TheShudderingBabe
(ByAustinO'Malley, TheNovemberdaywasnarrowand grayinNazareth,andthemarket placewasalmostdeserted.Therain fellinshortshowers,andfew,brown grape-leavesdriftedaboutinthewind. Acrosstheunpavedstreetahomeless dogtrotted,wetand-sullen,with droopingears;andwhenaloitering boyflungastoneattheoutcastitdartedawaywhining.Downthesloping streetcamethepatteringofaflockof goatsandtheshuffleoftheherd'ssandals.Athinsteamrosefromthe warmdamphairoftheanimals.They passedondownthebill,afaintnoise betweentwosilences.Thenthequick, nervoustreadofunshodhoofsandthe jingleofatossedbridlechainbrokethe silenceagain,andaRomansoldierrode uptothesynagogue.Hetookareit ofparchmentfromabaghecarried acrossthebowofhissaddle,andwithoutdismountinghetriedtonailitto oneofthepillarsoftheportico.His horsewasrestive,eedcursinghehad toleapfromthestiramlesssaddleto fastentheparchment.Twoboysran overtothescroll.buttheycouldnot -readtheLatinortheAramaictext. M.D.,in"America.") drearymarchbegan.AcrossthePlain ofEsdraelon,overthemountainsof Samaria,throughthevalleybeyond, andthenupthehillsofJudeatoJerusalemtheytoiledinthechillweather: sleepingatnightonstrawnearthe horsesandcamelsandassesofthewayfarersinthebarnlikekhansbythe road.Onthelongjourneyfrom NazarethtoBethlehemtheLidvSt. Marysufferedfromgreatfatigue,but morefromthegnawingoffrost.The hillcountryofJulescanbeverycold inwinterasitisalmostahalfmile abovethesea,andattimesthereare sixinchesofsnowinJerusalem. InthecoldofthefirstChristmas EveMaryandJosephwentoverthe sixmilesbetweenJerusalemandBethlehem.'Herodthemurderer,surnamedtheGreat,wasthenlivingnear Bethlehem.Hehadkillednisfirst wifeMariamne,herfamily,hisuncle Joseph,threeofhisownsome,anda multitudeofothers.HerodAntipes, whocarriedoffHerodias,thewifeof hisbrotherPhilip,andwhoreurdered St.JohntheBaptist,wasthesonof HerodtheGreat.ThepalaceofHerod
PRESENTATI&NCONVENT,GOOMALLING.
Whenthelastnailhadbeendriven betweenthestonesofthepillar,the soldiervaultedintohissaddleand lopedawaytowardSafedonthehills ofNephtali.Inashorttimeacrowdhadgatheredbeforetheproclamation,jostling, guessingattheprobablemisfortuneit wouldbring,andwaitingimpatiently forsomeonewhocouldreadwell enoughtoputthescriptintospeech. Presentlyacarpenter,returningfrom hiswork,cametotheedgeofthe crowd;abig,middle-agedman,with thelongblackhairofaNazareneunderabrownburnoose,aboxoftools onhisshoulder.Aleathernapron coveredthefrontofhisstripedtunic. Aboycried."HereisJosephBen Jacob,hecanreaditforus."He readforthemtheproclamation,welch wasfromCyrinusthegovernorofSyria,tellingofthecensuswhichwasbeingtakenthroughouttheRomanEm. pire.andcommandingeachfamilyto repairtothechiefcityofitstribeand therebeenrolled. Acryofrageandgrikfmeritupas thelastwordswereuttared,andJoseph'sfacegrewwhite,buthesaid nothing.1hismethodoftakinga censuswasacalamity,becausethe tribalcitiesofmanyofthebystanders weredistant,scatteredfromthesnows ofLibanustotheRiverofginpt.Josephstartedhomeward,andhesaidto afriendinthecrowd,"HowcanItake herallthewaytoBethlehemofJude Trainedsoldiersareaweekmaking thejourneyingoodweather."He wentwithbowelheadalongthe whitewalledhouses,thetoolsclanking onhisshoulder.Whenhedrewnear hishomeheraisedhiseyes. Marysat
