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VOL. II-
For the Banner of the; South.]
Go in Peace.
HEBMINE.
“Ga in peace;’' oh blessed words.
More sweet than songs of summer birds,
More glad to heart than sounds of love,
More healing than the light above.
My soul was dark, they made it bright—
heavy with grief, they made it light—
Aimless and weak, they bade it “go”
And strive for peace in pain below,
And, with the strength of risen hope,
Again with demon-wiles to cope,
"Go in peace.” Can words like these,
So simple, cure such foul disease ?
Hind up the bleeding, tortured soul,
And make the ulcered part all whole ?
Oh yes—thank God! whose mercy gave
This plank upon the storm-tossed wave,
To bear us on Contrition’s tide
And place us safe by Jesus’ side.
“Go in peace”—Can it be true
That on my soul the heavenly dew
Has fallen with its sacred spell,
Jnd made, the dying spirit well ?
And can it be, that I may stand,
Thro’ these blest words, on His right hand,
dnd hear,perhaps, those -words divine—
“ Heaven and all its joys be thine 1”
“No, no; it seems too wild, too sweet!
t how in trembling at thy feet,
Thou Priest of God ! and ask thee still
Those words that all my being thrill,
To say again, and o’er, still o’er;
“Go then in peace and sin no more 1”
For the Banner of the South.
IHE [AST DAYS OF CARTHAGE;
OR
A SISTER OP FABIOLA.
AFTER THE MANNER OF THE FRENCH.
[continued]
CHAFFER IX.
PAGAN FANATICISM.
Scarcely bad the day dawned when
Sylvain and Afer rose to continue their
conference which the lateness of the pre
ceding night had interrupted. “Fatima,”
resumed the shepherd, “was united to
me by a bond of the most sacred a flec
tion, but now there ism wide, impassible
gulf between us and we are separated for
ever. I have cursed her and have
sworn never to behold her again.”
“Time assuages grief and calms the
, f no
impetuosity of an angry mind. This is
dm rule. I am the exception. The
longer I live the more violent is my
r age, and the more 1 thirst for the blood
of her that has injured me. Fatima of
ten sought me out, but I avoided her, and
would never see her. Frequently she
remained hours together at* my door
weeping and sobbing, as she begged of
nit* to forgive her and remove from her
,ri y malediction. Rut I was implacable.”
Julia, the wife of noble Ilanno, often
called upon me, to remonstrate with me
1 j reproach me for my cruelty; ‘your
child,’ she would say, ‘is inconsolable,
,lcr STief and her touching supplications,
jb'ald soften the heart of a barbarian,
bis true she has become a Christian,
!n 't she did not intend by' this to offend
J Oll forfeit your love. She has not
come worse by the change. She is
w eet. modest and submissive, and her vir
th*distinguish her from all around her.’
to her simply, because, I could
|‘"v do otherwise, but when I withdrew
, r ' in J lcr presence I found that mv
ia b (, d had only increased.”
. b; a rnt from an old slave in the cm
!i /v* ie fami ty, tliat from the moment
i at^:na became a Christian, Vivia
} ’° beat her no longer as a slave
*° Cl ber on terms ot the most in
w!n friemlshi P with her; that they
ii iu each others society the
- v lion g. under the plea of atUnd
i * *'T embroidery or the like, but
ca.ityto speak more freely of the new
Vrrot*’ lyx9L liever ceased to in
,i doctrines and never grew
[j ■ praising in terms which could
lb». hnt i °
u , ’ l ' Uiuke an impression upon the
q lUt [ pliant mind of Fatima ; that
j L s Aiised her the greatest happiness
t ; ; the duties of this faith, and
j k , ie tyould embrace it they should
. united in the tics of eternal
- How could my child resist
i'v,!', 1 -, I<ei i ce °‘ those hypocritical cm
•j.. a ’ lu remain unaffected by her in
■ uuons tortoim'? 'Pi i J
mngue . Jhe work was now
commenced; it was finished by that
fanatical Priest, well known in Cart hage,
called Tertullian.”
“From the moment that I heard all
this I conceived a violent and implacable
hatred against Vi via. 1 had to suppress
any outward manifestation of what I felt
but my feelings were on this account thi
more veherneut and strong. The torrent
was stemmed, but the waters were more
troubled .”
