The green island; a tale for youth

Chapter I

» OTHER of God ! Mother of Mercy! Be a Mother to our Reginald ! Star of Ocean, shine on him now, and guide him to a haven of safety .and rest ! ”

Such was the fervent prayer of Gertrude de Tracey, as she stood with her husband at the door of their solitary dwelling, which, situated on the Sussex coast, at a short distance from the beach, commanded an extensive seaward view. Their only son Reginald was far away on the sea, and as they watched the angry waters beat upon the shore, and listened to the mournful voice of the gathering storm, they feared for the peril and trembled for the safety of their child.

On that same day, and in that very hour, the voice of one in danger, far away on the

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distant Pacific Ocean, rose wildly above the roaring of the tempest, Mother of Mercy ! Help of .Christians ! Pray for me ! Jesus! Mercy I Mary I Help!” he cried, as he clung to the broken mast of the sinking ship, he and one other, the friend and companion of his youth, the only survivors of the gallant crew. Those who had taken to the boats, unable to contend with the fury Tof the elements, had perished within sight of the ship ; ofithose who had remained on board, all but these two had been swept from the deck by the resistless force of the waves.

Again a mighty wave poured in upon the deck, and agairt the loud cry, “ Mother of Mercy, help !” rose amid the storm, for the faithful client of Mary, in the horror of that hour, next to his firm hope in the saving mercy of the Most High, relied with unfailing confidence on the powerful intercession of the Blessed \Trgin Mother. “Mother of Mercy !” he criOT, in accents of holy hope, “ pray for thy servant Reginald.”

Yes, it was Reginald de Tracey who was thus crying out for help to her whom no one ever invoked in vain, and at the same hour, in far off England, his anxious parents were on his behalf calling upon the same sweeit advocate. The tempest still raged, the thunder rolled, the red lightnings flashed fearfully over the waves. It was an awful interval of terror and dismay. Far as the eye could reach over the wide waste of waters no land could be discerned, no saA appeared in sight; but the child of Mary did not despair, and again and again the cry, “ Mother of Mercy, help!” was borne by angels up to her starry throne.

“Pray as loud as you like, strain your voice to its highest pitch, calling out for help,” at length exclaimed his companion, who had hitherto appeared sunken in silent despair ; “help for us, I tell you, there is none. A few moments and we shall be swallowed up. If you had ncft held me back I might have got into the boat ; but whilst you have been preaching and praying, the boat drifted away and I saw no more of her, and so 1 may thank you for all the good I have to expect from your prayers.”

“Hubert! Hubert!” cried Reginald, “speak

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not thus. Have you forgotten how often we have knelt before the altar of our Lady together, how many favors we have both obtained, in times past, through her intercession ?”

But she helps us not now,” was the ungracious reply, “ now when we are in most need of assistance. Has her intercession lost its power ?” .

Hubert!” exclaimed Reginald, ^^her intercession is all powerful with that Divine Son of hers, at Whose almighty command the tempest ceased and there canie a great calm.”

“ But, can she save us now, when the next moment may be our last ?’’

“ She is the Mother of God,” was Reginald’s reply, as he drew from his bosom, and devoutly kissed the Rosary his mother had given him on the day of his first communion.

“ Mother o^ Mercy,” said he, “ pray for my unhappy friend. What will become of him if he perishes in dispositions so unhallowed ?”

“ Pray on,"' shouted Hubert, expect miraculous deliverance till the foaming

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waters sweep thee from the deck. I will act a braver part, make a bold effort, and trust to my own good strength.''

Whilst he spoke he withdrew his grasp from the rocking mast, and apparently in the hope of escaping ingulphment in the whirling vortex which would soon follow the disappearance of the now rapidly sinking vessel, he uttered a loud shout of self-encouragement and plunged into the roaring water.

Reginald raised his eyes to heaven. '‘Mother of Mercy, help him,” trembled upon his lips, while he clung more firmly himself to the tottering mast.