flared inthewindabovetheRomansentry, whowaswatchingthecrowdsofpeopleastheyhurriedintotheirtribal cityfortheenrolment.Swayingand snarlingcamelsjostledtheMotherof Godandthestirrupsofhorsemen touchedherbluemantle,andthewind pluckedatit.Josephdraggedalong thetiredassunderthegatearchwhere thehoofsofthelio.seawokettollowreechoing.Hesmiledcheerfullythere, andhesaidtoMara: "Atlastthoucantrest."Theywent tothekhan.Atthedoorstoodthe innkeeper:fat,thick-lipped,withan oiledbeardflowingtohisgirdle,blowinghotorcoldaccordingtotheappearanceofthefolkcoming gates-Hewasbusyassigningplaces forhisguestsandtheircattle.Josephapproachedhimandaskedforalocig-
JosephwentbacktoMary,andshe sawfromthetroubledlinesonhis foreheadthattheymustseekforrest elsewhere. "Theinniscrowded;wecannothave place,"hesaid. HewasveryROX/01111. Thenbegan thequestfromdoortodoor,andthe lashingofthewhips'ofhypocrisy,insult,andavarice.Theycameatlast tothewesterngateagain.Joseph's facewashaggard,andMary';,waswan underthegatearchaimlessly. Thesentinelatthegatestood anddrawnfromextremefatigue,and shewastrembling.Theypassedout therelikeastatue,andtheyellowflame ofthelampturnedhishelmettogold. Outintothedusktheywandered;the windwhinedalongthetownwall;the westsmoulderedasanemberandgrew cold:thewhitestatedriftedupglittering.Thinwispsofblowncloudwere tornonthornsofstars.andtheghost ofanoldmoonwanderedtipahollow betweentheeasternhills.Thechain ofthewind-swayedlampinthegate archcreakedbehindJosephandMary astheystoodirresolute,facingthedesolatedarkness,and-.heirshadowsswung toandfroacrossthewhitedustofthe road.Justoutsidethegatetherewas acavepartlyhewninthesandstone bythewayside,vhichwasusedasa stable. "Iseenootherplace."saidJoseph, "wemustabidehareforthenight."
Attheentranceofthecaveheknelt andlightedarushtaperwithsparks fromhisflint.andtheywentin.An oxwastetheredthere,anditsbigmild eyesglistenedinthefaintlightofthe taper.Josephfoundapileofhayin acornerofthecave,andhesprees Mary'smantleonit.Shesatthere whileheremovedthesaddlefromthe ass,andshookoutasmallbundleof fodderbeforethejadedbeast.The doglayatherfeet,andputitsshiver. rigmuzzleonherhandandleokedup toher.Shebrokeapieceofbreadand gaveittothedog.ThenJosephtook awatergourdtrainhisbag,andthey atetheremainderoftheloaf.The placewassharplychill,andhedrew thehayaboutourLadyandsetthe saddleforapillow.Presentlyhe wrappedhismantleabouthimself.and thetaperwasextinguished.They kneltuponthehayandtalkedwith Godinsilence.Thehoursranoutunnoticed;theyhadforgottentheir weariness.Abeamofmoonlightflowedinthroughacreviceinthedoor, anditmovedslowlyacrossthecave. OnceitfelluponMary'sface,andshe wasasawhitelily. Thesoundsfromthetowndiedout, andtheworldgrewstill.Theswish ofthehayastheoxpulledittoward him,andthesoftbreathingofthe sleepingdogweretheonlysoundsin thedarkness.Thestarsfloatedwestward,andtheeagerAngelsweredriftingdownthroughthemingreat squadronstowardsBethlehem. Thetreadofthemidnightwatch cametothetowngate.,ThenJoseph wasconsciousofawhitelightwithin thecave.Suddenlyheheardatiny cry,andtherelyinguponthehay,101 theLambofGod-Hesawthedear St.MarystretchoutherhandstremblinglyandcatchuptheBabe,andhide Himinherbosom.ShestilledHis crywithherlip.Thenthelightfad. ed,andinthedarkshecroonedher Syrianlullaby,forgetfulofthesorrow tocome. TheArchangelMichaelsweptout thenight,andinsheerjoyhehurledhislancedown.tillitthunderedand quiveredinthegateofhell,andhe shoutedtohisarmies,rangingtieron
TheMysteryofMoseleyManor
"The Dies (ByRev.BrotherLeBreton.) priesthasgone,thecursehascome unannealedtheyoungestson."-(CurseofMoseley.)
