The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley - Volume 3

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a in the author's mind when he wrote them that some day they might be introduced to other readers than those reached by the magazine itself. In fact, he might almost say that the real object of most of the stories was to present a Catholic missionary appeal in a new way. Apparently the stories succeeded in doing that, and a few of them were made up separately in boo

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e, thought he must have fancied the sigh. For sadness came alien to the little garden of the Community of San Ambrogio on Via Paoli, a lustrous gem of a little garden under its square of Roman sky. The dripping of the tiny fountain, tinkling like a bit of familiar music, and the swelling tones of the organ, drifting over the flowers th

gathering around one of the younger priests, who still wore his fereoula and wide-brimmed hat, just as he had entered from Via

im up and gave him a seat. 'Tell me all about your wonderful people and your wonderful work,' he said. And Father Ramoni told him of the thousands he had converted and how easy it was, with the blessing of God, to do so much. The Holy Father asked him every manner of question. He was full of enthusiasm for the great things our Father

moni passed in South America?" a

the church to listen to him, and he was but thirty-four years old. But Father Denfili sent him away to Marqua, commanding the Superior of our Order out there to send him to those far-off mountain people of whom the papers were telling at that time. I did not know

ll Father Ramoni's

Marqua now," he continued proudly, "and sooner or later, all novices will have to go out there. Father Ramoni has made a splendid Prefect-Apostolic. No wonder they have summoned him to Rome for consultation. I have heard"-he lowered his voice as he glanced over his shoulder to where Father Denfili sat on the bench b

chessa's carriage to pass. She was telling an American woman of the times when Father Ramoni had preached at San Carlo. 'His words would convert a Hindu,' she was saying. A

the General of San Ambrogio, Father Ramoni and Father Pietro, Ramoni's secretary-were coming into the garden. Of the four Father Ramoni stood out in the center of the group as vividly as if a searchlight were playing on his magnificent bigness. His deep black eyes, set in a face whose strength had been emphasized by its exposure to sun

moni, that you will go back with that gift to the people you converted? And yet to me it is mo

nd timid, shrinking eyes, took with the greatest deference the cloak and hat Father Ramoni handed to him. Then he fell back of the old General. The prelate answered Ramoni. "But you are right, of course," he admitted. "It is best that you return. The Church

ather Denfili raised his sightless eyes as if he sought to focus them upon the group before him. Father Ramoni, laughingly dissenting, suddenly felt his joy congealing into a cold fe

ecisive action and that, immediately afterward, the great missionary of the Community of San Ambrogio would return with increased authority a

scarcely saw his brethren at all, except after his Mass, when he went to the refectory for his morning coffee. He had no time to loiter in the garden, and the story of the conversion of the people of Marqua was left to the quiet Fr. Pietro, who told the splendid tales of his Superior's great work, till Father Tomasso and Brother Luigi prayed to be given the opportunity to be Ramoni's servants in the far-away land of the western world. But, if Ramoni was but seldom in the

ng his secretary to bring some photographs for better explanation of the South American missions, went on his way, the blind man groped along the wall till he reached the General's office. He had come to the door when he felt that undercurrent of anxiety which showed

hen he entered the room the prelate was just leaving. Father Pietro glanced up at him from the table where he was returning to their case the ph

s sobbing, "it's a mista

are envelope. He read it with puzzled wonder rising to

. "It is impossibl

hful servant for ten years in Marqua was very dear to him.

ne an impossible thing. They have mixed our names. This letter to the General-this letter-"

uaranteed that. Ramoni caught the edge of the table. The pain of the blow gripped him relentlessly and he knew that it was a pain th

bing; "I am not able. It's a

d. "It is true, Pietro," he said. "You are

ent away, crossing the cloister on his way to his cell, where, w