisters," cried Geraldine, eagerly. "Let me intreat this favour of you." "If the infirmarian wishes for your services, sister Mary Paula, she will apply to your mistress," replied the mother-superior. "Desire "I stand rebuked," said our heroine. nothing, refuse nothing!' how easy has that appeared till now." They now returned to the rest of the community; but had not remained many minutes amongst the cheerful groups, when the five minutes' warning rang before vespers. Instantly all dispersed, in search of work to be deposited on the long tables in the community room and noviceship, in readiness for the lecture immediately after complin; and Geraldine hastened with the rest to the duty of the hour. At night prayers, the novice whose stall was behind hers, was missing. The following morning, at prime, mother Juliana led a young postulant from the choir to the infirmary; and before the evening, it was ascertained that six of the community, including sister Ignatia, had caught the malady. The two infirmarians, and a lay sister, with the mother-superior, were their constant and only assistants. Day after day Geraldine expected, in vain, to be sent for; and she found it difficult not to wish that she might have received the edification which she felt was given by the sick nuns and their tender nurses. She had, however, the comfort to receive a precious little note from the mother-superior, giving good tidings of sister Placida and the young postulant: the others continued much as they had been the preceding day, with the exception of sister Gabrielle, who was worse; and the prayers of the community continued for her with increased fervour. Three days and nights had now passed since the state of sister Mary Gabrielle had been pronounced alarming, then hopeless; and it was after the last choir office, on this third day, that Geraldine retired to her cell, hoping that she might at length receive a summons to the infirmary. She dwelt in pensive thought on the long and tender friendship which had subsisted between the dying nun and her mothersuperior, untarnished by even a passing estrangement. The highly-gifted subject had loved the sweet vassalage of obedience; to her, for Jesus' sake, the yoke had been easy, and the burthen light; and to her youthful mother had she yielded, as unto Him. This unvarying conduct, while it edified the sisterhood, was received with simplicity by the mothersuperior, as due to the office she held, and not to their previous friendship, which on both sides had been more and more purified from the mere sensible gratification of natural congeniality and affection, as each year saw them more disengaged from all that was not in God. While Geraldine sate awaiting the hoped-for summons from the infirmary, she heard an unusual passing and repassing along the dormitory; but so softly did the sisters tread, that had not the pannel of her cell-door been open, she could not have heard them. At length the latch was lifted, and she opened the door to mother Juliana. She held on her arm Geraldine's white cloak, which she made a sign for her to put on, and gave her a taper, saying, "When you shall hear the first toll of the bell, sister Mary Paula, come to the noviceship, that you may light your taper, and arrange in time for the procession to the infirmary." "Sister Mary Gabrielle is then dying?" whispered Geraldine. "She is," replied mother Juliana; "and is expecting to receive the holy Viaticum;" saying this, she passed on to the next cell; and after a few minutes, the heavy swing and toll of the great bell gave the summons to the chamber of death. Geraldine found the band of novices awaiting the signal for the procession to advance; and, lighting her taper, she placed herself in the ranks. The professed and lay sisters now assembled at the end of the great corridor, and, immediately the latter had passed in order, the novices followed. Geraldine cast a glance along the row of professed sisters, as they stood to let the novices advance, and caught the heaven-born expression of her who walked the last in the procession. To the marble paleness which had been the consequence of sorrow and fatigue, had now succeeded a deep flush; and the aid she was beseeching from heaven shone in her uplifted eyes, and in the almost smile of her parted lips. |