A wild, loud shriek of horror rose the next moment from the deep. It was the despairing cry of the wretched Hubert.

“A shark! a shark!” he frantically exclaimed; “Mother of Mercy ! help! help!”

It was a moment of unutterable horror.

Reginald tried to speak but the effort died away in inaudible murmurs on his lips. He listened for a repetition of the cry, but heard only the howling of the storm.

A chillness came over him, his eyes grew dim, his soul shuddered with fearful appre-

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hension for Hubert’s terrible fate. He thought of his own tremendous peril, of his fond father, of his tender mother, of his happy home, and his heart- sank within him but he thought also of his Heavenly Father, of the sweet Mother of Mercy, and of the true home above, and a beam of hope and holy joy passed through his soul.

But his physical powers were exhausted, his hands were benumbed, he was no longer able to grasp the mast; he crossed his arms in resignation, murmured, “Lord Jesus, save me, or I perish. Mother of Mercy, pray for me. Blessed Joseph, and thou, my holy angel — ” His voice failed, and he dropped apparently lifeless, at the foot of the reeling mast.

The following morning dawned bright and cloudless. The sea, now smooth as a polished mir.ror, glistened in the bright rays of the rising sun, and the light-winged breeze softly sighing on the perfumed air, murmured sweet responses to the matin hymn of numerous singing birds, whose joy" ous notes arose in harmonious chorus from a small woody islet, covered with verdure

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and watered by a single river, pure and clear, that wound its silver current through a charming little valley enamelled with flowers of the richest tints, still sparkling with the dew-drops of early morning.

On the shore stood a young man of extraordinary beauty, supporting a youth who was apparently just recovering from a state of insensibility in which he had been rescued from a watery grave. *

Reginald de Tracey’s cry to God and our Lady and his holy guardian angel, had not been uttered in vain. Mother of Mercy, help ! ” was mingled with what had seemed his parting breath as he dropped at the foot of the mast, and he was snatched from the waves in the very moment when he was on the point of sinking to rise no more.

The sweet mild voice of the noble stranger, speaking words of hope and consolation while watching over him with untiring care, soon recalled Reginald to a sense of his happy deliverance from the perils of the sea, and sinking down on his knees, he raised to heaven his eyes, overflowing with tears of love and gratitude, and gave thanks to God lo The Gree?i Island,

for his wonderful preservation. He thanked the Mother of Mercy, too, for he justly attributed his escape to her all-prevailing intercession with her Divine Son.

And then, turning to the stranger who so charitably administered to him, he said :

“Who art thou that so kindly triest to comfort me?”

“ I am the servant of her whom thou lovest,” was the reply, “the devout client ol Mary must ever be dear to those who bow down before her maternal sovereignty. Reginald de Tracey, thou didst not appeal to her in vain. The Mother of Mercy was thy safeguard amidst the perils that encompassed thee. She pleaded for thee before the. throne of God, and the cause she advo^^tes never fails to obtain His divine benediction. Be faithful ever to thy Immaculate Protectress, and her aid will never be denied to thee when thou standest in need of it. At her command I caught thy inanimate^ • form in the very moment when the wild waves were rushing with irresistible fury upon thee, and conveyed thee to this beautiful island, where thou mayest securely await

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II the dispensations . of God s will concerning thee, assured that whilst thou art faithful to Him, thou wilt never be forgotten by the Mother of Mercy. Let thy escape this day be a pledge to thee that she can never be invoked in vain.”

“O, truly never!” exclaimed Reginald, with fervor. “ But do thou, O dearest friend, who so faithfully obeyest the commands of our glorious Queen,, tell me who art thou to whose care I am so indebted ?”

We are not strangers to one another,” replied the other, with a benignant smile ; “on the contrary, we are old acquaintances, and our friendship cannot lightly be dissolved. Not now,” continued he, adopting a more familiar tone, “ not now, for the first time does your voice fall upon my ear. Since reason first dawned upon your infant mind, night and morning yoii have saluted me and asked me to protect you.*'

Reginald gazed earnestly and supplicatingly on the beautiful countenance( of his mysterious friend.

