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BRADSHAW THE BETEAYEE. 41
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
.+. " Oh Doricles ! Your Praises Are Too...
foot and a lialf in length , by eight inches in height . I open the lidand the object which you perceive enclosed in a small glass
box , is the most sacred toe of the saint and martyr _beforementioned . "
" And what do you suppose it ' s worth ? " asked Brother Ambroise , bending eagerly forward .
" Worth ! " croaked the verger , indignantly e " Worth , indeed ! Why'tis inestimable ! Saint Celestine had but one leg at the period
, of her martyrdom ; and that great toe , permit me to tell you , is nothing less than unique ! "
" G- —g—good gracious ! " exclaimed the tourist , scribbling away as fast as his pencil would carry him . "A saint with one legand
, a iady , too ! Wouldn't m—m—m—miss that for the -world !" Press number three was now thrown open , and discovered some
four or five shelves , adorned with rich cups , vases , censers , and sacramental vessels . The pilgrims exchanged glances of admiration ,
the tourist began a fresh page , and the raven nourished his keys more consequentially than ever .
" A cup of rock crystal , with gold cover , supposed to be engraved by Benvenuto Cellini ; a statue of St . Barnabas , in solid silver , five
inches and a half in height ; a very ancient crozier-head , silver gilt ; a pateraof antique Byzantine workmanship , enamelled , and of
great value , . We were offered seven thousand francs for this _bea-wtiful work of art , not many years since , but declined to part
with it . " The one eye of Brother Ambroise glittered with pious fervour .
" Oh , Brother Paul , " said he emphatically , " is not this a consoling sight ? Ought we not to rejoice in the riches of our beloved
Church ? " Whereupon Brother Paul cast an enthusiastic glance at the ceiling ,
struck himself on the breast with both his fists , and said , — 46 Ayindeed , Brother Ambroise ; but should we not at the same
time be , thankful that these things possess no attraction for us ? Is it not the glory of our order , that we love poverty better than riches ,
fasting better than feasting , and wooden platters better than all the gold and silver vessels in the world ?"
• ' Verily we do ! " responded Brother Ambroise with a groan of humble satisfaction . " Verily we do !"
Here the verger , who had been listening with his head on one side , drew a deep sigh of admiration , and with especial ceremony
unlocked press number four . " You are now about to see the greatest treasure that we possess , "
said he ; " the crowning glory of our collection , Messieursthe pride of Abbeville—the envy and delight of surrounding
districts I " The Capuchins "uttered a simultaneous " Ah ! " and pressed to the
front—the raven flung open the doors , pointed to a shapeless frag-
Bradshaw The Beteayee. 41
BRADSHAW THE BETEAYEE . 41
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), March 1, 1858, page 41, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01031858/page/41/
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