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

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ACADEMY CHIMES. 5 richly-carpeted floors. In everything there was harmony of color and beauty of design. Jeanette’s boudoir was a very bower of loveliness, as her devoted father looked upon her as a precious jewel that should have the most ex- quisite setting. She was not insensible to all these attentions, and loved her indulgent parent with a new and grow- ing love when she saw how eager he was to contribute to her happiness. The next day brought gay young companions who were at once charmed with the beautiful face and artless man- ners of the convent girl, and ’ere long the young debutante was fairly launched into the sea of fashionable society. Time’s soft and silent footsteps passed on. True to the teachings of her loved Alma Mater, Jeanette had made the world a better place for having lived in it. It was she who welcomed her father to the breakfast-table each morning ; her hands warmed his slippers in winter and made his office bright with flowers in summer. Her voice led in the even- ing prayers, to which her father and brother devoutly responded. One evening, about a year after Jean- ette’s coming home, a cheerful fire was burning in the crimson-curtained library at the Martin mansion. The snow had fallen since dawn and now lay in glit- tering heaps beneath the dancing moon- light. Jeanette, arrayed in glistening white, looking faultless as any creation of genius, was standing beside her father’s great arm-chair, smoothing his silver locks and now and then pressing a kiss on his forehead with her wonted affec- tion. “And has this really been the happi- est winter of your life, dear papa ?” “ Yes : I shall always call it my ‘ sunny winter,’ Bonnie Jean. But what were you thinking of just then when you wore that bright smile ?” Papa, to-night Jack returns from his bridal tour, bringing you a gentle, fair- haired daughter to grace your home and be your comfort. Dear papa, you know my request a year ago ; we have never since spoken of it. My love for you is strong, else I could not have taken part in all these gayeties but to evince my gratitude. I long for the solitude of that dear old home wherein my heart lies buried and where my Heavenly Spouse awaits me. “Jeanette, my sunbeam ! No earthly spouse is worthy of you. My child, go, and may God bless you !” Kneeling, the girl breathed an act of thanksgiving. Heaven had granted her long-offered prayer. The merry jingle of sleigh-bells and joyous peals of laughter ring out upon the frosty air, and Mr. Martin and Jeanette spring to the door to bid a glad welcome to Mr. John Martin, Jr., and his fair young bride, Agnes St. Clair. =K Two years have passed. The convent chapel is like a vision of heaven. The lights are kindled, the fragrant clouds of incense rise, the soft, sweet voices of the nuns and the deep tones of the or- gan are blended in exquisite harmony. “All speaks of a joy too pure for earth, Of a joy that claims a heavenly birth.” At the altar railing kneels a girlish form whom we recognize as Jeanette Martin. Within the chancel sits the venerable bishop. The sacred vows are pronounced and Sister Marie Celeste rises from the predieu, a calm in her fea- tures and a spiritual look in her eyes that gives an inexpressible sweetness to her countenance. Earth’s fleeting charms are hers no more ; she has cast under foot all the glories of this passing life and is now dead to the world that so recently smiled upon her. The glo- rious Te Deum peals forth and “ Heaven has from this calm retreat Received a sacrifice complete.” Sister Marie Celeste passes her days in the enjoyment of that blissful peace which the world cannot give, and which is the part of the hundred fold promised

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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

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6 ACADEMY CHIMES. f- to those who forsake all for Christ. She exercises her rare abilities in the noble work of education—happy privilege ! wherein her life resembles that of our Lord, the gentle Teacher of Israel who wrent about doing, good. Her true and loving character and cheerful generosity of soul is manifested in a life of devotedness to the little ones” who are the special objects of her love and solicitude, for our Lord has said “of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Adele Hubbell, '00. THE TWO VEILS. XO ! my Guardian Angel Brought two veils to me ; One was bright and dazzling, ’Broidered gorgeously. Thick and dark the other, Strange the contrast seemed, Yet upon the dark veil Bright the sun’s rays beamed. Then my Guardian Angel Spoke in accents mild : “ Both of these are holy, See them now, dear child ! This one, bright and dazzling, To an earthly bride is given ; This unto the lowly, Chastened spouse of Heaven.’’ Then I fell in reverie, Low I bent my head, And unto our Savior, Tremblingly I said : “ Lord, Thou alone knowest What is best for me, When Thy loved Voice biddeth I will come to Thee. But oh, if Thou wouldst have me To be more closely Thine, Then Jesus, dearest Jesus, Be the dark veil mine !” THM few weeks after our return to school, early in the month of I September, the telegraphic wires J I conveyed to our pine clad and quiet mountain home the sad news of the death of our beloved and distinguished friend, the Rev. Eugene O’Growney. No little regret was ex- pressed by the pupils of St. Joseph’s for most of us remember the mild gentleman whose kind countenance we loved to watch in his daily strolls about the convent grounds during his months of residence amongst us. So distin- guished a character and so brilliant a man cannot be passed over lightly, or dealt with sparingly, and, though the daily papers have bestowed unmeasured praise on his literary productions, all of which exhibit warmth of soul and earn- estness of purpose, the writer with an appreciation of his merits and a realiz- ing sense of what is due to his memory, with on equal consciousness of her own inability to do justice to the subject, asks the indulgence of those who may