“With the water of holy baptism still undried upon your brow,” said the angel, for such he was, “ you were committed to'my custody by the Most High God. Though i n visible, I have been ever your inseparable companion, and I have seen with joy that you were a favorite child of God’s glorious Mother.’'

“Yes, dearest Mother!” exclaimed Regidald, “ next to God, is it not to thee I am indebted that now I live ? And thou, my angelic guardian, for now I know thee, O tell me, teach me how I can best prove my gratitude to the Divine Majesty and to the sacred Virgin Mother for my wonderful deliverance.’’

“ Be it your care to have the will of Almighty God before you in all you do and say, continue to place entire confidence in His goodness and the Blessed Mary’s intercession. Whatever trials you may yet have to encounter, remember that Jesus is all-powerful in. heaven and on earth, and that His Irffmaculate Mother is all-powerful with her God and Son.”

Reginald looked the gratitude he could not speak, and for some moments both stood apparently, fixed in silent contemplation of

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the infinite goodness of God, and admiration of the glories of Mary.

Reginald was the first to speak. “Celestial guardian of one so little worth, my soul acknowledges the consoling truths thou hast spoken ; but tell, O tell me, if I may dare to make the inquiry, was the Majesty of Almighty God so grievously offended by the impiety of the wretched Hubert, that his last agonizing cry, ‘Mother of Mercy ! help !* was breathed in vain ? Would not, O, did not, the Mother of Mercy plead for him then before the throne of her Son ?’*

“The future,’' mildly answered the good angel, “will unfold to you what you wish now to learn from me. Wait with patience till it shall please God to clear up the mystery that enshrouds the fate of your friend. It is not necessary for you to know more of him now, and I must not exceed the commission entrusted to me. Most pleasing to me has been the duty which devolvAl upon me. And now, dear child of Mary, I shall soon again become invisible to your mortal eyes, listen then to what I^say, and with the Mother of Mercy for your protectress, fear

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not for the future. This small and uninhabited island produces an abundance of fruit and . wholesome herbs, and you will therefore be in no want of means of subsistence during the time allotted for your stay upon it. There are no beasts of prey or noxious animals of any description, and you will be able, with little difficulty, to construct a shelter from the noontide sun and the winds of heaven. You will find many things washed hither from the wreck, which will be of service to you. Be not cast down at the prospect of remaining here. You can never be lonely if you bear in mind the reality of the Divine Presence and the watchful patronage of Mary. I, too, shall be near -•you, though you see me not.”

While he yet spoke, the fair guardian angel grew more radiantly beautiful, and extended his shining wings which had hitherto been concealed by the folds of his garments.

Reginald dropped upon his knees, and stretching out his hands in supplication, ; exclaimed, “My father, my mother, who shall g comfort them ?“ J

“ The Mother of Mercy, the comfortress :i:

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of the afflicted,” said the blessed spirit, and gently bending his glorious head, he waived his bright azure plumes, and in a moment was lost to sight.

Chapter II

jjOTHER of Mercy,” added Eustace de Tracey, to his wife’s prayer for their son, “ Mother of Mercy, no one ever had recourse to thee in vain.”

Fear not, Gertrude,” he continued, ad-, dressing his wife, “ the gloomy clouds that darkened the air cannot obscure the radip* ance of Mary , the heavenly star of the ocean, and the light of her glory will illumir.e the waves and guide our Reginald to a place of safety.”

“ What, then, have . we to dread,” said Gertrude, ‘Gvhile our confidence ?n holy Mary’s powerful advocacy remains unshaken ? Let us leave him to the mercy of the Most High, and the maternal tenderness of .Mary the Mother of grace and mercy. It is

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useless for us to stand here gazing on the wide ocean. The evening is closing in and the wind blows coldly and keenly along the shore. Let us return into the house and offer up the Rosary in humble hope that our hearts may be soon gladdened by good tidings of our beloved Reginald.”

