The poor son, who loves you with no return of equal tenderness, gives you all the comfort that your life has had; the rich son, who never thinks of you, despises you and desires your death--" "Oh! no," she cried.
"Yes," resumed the priest, "your humble position stands in the way of his proud hopes.

Mother, these are your sins! Woman, your sorrows and your anguish foretell that you shall know the peace of God.

Your son Joseph is so noble that his tenderness has never been lessened by the injustice your maternal preferences have done him.

Love him now; give him all your heart during your remaining days; pray for him, as I shall pray for you." The eyes of the mother, opened by so firm a hand, took in with one retrospective glance the whole course of her life.

Illumined by this flash of light, she saw her involuntary wrong-doing and burst into tears.