Page 102 - Third Book of Reading Lessons
P. 102

101
1. THE holy Francis Borgia, who, be re the death of his consort, had been duke of Gandia, and one amongst the proudest of Spain's grandees, was one day (now a religious), passing through his native city, clothed in_the humble habit of his society, when he was met by a nobleman, a  iend of his earlier years, who gazed upon him with wonder and compassion, and thus at length addressed him: "How
does this new kind of life please you, my  iend?"­ "Well," answered Francis, with a cheer l smile. "But," continued the other, "how can you endure this long and wearying journey on  ot? You have beenaccustomedtobetterthings. Whonowprovides  r you a becoming apartment, or a wholesome
2. "For all this," replied the saint, "I am well provided. I meet with the best of entertainment and of  od, and at night I always  nd the softest couch. My servant and my courier attend carefully to these things."
3. "How so? you are alone."
4. "I have sent them onwards be re me. But that you may more fully comprehend how this prep­ aration is made  r me, know, that at the dawn of each morning, when I elevate my heart to God, and
' think of my actions and omissions during the coming I day,I then  rm the resolution of receiving ,vith res­ ignation all the. privations, contradictions, troubles, / and su erings, which it may please my God to send me, in the  ll conviction that I merit them all, and  r greater than these, by my sins. This thought is the servant that I send be re me, and as I  nd , everything around me better than I deserve, I con-
repast r'
RE DING LESSONS.
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