Eustace readily complied with the pious suggestion, and the “ Ave Marias " of the holy Rosary, on that eventful eve, were borne by angels to the starry throne, where, seated next to her Divine Son, Mary the Mother of Mercy offered to His Sacred Heart the fervent supplications of the anxious parents.

The next morning’s dawn beheld the same fond parents kneeling in their little oratory, and there, before the sacred image of their crucified God, they offered up their morning . devotions and renewed their petitions on behalf of their son.

Fervent perseverance in prayer brought with it increased confidence in the goodness of God and the intercession of His Holy Mother, and the parents of Reginald rose from their knees perfectly resigned to the

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Divine Will, and evincing by the placid expression of their countenances the calm of holy hope and heavenly consolation, on which their souls reposed.

A few brief observations respecting the family of Reginald de Tracey, may here serve to throw some light on the circumstances under which he was first introduced to the reader.

Eustace and Gertrude de Tracey were both well descended, and could trace their lineage for some centuries, through ancestors whose names stood high upon the historic page of England’s chivalry, and in later years through illustrious confessors of the faith, who had forfeited, not only their hereditary estates and honors, but liberty and even life itself, for their fidelity to the Church of God. Nothing now remained of the ancient possessions of the family but a small estate, situated on the Sussex coast, and an old manor house to which Eustace de Tracey had succeeded shortly after his marriage with Gertrude, who had for her dowry a few adjacent acres. Their income just sufficed, with prudent management, for the i8

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maintenance of their little household, which consisted of Reginald, their only child, and two faithful old domestics, Andrew and Lilian, who had come down like heirlooms with the ancient manor house, to its present possessors.

Philip Stanley, their nearest neighbor, and occupier of an extensive farm, was, like de Tracey, descended from a family that had been despoiled of its possessions for adherence to the old faith, but had retained a small competence, which, transmitted to the present representative of the line, enabled him to maintain a respectable position in the world.

Reginald de Tracey and Hubert, Philip Stanley’s son, were friends and companions from their childhood, and greatly attached to each other, notwithstanding the dissimilarity in their tempers and inclinations, apparent even at that early age, to the watchful observation of the parents of both. Reginald was high-spirited, but not proud, enterprising but prudent, patient, persevering, and steadfastly attached to the faith of his fathers. Young as he was, he stood

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prepared, should the sword of persecution ever be again unsheathed, to seal his adherence to the Church of ages with his blood.

Whilst yet his lisping tongue could hardly articulate, his pious parents had taught him to utter with love the holy names of Jesus and Mary, and her chaste spouse St. Joseph; the hallowed recollections of infantine devotion became deeply impressed upon his memory, and “ Mother of mercy, pray for me,’" was the constant aspiration, not only of his childhood, but of his maturer years.

Hubert Stanley, on the contrary, was daring, inconsiderate, passionate, and selfwilled, although he was not altogether destitute of some brighter qualities. Carefully instructed in religion from his infancy, the sacred truths thus early inculcated, remained indelibly engraven upon his young heart. Heedless, however, and i*mpatient of control, he contented himself with a merely passive profession of religion, and though he joined his parents in their daily devotions, he allowed himself no time for a single other holy aspiration during the day, except when his friend Reginald’s oft-repeated “ Mother

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of Mercy,” irresistably awakened some hallowed remembrance in his soul. There were even times when he would suffer Reginald’s importunity to withdraw him from some favorite pastime, to join in reciting the holy Rosary in honor of the Divine Infant and His Immaculate Mother; for proud and impetuous as he was, he could see and respect in his friend, the virtues he took little care to cultivate in himself Hubert Stanley, however, was not unforgiving or vindictive ; easily provoked, he was as easily appeased, and at all times he was ready to extend the hand of charity to the poor and needy.

