! yoke of our Lord Jesus Christ solely for the love and fear of God?" "Relying on the mercy of God," replied Geraldine, "I hope to be able to do so." The Bishop then said, rising from his chair, "What God has commenced in you may He perfect. May the Lord banish from you the old man with his works." To which, Geraldine having answered "Amen," she arose from her knees, and made way for each of her companions in turn. When all had replied to the Bishop's questions, they retired, with the mother-superior and assistant, to exchange their worldly dress for that of religion. While this was in progress, the assembled voices of the priests entoned, in solemn chant, the psalm, "In exitu Israel;" and these deep impressive sounds were prolonged, till a female voice, floating in liquid sweetness, took up another strain, demanding, as the novices were descried slowly advancing, "Quæ est ista," &c. "Who is she that cometh up from the desert, flowing with delights, leaning upon her beloved? Thou art all fair, my beloved, meek and beautiful. Come from Libanus, my spouse, come from Libanus. Come, thou shalt be crowned." The novices, having returned to the altar, then knelt during the prayers applicable to their change of dress. After which, the mother-superior, receiving the leathern cincture of the order from the bishop, put it on the eldest novice, while he said, "When thou wast younger, thou didst gird thyself, and didst walk where thou wouldest, but when thou shalt be old, another shall gird thee. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." Geraldine then kneeling, the mother-assistant took off the simple veil which had merely served, until she should from the altar receive that which was blessed. The bishop, then holding this blessed veil above her head, said, "Receive the white veil, the emblem of inward purity, that thou mayest follow the Lamb without spot, and mayest walk with Him in white. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." The mother-superior then fixed the veil, and Geraldine, rising, received the white choir cloak of the order from the bishop, and presenting it to the superioress, was clothed in it, the bishop saying, "May the Lord restore to thee the robe of immortality, which thou didst lose in the prevarication of thy first parent. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." Being now clothed in the full habit of the order, Geraldine again knelt, holding her blessed taper, while the bishop, after sprinkling her with holy water, prayed in an audible voice, extending his hands over her. Theresa, Emma, and little Jane, then severally advanced, the latter receiving from the hands of the bishop, the lay sister's white apron, worn under the cincture and beads, in badge of servitude. After which, turning to the altar, in the name of each novice, the bishop entoned the "Regnum mundi," &c. "The empire of the world, and all the grandeur of this earth, I have despised for the love of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom I have seen, whom I have loved, in whom I have believed, and towards whom my heart inclineth." After the first sentence, the female voice and full chorus alternately sang the rest, when the novices in unison took up the strain, saying, "My heart hath uttered a good word, I speak my works to the king. I have chosen to be an abject in the house of my Lord Jesus Christ. Glory be to the Father, &c." As the chorus finished the "Quem vidi," the novices prostrated themselves before the altar; the bishop, the religious sisterhood, and all knelt; while, in the solemn Gregorian chant, was sung the "Veni Creator." Many holy and inspiring prayers followed; and then, the mother-assistant directing the novices to rise, conducted them to the mother-superior, to whom, in succession, they knelt; while she, raising, embraced them, and the sisterly kiss of peace and welcome now followed with all the nuns, while the joyous psalm was sung in full chorus, "Ecce quam bonum." "Behold how good, and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity," &c.; at the end of which, the religious sisters retired from the sanctuary of the chapel, through the choir, into the convent, and the congratulations recommenced, with less form and much cheerfulness and affection; the new novices, with an especial tie of interest, gazing on each other, and giving heartfelt thanks to their heavenly spouse, who had thus called and blessed them. CHAPTER XVIII. Where duty went, she went: with justice even, Of honest suffering soothed: or injury Repeated oft, as oft by love forgiven.—POLLOCK. OUR novice, Mary Paula, was now introduced more fully to the external duties of her new life, and began to tread the lanes, alleys, and back streets of the city. With fresh affection, she now listened to that part of her holy rule, which related to "The visitation of the sick;" prepared herself quickly, and went immediately to visit the Blessed Sacrament, to offer to her Divine Master the action she was about to perform, to ask from Him the graces necessary to preserve His glory and the salvation of souls. "O blessed Jesus," cried she, "for Thee alone I leave this enclosure, and not for any sensible satisfaction in the indulgence of benevolence and compassion. Be Thou with me, that I may indeed see Thy reflected image in the person of each afflicted fellow-creature, and, in serving him, may serve Thee, who art my God, and my all." At first, Geraldine did not witness anything far exceeding that which she had seen amongst the Irish poor in Elverton, and nothing to equal the picture which her imagination had drawn; for, until her courage was known, her superior did not send her to the most wretched parts; but at length, she climbed ladders, crept through trap-doors, and descended into cellars, to scenes of such misery, that she owned to have seen nothing comparable to them. Being on every occasion the junior sister, her part was to carry the corporal relief, while her senior administered the spiritual, and Geraldine, a grateful listener to the soothing and encouragement, or to the devout prayers of this sister, felt, that indeed they were serving their divine spouse in the persons of his afflicted brethren. Yet all that she could derive of spiritual consolation from this branch of her duty, was incomplete, until she heard the announcement that she was to accompany the mother-superior to the county jail. "Sick and in prison, and you visited me," was at length to remove from her heart the fearful negative that had been added to the sentence in the convent of and as Geraldine walked in the prescribed silence, and mentally said the Litany of our Blessed Lady, by the side of her who was in her confidence, -the united kingdoms,-nay, the whole world, could not have produced a happier being. The county jail is a magnificent building, conveying no mournful exterior effect, and the entrance and outward court are much like those of a fortified castle but as Geraldine followed her reverend mother to the inner compartments, and read on the iron doors," Untried ward," "Condemned ward," the chain of the prisoner sounded in her heart, mingling with the groans of his anguish. Their destination that day was to the female prison, and Geraldine, who had heard from her "sisters," a description of the state of morals and manners amongst the prisoners when they first visited them, was surprised and gratified by their orderly behaviour and cordial welcome. They seemed in their desolation to regard as their true friends the Sisters of Mercy; and those who had entered hard |