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the chief by the throat, but as the dead
ly weapon was descending, he was caught
by two guards who held him with a
linn and steady grasp. He was marched
to the General’s tent, and there bound,
tightly in iron chains.
Scarcely any one, except the imme
diate bystanders, had seen Sylvain draw
his dagger. All that the insurgents saw
was the two guards seizing him and hur
rying him off, to be imprisoned in the
tent. It was thought that he had been
arrested as their leader, and not as a
wretch who had attempted to assassinate
the chief. They, therefore, cried out
the more loudly, and cursed the General
that had cast into irons “ the messenger
of the gods.'’ Death to the impious
wretch who had committed a sacrilege !
they cried, while they pressed around
him with their swords raised to smite
him.
The devoted guards formed a close
circle round him, with the firm determi
nation of defending him to the last. As
Christians, they were mild and humble,
and ready to sutler death for the faith,
but as soldiers they were valiant and in
trepid as they were obedient and firm in
their attachment to discipline. They
saw in their adversaries the character of
assassins, and they formed themselves in
iauk and drew their swords to resist the
shock of this furious troop.
Passion was at its highest pitch, the
ravings of fanaticism lent strength to the
arm and madness to the courage, and al
ready the yell of the onset was heard and
the clang of their dreadful weapons as
they crossed each other and fell upon
their heavy armor, when suddenly the
ground trembled and the terrific war
shout of the savages rent the air. It was
the Numidian cavalry.
The enemy was in front, and domestic
broil was suppressed.
“ Onward !” shouted Jarbas ; “march
to victory 1”
The whole army joined in one mighty
phalanx and moved steadily to meet the
charge.
The General was, as we have re
marked, without arms when Sylvain
presented himself before him. He dow
commanded his armor, shield and sword
to be brought him in all haste. His
battle-horse was instantly led forth. It
stamped its feet with impatience as the
trumpet of war had rang in its cars, and
it was eager for the fray. Jarbas seized
its flowing mane, and in an instant was at
the head of his soldiers. But, suddenly,
he grew pale, the reins dropped from his
hands, and he fell bleeding into the arms
of his guards. Someone had seen a
slave ride swiftly by the General.—
Whilst they carried him back to his tent,
this man had disappeared.
CHARTER XII.
THE PARDON.
T 1 ie Numedians had profited by the
visit of Afer. At an appointed hour,
they had gathered together and prepared
themselves for the attack. The signal
was given, and the barbarian’s horde
rushed wildly from the woods and came
flying over the intervening space. The
guards of Jarbas met them, and the en
counter was dreadful. But soon the
Numedians broke their rauks, and the
superior discipline of their opponents
took immediate advantage of this fatal
mistake. The barbarians were routed,
and soon nothing was seen on the field
of battle but broken swords and the
torn and mangled bodies of dead and
dying warriors.
In the meantime, the General was
carried to his tent and deposed gently
upon his couch. He was still bleeding.
A physician was by his side to attend
him. The poignard had been directed
by an experienced hand, for it had pene
trated his lefc side a little below the
heart. The blade must have been long
and thin, as the wound was small and
deep. Several guards surrounded his
bed, and their anxious looks and assid
ous care showed how much they grieved
for their murdered Chief,
Jarbas suffered much. A deadly
pallor suffused itself over his face, and
the agitation of his nerves gave a
tremulous movement to his body. His
eyes were half closed, and upon them
was visible the impress of death. He
endeavored to express a few words to
those around him, but his lips refused to
move.
Aruntius, the name of the physician
:n attendance, was not originally from
Carthage. He was born in Libia, where
lie passed the few years of his infancy.
Afterwards he passed into Egypt, France
and Italy, and there applied himself to
the study of the sciences, but more par
ticularly to the science of medicine.
Twenty years had passed, during which
he had been able to add to theory the
indispensable advantage of practice and
experience. He finally 7 settled in Carth
age.
