OCR Text |
Show The Art of Letter Writing. When Pius VII. was the prisoner of Napoleon I. at Savona he lived very simply, at times even miserably. Easter Sunday was approaching and the people of Savona begged, the Holy Father to celebrate the feast with them. But his robe was old and much worn. So he sent for a tailor to mend it. The tailor took it home with him, and when he saw how shabby it was, and with what humility and patience it was worn by the venerable Pontiff in his imprisonment, he called his friends together and, showing them the robe, told its story. Soon all the people peo-ple around knew of it, and they came to the tailor's house to get a little piece of the robe and leave in its place a gift for a new one. At last there was nothing left of the robe, but instead . there was a pile of silver and gold. Then the tailor made a new robe and took it to the Pontiff with the offer- ings. "What is this, my son?" Pius asked in asttoni.'ihment. "It is the gift of the people, who have sent it to show their svmpathy." The Pontiff took the robe and thanked the tailor, but the money he refused, saying: "One robe will last me for the little time I have left on this earth. I am but a poor prisoner, but you are free. ; Take the money and relievo the needa ' of the worthy poor of Savona." ! |