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Show gyill I M IMIIIMIWIIIWPIli WTW W WW FOK WUWiAM'b GOOD. Koblo Self-n.icrlflco or tho Sfstcra of tho Uood Shepherd. "Tho hermits of old" forswore all the pleasures of HL.' that they might "devote themselves entirely to meditation medita-tion und prayer the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, in this nineteenth century, cen-tury, Tcnouuce all the mntorial benefits of life and shut themselves up' in. clolu-trs clolu-trs not for themselves alone, not simply sim-ply to avoid) the world nnd all its vain pomps, but first and abovei all for the preservation and redemption of worn-nnLood. worn-nnLood. (iod'a creatures first unprotected unpro-tected girlhood and crrlug, sorrowinr wenanhood tho. salvation of thes-. eo; titute the life work of the Sister. of '.he Cc-od Shepherd. For this noblt and Christian end t'hey leave heme and -friends, ease and luxury, und renounce hhe world as completely tui "the hermits of old." No one can join the order of the Good Shepherd unless her reputation nnd tho reputation of her family is free f."m all blemish. And yet these spothn ' women not only bury themstlvcs u'h ( for the love or the God they adore, bu' they gladly give thcniRclos heart an. soul to the preservation and rciiempiio-1 of their less fortunate sister. Deep within the stone walls of the mausoleum which they call thei , "house" they work earnestly aral lov- ingly, with" 'willing1 hand, eheefu' hearts, ami dauntless energy, from fw. in the morning- till nine at night, ii. In nnd day out, year in ar.d year cut. from the day they take their vows, pledging themselves to God and their special work to the day tihey lie in the'r cells dying and all for womanhood; for her preservation, if she is.virtuou but helpless; for her salvation if she is fallen. Fallen woman, when the world turn' from her in scorn, when she drinks the bi'ttor drops of humiliation and degradation, degra-dation, when nil 'is lost but lifonnd the power of suffering, fallen woman hi her laAt extremity can always find ! home and a rcfuvo bcneat.Ii the saint roof us th pure, self-sacrificing Sistor of the Go id Shepherd. To thitj heaven-inspired lister there is no world, and there never will bt any but the dreary world within the cold stone walls around her; no society but that, of helpless innocents or wrecked unfortunates; and yH she goes through ilier life cheerful and happy, contest and joyful if slu: save by gentle precept ar.d exemplnry conduct a few out of the thousands to whom she devotes her virtues, vir-tues, her intellectual accomplishments, her patience and her life. Chicago Tribune. |