He was naturally 7 grave in his manner,
and his general deportment was steady
and dignified. He possessed great
amplitude of mind, and this great quality,
together with the knowledge which he
had acquired in foreign parts, enabled
him to rise superior to the vulgar preju
dices of the city. He had seen the
Christians and was not struck with
astonishment at anything particular iu
their manners or appearance. On the
contrary, he saw in them much to ad
mire and imitate, and he thought to him
self that if the pagans only followed in
their footsteps, they would effect a re
formation which was very much required.
Curiosity had led him to examine several
of their doctrines, and he became
charmed with that religion, which ele
vated the sentiments and desires of man,
which purified his heart from the gross
alloy of earthly considerations, which
inspired fortitude to meet the ills of life,
and courage to perform the most heroic
sacrifice—a religion in fine, whose
principles afforded consolatiou to man
upon the earth, and whose brilliant light
had lighted up the great mystery of the
Grace finished what reason had
commenced. He became a Christian ;
afterwards he came under the notice of
the Bishop, who, causing him to pass
some years in pursuing those studies
necessary to the priesthood, judged him
worthy of this dignity, and accordingly
conferred upon him the sacrament of
holy orders.
Jarbas began to breathe more freely.
The blood which had flowed from the
wound weakened him considerably, but
still brought him some little relief.
There was a languid expression in his
half closed eyes, and this, together with
an occasional movement of the nerves,
was an indication that life was ebfiing
fast
Father, he said in a feeble voice to
Aruntius, what think you of the wound?
It is mortal, is it not ?
God is all powerful, my dear friend,
and even though we are on the point of
death a breath from on high may re
animate the spark which is dying out
Venerable Aruntius, fear not. How
often have I confronted death on the
field of battle ? It is hard however, to
die by the hand of an assassin. I should
have desired to fall gloriously by the
sword of the enemy.
The glory of this world, dear friend,
is nothing. He who knows all things,
says that it is nothing, and decs not,
therefore, give it to those whom he
wishes to crown in Heaven. Let us
submit to his holy mandate, and accept
in the spirit of humility, the sacrifice
which you are now' called upon to make.
Father, forgive me; it was pride, I
see it now. I was scarcely conscious
that it lay within me. Yes, I humble
myself under the hand of God, but time
is flying fast, and it may soon be too
late. May I not be purified in the
waters of baptism ? You have nobly
conferred your faith to-day in presence
of the whole army, and God calls you
now to receive that sacrament by which
you are admitted into the sacred folds of
his Church. Jarbas, dost thou renounce
the false Gods ?
“I renounce them.”
“Dost thou believe in Jesus Christ, his
eternal Son, God and Saviour, who for
love of us became man and died upon
the Cross?”
“I do believe.”
“Dost thou believe in the Holy Ghost
who has spoken with through the prophets,
and has filled them wisdom and strength?”
“I believe; 1 believe all that the
Church teaches, and receive its sacred
symbol with the firm assurance that it
is the depository of God’s revelation to
man.”
He now appeared to revive from his
languor, and his eyes became radiant
with the fire of love. A flush had re
turned to his cheek, and the trembling
in his voice was gone. His suffering
seemed to have disappeared for the
moment, and he felt himself strong
enough to raise himself a little and place
himself in an altitude, proper to receive
the sacred water. The Priest poured
the consecrated element fully upon his
head, at the same time repeating the
usual prayers of the Church. “Now
the heaven? are opened; the stain of
original sin is removed and if such is the
will of God, you may die in peace ; but
imitate the mercy of God and pardon
your enemies, pardon him who has struck
you.”
“Hatred, my Father, is extinct within
me. Let the assassin approach and hear
my words of forgiveness.”
“He is gone and is already far from
the camp replied Aruntius! But I can
communicate to him your pardon, if ever
I should meet him.”
“Well, that will do ; but I am grow
ing week, hold me 1
A spasmodic movement seized his
frame, and his countenance assumed the
livid color of death. Aruntius hastened
to administer to him the sacraments of
BAHHSB ©J SII
the eucharist and extreme unction. Wlieu j
this affecting ceremony was completed.
Then priest exclaimed, “may the grace
of the Lord remain with you forever.”
“Amen ! responded the dying Gene
ral.”
