HOW CARDINAL McCLOSKEY WAS CALLED TO HIS REWARD.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 39, 22 January 1886, Page 7

HOW CARDINAL McCLOSKEY WAS CALLED TO HIS REWARD.

It was midnight on Friday night when the dying Cardinal opened his eyes, and a smile came upon his white lips. The strong saintly spirit seemed to shine for a moment in the thin features, and then the eyes closed again. 81ower and slower the white raiment of the couch rose and fell. One wasted hand held a silver crucifix and tbe other pressed it to his bosom. There was a deep peace upon the still face, and the snowy locks were brushed back upon the pillow. Worn with watching and nursing, Dr. Keyes sat near bis patient and looked into the venerable countenance with great tenderness. Archbishop Corrigan stood at the foot of the bed, robed in » black cassock with purple sash. His head was bowed and his lips moved. Mgr. Farley gazed upon tbe dj ing man with moistened eyes, and the Key. Dr. McDonnell, tall, clear-eyed and sorrowful, stood beßide Mgr. Preaton. Soon the Dr. raised his hand and whispered that it would be all over in a few minutes. Then the Cardinal's nieces— Mrs. Cleary, Mis. Kelly, Miss McCloskey and Miss Mullen— entered the room. They were clad in black. As the ladies approached the death-bed several pale nuns Btole softly in at the door, and fonr priests from the Vicar-General a house fame in after them. All the watchers knelt. The weary eyes opened for the last time At the foot of the dying man was a small table, whereon, between two burning tapers upheld by golden ansjels, was a glitteriug crucifix, and in the centre of it two pieces of the true cross of C'Lrist. At the left was another bright taper, and beside it lay the scarlet cap of the Cardinal. From the walls pictures of St. John, the Cardinal's patron saint, and of the Blessed Virgin Mary looked down in the dim light. At the side of the bed was Father Daubresse murmuring prayers for the dying. The priesfs eyes dwelt lovingly upon th> »se ofhis superior when they were opened. There was a soft sound of crying as the ladies approached the death couch. Again the strong soul and fine intellect dwelt in tbe face, and the eyes closed. The light Bparkled on the little silver crucifix, and shone in the well-worn Bishop's ring upon the white hand. Still Father Daubresse prayed for a gentle spiritual shepherd. The low, trembling voice vibrated all through the room. Then the light seemed t ) die upon tbe white walls as tbe Cardinal met his last sorrow. The dying face writhed with pain, the weak hand clasped the crucifix still closer, and the sobbing of the ladies was beard as they knelt. Now the white raiment of the couch hardly moved at all. The loving priest had ceased his prayers. A strong sigh broke from the hps of the dying m*n, and then there came into bis face the smile of one who has reached home after a day of labor. No one said it. The doctor did not move from his place. The broken-hearte.l women and the meek-eyed priest still knelt But there came into the room a hush, and the watchers knew that the Cardinal's throne was vacant.— Exchange.

A missionary writes that gold is dug so plentifully in Thibet that the natives use it to cover pagoda pinnacles, and to make idols chairs, and couches for tbe people. In the Cathedral at Berlin, a splendid new altar picture of the Adoration of the Magi, was recently completed. The aged Emperor William of Germany visited the Cathedral, and looked at the picture To addresses presented him by distinguished ecclesiastics the Emperor is reported to have used in bis reply the following true and significant words : » In these, my latter days." he said " I call Heaven to witness that I have always considered religion the only foundation on which depends everything. It is the highest possession of any people. The German i>eople were once deeply religious, but three centuries of heresy and error have made them one of the most irreligious, sceptical, aud freethioking nations of Europe Berlin the capital city, is ngarded as one of the least Christian towns on the Continent. But the sentiment of the venerable Emperor that religion is the only foundation upon which depends everthin.? " is true, all the same. And such testimony, coming from the aged William of Germany, and uttered with such solemn emphasis, carries with it great weight. Religion is, indcel, the highest possession of any people, and woe betide the people who has it not!