When Reginald was about twenty years of age, a ship-master, who chanced to b| visiting his relatives in that part of the country, understanding from Eustacg^’^de Tracey that iiis son had frequently '^hown a desire to visit foreign countries,, offered to take him on a voyage to South America. The captain was well known to-Eustace,''and, with his parent’s consent, Reginald joyfully accepted the offer so kindly mad|, and lost no time in preparing for the . voyage. As

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soon as Hubert heard the news, he wrung from his reluctant father and disconsolate mother, a weeping consent that he should accompany Reginald, the captain consenting to receive him also on board the Antelope, for so was the vessel named which he commanded.

The necessary preparations for their departure were soon made, and, having taken an affectionate leave of their parents, Reginald and Hubert departed with the captain on his return to the port from whence the vessel was to sail.

The Antelope accomplished her outward voyage in safety, and was homeward bound, when the storm arose that proved so fatal to the unfortunate vessel and her gallant crew.

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Chapter III

SEGINALD remained with his eyes fixed steadfastly on the bright sunny cloud that slowly closed over the last shining trac.es of the , angel’s departure, and when at length it faded away, he cast a mournful look around, and, for the first time, felt all the loneliness of his position.

“ Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,” he prayed,.” to thee do I cry, poor banished child of Eve, to thee do I send up my sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards me, and, in this my exile, show thyself a Mother unto me, O most clement, most sweet Virgin.”

Whilst he prayed, he felt his confidence in Jesus and Mary sensibly increase, and, cheered by the consoling hope that broke sweetly upon his soul, he began to consider how he had best set about providing for his subsistence during the period allotted by

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^3

Divine Providence for his abode on the island. Silently and hopefully he walked along the shore, calling upon God, His holy Mother, and the bright angel who had succored him at his utmost need.

He had not proceeded far when he discovered a cask, which he knew contained biscuits, a valuable acquisition to him in his present necessity. It did not appear to have sustained any injury, and, after considerable exertion, he succeeded in rolling it to a sufficient distance from the water to prevent the possibility of its being swept away by the returning tide. • Carefully noting the place where he left it, and making an act of thanksgiving to God and our Lady, he continued his search along the shore. He found the beach in some places strewed with various articles of which he stood in much need. Among these were large pieces of sail cloth and tarpaulin, which he felt would prove of great use to him in constructing a tent. There was also a chest containing seamen’s clothing, together with a blanket or two, dripping from the ocean, it is true, but which he could soon dry in the sun, that

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was beginning to get very powerful as the morning progressed. Gathering fresh courage, he proceeded on his way, and at length came upon a carpenter’s chest, but what delighted him more than anything else was to perceive fluttering on the top of a small barrel, that was floating very near the shore, a tame dove, (the former pet of the Antelope’s crew), plaintively cooing for assistance.

“ Colombe ! Colombe !” exclaimed Reginald, hastening to the water’s edge, and extending his arms towards her. The dove knew his voice, and, tired as she was, she spread her weary wings, and making a strong effort gained the land. She was nearly exhausted, when, with a faint coo, she alighted on Reginald’s outstretched arm, but his encouraging voice, and some pieces of biscuit soaked in a small stream of fresh water that was dropping from an adjacent rock, soon revived the pretty little flutterer; and Reginald proceeded on his way, not a little cheered by the presence of a friend and companion, so docile and faithful as Colombe. More solicitous for her safety than his own, he turned from the

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shore, and, directing his steps more inland, he collected small straight stems of plants, not unlike cane, which he discovered in large quantities, and sitting down beneath the shade of a stately palm, with Colombe at his side, he managed, with a pocket knife, and some pieces of cord he had in his pocket, to construct a tolerably commodious cage for her, In which she could remain in security during the night, of shel« ter herself from the scorching heat of the noonday sun.

Having completed his task, and gathered some flowers, leaves, moss, and soft silky grass, to form a nest for his bird, he placed her in her new habitation, with which she was evidently well pleased.

Oppressed with the heat, and still suffering from what he had endured the day before, he shared with Colombe what remained of the biscuits he had brought with him, quenched his thirst wdth the milk of a cocoa-nut, that had been shaken by the recent storm from a tree close by, and then lay down at the foot of the palm, placing Colombe, in her cage at his head, and com-

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mending himself to the care of God, our Lady, and his good guardian angel. He soon fell into a profound sleep, from which he did not awake for some hours, when he rose up with a light and joyful heart, completely recovered from the effects of the hardships he had so recently endured.

