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diff --git a/old/67512-0.txt b/old/67512-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 3163506..0000000 --- a/old/67512-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4282 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Irish Nuns at Ypres, by Dame M. -Columban - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Irish Nuns at Ypres - An Episode of the War - -Author: Dame M. Columban - -Editor: R. Barry O’Brien - -Contributor: John Redmond - -Release Date: February 26, 2022 [eBook #67512] - -Language: English - -Produced by: The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at - https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive/American - Libraries.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES *** - - - - - - THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES - AN EPISODE OF THE WAR - - [Illustration: The Mother Prioress of Ypres. - - The Lady Abbess of Oulton. The Lady Abbess of Ypres. - - OULTON AND YPRES.] - - - - - THE IRISH NUNS - AT YPRES - - AN EPISODE OF THE WAR - - - BY - - D. M. C. - O.S.B. (MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY) - - EDITED BY - R. BARRY O’BRIEN, LL.D. - - - WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY - JOHN REDMOND, M.P. - - - WITH ILLUSTRATIONS - - - LONDON - SMITH, ELDER & CO. - 15 WATERLOO PLACE - 1915 - - [_All rights reserved._] - - - - -PREFACE - - -The following narrative was originally intended, as a record of the -events it relates, for the use of the Community only. But, shortly -after the arrival of the Mother Prioress in England, the manuscript was -placed in my hands. I soon formed the opinion that it deserved a larger -circulation. My friend Reginald Smith shared this view, and so the -story has come before the public. - -It is in truth a human document of thrilling interest, and will, I -believe, make an abiding contribution to the history of this world-wide -war. D. M. C., though a novice in literary work, describes with -graphic force the transactions in which she and her Sisters played so -conspicuous and so courageous a part. The moving pictures, which pass -before our eyes in her pages, are full of touching realism, and throw -curious sidelights on the manifold aspects of the titanic struggle -which comes home to everyone and everything. - -The heroism, the self-devotion, the religious faith, the Christian -zeal and charity of those Irish nuns at Ypres, in a terrible crisis in -the history of their Order, will, I venture to say, command universal -respect and admiration, mingled with pity for their fate, and an -earnest desire, among all generous souls, to help them in retrieving -their fortunes. - -A Note by the Prioress, and an Introduction by Mr. Redmond, who, amid -his many onerous occupations, is not unmindful of the duty which -Irishmen owe to the historic little Community of Irish Nuns at Ypres, -form a foreword to a narrative which belongs to the history of the -times. - -The illustration on the cover is a reproduction of the remnant (still -preserved in the Convent) of one of the flags captured by the Irish -Brigade at the battle of Ramillies. On this subject I have added a Note -in the text. - -There are names in Belgium which revive memories that Irishmen cannot -forget. Fontenoy and Landen are household words. Ypres, too, brings -back recollections associated with deeds which mark the devotion of the -Irish people to Faith and Fatherland. - - R. BARRY O’BRIEN. - - 100 SINCLAIR ROAD, - KENSINGTON, W. - _May 1915._ - - - - -NOTE BY PRIORESS - - -These simple notes, destined at first for the intimacy of our Abbey, we -now publish through the intervention of Mr. Barry O’Brien to satisfy -the numerous demands of friends, who, owing to the horrors of the -fighting round Ypres, have shown great interest in our welfare. - -Owing, also, to the numerous articles about us, appearing daily in the -newspapers--and which, to say the least, are often very exaggerated--I -have charged Dame M. Columban to give a detailed account of all that -has befallen the Community, since the coming of the Germans to Ypres -till our safe arrival at Oulton Abbey. I can therefore certify that all -that is in this little book, taken from the notes which several of the -nuns had kept, is perfectly true, and only a simple narrative of our -own personal experiences of the War. - -May this account, to which Mr. Redmond has done us the honour of -writing an introduction at the request of Dame Teresa, his niece, -bring us some little help towards the rebuilding of our beloved and -historic monastery, which, this very year, should celebrate its 250th -anniversary. - - M. MAURA, O.S.B., - _Prioress_. - - _April 1915._ - - - - -INTRODUCTION - - -I have been asked to write an introduction to this book, but I feel -that I can add little to its intense dramatic interest. - -Ypres has been one of the chief centres of the terrible struggle which -is now proceeding on the Continent, and it is well known that this same -old Flemish town has figured again and again in the bloody contests of -the past. - -It may, perhaps, be well to explain, in a few words, how the tide of -war has once more rolled to this old-world city. - -On Sunday, June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, the -Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife, the Duchess -of Hohenberg, were assassinated. Although it was known throughout -Europe that there was in existence in Serbia an anti-Austrian -conspiracy (not of a very formidable character), and although -suspicion pointed towards the assassinations being due in some way to -the influence of this conspiracy, no one dreamt for a moment that the -tragedy which had occurred would have serious European consequences; -and, as a matter of fact, it was not until July 23 that the -Austro-Hungarian Government presented an ultimatum to Serbia. On that -day, however, a note of a most extraordinary and menacing character was -delivered to the Serbian Government by Austria-Hungary. It contained no -less than ten separate demands, including the suppression of newspapers -and literature; the disappearance of all nationalist societies; the -reorganisation of Government schools; wholesale dismissal of officers -from the army; and an extraordinary demand that Austro-Hungarian -officials should have a share in all judicial proceedings in Serbia; -besides the arrest of certain specified men, and the prevention of all -traffic in arms. - -It at once became evident to the whole world that no nation could -possibly agree to these demands and maintain a semblance of national -independence; and, when it was found that the ultimatum required a -reply within forty-eight hours, it became clear that the whole of -Europe was on the brink of a volcano. - -Great Britain, through Sir Edward Grey, had already urged Serbia -to show moderation and conciliation in her attitude towards -Austria-Hungary; and, when the ultimatum was submitted to her, Great -Britain and Russia both urged upon her the necessity of a moderate and -conciliatory answer. - -As a matter of fact, Serbia agreed to every one of the demands in -the Austro-Hungarian ultimatum, with only two reservations, and on -these she proposed to submit the questions in dispute to The Hague. -Serbia received no reply from Austria-Hungary; and, immediately on the -expiration of the forty-eight hours, the Austro-Hungarian Minister -quitted Belgrade. During those forty-eight hours, Great Britain and -Russia had urged (1) that the time-limit for the ultimatum should be -extended, and that Germany should join in this demand; but Germany -refused. Sir Edward Grey then proposed (2) that Great Britain, France, -Germany, and Italy should act together, both in Austria-Hungary and in -Russia, in favour of peace. Italy agreed; France agreed; Russia agreed; -but Germany again held back. Sir Edward Grey then proposed (3) that -the German, Italian, and French Ambassadors should meet him in London. -Italy and France agreed; Russia raised no objection; but Germany -refused. - -On July 29, the German Imperial Chancellor made to the British -Ambassador in Berlin the extraordinary and historic proposal that Great -Britain should remain neutral, provided that Germany undertook not to -invade Holland, and to content herself with seizing the colonies of -France, and further promised that, if Belgium remained passive and -allowed German troops to violate her neutrality by marching through -Belgium into France, no territory would be taken from her. The only -possible answer was returned by Great Britain in the rejection of what -Mr. Asquith called ‘an infamous proposal.’ - -On July 31, the British Government demanded from the German and French -Governments an undertaking, in accordance with treaty obligations, to -respect Belgium’s neutrality, and demanded from the Belgian Government -an undertaking to uphold it. France at once gave the necessary -undertaking, as did Belgium. Germany made no reply whatever, and from -that moment war was inevitable. - -On Monday, August 3, the solemn treaty, guaranteeing the neutrality -of Belgium, signed by Germany as well as by France and Great Britain, -was treated as ‘a scrap of paper,’ to be thrown into the waste-paper -basket by Germany; Belgian territory was invaded by German troops; -and, on the next day, Tuesday, August 4, German troops attacked Liège. -From August 4 to August 15, Liège, under its heroic commander, General -Leman, barred the advance of the German armies, and, in all human -probability, saved Paris and France and the liberties of Europe. - -On August 17, the Belgian Government withdrew from Brussels to Antwerp. -On August 20, Brussels was occupied by the Germans. On August 24, -Namur was stormed. On August 25, Louvain was destroyed, and, after -weeks of bloody warfare, after the retreat from Mons to the Marne, and -the victorious counter-attack which drove the Germans back across the -Aisne and to their present line of defence, Antwerp was occupied by the -Germans on the 9th of October. On October 11, what may be called the -battle of Ypres began in real earnest; but the town, defended by the -Allies, held heroically out; and by November 20, the utter failure of -the attempt of the Germans to break through