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About The banner of the South. (Augusta, Ga.) 1868-1870 | View Entire Issue (April 24, 1869)
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.