“I cannot rest Afer—the image of
Fatima pursues me waking as in my
midnight dreams I see her still envel
oped in white, and before my eyes T
still see glittering the accursed symbol
of her apostasy—that cross upon which
hangs the crucified.”
“Ah! Afer, thou knowest not the
heart of a father whose affections are
concentrated upon an only child. There
is a sacred bond between them and when
that is suddenly broken—when the hopes
he has long cherished are buried in an
eternal separation—when those sweet
dreams of the future are dissipated and
their beautiful images, like the phantom
of the lake, are continually receding as
he advances—then indeed sorrow fills
his heart, the sun no longer sheds his
genial rays upon him but be is envelop
ed in a darkness as thick and as awful
as the dreaded Tartarus.”
“I have sworn never to see Fatima
again, for from the moment that she be
came attached to that religion which V
allowed to progress with impunity but
which ought to be quenched in the blood
of the last of its followers, she is no long
er my child. The gods (may they’ be
praised !) have inspired me with suffi
cient courage to continue firm in my re
solution. I finally' came to this place
with Fatima, to live in solitude and es
cape from the turmoil of this world.
Put I have carried me the remem
brance of my sorrows and the arrow that
pierced my heart there, still transfixes
its inmost core. Afer, I can die when I
have revenge and not before.”
“1 was a long time iu ignorance of
what was passing in Carthage. I knew
not even if Fatima was still in existence.
Some days ago, however, a young war
rior that was returning from the army
passed by and I was enabled to have a
short conversation with him. He told
me that Vivia lived still, and that she
had become a Christian and moreover,
it was expected that Jarbas, her hus
band, would follow her example. Ter
tullian, it appears, had acquired consider
able influence over his mind, and had al
most persuaded him to apostatise from our
national faith. lie, himself, did not
conceal his sympathies for the new re
ligion and in the camp his guard was
entirely formed of Christian soldiers.
The natural consequence was that there
was general discontent among the sol
diers and now dissatisfaction has spread
among all ranks and has assumed alarm
ing propoitious. Fatima, I learnt, had
joined her destiny to a man of the same
sect, and in order to forget the religion
of her father and her youthful days, she
has abandoned the name I gave her and
has adopted that of ’Felicitas.'”
“What can I say of her, Afer ? Has
she not deserted the sacred cause of our
gods ? And who has been the cause ?
Vivia, Vivia, thou must die! Let her
not count on the protection of her valiant
husband; it will avail her little. She
will soon wear the garments of a widow
and when I shall have feasted my eyes
upon her corrupted blood, 1 can then
return to these solitary mountains and
1 die under the consolation of having
slain my bitterest enemy.”
The old man could say no more. Ilis
lips were hueless and trembled with
rage. He rose from his seat and his
palsied hands clutched the dagger at his
side. His lurid eyes, bloodshot from
sleepless nights, stared wildly around
aud a convulsive agitation shook his en
tire frame. Ater had not the courage
to say a word.
AUGUSTA, GA., APRIL 24, 1869.
“Afer, listen,” resumed Sylvain after
these few moments of repose, “listen to
the project I spoke of yesterday. Jar
bas, it is true was received with enthu
siasm after his victory over the w’dd
Numidians. That is now passed. lie
is since then afraid to attack them. They
go so far as to accuse him of cowardice
and even treason. It is said that he
has formed a secret alliance with our
enemies, that the camps is badly guard
ed, and that in fine our brave legions are
condemned to a dishonorable inaction.
It is feared that these barbarians will
one day collect their forces and destroy
our superb metropolis.”
“Time is precious, Afer, let us not
lose a moment. Let us go to the camps.
We can arrive there before to-morrow
night. 1 will go in the disguise of one
of those individuals who are inspired by
the gods, and who arc the interpreters of
their august will to mankind. In the
name of those outraged divinities, in the
name of the immortal Juno, protectrix
of our noble Carthage, I will raise the
enthusiasm of the soldiers and incite
them to revolt. I will place myself at
their head and demand of Jarbas, as head
of the army, that he offer sacrifice to
Mars, the terrible god of war. I will
declare loudly and solemnly that this
god had appeared to me in the shades of
the night and commanded me to present
myself before the commander of the
armies, and to tell him that the blood oi
two young oxen should be shed upon his
altar, and that at this price alone he
he could purchase a triumph over these
almost invincible Numidians.”
