Saint Ursula Academy - Scroll Yearbook (Toledo, OH)

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,Veg Marys Child-Blossom by VIRGINIA IQAUFMAN .UILLVG down froin her throne 'inid the stars high above Jlary sent on its flight a tiny white dove Bearing a child-flowerlet for God's garden of love. There it blossomed, surrounded by benignity, By fair lilies glowing with purity, And the greatest of all blossoins--charity. But seeing that the flower was frail, the Light Of the World caressed it with the Holy Rite Of His Looe, making it more brilliant and bright. Illarys flower was ehastened by sorrow and ill, Like a rose that is crushed and is sweeter still Than a siinbeain that can dazzle and thrill. .ind at last, when the day of fruition will Ifonze Wlary will lovingly tell her Dear Son That her ehild's soul has bloonied for heaven-and won. Then. Christ will sinile from His throne highrabove 1 And refeive Rlaryls flower in His Garden of Love. ,Veg

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vent, discontented after little more than four months, she used her experiences there to agitate the embittered radicals and spread violent propaganda in a whispering campaign against the lfrsu- lines. Not only the whispering campaign of Rebecca Reed but the public re- proach in Protestant se1'mons and lec- tures caused the final horrible crime to be commited against this little flock. Citizens, stirred to anger by the more vociferous bigots, laid plans to seize and destroy the convent on lllonday eve- ning. August ll. Between eight and nine o'clock mobs began to gather on the lVinter Hill Road near the Convent gateway. The slumbering inmates of llount Benedict were suddenly aroused from sleep around nine-thirty o'clock by the loud shouts of Down with the Con- vent. The capable llother Superior quickly summoned the children and sis- ters and bade them escape, as the crowd now had become restless and started to disperse, while others insisted on imme- diate action. A meeting was held and the decision of the group was Do it now . A huge bonfire was lighted- undoubtedly the preconcerted signal for promised assistance. ln a short time a crowd of several thousand had gathered. Convent Burned The nuns having fled, the rioters rushed into ,the building, ransacking the convent from top to bottom, smashing or ruining whatever they could find. Combustible material was piled up in the center of the building-then the fire was started. Hthe first fruits of Catholic educational enterprise in New England went up in a roar of flamesv. ln the confusion, the key to thc mahogany tabernacle could not be found. and the desperate effort of two brave nuns to conceal the tabernacle among tall vines was in vain. The riot- ers, with blood in their hearts, found the hidden tabernacle and wrenched it open. smashed ciborium. and carried away the consecrated hosts as sacrilegious trophies. Page Six The whole community was stirred to the depths at the event of that fearful night, the outrage being the greatest blot on the New England city. But to Catholics the desecration of the Blessed Sacrament was the most outrageous crime of all. ln the meanwhile, the little herd had found refuge in a neighboring town. Upper classes were in favor of restoring the nuns, but public opinion was still raging against them. Fierce attacks were hurled against them, making it impos- sible for them to return. However, the nuns did return a short time later, but their position, heretofore untenable, be- came absolutely precarious. Unable to obtain enough pupils, they were forced to abandon their dream and return home. Second Comeback T ln 1839 they made a second attempt to resume their duties but again were unsuccessful and were forced to return to their Convent at Quebec, Trois- Riviers and New Orleans. No one was punished for the crime. A letter written by the Superior. Klother St. George, expresses perfectly the forgiving attitude of the long-suf- fering and much-maligned community VVe quote: HI am deeply pained that anyone should suffer on our accountg and it was my intention, from the com- mencement, to do all in my power to obtain pardon for any of the criminals who might be sentenced to punishmentg . . , H Thus the tale of the vicissitudes of the Charlestown Ursulines ends with the announcement that a community of new members, sent by the Roman Union. will take up its abode in the famous old Sears Klansion, corner of Arlington and Commonwealth Avenue in Boston proper, where in keeping with the traditions of their saintly foundress. St. Angela Nlerici, they will open an academy to educate young girls. That God may bless their venture. and Our Lady and St. Angela be their constant guides. is the sincere prayer of each of us.

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Qflnd This Day ' 0 0 ALKING down the street of the little Norwegian village, the General thought longingly of the beauties of his native Prussia. His eyes lit with pleasure and his step quickened for a moment as he thought of Freda. But then the realization of his where- abouts struck him and his mouth became again ia straight and slim whip against his un-Prussianistic emotions. Once more he was the arrogant German, fabled yes. but true. His eyes assumed a hard, cruel stare, which was said by his men to come from a true belief in the Fuehrer, and by the Norwegians, from the Arch-Fiend. It was said that he had laughed, but this was based purely on the theory and supposition of his lackey, joseph, who, as everyone knew, was given too much to his cups flge Eight and inclined to wander at times. An American having seen the General would have laughed with wonderment. Laughter lat the goose-stepping arro- gance of his walkg wonderment at the straightness of his back at the cold. hard stare of his eyes. The General hesitated before turn- ing into the little bar. Now, he thought, uit will happen again. They will become quiet as soon as I set foot inside that door. But this time-this time, l think l shall teach them a lessonf, He entered, and in contrast to the noisy gaiety that had been heard before, could be heard the click of the nails of the small dog crossing the floor. There was a yelp. for the heavy military boot