For a considerable time he closed his
eyes as if to shut himself out from this
world and direct his attention exclusively
to the things of heaven. He prayed, and
that soul enjoyed in anticipation, the
happiness which was reserved for him
above.
He again opened his eves, and ex
claimed : “Poor Vi via ! tell her one of
my last thoughts was about her, good
kind, gentle creature ! May we meet
soon in heaven 1 But break the news
to her cautiously ; remember, cautiously!”
The guards saw that the last moment
was now drawing near, and as they held
his hands to assuage in some degree the
intensity of his agony, they shed bitter
tears of sorrow. Aruntius presented a
crucifix before his gaze, and pronounced
at short intervals the holy name. There
was a strange vacant stare in his glassy
eyes, a slight trembling passed through
his entire frame, and with a feeble re
sponse to the prayer, still upon his lips,
he passed away to receive his eternal
reward.
Several weeks afterwards, Yivia and
Felicity were sitting together in their
luxurious apartments iu the vicinity of
Carthage, when a message conveyed to
them the tidings of the death of Jarbas.
The blow was too heavy and too sudden
for the weak nature of Yivia to sustain
it without yielding to its pressure, and
she fell into tliel aims of Felicity, who
carried her drooping form to the couch.
When she had laid her gently down aud
smoothed back hir curls from her face,
she started back in fright. That deadly
paleness ! That suspension of the beat
ing of the heart !t Was it death ? Or ivas
it a swoon ? Poor Yivia !
f TO BE CONTINUED.]
NEW ORLEANSaX CORRESPONDENCE,
OF THE BANNER OF THE SOUTH.
Banner of the South :
Oh! that I had a pen of inspiration
wherewith to convey in worthy letters of
gold, an account of the supernal event
that transpired here last Sunday after
noon. Truly will Sunday, the 11th of
April, iB6O, go down in history as one
of New Orleans grandest dates.
That day, being the 50th anniversary
of our Holy Father, Pius the Ninth’s ac
cession to the Priesthood, it had been an
nounced the previous Sunday, would be
honored by’ a public ceremonial at the
Cathedral. Thus but one short week
was allowed for preparation ; and yet
within that week preparations were
made resulting in a demonstration never
before equalled here, even on occasions'
when whole months were given to pre
paratory labor.
In front of the venerable Cathedral
was erected a huge platform about thirty
feet high, of a width equal to that of the
Cathedral itself, and extending forward
from the front wall of the Church about
half way across Chartres street, from
which point it descended by regular steps
to the iron fence of Jackson Square,
across the street. These front steps were
covered by a handsome linen carpeting,
while the entire outer sides of the scaf
folding were tapestried with a wall of
solid white muslin pannelled with yellow
—thus forming the Pope’s own colors—
and decorated with wreaths and festoons
of evergreens and flowers. The upper
level floor, which had to serve at once as
sanctuary, choir and rostrum, was heavily
carpeted and filled with chairs for the
occasion, while from its rear centre up
rose a magnificent altar with its appro
priate candles, flowers and other adorn
ments, the whole surmounted by a lofty
canopy of crimson and gold over which
rose a globe of heavenly blue, studded
with silver stars, with a glittering, golden
cross on top of all !
With this glance at the local prepara
tions, turn we now to
THE PROCESSION.
A concise description of this requires
nothing more to be said than that it con
sisted of the Catholic people of the city
and suburbs; aud an extended descrip
tion would occupy more space than the
Banner could spare, so we must content
with a short summary.
Col. Girardcy, as Chief Marshal, had
organized the whole body into five divi
sions, under as many commanders, with
orders to assemble early in the after
noon on our grand central avenue,
Canal street. As Benediction had been
given and the Te Deum sung in every
Church immediately after High Mass,
the entire Catholic population, lay and
clerical, was free to participate in the
grand central celebration; consequently,
the streets were soon alive with the
eager thousands hastening to take their
part in the proceedings. On all sides
were heard the sounds of martial mu
sic, and near each Church and School
house and Asylum, could be seen the
busy marshalling of confraternities, so
cieties, congregations, school children,
charitable associations, &c., each with
its band of music and its banners,
guidons, bannerets, and other insignia,
while the various officers and leading
members were all tricked off with the
broadest of sashes and the gayest of
ribbons, rosettes, badges, &c.