His first accents were those of praise and glory to the Most High, accompanied by an Ave to the Blessed Mother of God, with a prayer for the patronage of St. Joseph, and the assistance of his kind guardian angel, and then, after a few moments’ reflection, he began to retrace his steps along the shore, carrying Colombe in her cage, in which, though not a gilded one, she seemed perfectly happy

The tide in the mean time had receded a considerable distance, and Reginald, to his no small satisfaction, discovered the small barrel upon which Colombe had taken refuge in her hour of peril, and which he knew contained wine, stuck fast in the sand, and near it a tolerably large case of preserved meats, so carefully secured that he felt satisfied they could not have sustained any

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injury from the water. This, however, he soon put beyond doubt, for having with considerable difficulty extricated the barrel from the sand, and succeeded in getting it upon the beach, he broke in its head, and filled a large shell with the generous liquor, and havmg, with his pocket knife, opened the case of meats, he sat down, and, with Colombo familiarly perched on his wrist, made a very pleasant meal, not forgetting the wants of his little feathered companion.

With all his loneliness, Reginald experienced a degree of happiness and contentment which even those who dwelt in the palaces of royalty might have envied, so perfect was his resignation to the Divine Will, and his confidence in the protection of his beloved patroness. But, while his heart overflowed with gratitude for his own miraculous preservation, and the favors showered upon him by the infinite goodness of Almighty God, his memory often reverted to the fate of the brave mariners, so lately his friends and comrades, and many were the prayers he uttered for the eternal repose of their departed souls, and many were the

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Aves he addressed to the sweet Mother of Mercy on their behalf.

And there was one whose mysterious fate caused him to endure the most painful suspense, That one was Hubert, the playmate of his childhood, the companion of his youth, until that last sad hour, when he had heard his despairing cries to that gracious Mother whom he had blasphemed. But she was the Mother of Mercy still, and Reginald was not without some hope that she had listened to the wretched Hubert’s appeal. At length he arose with Colombo from their pebbly table, and without further delay began to erect his tent,- He was pleased to find that the pieces of sail-cloth and tarpaulin he had spread upon the sand in the morning were now quite dry, and setting himself to work with a will, he succeeded in constructing a tent, rather awkward and ill-shaped, it must be confessed, but still sufficient to shelter himself and Colombo until he could at leisure erect a more comfortable and more commodious habitation.

The sun had set, and the full moon had

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risen before he completed his task. ' He had selected the centre of an olive grove, about half a mile distant from the shore, for the site, and having succeeded in his undertaking to his entire satisfaction, he now sat down to rest and contemplate his handiwork upon which the moon was shining in full splendor. He sat for a time ruminating on his own strange adventures, but at length other and more impressive recollections crowded upon his imagination. He thought how on such a night as this the bright moonlight once beamed upon the green olives in a far-off land, and shed its silver radiance on a Mighty One, Whose Own Will had laid Him prostrate upon the cold green turf, while Blood Divine gushed from every Sacred Vein, and God-made Man, amidst His Agony of unparalled bitterness, offered Himself a willing Sacrifice to His Eternal Father.

Long and silently sat Reginald immersed in thoughts like these, and forgetful of earthly things, till startled by a gentle rustling among the leaves of a tree close by his side, he cast a look of inquiry around.

It was a robin redbreast, . and while he gazed with some surprise on the little familiar creature, it stood fearlessly perched on the spray, without manifesting the slightest fear. The incident, so unexpected, recalled to his mind a legend, which, in his earlier childhood, he had loved to Hear his mother repeat whilst he was seated on her knee, in his far distant English home. In the fulness of his heart he repeated it now.

“THE LEGEND OF THE ROBIN REDBREAST. “Beautiful bird, O tell me why , ^