towards Calais by the Ypres -route was acknowledged by everyone. - -During the interval, Ypres was probably the centre of the most terrible -fighting in the War. This delightful old Flemish town, with its -magnificent cathedral and its unique Cloth Hall, probably the finest -specimen of Gothic architecture in Europe, was wantonly bombarded day -and night. The Germans have failed to capture the old city; but they -have laid it in ruins. - -The following pages show the sufferings and heroism of the present -members of a little community of Irish nuns, which - - ‘The world forgetting, by the world forgot,’ - -has existed in Ypres since the days, some two hundred and fifty years -ago, when their Royal Abbey was first established. It is true that, -during those centuries, Ypres has more than once been subjected to -bombardment and attack, and, more than once, Les Dames Irlandaises of -the Royal Benedictine Abbey of Ypres have been subjected to suffering -and danger. But never before were they driven from their home and -shelter. - -Why, it may be asked, is there a little community of Irish Benedictine -nuns at Ypres? During the reign of Queen Elizabeth, three English -ladies--Lady Percy, with Lady Montague, Lady Fortescue and -others--wishing to become Religious, and being unable to do so in their -own country, assembled at Brussels and founded an English House of the -ancient Order of St. Benedict. Their numbers increasing, they made -affiliations at Ghent, Dunkerque, and Pontoise. - -In the year 1665, the Vicar-General of Ghent was made the Bishop of -Ypres, and he founded there a Benedictine Abbey, with the Lady Marina -Beaumont as its first Lady Abbess. In the year 1682, on the death of -the first Lady Abbess, Lady Flavia Cary was chosen as the first Irish -Lady Abbess of what was intended to be at that date, and what has -remained down to the present day, an Irish community. At that time, the -Irish had no other place for Religious in Flanders. A legal donation -and concession of the house of Ypres was made in favour of the Irish -nation, and was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception under the title -of ‘Gratia Dei.’ Irish nuns from other houses were sent to Ypres to -form the first Irish community. From that day to this, there have -been only two Lady Abbesses of Ypres who have not been Irish, and the -community has always been, so far as the vast majority of its members -are concerned, composed of Irish ladies. - -Its history,[1] which has recently been published, contains the names -of the various Lady Abbesses. They are, practically, all Irish, with -the familiar names Butler, O’Bryan, Ryan, Mandeville, Dalton, Lynch, -and so on. - -In 1687, James II of England desired the Lady Abbess of the day, Lady -Joseph Butler, to come over from Ypres to Dublin and to found an Abbey -there under the denomination of ‘His Majesty’s Chief Royal Abbey.’ In -1688, the Lady Abbess, accompanied by some others of the community -at Ypres, arrived in Dublin, and established the Abbey in Big Ship -Street, leaving the House at Ypres in the charge of other members of -the community. It is recorded that, when passing through London, she -was received by the Queen, at Whitehall, in the habit of her Order, -which had not been seen there since the Reformation. In Dublin, James -II received her, and granted her a Royal Patent, giving the community -‘house, rent, postage’ free, and an annuity of £100. This Royal Patent, -with the Great Seal of the Kingdom, was in the custody of the nuns at -Ypres when this War began. It was dated June 5, 1689. - -When William III arrived in Dublin, in 1690, he gave permission to the -Lady Abbess, Lady Butler, to remain. But she and her nuns refused, -saying ‘they would not live under a usurper.’ William then gave her -a pass to Flanders, and this particular letter was also amongst the -treasures at Ypres when the War broke out. - -Notwithstanding William’s free pass, the Irish Abbey in Dublin was -broken into and pillaged by the soldiery, and it was with difficulty -that the Sisters and the Lady Abbess made their way, after long and -perilous journeys, home to their House at Ypres. They brought with them -many relics from Dublin, including some old oak furniture, which was -used in the Abbey at Ypres up to the recent flight of the community. - -And so the Irish Abbey at Ypres has held its ground, with varying -fortunes. In January, 1793, forty or fifty armed soldiers broke into -the Abbey; but the Lady Abbess of the day went to Tournai to seek aid -from the General-in-Chief, who was an Irishman. He withdrew the troops -from the Convent. The following year, however, Ypres was besieged by -the French; but, although the city was damaged, the Convent, almost -miraculously, escaped without injury. - -An order for the suppression of Convents was issued in the very height -of the Revolution. The heroic Lady Abbess Lynch died. She was succeeded -by her sister, Dame Bernard Lynch, and the Community were ordered -to leave. They were, however, prevented from so doing by a violent -storm which broke over the town, and next day there was a change of -government, and the Irish Dames and the Irish Abbey were allowed to -remain, and, for several years the Irish Abbey was the only Convent of -any Order existing in the Low Countries.[2] - -So it has remained on to the present day, from the year 1682 down to -1915, when, for the first time during that long period, this little -Irish community has been driven from Ypres and its Convent laid in -ruins. - -Amongst the other relics and antiquities treasured by the Community at -Ypres, at the opening of this war, was the famous flag, so often spoken -of in song and story, captured by the Irish Brigade in the service of -France at the battle of Ramillies; a voluminous correspondence with -James II; a large border of lace worked by Mary Stuart; a large painted -portrait of James II, presented by him to the Abbey; a church vestment -made of gold horse-trappings of James II; another vestment made from -the dress of the Duchess Isabella, representing the King of Spain in -the Netherlands; and a number of other most valuable relics of the -past. - -All these particulars can be verified by reference to the Rev. Dom -Patrick Nolan’s valuable history. - -This little community is now in exile in England. Their Abbey and -beautiful church are in ruins. Some of their precious relics are -believed to be in places of safety. But most of their property has -been destroyed. They escaped, it is true, with their lives. But what -is their future to be? Surely Irishmen, to whom the subject especially -appeals, and English sympathisers who appreciate courage and fortitude, -will sincerely desire to help those devoted and heroic nuns to go -back to Ypres--the home of the Community for over two centuries--to -rebuild their Abbey and reopen their schools, to continue in their -honourable mission of charity and benevolence, and to resume that work -of education in which their Order has been so long and so successfully -engaged. - - JOHN E. REDMOND. - - _April 1915._ - -[1] _The Irish Dames of Ypres._ By the Rev. Dom Patrick Nolan, O.S.B. - -[2] At the time of the Revolution, the nuns of Brussels and Dunkerque -(to which Pontoise had been united) and Ghent fled to England, and -these three Houses are now represented by Bergholt Abbey (Brussels), -Teignmouth (Dunkerque), and Oulton Abbey (Ghent). - - - - - CONTENTS - - - CHAP. PAGE - - PREFACE v - - NOTE BY PRIORESS ix - - INTRODUCTION xi - - I. THE COMING OF THE GERMANS 1 - - II. THE ALLIES IN YPRES 14 - - III. INCIDENTS OF THE STRUGGLE 24 - - IV. IN THE CELLARS 47 - - V. THE BOMBARDMENT 70 - - VI. FLIGHT 92 - - VII. VISITING THE WOUNDED 107 - - VIII. AN ATTEMPT TO REVISIT YPRES 128 - - IX. PREPARING TO START FOR ENGLAND 137 - - X. A SECOND ATTEMPT TO REVISIT YPRES 143 - - XI. THE RETURN JOURNEY TO POPERINGHE 157 - - XII. ON THE WAY TO ENGLAND 171 - - XIII. OULTON 192 - - - - - ILLUSTRATIONS - - - OULTON AND YPRES _Frontispiece_ - - _The Lady Abbess of Oulton, The Lady Abbess - of Ypres, The Mother Prioress of Ypres._ - - THE IRISH DAMES OF YPRES _To face p._ 48 - - _D. Patrick, D. Columban, D. Bernard, D. - Teresa, D. Walburge, D. Placid, Mother - Prioress, D. Aloysius._ - - THE MOTHER PRIORESS, DAME TERESA, - AND THE THREE NUNS WHO REVISITED - YPRES 144 - - - - -THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES - - - - -CHAPTER I - -THE COMING OF THE GERMANS - - -The War, with all its horrors, into which the Emperor of Germany -plunged the world in August 1914, had been raging nearly six weeks, -when, towards the end of September, vague rumours of the enemy’s -approach reached us at Ypres. Several villages in the neighbourhood -had had visits from the dreaded Uhlans, and, according to report, more -than one prisoner had avowed that they were on their way to Ypres. An -aeroplane had even been sent from Ghent to survey the town, but had -lost its way. In these circumstances, the burgomaster sent round word -that from henceforward, until further orders, no strong lights should -be seen from the outside, and no bells should be rung from six in the -evening till the following day. Consequently, when night came on, the -Monastery remained in darkness, each nun contenting herself with the -minimum of light; and a few strokes of a little hand-bell summoned the -community to hours of regular observance, instead of the well-known -sound of the belfry-bell, which had, for so many years, fearlessly -made known each succeeding hour. Another result of the burgomaster’s -notice was that we were no longer able to say the office in the choir, -as on one side the windows looked on the street, and on the other to -the garden, the light being thus clearly visible from the ramparts. -We, therefore, said compline and matins, first in the work-room, and -afterwards in the chapter-house, placing a double set of curtains on -the windows to prevent the least little glimmer of light from being -seen from the outside. - -An uneasy feeling of uncertainty took possession of the town. This -feeling increased as news reached us, in the first days of October, -that the enemy had been seen several times in the neighbourhood. At -length, on October 7--a never-to-be-forgotten day for all those