When at last these had all centred
on and near Canal street, the scene was
such as had never before been witnessed
on this continent. At the head of each
congregation apj eared its clergy in
surplice and beretta, frequent along the
line appeared gilded crosses and very
many beautiful pictures of the Blessed
Virgin and other favorite patron Saints,
while here and there came long files of
poor, little, neatly uniformed orphans,
guided by their voluntary protectors, the
Sisters of Charity. The Brothers of the
Christian Doctrine were also there with
their hundreds of fatherless boys; and
there were Conferences, and Beneficial
Societies of German, Spanish, French,
Irish, and other nationalities; and there
were groups of Enfants de Marie clad
and veiled in pure white, and uniformed
choir-boys bearing large wax candles,
palm branches, crucifixes, aud other em
blems; and, in a word, there was every
element that could be required for a thor
ough representation cf universal Catho
licity.
1 have heard no estimate of the num
bers in the procession, but I think it is
fairly margined between the figures
15,000 and 20,000. When in motion it
was certainly several miles in length and
was two hours in passing any one place.
Passing by the Archbishop’s house, the
ranks were opened to receive bis Grace,
and then proceeded to the place of cere
monial in front of the Cathedral.
When the Archbishop and assistant
celebrants had ascended the platform and
taken their seats near the altar, the scene
was simply sublime.
In front, Jackson Square, that superb,
tropical flower garden, was densely packed
with thousands upon thousands of beau
tiful ladies and children in their holiday
attire —(it had been reserved exclusively
for them) —and beyond, the wide plateau
and levee, even to the river's brink, were
crowded with such a throng of humanity
as it may never see again. As witnessed
from the platform, the sea of upturned
faces thus presented, formed a living pic
ture never to be forgotten; and, by way
of compensation, I have heard individuals
of that crowd say that their view of the
living pyramid, extending from the low
est step of the platform to the very sides
of the altar, was also photographed for
ever on their mind’s eye. From an em
brasure high up in the Cathedral tower,
floated forth the snow-white banner of the
Pope, emblazoned with his arms, the
Tiara and Keys, in golden colors, while
the body of the platform and the front
wall of the Cathedral was fairly alive
with the brilliant display of rich banners,
gay flags and fluttering pennants that
were passed up as the various deputa
tions arrived and took their places.
THE CEREMONIES ON THE PLATFORM
consisted of a grand Saint performed by
the chorus and orchestra as soon as the
Archbishop and clergy reached their
places around the Altar ; then a series of
fervent, eloquent addresses in English,
French and German were delivered by
Messrs. Layton and Edward Bermadez,
and the Reverend Fathers Giessen, Ilade
macher and Perche; after which the
Blessed Sacrament was exposed upon the
brilliantly lighted Altar, the Tantum
Ergo was sung by the choir and clergy,
the Benediction was given—thousands of
the multitude dropping to their knees at
the solemn moment—then arose the jubi
lant tones of the Te Deinn, at the con
clusion of which the crowd once more
bowed themselves to the earth to receive
from the consecrated hands of the vener
able Archbishop the Pontifical Benedic
tion —and all was over !
Considering the suddenness with which
this unprecedented crowd was called to
gether, and the variety of elements com
posing it, the utter absence of disorder
was remarkable, and to many minds
miraculous. E eery bo ly was in the streets:
for not only was Jackson Square and vi
cinity packed as 1 have described, but
every street through which the proces
sion passed was just as densely crowded,
and it is not extravagant to say that the
spectators could be numbered by hun
dreds of thousands ; and yet not a single
accident o" disturbance occurred. The
effect of this glorious Catholic testimonial
will doubtless be felt to some extent all
over the world ; for no spectator can re
fer to it without alluding to the respect
with which it was witnessed by the
thousands of non-Catholic observers, who
seemed awe-struck by the unexpected
display of Catholic Faith, Unity, Fervor,
and Devotion. These observations will
naturally provoke enquiry into the secret
by which Catholicity produces such i e .
suits, this enquiry will inevitably ] ea( j
every honest mind right into the Catho
lic Church. God grant this result may
be universal; “ then,” in the eloquent
words of the Rev. Father Giessen, ‘‘then
peace will reign everywhere ; then will
be verified the beautiful words ot this
day’s gospel, ‘There shall be hut one fold
and one shepherd.’ May this day soon
come. Amen.” Percy Yere.
