“Remember thine early days!” said the patient with trembling fervour. “My child! you are a good girl; I think you must have had a good mother.”
“My mother!” said the child, bursting into tears. “Oh she was good indeed! Oh! how she prayed for me the night that she died! I shall never forget it, never!”
Again the patient broke out, “Remember thine early days! But go now my dear. Thank you, thank you kindly for coming. Heaven bless you!”
Pietro Limoncello recovered in due time, and returned to his poor trade. The visions of his illness strengthened his integrity; heavenly hopes grew out of the roots of heavenly memories. Thoughts of the loveliness in other lands upraised his heart to Him whose voice is gone out unto all lands; and he felt that God would be ever present to such as trusted, and waited patiently for him. Wherever the mind and heart are devoted to duty and to Heaven, there hovers the Guardian of Souls, with outstretched wings. Yes! even in the din of the Strand, in a wretched garret, at a tailor’s board, God the all-beautiful is there.
The Boy Bachelor, or something about Cardinal Wolsey.
Four hundred years ago, the Papal power was so great in Europe, that the whole of the countries of which it was composed formed, in reality, but one general state; for by whatever names the provinces of Christendom were distinguished—empires, kingdoms, or republics—the people and their rulers alike acknowledged themselves subjects to the Pope. Royalty did homage to superstition, and mankind were bound in chains which they could not break. Man surrendered his reason, and gave up both body and soul to the power of the clergy, who exercised it for their own advantage, without any regard to truth, justice, or humanity.
This state of things favoured opportunities for bold and resolute minds to exalt themselves to greatness, and it was the boast of the Church then, as now, that the meanest member might rise to the highest office, which consequently offered a strong temptation to those of superior talents and attainments to attempt great things. Many persons arose to eminence in the church at this period, but among all none were so conspicuous as Thomas Wolsey.
Wolsey was born at Ipswich, in Suffolk, in the month of March, 1471. His father is reported to have been a butcher, but this is not quite certain; it appears, however, that he possessed some property, and that “Thomas,” possessed much talent, and he was consequently sent to Oxford at the age of fifteen, when he obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts, which procured him the designation of the “Boy Bachelor.” Few so young, with all the advantages of rank and influence, attained in that age academical honors—his great progress in philosophy and other learning, having early procured for him a fellowship at Magdalen College. He was also appointed master of the school, and entrused with the education of the sons of the Marquis of Dorset. The proficiency which these two young men made under his tuition, procured him the Rectory of Lymington, in Somersetshire, and afterwards he was appointed one of the Chaplains to King Henry VII.