then at -Ypres--a German aeroplane passed over the town, and shortly afterwards, -at about 1.30 P.M., everyone was startled by the sound of firing at no -great distance. In the Monastery, it was the spiritual-reading hour, so -we were not able to communicate our fears; but, instead of receding, -the sound came nearer, till, at 2 o’clock, the shots from the guns -literally made the house shake. Unable to surmise the cause of this -sudden invasion, we went our way, trying to reassure ourselves as best -we could. Shortly after vespers the sound of the little bell called -us all together, and Reverend Mother Prioress announced to us, to our -great dismay, that what we had feared had now taken place--the Germans -were in the town. Some poor persons, who came daily to the Abbey to -receive soup, had hastened to bring the dreadful tidings on hearing -the bell ring for vespers, because an order had been issued (of which -we were totally ignorant) that no bells might be rung, for fear of -exciting suspicion. The poor, often more unselfish and kind-hearted -than the rich, showed themselves truly so on this occasion, being more -anxious for our safety than their own--one poor woman offering her -little house as a shelter for Lady Abbess. She had only one penny for -all her fortune, but still she was sure that everything would be well -all the same; for, as she wisely remarked, the Germans were less likely -to think of pillaging her bare rooms than our splendid monastery. - -The cannonading which we had heard at 1.30 was a gallant defence -made by 100 Belgian police, who had been obliged to retreat before -the 15,000 Germans, who, from 2 till 8 P.M., poured slowly into the -affrighted town, chanting a lugubrious war-song. M. Colaert, the -burgomaster, and the principal men were obliged to present themselves. -It was arranged that the town would be spared on the payment of 75,000 -francs, and on condition that no further violence should be offered. M. -Colaert and another gentleman were kept as hostages. - -We looked at one another in consternation. We might then, at any -moment, expect a visit, and what a visit! What if they were to come -to ask lodgings for the night? We dared not refuse them. What if they -ransacked the house?... Would they touch our beloved Lady Abbess, who, -owing to a stroke she had had two years before, remained now partially -paralysed?... We instinctively turned our steps to the choir. There, -Mother Prioress began the rosary and, with all the fervour of our -souls, an ardent cry mounted to the throne of the Mother of Mercy, -‘Pray for us now, and at the hour of our death.’ Was that hour about to -strike?... After the rosary, we recommended ourselves to the endless -bounty of the Sacred Heart, the Protector of our Monastery, ‘Cœur Sacré -de Jésus, j’ai confiance en Vous.’ And putting all our confidence in -the double protection of our Divine Spouse and His Immaculate Mother, -we awaited the issue of events. - -Our old servant-man Edmund--an honest, a fearless, and a reliable -retainer, with certainly a comical side to his character--soon came -in with news. Prompted by a natural curiosity, he had gone out late -in the afternoon to see the troops; for the Germans, as in so many -other towns, made an immense parade on entering Ypres. For six long -hours they defiled in perfect order before the gazing multitude, who, -although terrified, could not repress their desire to see such an -unwonted spectacle. Following the army came huge guns, and cars of -ammunition and provisions without end. The troops proceeded to the post -office, where they demanded money from the safes. The Belgian officials -stated that, owing to the troubled times, no great sum was kept there, -and produced 200 francs (the rest having been previously hidden). -The railway station had also to suffer, the telegraph and telephone -wires being all cut; while four German soldiers, posted at the corners -of the public square, and relieved at regular intervals, armed with -loaded revolvers, struck terror into the unfortunate inhabitants of -Ypres. After some time, however, the most courageous ventured to open -conversation with the invaders--amongst the others Edmund, who, coming -across a soldier, more affable-looking than the rest, accosted him. -The German, only too glad to seize the opportunity, replied civilly -enough, and the two were soon in full conversation. ‘You seem to be -in great numbers here.’--‘Oh! this is nothing compared to the rest! -Germany is still full--we have millions waiting to come! We are sure -to win, the French are only cowards!’ ‘Where are you going to when you -leave Ypres?’--‘To Calais!’ ‘And then?’--‘To London!’ ‘Ha-ha-ha! You -won’t get there as easy as you think, they’ll never let you in!’--‘We -can always get there in our Zeppelins.’... With this the German turned -on his heel and tramped off. - -It was now time to think of finding lodgings for the night. A great -number of horses were put in the waiting-rooms at the station, -destroying all the cushions and furniture. The soldiers demanded -shelter in whatever house they pleased, and no one dared refuse them -anything. Our Abbey, thanks to Divine Providence, of whose favour we -were to receive so many evident proofs during the next two months, -was spared from these unwelcome visitors--not one approached the -house, and we had nothing to complain of but the want of bread. Our -baker, being on the way to the convent with the loaves, was met by -some German soldiers, who immediately laid hands on his cart, and -emptied its contents. We therefore hastily made some soda-scones for -supper, which, though not of the best, were nevertheless palatable. -However, all did not escape so easily as we did, and many were the -tales told of that dreadful night. The most anxious of all were those -who were actually housing wounded Belgian soldiers! If they were -discovered, would the brave fellows not be killed there and then? And -it happened, in more than one case, that they escaped by the merest -chance. Before the convent of exiled French nuns, Rue de Lille, whom -we were afterwards to meet at our stay at Poperinghe, and where at -that moment numbers of Belgians were hidden, a German stopped a lady, -who was luckily a great friend of the nuns, and asked if there were -any wounded there. ‘That is not a hospital,’ she replied, ‘but only -a school’; and with a tone of assurance she added, ‘If you do not -believe me, you can go and see for yourself.’ The soldier answered, ‘I -believe you,’ and passed on. In another case, the Germans entered a -house where the Belgians were, and passed the night in the room just -underneath them! A jeweller’s shop was broken into, and the property -destroyed or stolen; and in a private dwelling, the lady of the house, -finding herself alone with four officers--her husband having been -taken as hostage--she took to flight, on which the Germans went all -through the place, doing considerable damage. In other cases, they -behaved pretty civilly. Our washerwoman had thirty to breakfast, of -whom several had slept in her establishment, leading their horses -into her drawing-room! On seeing her little boys, they had exclaimed, -‘Here are some brave little soldiers for us, later on!’ And, on the -mother venturing a mild expostulation, they added, ‘Yes, you are all -Germans now--Belgo-Germans’; while, before leaving, they wrote on -her board--‘We are Germans; we fear no one; we fear only God and our -Emperor!’ What troubled her the most was that her unwelcome guests had -laid hold of her clean washing, taking all that they wanted; amongst -other things, our towels had disappeared. We were, as may well be -imagined, but too pleased to be rid of the dread Germans at so little -cost. - -It appears that while the German army was still in Ypres, some 12,000 -British soldiers, having followed on its track, stopped at a little -distance from the town, sending word to the burgomaster that, if he -wished, they were ready to attack the enemy. M. Colaert, however, not -desiring to see the town given up to pillage and destruction, was -opposed to a British advance. - -By this time the whole town was on the _qui vive_, and no one thought -of anything else but how best to secure any valuables that they had; -for the stories of what had happened in other parts of Belgium were not -at all reassuring. Several tried to leave the town; but the few trains -that were running were kept exclusively for the troops, while the -Germans sent back all those who left on foot. To increase the panic, -no less than five aeroplanes passed during the day; and the knowledge -that the enemy had left soldiers with two mitrailleuses at the Porte -de Lille, to guard the town, completed the feeling of insecurity. -Moreover--as the soldiers had literally emptied the town of all the -eatables they could lay their hands on--sinister rumours of famine were -soon spread abroad. Reverend Mother Prioress sent out immediately for -some sacks of flour, but none was to be got; and we were obliged to -content ourselves with wheatmeal instead. Rice, coffee, and butter we -had, together with some tins of fish. The potatoes were to come that -very day, and great was our anxiety lest the cart would be met by the -Germans and the contents seized. However, the farmer put off coming for -some days, and at length arrived safely with the load, a boy going in -front to see that no soldiers were about. The milk-woman, whose farm -was a little way outside the town, was unable to come in, and no meat -could be got for love or money; so we were obliged to make the best of -what we had, and each day Mother Prioress went to the kitchen herself -to see if she could not possibly make a new dish from the never varying -meal--rice, Quaker oats, and maizena. - -Ultimately the Allies came to our help, and a motor-car, armed with a -mitrailleuse, flew through the streets and opened fire on the Germans. -Taken by surprise, the latter ran to their guns; but, through some -mishap, the naphtha took fire in one of them, whereupon the Germans -retreated. Three of their men were wounded, and one civilian killed. -On the Friday, we began to breathe freely again, when suddenly news -came, even to the Abbey, that one hundred Germans were parading round -the town. On Sunday, the Allies came once more to chase them; but, for -the moment, the Germans had disappeared. Things continued thus for some -days, until, to the delight of the inhabitants, the British took entire -possession of the town, promising that the Germans would never enter it -again. Just one week after the coming of the Germans, the troops of the -Allies poured in, until, amid the enthusiastic cheers of the people, -21,000 soldiers filled the streets. Those who came by the monastery -passed down the Rue St. Jacques singing lustily: - - ‘Here we are, here we are, here we are again: - Here we are, here we are, here we are again!’ - -Then alternately each side repeated: ‘Hallo! Hallo! Hallo! Hallo!’ -The crowd, whose knowledge of the English language did not extend far -enough to enable them to grasp the meaning of ‘Here we are again’ soon, -however, caught up the chorus of ‘Hallo! Hallo!’ and quickly the street -resounded with cries, which were certainly discordant, but which, -nevertheless, expressed the enthusiastic joy of the people. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -THE ALLIES IN YPRES - - -The contrast between the reception of the two armies was striking. On -the arrival of the Germans, people kept in their houses, or looked at -the foe with frightened curiosity; now, everyone lined the streets, -eager for a glimpse of the brave soldiers who had come to defend Ypres. -A week before, the citizens had furnished food to the enemy, because -they dared not refuse it--and only then what they were obliged to give. -Now, each one vied with the other in giving. Bread, butter, milk, -chocolate--everything they had--went to the soldiers, and sounds of -rejoicing came from all sides. Perhaps, the most pleased of all were -the poor wounded Belgians, who had been so tried the preceding week. -All those who were able to drag themselves along crowded to the windows -and doors, to welcome their new comrades; and the latter, unable to -make themselves understood by words, made vigorous signs that they were -about to chop off the Germans’ heads. What excited the most curiosity -were the ‘petticoats,’ as they were styled, of the Highlanders, and -everyone gave their opinion on this truly extraordinary uniform, -which had not been previously seen in these parts. The soldiers were -quartered in the different houses and establishments of the town. Once -more the Abbey was left unmolested, though once again also the want of -bread was felt--not, that it had been this time stolen, but that, in -spite of all their efforts, the bakers could not supply the gigantic -demand for bread necessary to feed our newly arrived friends. Seeing -that we were likely to be forgotten in the general excitement, Edmund -was sent out to see what he could find. After many vain efforts, he at -last succeeded in getting three very small-sized loaves, with which he -returned in triumph. Scarcely had he got inside the parlour, when there -came a vigorous tug at the bell. The new-comer proved to be a man who, -having caught sight of the bread, came to beg some for ‘his soldiers.’ -Edmund was highly indignant, and loudly expostulated; but the poor -man, with tears in his eyes, turned to Mother Prioress (who had just -entered), and offered to pay for the bread, if only she would give -him a little. ‘I have my own son at the front,’ he exclaimed, ‘and I -should be so grateful to anyone that I knew had shown kindness to him; -and now I have been all over the town to get bread for my soldiers, -and there is none to be had!’ Mother Prioress’ kind heart was touched, -and telling the good man to keep his money, she gave him the loaves as -well, with which he soon vanished out of the door, Edmund grumbling -all the time because the nuns (and himself) had been deprived of their -supper. Mother Prioress, laughing, told him the soldiers needed it -more than we. She turned away, thinking over what she could possibly -give the community for supper. She went--almost mechanically--to the -bread-bin, where, lifting up the lid, she felt round in the dark. What -was her delight to find two loaves which still remained, and which had -to suffice for supper--as well as breakfast next morning. We retired -to rest, feeling we were, at any rate, well guarded; and the firm tread -of the sentries, as they passed under our windows at regular intervals, -inspired us with very different feelings from those we had experienced -the week before, on hearing the heavy footsteps of the German watch. - -The officials of the British Headquarters entered the town with the -army, and for several weeks Ypres was their chief station, from which -issued all the commands for the troops in the surrounding districts. -We were not long, however, in knowing the consequences of such an -honour. The next day, at about 10.30 A.M., the whirr of an aeroplane -was heard. We were becoming accustomed to such novelties, and so did -not pay too much attention, till, to our horror, we heard a volley of -shots from the Grand’ Place saluting the new-comer. We knew from this -what nationality the visitor was. The firing continued for some time, -and then ceased. What had happened? Our enclosure prevented us from -following the exciting events of those troubled times, but friends -usually kept us supplied with the most important news. It was thus -that, soon afterwards, we heard the fate of the air monster which had -tried to spy into what was happening within our walls. The first shots -had been unsuccessful; but at last two struck the machine, which began -rapidly to descend. The inmates, unhurt, flew for their lives as soon -as they touched ground; but, seizing the first motor-car to hand, the -soldiers chased them, and at last took them prisoners. What was their -horror to find in the aeroplane a plan of the town of Ypres, with -places marked, on which to throw the three bombs, one of these places -being the Grand’ Place, then occupied by thousands of British soldiers. - -Endless were the thanksgivings which mounted up to heaven for such -a preservation, and prayers and supplications for Divine protection -were redoubled. Since the beginning of the War, everyone, even the -most indifferent, had turned to God, from Whom alone they felt that -succour could come; and those who before never put their foot in church -were now amongst the most fervent. Pilgrimages and processions were -organised to turn aside the impending calamity; and, heedless of human -respect, rich and poor, the fervent and the indifferent, raised their -voices to the Mother of God, who has never yet been called upon in -vain. Even the procession of Our Lady of Thuyn--so well known to all -those who yearly flock to Ypres for the first Sunday in August--with -its groups, its decorations, its music, had been turned into a -penitential procession; and the ‘Kermess’ and other festivities, which -took place during the following eight days, were prohibited. Needless -to say, the Monastery was not behindhand. Every day the community -assembled together at 1 o’clock for the recitation of the rosary, and, -when possible, prayed aloud during the different employments of the -day. Numberless were the aspirations to the Sacred Heart, Our Lady of -Angels, Our Holy Father St. Benedict, each one’s favourite patron, -the Holy Angels, or the Souls in Purgatory. Each suggested what they -thought the most likely to inspire devotion. Perhaps the best of all -was that which Dame Josephine--_Requiescat in Pace_--announced to us -one day at recreation. It ran as follows: ‘Dear St. Patrick, as you -once chased the serpents and venomous reptiles out of Ireland, please -now chase the Germans out of Belgium!’ The Office of the Dead was not -forgotten for those who had fallen on the battle-field, and we offered -all our privations and sacrifices for the good success of the Allies, -or the repose of the souls of the poor soldiers already killed. We also -undertook to make badges of the Sacred Heart for the soldiers, though -at the moment we saw no possible means of distributing them. At length, -to our great joy, the arrival of the British troops, among whom were -many Irish Catholics, opened an apostolate for us, which went on ever -increasing. The idea had first come to us when, weeks before, a number -of Belgian soldiers were announced, of whom 250 were to have been -quartered at the college. Reverend Mother Prioress had then suggested -that we should make badges, so as at least to help in some little -way, when everyone else seemed to be doing so much. We set to work -with good will--some cutting the flannel--others embroidering--others -writing--till at last we had finished. What was our disappointment to -hear that not a single soldier had come to the college. We then tried, -in every way possible, to find a means of distributing our handiwork; -but all in vain, till one day, a poor girl, called Hélène, who washed -the steps and outer porch leading to the principal entrance of the -convent, came to beg prayers for her brother who was at the front. -Mother Prioress promised her we should all pray for her brother, at -the same time giving her a badge of the Sacred Heart for him, together -with a dozen others for anyone else she might know to be in the same -position. Hélène soon returned for more, and the devotion spreading -through the town, everyone came flocking to the parlour to get badges -for a father, a brother, a cousin, a nephew at the front, many even -also asking them for themselves, so that they might be preserved from -all danger. Even the little children in the streets came, to ask for -‘a little heart!’ until the poor Sister at the door was unable to get -through her other work, owing to the constant ringing of the bell. In -despair, she laid her complaints before her Superior, saying that a -troop of children were there again, of whom one had come the first -thing in the morning for a badge. On receiving it she had gone outside, -where, changing hats with another child, she promptly returned, -pretending to be some one else. The Sister, who had seen the whole -performance through the _guichet_, had smiled at her innocent trick, -and given her another. But now here she was again, this time with some -one else’s apron on, and bringing half a dozen other children with her. -Mother Prioress then saw the little girl herself, who, nothing abashed, -put out her hand saying, ‘Des petits cœurs, s’il vous plaît, ma Sœur!’ -This was too much for Mother Prioress’ tender heart, and, instead of -scolding, she told them there was nothing ready then; but for the -future, if they came back on Mondays, they might have as many ‘petits -cœurs’ as they wished. The little troop marched quite contentedly out -of the door, headed by the girl--who could not have been more than -seven years old--and diminishing in size and age down to a little mite -of two, who toddled out, hanging on to his brother’s coat. The devout -procession was brought up by a tiny black dog, which seemed highly -delighted with the whole proceeding. This little digression has brought -us away from our subject, but was perhaps necessary to show how we were -able to send badges to the soldiers, by means of this somewhat strange -manner of apostolate; for a young girl, hearing of the devotion, -brought them by dozens to St. Peter’s parish (where an Irish regiment -was stationed), impressing on each man, as she pinned the badge to his -uniform, that it was made by ‘the Irish Dames!’ - - - - -CHAPTER III - -INCIDENTS OF THE STRUGGLE - - -Meanwhile, in the distance, we could hear the sound of cannonading, -which told us of the approach of the enemy; and when we met at -recreation, the one and only topic of conversation was the War. -Each day brought its item of news--such or such a town had fallen, -another was being bombarded, a village had been razed to the ground, -another was burning, so many prisoners had been taken, such a number -wounded, many alas! killed. As often as not, what we heard one day -was contradicted the next, and what was confirmed in the morning as -a fact, was flatly denied in the afternoon; so that one really did -not know what to believe. We could at least believe our own ears, and -those told us, by the ever-approaching sound of firing, that the danger -was steadily increasing for the brave little town of Ypres. It was -therefore decided that, in case of emergency, each nun should prepare a -parcel of what was most necessary, lest the worst should come, and we -should be obliged to fly. - -Soon, crowds of refugees, from the towns and villages in the firing -line, thronged the streets. The city was already crowded with soldiers. -Where, then, could the refugees find lodging and nourishment? How were -they to be assisted? All helped as far as they were able, and dinner -and supper were daily distributed to some thirty or forty at the Abbey -doors. This meant an increase of work, which already weighed heavily -enough on our reduced numbers; for we had, since September 8, lost four -subjects--one choir dame and three lay-sisters--owing to the law then -issued, commanding the expulsion of all Germans resident in Belgium. -This had been the first shock. Nothing as yet foretold the future, nor -gave us the least subject for serious alarm, when, on the afternoon -of September 7, an official came to the parlour to acquaint us with -the newly published law, and to say that our four German nuns would -have to leave within thirty-six hours. We were literally stunned. -Benedictines! Enclosed nuns! All over twenty-five years in the convent! -What harm could they do? Surely no one could suspect them of being -spies. Telegrams flew to Bruges, even to Antwerp, to obtain grace--all -was useless, and at 3.30 P.M., September 8, we assisted at the first -departure from the Abbey, which we innocently thought would be at the -worst for about three weeks, little dreaming what we should still live -to see. These first poor victims were conducted by our chaplain to his -lordship the Bishop of Bruges, who placed them in a convent just over -the frontier in Holland, where we continued corresponding with them, -until all communication was cut off by the arrival of the Germans, as -has already been stated. In the result, we found our labours increased -by the loss of our three lay-sisters; but we divided the work between -us, and even rather enjoyed the novelty. Poor old Sister Magdalen (our -oldest lay-sister), however, failed to see any joke in the business; -and when she found herself once again cook, as she had been when she -was young and active, her lamentations were unceasing. We tried to -assist her, but she found us more in the way than anything else. She -discovered at last a consoler in the person of Edmund, who offered to -peel apples, pears, and potatoes; and when the two could get together, -Sister Magdalen poured forth the tale of her endless woes into Edmund’s -sympathetic ear, whilst he in return gave her the ‘latest news’; and -it was a curious spectacle to see the two together in the little court -anxiously examining a passing aeroplane, to know of what nationality -it was, though which of the pair was to decide the matter was rather -questionable, Edmund being exceedingly short-sighted, and Sister -Magdalen not too well versed in such learned matters. To return to the -refugees: Mother Prioress took some of us to help her in the children’s -refectory, and with her own hands prepared the food for them. For -dinner they had a good soup, with plenty of boiled potatoes, bread, and -beer: for supper, a plateful of porridge in which we mixed thin slices -of apple, which made a delicious dish, and then potatoes in their -jackets, bread, and beer. We had to work hard, for it was no small task -to get such a meal ready for about forty starving persons. We left -Sister Magdalen to grumble alone in the kitchen over the mysterious -disappearance of her best pots and pans; especially one evening, -when, forgetting to turn the appetising mixture which was preparing -for supper, we not only spoilt the porridge, but burnt a hole in a -beautiful copper saucepan. - -The sound of hostilities came ever nearer and nearer. Dreadful rumours -were current of an important battle about to be fought in the proximity -of Ypres. What made things worse was the great number of spies that -infested the neighbourhood. Daily they were arrested, but yet others -managed to replace them. Four soldiers and one civilian kept a vigilant -watch on the town, examining every one who seemed the least suspicious, -as much as the prisoners themselves. - -Roulers, Warneton, Dixmude, and countless other towns and villages -had succumbed; and at last, to our great grief, news reached us that -the Germans were in Bruges, and had taken possession of the episcopal -palace--and our much-loved Bishop, where was he? Alas! we were doomed -not to hear, for all communication was cut off, and for the future -we only knew what was happening in and around Ypres. And was it not -enough? The windows already shook with the heavy firing. The roar of -the guns in the distance scarcely stopped a moment. From the garret -windows, we could already see the smoke of the battle on the horizon; -and to think that, at every moment, hundreds of souls were appearing -before the judgment-seat of God! Were they prepared? Terrifying problem! - -As everywhere else, the German numbers far exceeded those of the -Allies. It consequently came to pass that the latter were forced to -retreat. It was thus that on Wednesday, October 21, we received the -alarming news that the town would probably be bombarded in the evening. -We had already prepared our parcels in case we should be obliged to fly -and now we were advised to live in our cellars, which were pronounced -quite safe against any danger of shells or bombs. But our dear Lady -Abbess, how should we get her down to the cellar, when it was only -with great difficulty that she could move from one room to another? If -we were suddenly forced to leave, what then would she do? We could -only leave the matter in God’s hands. We carried down a carpet, bed, -arm-chair, and other things, to try to make matters as comfortable as -possible for her--then our own bedding and provisions. The precious -treasures and antiquities had already been placed in security, and -we now hastened to collect the remaining books and statues, which we -hoped to save from the invaders. We had also been advised to pile up -sand and earth against the cellar windows to deaden the force of the -shells should they come in our direction. But if this were the case, -they would first encounter the provision of pétrole in the garden--and -then we should all be burnt alive. To prepare for this alarming -contingency, Dame Teresa and Dame Bernard, armed with spades, proceeded -to the far end of the garden, where they dug an immense hole, at the -same time carrying the earth to block the entrances to the different -cellars. After a whole day’s hard labour, they succeeded in finishing -their excavation and in tilting the huge barrel, which they could -neither roll nor drag--it being both too full and too heavy--to the -place prepared. Their labour, however, proved all in vain; for Edmund, -displeased at the barrel’s disappearance, then highly amused at the -brilliant enterprise, declared he could not draw the pétrole unless put -back in its old position. - -The reported fortunate arrival of a large number of Indian troops (they -said 400,000, though 40,000 would be nearer the mark) had a reassuring -effect: but we still remained in suspense, for if the Allies came by -thousands, the Germans had a million men in the neighbourhood. The -Allies and Germans also sustained frightful losses. The ambulance cars -continually brought in the unfortunate victims from the battle-field, -till at last the town was full to overflowing. One Sunday morning, a -French officer and military doctor came to visit the convent to see if -it would not be possible to place their wounded with us. We willingly -offered our services, and Mother Prioress showing them the class-rooms, -it was decided that the whole wing facing the ramparts, including -the class-rooms, children’s dormitory and refectory, the library, -noviceship and work-room, should be emptied and placed at their -disposal. The great drawback was the lack of bedding; for already, -before the arrival of the Germans in the town, we had given all we -could possibly spare for the Belgian wounded, who had at that time -been transported to Ypres. The two gentlemen took their leave, very -pleased with their visit, the