MOBILE CORrTsPONDENCE
OF THE BANNER OF THE SOUTH.
Mobile, April, 1809.
Banner of the South :
The winter that has passed was re
markable for its heavy rains, as well as
for the number of its cold days. >j v
memory cannot recall one like it* for the
last thirty-five years. The Spring, too
seems to advance cautiously, as if f ear ]
ful lest the productive powers of nature
too rapidly developed, while they e n .
larged the quantity, might not affect
favorably, the quality of the fruit crop
But the breath of the coming Summer
is in the air already, perfumed by the
flowers which are everywhere and every
thing looks fresher, the leaves greener
and the many-colored flowers more pleas
ing to the eye, in the growing brightness
of the sun-light. What a luxury it is to
breathe the fragrant atmosphere of a
Spring morning iu a climate like ours!
Lent, with its mourning and its
penance, has passed away with its cere
monies of the Holy Week, and the Easter
festival has seen its customary crowd of
penitents kneeling before the altar of
Him whose death and resurrection had
consecrated it. Even of the many who
abuse the duties of the Lent, how few
think of the wisdom exhibited in its
institution. It yearly revives the
memory of events, the recollection of
which should be dear to every Christian.
It teaches a salutary lesson to man by
inculcating humility, and obedience to
authority. It gives tones to his charac
ter by aiding reason in controlling the
will and checking its appetites. It
annually recalls to our mind the great
resurrection in the past, in order the better
to direct our hopeful solicitude to that
which is to come. And coming as it
does, always in the Spring, it has a ten
dency to tone down the humors of the
body, and perhaps the blood for the heat
of the coming Summer. In all her
discipline, while her main object of con
sideration is always eternity, the Church
still remembers this world, and though
the soul is the great object of her solici
tude, neither does she forget the body,
for that, too, shall live in the resurrec
tion.
Our city looks rather dull at present.
Business does not seem to be very active,
nor are our streets crowded The cot
ton market is not lively. Whether that
is owing to the fact that holders are
waiting for higher prices, or that Man
chester is working on short time, or
operatives are striking against short
time or lower wages, I cannot say, though
I am inclined to think it is somewhat
affected by all these causes. Our far
mers being all at home hard at work,
has also had something to do with the
apparent dullness of our streets.
I wish that those of our people who
still have a little capital left would in
vest a portion of it in developing the
manufacturing resources of the country.
If every navigable river in the South
was dotted with factories, particularly
with cotton factories, and one erected at
every central railroad cross-way, how
many thousands of the poorer, less active
and less energetic portion of our popula
tion would be able to make a living,
while the enormous profits arising from
that one article of Southern production,
instead of being absorbed in building
up towns and developing the shipping
interests of Old England and New Eng
land, would be distributed among our
own people, thus affording additional
means for the development of other in
dustries calculated to enhance the P r p s "
perity of our country and the material
comfort of our people.
The Rev. Father Doanc left our eit\
Monday last on his way North. Ym
know, of course, that he is engaged on
a collecting tour for the purpose ol
ing funds for the establishment of an
American college at Rome, after the ex
ample of all other Christian nations. *-p
far, I believe his success has been ' ej)
promising, and highly flattering f" 1 ”
character of our people generally j’’
liberality. He preached in our
on Sunday last, but owing to the negy , -
or ignorance of the principles ol Aepusiv
in the construction ol our cathcaiap
could not hear what he said Js .
understand him. Our cathedral E {l * ll
bly defective in that respect. ” ; iieL ‘,
sermon is delivered from the pinpL
occupants of about thirteen or tourtee *