Cleveland; A Tale of the Catholic Church

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1847 Excerpt: ...of warning rung in her ears with the tones of thunder. It was occasioned by an event of a most touching and solemn nature. The parishioners of Milner were, in every way, benefited by the change in their pastor's life. Helen was never tired of visiting, helping, attending on the aged or infirm, and instructing the younger part of her husband's charge. She found her greatest comfort in busily engaging in active duties of charity and self-denial. It was a testimony of her being still, she hoped, a servant of God; further she dared not look. There were moments when a struggle with the demon of doubt cast her down to the earth in despair and anguish. Still Milner served his God in all earnestness and humility; this was a truth which could not be questioned. But she felt, at such times, how unable he was to allay the tempest of fear, grief, and horror that besieged her soul, had he even been acquainted with the full extent of her misgivings. Then, then, indeed, often in the stillness of night did she, waking from her sleep, rise softly, and, leaving her room, wander into the cooler passages, up and down for a short time, until, with mighty efforts, she regained her composure. This was some months after her marriage, shortly before the event of which I am going to speak. At these hours, who can describe the state of a soul distracted by a sense of unpardoned sins--a spirit racked and shattered by the mystical horror called nervousness--head and heart alike weakened in their energies? Then the words of Scripture speak, indeed, with a supernatural force. Happy those who read in the simple light of the truth from above, unmixed with the false glimmer of human reasoning! Passages of the word of God continually passed before her mind--invested ever with the meaning the...