officer--who seemed to all appearances -a fervent Catholic--promising to send round word in the afternoon, -when all should be decided. Despite the fact that it was Sunday, we -listened (after having obtained permission) to the proverb, ‘Many hands -make light work,’ and soon the rooms in question were emptied of all -that would not serve for the soldiers, and were ready for their use. -What was our disappointment, in the afternoon, to hear that the French -officer, thanking us profusely for our offer, had found another place, -which was more suitable, as being nearer the site of the engagement. -We had always shown our goodwill, and were only too pleased to help in -any little way the brave soldiers, who daily, nay hourly, watered with -their blood Belgium’s unfortunate soil. This was not the last we heard -of the officer; for we soon had a visit from a French deacon, who was -serving as infirmarian at the ambulance, begging for bandages for the -wounded soldiers. All our recreations and free moments were spent in -‘rolling’ bandages, for which were sacrificed sheets and veils, and -in fact anything that could serve for the purpose--to all of which -we of course added dozens of badges of the Sacred Heart. The deacon -was overjoyed and returned several times ‘to beg,’ giving us news of -the fighting. One day he brought a little souvenir, by way of thanks -for our help. It consisted of a prayer-book found on a German wounded -prisoner, who had died. The prayers were really beautiful, being taken -mostly from passages of the Psalms, adapted for the time of war; while -the soiled leaves showed that the book had been well read. - -One afternoon, about this time, the Sister who acted as portress -announced the visit of an ‘English Catholic priest,’ serving as army -chaplain. Mother Prioress went immediately round to the parlour to -receive the reverend visitor, who stated that he had been charged by a -well-known English lord, should he ever pass by Ypres, to come to our -convent, to see the ‘English flag’ which one of his ancestors had sent -to the Abbey. Mother Prioress assured him that the only flag in the -convent was the famous one captured by the Irish Brigade in the service -of France at the battle of Ramillies.[3] She added that she would -be happy to give him a photograph of the flag. He said he would be -enchanted, promising to call the next day to fetch it. Accordingly, the -following day he returned, accompanied by two officers. Dame Josephine, -together with Dame Teresa and Dame Patrick, were sent to entertain -them. On entering the parlour, Dame Josephine immediately knelt to -receive the ‘priest’s’ blessing, who looked rather put out at this -unwonted respect. After an interesting conversation on various topics, -she asked how long he had been attached to the army. He said he had -volunteered as chaplain, being in reality a monk, having also charge -of a community of nuns. More and more interested at not only finding a -‘priest’ but a ‘monk,’ Dame Josephine expressed her admiration of the -sacrifice he must have made in thus leaving his monastery, and asked -to what Order he belonged. The reverend gentleman said that he was of -the Order of St. John the Evangelist, and that he was indeed longing to -be able to put on once more his holy habit. Then, making a sign to the -officers, he abruptly finished the conversation, stating that he had -an appointment, which he could by no means miss, and quickly vanished -out of the parlour. Dame Teresa and Dame Patrick, who had hardly been -able to keep in their laughter, now told Dame Josephine of her mistake; -for they had truthfully divined that the supposed ‘priest’ was a -Protestant clergyman. In fact he had stated on his introduction that he -was ‘a priest of the Church of England,’ from which Dame Josephine had -inferred that he was an ‘English Catholic priest’; and so her special -attention to him. Dame Teresa and Dame Patrick had rightly interpreted -the visitor’s description of himself as a Protestant clergyman, and -enjoyed Dame Josephine’s mistake. - -Outside, the noise grew ever louder. The roar of the cannon, the -rolling of the carriages, Paris omnibuses, provision and ambulance -cars, the continual passage of cavalry and foot soldiers, and the -motor-cars passing with lightning-like speed, made the quiet, sleepy -little town of Ypres as animated as London’s busiest streets. At night -even the Allied regiments poured in, profiting by the obscurity to hide -their movements from the Germans; while, contrasting with the darkness, -the fire from the battle-field showed up clearly against the midnight -sky. One evening, as we made our usual silent visit to the garrets -before going to bed, a signal of alarm announced that something more -than ordinary had occurred. In the distance thick clouds of smoke rose -higher and higher, which, from time to time rolling back their dense -masses, showed sheets of fire and flame. Were the Germans trying to -set fire to the town? No one was near to enlighten us; so, anxious and -uneasy, we retired to our cells, begging earnest help from Heaven. -Since the first warning of bombardment one or other of us stopped up at -night, being relieved after some hours, in case anything should happen -while the community took their rest. - -The most alarming news continued to pour in. The soldiers, by means -of their telescopes, had descried two German aeroplanes throwing down -pétrole to set the country and villages on fire. Were we to expect the -same fate? Stories of German atrocities reached us from all quarters; -but what moved us most was the account of the outrageous barbarities -used upon women, even upon nuns. - -We were far from an end of our troubles. Despite the danger and -anxiety, we strove to keep up religious life, and the regular -Observances went on at the usual hours. Instead of distracting us, the -roar of the battle only made us lift up our hearts with more fervour -to God; and it was with all the ardour of our souls that we repeated, -at each succeeding hour of the Divine Office: ‘Deus, in adjutorium -meum intende! Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina!’ The liturgy of Holy -Mass, also--one would have said it had been composed especially for the -moment. - -On Wednesday, October 28, between 1.30 and 2 P.M.--the hour for -our pious meditation--we were suddenly interrupted by a noise to -which we were not as yet accustomed. It seemed at first to be only a -cannon-ball, flying off on its deadly errand; but instead of growing -feebler, as the shell sped away towards the German ranks, the sound -and whirr of this new messenger of death grew ever louder and more -rapid, till it seemed, in its frightful rush, to be coming straight -on our doomed heads! Instinctively some flew to the little chapel of -Our Blessed Lady at one end of the garden; others remained still where -they were, not daring to move, till after a few seconds, which seemed -interminable, a deafening explosion told us that something dreadful -(alas! we knew not what) must have occurred. We learned, afterwards, -that it was the first of the bombs with which the enemy, infuriated at -the resistance of what they disdainfully styled ‘a handful of British -soldiers,’ determined to destroy the town which they already feared -they would never retake. The first bombs, however, did no damage--the -one which had so frightened us falling into the moat which surrounds -Ypres, behind the Church of St. James, and two others just outside the -town. At about 9.30 P.M., when we were retiring to our cells after -matins, another sound, far from musical, fell on our ears. As usual, -some sped silently to the garrets, where, though hearing strange -noises, they could see nothing; so everyone went to rest, concluding it -was the sound of bombs again. In fact the Germans were bombarding the -town. We heard, the next day, that several houses in the Rue Notre-Dame -had been struck, and all the windows in the street broken. The owners -innocently sent for the glazier to have the panes of glass repaired, -little thinking that, in a few weeks, scarce one window would remain in -the whole of Ypres. - -Not content with fighting on the ground, it seemed as though the sky -also would soon form a second battle-field. Aeroplanes passed at -regular hours from the town to the place of encounter, to bring back -news to the Headquarters how the battle was waging. Besides this, -German Taubes made their appearance, waiting to seize their opportunity -to renew, with more success than their first attempt, the disastrous -ruin caused by the bombs. It was high time to think of our dear Abbess’ -safety. It was therefore decided that she should take refuge at -Poperinghe, and Mother Prioress sent out for a carriage to convey her -there; but in the general panic which reigned, every possible means of -conveyance had been seized. After several enquiries, a cab was at last -secured, and soon drove up to the convent. Our dear Lady was so moved, -when the news was broken to her, that four of us were obliged to carry -her downstairs. After a little rest, we helped her to the carriage, -which had driven round into the garden, to avoid the inconveniences -which would necessarily have arisen had the departure taken place in -the street. It proved almost impossible to get her into the carriage, -owing to her inability to help herself. At length, thanks to the -assistance of one of the Sisters of Providence, who had been more than -devoted to her ever since her stroke, we succeeded; and accompanied -by Dame Josephine, a Jubilarian, Dame Placid, and Sister Magdalen, -our beloved Abbess drove out of the enclosure,[4] the great door soon -hiding her from our sight. Sad, troubled, and anxious, we turned back, -wondering what would become of our dear absent ones. Would they arrive -safely at their destination? Would they find kind faces and warm hearts -to welcome them? Only the boom of the guns mockingly answered our -silent enquiries. - -[3] See Note at end of Chapter. - -[4] By the Constitution of the Order, the enclosure may be broken in -times of war, and in other cases provided for. - - -NOTE TO CHAPTER III - -THE ‘FLAG’ AT YPRES - -BY R. BARRY O’BRIEN - -There is a ‘legend’ of a ‘blue flag’ said to have been carried or -captured by the Irish Brigade at the battle of Ramillies, and which -was subsequently deposited in the Irish convent at Ypres. This is a -sceptical age. People do not believe unless they see; and I wished -to submit this ‘blue flag’ to the test of ocular demonstration. -Accordingly, in the autumn of 1907, I paid a visit to the old -Flemish town, now so familiar to us all in its misfortunes. I was -hospitably received by the kind and cheerful nuns who answered all my -questions about the flag and the convent with alacrity. ‘Can I see the -flag?’