St Josephs Academy - La Lumiere Yearbook (Prescott, AZ)

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CLASS IN PHYSICAL CULTURE.

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2 ACADEMY CHIMES. that at once inspired confidence. Hers was a retiring and amiable disposition ; every one loved her, for she was never known to offend wilfully, and her natural sweetness made her many friends. Jeanette was a frolicsome little crea- ture, full of life and sport, with a temper as sparkling as her pretty brown eyes ; the plague, yet the darling of all the religieuse ; bright, even gifted, neglect- ing her task until the last moment and then almost invariably surpassing her classmates. She hated to be still an instant and was always “ in hot water,” yet with all her imperfections there was about her a warm-hearted frankness that made her irresistible. Her mother died when she was an infant and when her father could make up his mind to part from the lovable child he took her to the good Sisters at N-----, saying to the nun who received them : “ Sister, try to make her a good woman. She has a sweet, affectionate disposition, but is so wilful and hates study or any serious employment. She seems to look upon all that as unneces- sary and imagines she has been created just to have a ‘good time.’ I could never teach her anything because she would not listen to me. Now I shall be at peace, knowing that she is safe with you under the convent roof, and what- ever you do with her I know will be right.” After all the liberty little Jeanette had been allowed in her own home it is no wonder that she found the stringent rules of convent life very irksome, and her tender little heart would burst forth in plaintive sobs. She often gave vent to some such saying as : “ This is the funniest old place I ever saw. You always have to do just what you don’t want to.” Jeanette had now been at the acade- my four years and had become warmly attached to her new home and to the good Sisters. In spite of her exuberant spirits there was in the heart of that little child a germ of piety which soon expanded in the genial atmosphere of the convent. She had inherited great talent for music and a beautiful voice from her mother and, as she loved her father more than any one else in the world, she tried to cultivate these gifts with a view of pleasing him. The older pupils in the academy were allowed to go to the music room after recreation for the purpose of practicing, so thither Jeanette Martin and her con- fidante, Agnes St. Clair, directed their steps just as the great clock chimed the hour of seven. This evening Jeanette was unusually serious and Agnes was not slow in ob- serving that traces of tears were yet visible. “ Now, Jeanette, you must tell me why you are so ‘ blue,’ so unlike my Bonnie Jean of other days,” said the gentle girl, as she tenderly caressed her friend. “ Aggie, dear, I am going to tell you something that I have never told any- one, and it seems strange but I must tell you.” Agnes cast an inquiring glance at her friend, pressed her hand and drew the little curly head closer to her. “This morning, Agnes, when Father placed the blue ribbon over my head and I pronounced the Act of Consecra- tion that made me a Child of Mary, a great desire sprang up in my heart to give my life to God completely—you know what I mean—to be a Sister. And you know, dear, you have always told me I am so impulsive, I wrote at once to papa, asking that instead of returning home after I graduate, he would permit me to enter the Novi- tiate.” “ What, Jean, you !” “Yes; I do not wonder at your sur- prise, dear, and I feel my unworthi- ness.” “ But your father, Jean, and Jack !” The girl raised her head and looked at her companion, while a flush of hap- piness mounted to her brow. “ Dear papa cannot know what a change has been wrought in his ‘ little nuisance,’ as he was wont to call me. Agnes, I have never known a mother’s

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4 ACADEMY CHIMES. care save such as I have found within these sheltering walls, and now I seem to hear the voice of One calling me apart. The sacrifice of leaving my father and all that the world holds dear is painful, indeed, yet the claims of the Almighty are above all human ties and I feel that I must relinquish the former to the latter; but were it not hard where would be the merit ? Sister has often told us that what costs nothing is worth nothing.” “ Now, dear,” returned her confidante, “ your father will, most probably and very properly, refuse his consent for the present. Indeed, to say the truth, it was rather a selfish request; your dear one has been for so long a time looking forward to the day that would bring you to him to brighten his home and make it attractive for Jack. Poor Jack ! He always said he hoped Jean would fall in love with some clever fellow that would be a good brother-in-law to him. You were certainly too hasty, dear, and should have broached the subject more prudently. Write at once to your father and cheerfully express your will- ingness to acquiesce in his wishes. Don't pain him, dear, by even alluding to the anticipated separation. If God really calls you He will give the graces needed to accomplish His will. Do you remember those lines we thought so beautiful in Faber’s poem, ‘The World,’ ‘ The more that yesterday hath loved, The more to-day can sacrifice.’ There’s the bell for night prayers ! Cheer up, dearie ; I want to see you smile and be my Bonnie Jean again be- fore I leave you.” The two girls passed out from the music room, through the long corridors to the chapel. Jeanette prayed more fervently than ever before and extraor- dinary grace and light flowed into her soul. Heaven heard her prayers and God spoke to her heart and drew her to Him with cords of love. The sweetness of a life of sacrifice, the joy of conquest over a world of sin, the nothingness of time, the bliss of eternity, seemed open- ing before her gaze. Commencement Day at St Joseph’s— the day of days in a schoolgirl’s life ! The day of anticipation and realization. Anticipated delight at the prospect of being soon with the dear ones at home, yet the day of parting has its somber side. It is the dividing line between the past and future. Jeanette leaves her convent home loaded with honors and passes out from girlhood’s golden gate of dreams. Mr. Martin and Jack, who recently won his laurels, too, were prominent amongst the immense throng that at- tended the closing exercises. The Right Rev. Bishop presided and con- ferred the honors, and at the close de- livered one of his masterly discourses. The stage was tastefully decorated with national colors, flowers and ferns. The class motto, “ Religion and Science,” was displayed in great gold letters on a blue back ground. The graduates dwelt with affecting pathos on the happy days of school life which had now, for them, drifted into the past. “Ah ! those joyous days are gone ! I little dreamed till they had flown How fleeting were the hours.” Jeanette’s father was fairly taken by surprise when his “ little nuisance” came forward to deliver the valedictory. In his eyes she was always a pretty creature, but now a vision of beauty stood before him. Her dark eyes flashed with light, her complexion was dazzling, her figure elegant and the bright intelligence that pervaded all made her really charming. His fondest hopes and most ardent yearnings had found sweet and full realization. On the following day Jeanette, with her father and brother, boarded the train for home. The house which had been closed so long was now thrown open to the warm summer sunshine and air. Great prep- arations were made for a glad greeting to the long absent. The spacious rooms were elegantly furnished; couches and chairs of rosewood and finely- wrought brass ; rich draperies of orient- al silk fell from the archways, while the golden sunbeams danced over the