“The altar, victims, will already be
prepared. Jarbas will refuse if it is
true that he is a Christian.. He will not
conceal his true sentiments. This refusal
on his part will be the signal of a gener
al rising and our poignards with the aid
of the gods will do the rest. Mine, will
not tremble in my hand. It will be
drenched in the blood of Jarbas and I
will send it as it is, all dripping with
blood to the infamous Vivia, with my
name engraven upon it. She will then
know that the father of Fatima has com
menced the work of vengeance ”
“We will then return to Carthage. I
will be the first to carry the news of the
death of Jarbas. It will stir up the
deepest feelings of revenge against the
Christians in the minds of the people,
aud what will be easier than to rafiy
them round the standard of the gods and
secure thorn reverence by the general
slaughter of their enemies. The air
will resound with shouts for the cause of
truth and paganism, mingled with cries
of‘Christians to the lions.' There is a
strange magic in this Roman phrase, for
all who hear it rise quickly from their
apathy and take up the cry with vehe
mence and ardor. The Christians will
then be sought out and among the rest
the impious Vivia. I shall see her. I
shall exult as she writhes in agony, and
when I behold her gasping out her last
breath, bleeding and lacerated by the
teeth of the savage lions, I will raise
these feeble hands and pronounce upon
her guilty head my withering curse !
Fatima may suffer with her. Their
blood may mingle in the dust of the
arena. Wfiat matter ? Let her die;
she is no longer mine.”
He finished from exhaustion. His
frame enfeebled by infirmity, now sank
under the excitement of a mind which
the desire cf vengeance had well nigh
undermined. He fell back exhausted
and weak. Afer refreshed his lips and
temples with water, and opened the rude
apertures of the cabin to admit the cool
ing breeze. He seemed somewhat re
covered. He reposed gently on the
chair, leaning his head upon his arm
which rested on the table. Ilis sunken
eyes were shut, his livid lips were com
pressed convulsively, and he appeared to
have fallen into a deep slumber.
Afer cared little lor his plans and if ho
went to the camp, it was because he
saw himself aided by one, who was him
self determined to take the initiative
and perform the principal part in carry
ing out their project. Gold and liberty
were great incentives to action and it
was worth while to brave some little
danger in the attainment of such a noble
prize. As for the persecution against
the that was a matter in
which iie did not desire to see himself
involved. If lie were rich and could
wander where he liked the Christians
might progress as much as they pleased
and the immortal gods might exhaust
their rage in launching thunderbolts un
til all Heaven was emptied. Every
body should mind their own business.
This should be the principle upon which
his future measures should be based,
and the meaning of any enterprise which
he might henceforward undertake.
The same evening both started for
the camp. Rut it is time to return to
the more pleasing scenes in which those
who are inspired by the true sentiments
of Christianity, are the actors. Let us
transport ourselves back to the great
City of Carthage, and behold the Bishop
clothed in all the insignia of his high and
holy office, surrounded by the dignita
ries of the Church, and receiving the
professions of faith, from a young and
gentle lady, whose pure brow seemed a
reflection from the angels that hovered
invisibly around.
CHAPTER X.
TIIE CHRISTIAN VIRGIN.
Before the birth of Christ, the sublime
virtue of continence was unknown to
the world. There was obp, the lovely
Virgin of Israel, who understood it and
who cherished it as a precious jewel. It
was thus that she prepared herself and
rendered herself worthy, to carry in her
womb the eternal son of God. Her
mind illumined from on high, had ap
preciated its excellence and her heart,
inspired with divine love had experienc
ed its mysterious charm.
Idolatry, the offspring of pride and
voluptousness and the natural stimulant
to deeds of the flesh, could never elevate
itself sufficiently to contemplate the dig
nity of this virtue. It could never un
derstand how it immolates the entire be
ing aud offers it in sacrifice to God, and
and that there is nothing which assimi
lates one, more to the Angels of Heaven,
than purity of heart, and purity of mind.
Those vestals of paganism, those priest
esses of the North and of Gaul, who had
sworn to celibacy, had not yet arrived
at the idea of that voluntary immolation,
that interior purity of the heart which
was required from the Christian Virgin.