MoseleyManorstandsfairtothe eye,and"squaretoeverywindthat blows,"onthegreenestofhillsinall thegreencountryofKent.Among the"statelyhomesofEngland"there arefewtosurpasstheManorHouse ofSirRichardMoseleigh,ofMoseley. butthereareperhapsPonethatheld lessofthespiritofpeacethanthis house,overwhichtheshadowofa cursehadbroodedforfourhundred years,andtheshadowhadbecomereality,swiftandavenging,onacertain dayineachgeneration,whenMoseley mournedforthetakingawayofits youngestson.InthedaysofQueen Elizabeth.therehadbeenanepostate Moseleigh.SirRonald,who,toplease theQueen,herGracehadgonetothe parishchurchatEastertime,andtakenthecommunionofthenewreligion. Notcontentwiththis,SirRonaldhad taxenanactivepartinthesearchfor apriest,hiddensomewhereamongthe Catholicfamilies,andwhoministered bystealth,asbesthecould,tohis persecutedbrethren. ThetraditionsofMoseleighvillage tellthestory:Lockington,thearchspy.hadcomeonavisittoMoseley Manor,andeverybodyknewwhathis visitsmeant.TheCatholicsofthe neighbourhood.thatisallthosewho hadnottakenthecommunionofthe newrites,weredismayedtohearthat thedreadforerunnerofElizabeth's wrathwasamongstthem.Several dayspassedby,andLockingtonhad beenseenaboutthevillageandabout theManor,hadevenmetseveralofthe Catholicsandspokentotheminsuch amannerastoshowthatheknow whotheywere,andstillnothingwas done.TheCatholicsbegantobreathe freely.Thentheblowfellsuddenly. ItwastheeveoftheAssumption,and theCatholicsweregatheredtogether inabarn"forfearoftheJews." FatherSherlockhadheardtheirconfessions,andfortheirgreaterconsolationdiscoursedtothemofthemorrow'sfeast.Suddenlytherewasa confusionoflightandnoise,andas ofolditwaswritten."AndHisdisciplesleavinghimfled,"sonowthe shepherdwasstrickenandthesheep oftheflockweredispersed.Father SherlockwastakentoLondontotrial. Hedidnotdenythathewasaseminarypriest,but-,protestedthathewas anEnglishman,andloyaltothe Queen'sgrace.thatinthisonlydidhe withstandher,thatheobeyedGod ratherthanman,andwouldhave noughttodowiththenobilitiesofthe newreligionwhichhesaidwere"verily fromthedevil."
Acourtier,highinElizabeth'sfavour,wasarelationofFatherSherlock, andhisinfluencewithherobtained thattheprosecutionshouldcease,and thatthepriestshouldbeofferedhis lifeonconditionofhisleavingthe country. FatherSherlockrepliedthat"None buthissuperiorhadsenthimtolabour inEngland,andnonebuthissuperior hadauthorityoverhimtosendhim outofit." Elizabethsmiledwhensheheard this,andsaid,"Thisisabraveman, butifwehavenotauthority.atleast wehavepower,andbeshallgo."And soittranspiredthatFatherSherlock wasputuponahip,andagreatdemonstrationwasinacieofthosewho weregladtosee"aPapistsentpackms uarnneidnuhri; boatmovedofffromtheshores,the dgi packing," taoanndtdheolpersonofChrist.Asthe priestraisedhisrighthand,blessed EnglandandElizabeth,andthoseassembled,friendsandenemiesalike.A veiledwomanwhohadstoodbysilentlyallthewhilesuddenlythrewthe veilfromherfaceandhead,andin loudtonesshouted: "Thepriesthasgone,thecursehas come. Diesunannealeditheyoungestson." Thewomanveiledherselfagain,the crowdwashushed,anditissaidSir Ronaldturnedpale,for,forallhis apostacy,itwas;crownthathewished thingswereotherwiseanohopedto dieuiththeministrationsofatrue priest.Severalyearspassed,andMoseleigh villagerememberedandrepeatedthe curseandhalfbelievedit.Oneday thenewswentroundthatRichard.Sir Ronald'sfourthson,hadbeenthrown fromhishorse.draggedseveralclains, andwastakenuptotheManorunconsciousandalmostbledtodeath SirRonald'sfirstanxietywasfora priest.Therewasnotone,ecretly residentwithinthreecounties.Lady Margaretrain'sagreatwail,andopenlyreproachedSirRonaldthatitwas hisfaultthatthepriesthadbeendeported.ThatnightyoungRichard died.Unconscioustothelast,he tooknowealfromthe"ministrations ofmen,"astheCatholicscalledthe newriteswhichcheparsonhadcome togivehim,butcouldnot,beingno truepriest,andnothavingpowerto givetheHolyUnctionwhichiscalled "annealing,"hisnewriteshadno powertoreachthesteal,butdependedontheconsciousnessofthesickpersontotakethem.Thatnightthe veiledwomansteselbeforetheManor gatesinthemoonlight,andrepeated thecurse:
befound formanyminutes,andtheydrewhim mill,andtotheManor,forhelp.Help wasinstant,butuseless.ForthesecondtimeaSirRonaldMoseleighstood bythebedsideofasonwhohaddied aviolentdeath.SirRonald,likehis fatherbeforehim,sentwildlyinmany directionsforapriest.Onewas found.AFrenchpriestministering incomparativesafetyduringthose quietertimes,wasfoundatafarm house.butarrivedseveralhourstoo late-theyoungestsonhaddiedunannealedagain.Intheearlymorn. ingofthedismaltuneraidayairRenew.lookingindesolationfromhis oeuroomwindow,sawaveileuwoman standbeforethegatesthroughwhich thedeadbodyofhisyoungestson wassosoontobecarried,and,heard herwords, "Thepriesthasgone.thecursehas come, Diesunannealedtheyoungestsun." Ihelawnyortheeloseleiga'shad becomecattriolicagain,kiutallthe yearssincetheReformationthe youngestsondiedaviolentdeath,and eveninlatiO,whentheSirRonaldof thatday,anexceedinglypiousman,procuredtheservicesofaresident chaplain,ithappenedthatwhen aatnerrtanswickwasabsentatthe annualretreat,theyoungestson.Cecil. wasfatallyshotduringthepartridge season,andthoughconscioustothe end,andwellpreparedbyavirtuous lifeforthegreatact,wasdeadsome sevenhourswhen_FatherRanswickarrivedbreathless-buttoolate. InIMO,SirHubertsucceededtothe Manor,andhadtwosonsandfive daughters.Hischildrenwereall grownup.Itseemedasthoughthecursehadpassed.Therewasnow noyoungestson,butonlyRichardand Hubert.Nevertheless,eveninthe coming-of-agefestivitiesofhisyoungestsister,Eva.Hubert,nowafully grownman,activeandalert,bysonic mischance,felldownthegreatstaircase,andwastakenupwithhisneck broken.Apriestwhohadbeenpresentatthefestivities,haddeparted twohoursagobythetrainforLondon.LadyMaryBarcroft,sittingup besidethedeadbodyathatnight,saw aveiledwomanstandbythebed,but heardnowort*ofthecurse-butonce againtheyoungestsonwasdeadwithouttheHolyAnnointing-In1908.SirRichardMoseleigh,anxiousaboutthecurse.andfullybelievinginit,consultedtheBishopas towhatshouldbedoneinorderthat hishousemightbefreeofthecurse. TheBishopagreedtocelebrateaNovenaofMasses,andafterwardsto chanttheLitanyoftheSaintsinprocession,withthepriestsandaoelytes, andthewholehousehold.Thiswas done.WhentheBishopcametothe wordsoftheLitany,"Fromsudden andunprovideddeath,0Lord,deliverus,"hefeltinspiredtorepeatit threetimes,andthreetimestheprocessionistsansweredhim.SirRichard afterwardssoughthisLordshipimmediately inthevestry,andtoldhim thathehadfeltduringthethreeinvocationsaninspieationtoprovidefor theeducationofapriestforEngland. inreparationfortheharmhisancestorhaddoneintakingpartinthedeportationofFatherSherlock.The Bishop,neitheradmittingthereality ofthe,cursenordecidingthatthepresentheiroftheManorwasboundto anyactofpietyoecauseofhisancestor'stransgression,admittedthatthis ideaofSirRonald'swas"ahillyand wholesomethought." SirRichard'syoungestson,Ronald, wasordainedtwoyearsago,anditis saidheseemstohaveaspecialgrace ofarrivingintimeatundeserving(as farasmencansee)death-beds.Soit wouldseemthatthecarsehasgone, andthat"Notastheoffence,soalso thegift,"agreaterblessinghascome uponthehousewhichdidpenance,andtriedtomakereparation.Onthe daythattheBishopconcludedthe Novena,aladyveiledinwhitewas seentosmileasshestoodbeforethe Manorgates.andherlipsmovedas thoughprayerfully.Peacehascome toMoseley,andletuswhohearits storysayamentothatpeace,thatit beinourheartsalso,andinthe heartsofall