Their restrictions were exterior, and all
that was dreaded was the enforcement of
those civil laws which were established
to punish the violation of their vows.
Their weaknesses and prevarications
were regarded by themselves as naught,
provided they were not exposed before
the eyes of men or made known to the
authorities of the empire. But they for
got, or rather they had never known that
God saw into the depths of the heart,
and beheld their interior departure from
their vows. They did not reflect, that
their legal outward continence was of no
avail so long as it was not in strict ac
cordance with the interior emotions of
the soul, so long as it was not the type
and perfect reflection of movements of
the mind and dispositions of the heart.
Even among the chosen people ot God,
virginity was without honor, for sterility
carried in its train obloquy and shame.
The daughter of Jephta, consecrated to
the Lord by the imprudence of her father,
bitterly regrets her vow and mourns
over the obligation of keeping her sacred
promise. She asks permission to retire
to the solitude of the mountains, to weep
over her exclusion frtm society and the
sweets of family affection. She had
listened to her fathers words and if she
had any merit, it was her obedience and
her generous sacrifice.
The Gospel rejected by the house of
Judea and of Israel, is announced to the
nations of the earth. Anew spirit, de
scended from above, reanimates those
masses which corruption had brought to
the verge of moral extinction, and there
appeared that new faith which renews
the face of the earth. Charity beg’an
now to extend its limits and exert its
genial influence upon all the interests of
life. That sympathy natural to differ
ent associations was no longer mistaken
for tiii.s sublime virtue, and was obliged
to throw off'its disguise and manifest it
self, such as it was, before the world.
Humility succeeded to ambition, and
taught men how to suffer patiently, con
tempt, opprobrium in defence of their
faith. It was this spirit that raised up
heroes of anew kind, who smiled at
death and sighed at its approach, desir
ing that their blood might be mingled
with that of their Redeemer. Thousands
arc threatened with all the tortures hu
man malice could invent,if they continued
to follow the Religion of the Cricified
Nazarene, but they faltered not but
bravely stood forward to make public
profession of faith, before the Judges
who had. assembled to condemn them.
Persecution raged, but it ouly served
to bring out in more prominent relief
the power and vigor of this infant Church.
It was however, still small, and was but
a spark, a faint glimmering light that
shone amidst the universal darkness of
pagan superstition.
In this general movement, Chastity
received a distinguished rank among the
• X 0 b
virtues, it was not necessary to pass
through blood in order to obtain the
merit of this virtue, nor was it necessary
that its combats or its triumphs should
be visible to any but the all-seeing eye
of God. But nevertheless, it was like
wise to have its heroes. Many followed
in the footsteps of St. Paul aud the
Queen oi’ Virgins, and carried in their
hands the lily as a symbol of that purity
to which they had consecrated the re
mainder of their existence.
From the time that St. Paul wrote his
letter to the Corinthians, many young
Christian ladies, noble and plebian, free
and slave, had promised perpetual con
tinence and sealed it by a solemn vow.
The Apostle called them by the endear
ing name of the “betrothed of the Divine
spouse.” He encouraged them in the
choice which they' had made, and in
spired them with strength to continue to
the end. Their love, he told them, would
not now be divided between God and
the perishable things of the earth—that
they would escape the sorrows and
troubles incident to the family, and be
separated from that wordly pleasure,
which only brought misery in its trains.
He would recall to them the vision of
St. John, who in his exetasies of love
had seen the followers of the Immaculate
Lamb and heard them sing that mys
terious canticle, that none can sing but
those who have been pure.
The Church of Carthage was flourish
ing at this time. There were many here
likewise, who had taken vows and the
singular modesty of their deportment
stood out in agreeable contrast with the
sad indications of debauchery and cor
ruption which marked the features ot
the pagan youth. Many had been born
even under the shadow ot the Cross,
and as if to expiate the abominations ol
the City, and make some little return to
God for his outraged mercy, they had
presented themselves before the Bishop
in order to take the solemn vow of vir
ginal continence. Rufina was amongst
them, and distinguished herself above
them’all by her eminent piety and habits
of retirement. But there was another
who was about to join (heir order.
Angela belonged to a rich and influ
ential family. They bad formerly lived
in Rome, but the interests of Commerce
induced them to take up their abode in
Carthage. The lather and mother were
Christians. It was now some time since
No. 6.