--‘Certainly.’ And the ‘flag’ was sent for. It turned out not -to be a blue flag at all. Blue was only part of a flag which, it would -seem, had been originally blue, red, and yellow. An aged Irish nun -described the flag as she had first seen it. - -‘It was attached to a stick, and I remember reading on a slip of paper -which was on the flag “Remerciements Refuged at Ypres, 170....” The -flag consisted of three parts--blue with a harp, red with three lions, -and yellow. The red and yellow parts were accidentally destroyed, -and all that remains is the blue, as you see it, with a harp; and we -have also preserved one of the lions. The story that has come down to -us is that it was left here after the battle of Ramillies I think, -but whether it was the flag of the Irish Brigade, or an English flag -captured by them at the battle, I do not know.’ - -The flag, of course--blue with a harp, red with three lions, and -yellow--suggests the royal standard of England, with a difference. At -the time of the battle of Ramillies, the royal standard, or ‘King’s -Colour,’ consisted of four quarterings: the first and fourth quarters -were subdivided, the three lions of England being in one half, the -lion of Scotland in the other. The _fleurs-de-lis_ were in the second -quarter; the Irish harp was in the third.[5] But this (the Ypres) flag -had, when the nun saw it, only three quarters--blue with harp, red with -three lions, and yellow; the rest had then been apparently destroyed. - -At the famous battle of 1706, the Irish Brigade was posted in the -village of Ramillies. They fought with characteristic valour, giving -way only when the French were beaten in another part of the field. The -Brigade was commanded by Lord Clare, who was mortally wounded in the -fight. Charles Forman writes, in a letter published in 1735:-- - -‘At Ramillies we see Clare’s regiment shining with trophies and covered -with laurels even in the midst of a discomfited routed army. They -had to do with a regiment which, I assure you, was neither Dutch nor -German, and their courage precipitated them so far in pursuit of their -enemy that they found themselves engaged at last in the throng of our -army, where they braved their fate with incredible resolution. If you -are desirous to know what regiment it was they engaged that day, the -colours in the cloister of the Irish nuns at Ypres, which I thought had -been taken by another Irish regiment, will satisfy your curiosity.’[6] - -Mr. Matthew O’Conor, in his ‘Military Memoirs of the Irish Nation,’ -says:-- - -‘Lord Clare ... cut his way through the enemy’s battalions, bearing -down their infantry with matchless intrepidity. In the heroic effort to -save his corps he was mortally wounded, and many of his best officers -were killed. His Lieutenant, Colonel Murrough O’Brien, on this occasion -evinced heroism worthy of the name of O’Brien. Assuming the command, -and leading on his men with fixed bayonets, he bore down and broke -through the enemy’s ranks, took two pair of colours from the enemy, and -joined the rere of the French retreat on the heights of St. Andre.’ - -Forman does not state to what regiment the colours belonged. -O’Callaghan, in his ‘History of the Irish Brigade,’ quotes him as -saying: ‘I could be much more particular in relating this action, but -some reasons oblige me, in prudence, to say no more of it.’ - -O’Conor says that the colours belonged to a celebrated English -regiment. O’Callaghan is more precise. He says:-- - -‘According to Captain Peter Drake, of Drakerath, County of Meath (who -was at the battle with Villeroy’s army, in De Couriere’s regiment), -Lord Clare engaged with a Scotch regiment in the Dutch service, -between whom there was a great slaughter; that nobleman having lost -289 private centinels, 22 commissioned officers, and 14 sergeants; yet -they not only saved their colours, but gained a pair from the enemy. -This Scotch regiment in the Dutch service was, by my French account, -“almost entirely destroyed”; and, by the same account, Clare’s engaged -with equal honour the “English Regiment of Churchill,” or that of the -Duke of Marlborough’s brother, Lieutenant-General Charles Churchill, -and then commanded by its Colonel’s son, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles -Churchill. This fine corps, at present the 3rd Regiment of Foot, or -the Buffs, signalized itself very much in the action with another, -or Lord Mordaunt’s, “by driving three French regiments into a morass, -where most of them were either destroyed or taken prisoners.” But the -“Régiment Anglois de Churchill,” according to the French narrative, -fared very differently in encountering the Regiment of Clare, by -which its colours were captured, as well as those of the “Régiment -Hollandois,” or “Scotch regiment in the Dutch service.”’ - -The question may, or may not, be problematical, but it seems to me that -what I saw in the convent at Ypres was a remnant of one of the flags -captured, according to the authorities I have quoted, by the Irish -Brigade at the battle of Ramillies; and that flag was, apparently, the -‘King’s Colour’ which reproduces the royal standard. - -[5] _Enc. Brit._ 11th ed. - -[6] _Courage of the Irish Nation._ - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -IN THE CELLARS - - -We were soon recalled from our reflections; for Mother Prioress, -emerging from the parlour, announced to us that we were to have -visitors that night. Two priests and five ladies had begged to be -allowed to come to sleep in our cellars, as news had been brought that -the Germans might penetrate into the town that very evening. One could -not refuse at such a moment, though the idea was a novel one--enclosed -nuns taking in strangers for the night. But in the face of such -imminent peril, and in a case of life or death, there was no room for -hesitation. So to work we set, preparing one cellar for the priests, -and another for the ladies. In the midst of dragging down carpets, -arm-chairs, mattresses, the news soon spread that there was word from -Poperinghe. We all crowded round Mother Prioress in the cellar, where, -by the light of a little lamp, she endeavoured in vain to decipher a -letter which Dame Placid had hurriedly scribbled in pencil, before -the driver left to return to Ypres. The picture was worth painting! -Potatoes on one side, mattresses and bolsters on the other--a carpet -half unrolled--each of us trying to peep over the other’s shoulder, -and to come as near as possible to catch every word. But alas! these -latter were few in number and not reassuring. ‘We can only get one room -for Lady Abbess.... Everywhere full up.... We are standing shivering -in the rain.... Please send ----’ Then followed a list of things which -were wanting. Poor Lady Abbess! Poor Dame Josephine! What was to be -done? Mother Prioress consoled us by telling us she would send the -carriage back the first thing next morning to see how everyone was, -and to take all that was required. We then finished off our work as -quickly as possible, and retired to our own cellar to say compline and -matins; for it was already 10 o’clock. After this we lay down on our -‘straw-sacks’--no one undressed. Even our ‘refugees’ had brought -their packages with them, in case we should have to fly during the -night. Contrary to all expectations, everything remained quiet--even -the guns seemed to sleep. Was it a good or evil omen? Time would show. - -[Illustration: - - D. Patrick. D. Columban. D. Bernard. D. Teresa. D. Walburge. - - D. Placid. Mother Prioress. D. Aloysius. - -THE IRISH DAMES OF YPRES.] - -At 5 o’clock next morning the alarm-clock aroused the community, -instead of the well-known sound of the bell. There was no need, -either, of the accustomed ‘Domine, labia mea aperies’ at each cell -door. At 5.30, we repaired to the choir as usual for meditation, and -at 6 recited lauds--prime and tierce. At 7, the conventual Mass began; -when, as though they had heard the long-silent bell, the guns growled -out, like some caged lion, angry at being disturbed from its night’s -rest. The signal given, the battle waged fiercer than before, and the -rattling windows, together with the noise resounding through the church -and choir, told that the silence of the night had been the result -of some tactics of the Germans, who had repulsed the Allies. Day of -desolation, greater than we had before experienced! Not because the -enemy was nearer, not because we were in more danger, but because, -at the end of Holy Mass, we found ourselves deprived of what, up till -then, had been our sole consolation in our anguish and woe. The sacred -species had been consumed--the tabernacle was empty. The sanctuary lamp -was extinguished. The fear of desecration had prompted this measure of -prudence, and henceforth our daily Communion would be the only source -of consolation, from which we should have to derive the courage and -strength we so much needed. - -The Germans nearer meant greater danger; so, with still more ardour, we -set to work, especially as we were now still more reduced in numbers. -The question suddenly arose, ‘Who was to prepare the dinner?’ Our cook, -as has already been said, had been one of the three German Sisters -who had left us on September 8; subsequently, Sister Magdalen had -replaced her, and she, too, now was gone. After mature deliberation, -Dame Columban was named to fulfil that important function. But -another puzzle presented itself--What were we to eat? For weeks, no -one had seen an egg! Now, no milk could be got. Fish was out of the -question--there was no one left to fish. To complete the misery, no -bread arrived, for our baker had left the town. Nothing remained but to -make some small loaves of meal, and whatever else we could manage--with -potatoes, oatmeal, rice, and butter (of which the supply was still -ample), adding apples and pears in abundance. Edmund was sent out -to see if he could find anything in the town. He returned with four -packets of Quaker oats, saying that that was all he could find, but -that we could still have a hundred salted herrings if we wished to send -for them. - -We had just begun the cooking, when the tinkling of the little bell -called everyone together, only to hear that a German Taube was sailing -just over the Abbey; so we were all ordered down to the cellars, but -before we reached them there was crack! crack! bang! bang! and the -rifle-shots flew up, from the street outside the convent, to salute -the unwelcome visitor. But to no purpose, and soon the sinister -whistling whirr of a descending projectile grated on our ears, while, -with a loud crash, the bomb fell on some unfortunate building. We -had at first been rather amused at this strange descent to our modern -catacombs; but we soon changed our mirth to prayer, and aspiration -followed aspiration, till the ceasing of the firing told us that the -enemy was gone. We then emerged from the darkness, for we had hidden -in the excavation under the steps leading up to the entrance of the -Monastery, as the surest place of refuge, there being no windows. -This was repeated five or six times a day; so we brought some work to -the cellars to occupy us. The firing having begun next morning before -breakfast was well finished, one sister arrived down with tea and bread -and butter. Later on, while we were preparing some biscuits, the firing -started again; so we brought down the mixing-bowl, ingredients and all. -We continued our work and prayers and paid no more attention to the -bombs or the rifle-shots. - -Our dear Lady Abbess was not forgotten. The next day Mother Prioress -sent for the carriage, while we all breathed a fervent ‘Deo gratias’ -that our aged Abbess was out of danger; for what would she have done -in the midst of all the bombs? Owing to the panic, which was now at -its height, all the inhabitants who were able were leaving the town, -abandoning their houses, property--all, all--anxious only to save their -lives. There was no means of finding a carriage. - -Our life, by this time, had become still more like that of the -Christians of the first era of the Church, our cellars taking the -place of the catacombs, to which they bore some resemblance. We -recited the Divine Office in the provision cellar under the kitchen, -which we had first intended for Lady Abbess. A crucifix and statue -of Our Lady replaced the altar. On the left were huge wooden cases -filled with potatoes, and one small one of turnips--on the right, a -cistern of water, with a big block for cutting meat (we had carefully -hidden the hatchet, in case the Germans, seeing the two together, -should be inspired to chop off our heads). Behind us, other cases were -filled with boxes and sundry things, whilst on top of them were the -bread-bins. We were, however, too much taken up with the danger we -were in to be distracted by our surroundings. We realised then, to the -full, the weakness of man’s feeble efforts, and how true it is that God -alone is able to protect those who put their trust in Him. The cellar -adjoining, leading up to the kitchen, was designed for the refectory. -In it were the butter-tubs, the big meat-safe, the now empty jars for -the milk. A long narrow table was placed down the centre, with our -serviettes, knives, spoons, and forks; while everyone tried to take as -little space as possible, so as to leave room for her neighbour. The -procession to dinner and supper was rather longer than usual, leading -from the ante-choir through the kitchen, scullery, down the cellar -stairs, and it was no light work carrying down all the ‘portions,’ -continually running up and down the steps, with the evident danger of -arriving at the bottom quicker than one wanted to, sending plates and -dishes in advance. - -Time was passing away, we now had to strip the altar--to put away -the throne and tabernacle. Some one suggested placing the tabernacle -in the ground, using a very large iron boiler to keep out the damp, -and thus prevent it from being spoilt. This plan, however, did not -succeed, as will be seen. Dame Teresa and Dame Bernard flew off to -enlarge the pit they had already begun, watching all the time for any -Taube which might by chance drop a bomb on their heads, and, indeed, -more than once, they were obliged to take refuge in the Abbey. Strange -to say, these things took place on Sunday, the Feast of All Saints. -It was rather hard work for a holiday of obligation, but we obtained -the necessary authorisation. Towards evening the hole was finished and -the boiler placed in readiness. But how lift the throne, which took -four men to carry as far as the inner sacristy? First we thought of -getting some workmen, but were any still in the town? No, we must do -it ourselves. So, climbing up, we gradually managed to slip the throne -off the tabernacle, having taken out the altar-stone. We then got down; -and whether the angels, spreading their wings underneath, took part -of the weight away or not, we carried it quite easily to the choir, -where, resting it on the floor, we enveloped the whole in a blanket -which we covered again with a sheet. The tabernacle was next taken -in the same manner, and, reciting the ‘Adoremus,’ ‘Laudate,’ ‘Adoro -Te,’ we passed with our precious load through the cloisters into the -garden. It was a lovely moonlight night, and our little procession, -winding its way through the garden paths, reminded us of the Levites -carrying away the tabernacle, when attacked by the Philistines. We -soon came to the place, where the two ‘Royal Engineers’--for so they -had styled themselves (Dame Teresa and Dame Bernard)--were putting all -their strength into breaking an iron bar in two, a task which they were -forced to abandon. We reverently placed our burden on the edge of the -cauldron, but found it was too small. Almost pleased at the failure, -we once more shouldered the tabernacle, raising our eyes instinctively -to the dark blue sky, where the pale autumn moon shone so brightly, -and the cry of ‘Pulchra ut luna’ escaped from our lips, as our hearts -invoked the aid of Her, who was truly the tabernacle of the Most High. -As we gazed upwards, where the first bright stars glittered among the -small fleecy clouds, wondering at the contrast of the quiet beauty of -the heavens and the bloodshed and carnage on earth, a strange cloud, -unlike its smaller brethren, passed slowly on. It attracted our -attention. In all probability it was formed by some German shell which -had burst in the air and produced the vapour and smoke which, as we -looked, passed gradually away. We then re-formed our procession and -deposited the tabernacle in the chapter-house for the night. Needless -to say, it takes less time to relate all this than it did to do it, -and numberless were the cuts, blows, scrapes, and scratches, which we -received during those hours of true ‘hard labour’; but we were in time -of war, and war meant suffering, so we paid no attention to our bruises. - -Our fruitless enquiries for a means to get news of Lady Abbess were -at last crowned with success. Hélène, the poor girl of whom mention -has been already made, and who now received food and help from the -monastery, came, on Sunday afternoon, to say that two of her brothers -had offered to walk to Poperinghe next day, and would take whatever we -wished to send. After matins, Mother Prioress made up two big parcels, -putting in all that she could possibly think of which might give -pleasure to the absent ones. The next day was spent in expectation of -the news we should hear when the young men returned. - -Breakfast was not yet finished, when the portress came in with a tale -of woe. One of our workmen was in the parlour, begging for help. During -the night a bomb had been thrown on the house next to his; and he was -so terrified that, not daring to remain in his own house any more, he -had come with his wife and four little children to ask a lodging in our -cellars. For a moment Reverend Mother hesitated; but her kind heart was -too moved to refuse, and so the whole family went down into the cellar -underneath the class-room, which was separated from the rest, and there -remained as happy as could be. We were soon to feel the truth of the -saying of the gospel, ‘What you give to the least of My little ones, -you give it unto Me.’ - -In the afternoon, we heard that the cab-driver, who had been to the -convent on Friday, had spread the news that he had been ordered to -Poperinghe the next day, to bring back the Lady Abbess and nuns. What -had happened? Could they not remain in their lodgings? Did they think -that the bombardment had stopped--just when it was raging more fiercely -than ever--when, every day, we thought we should be obliged to flee -ourselves? They must be stopped--but how? Hélène, who was again sent -for, came announcing her two brothers’ return. Mother Prioress asked -if it would be too much for them to go back to Poperinghe to stop -Lady Abbess from returning. They, however, declared they would never -undertake it again, the danger being too great, and it being impossible -to advance among the soldiers. Mother Prioress then determined to go -herself, asking Hélène if she would be afraid to go with her to show -the way. Hélène bravely replied that she was not afraid and would -willingly accompany Mother Prioress. As usual, Mother Prioress would -allow none of us to endanger our lives. She would go herself--and on -foot, as the price demanded for the only carriage available was no -less than 40 francs. In vain we begged her to let one of us go. It was -to no purpose; and on Tuesday morning she started off, accompanied -by Hélène, leaving the community in a state of anxiety impossible to -describe. ‘Would she be able to walk so far?’ we asked ourselves. ‘What -if a bomb or shell were to burst on the road?’ ‘Would she not probably -miss Lady Abbess’ carriage?’ We were now truly orphans, deprived both -of our Abbess and our Prioress, and not knowing what might happen to -either of them. After an earnest ‘Sub tuum’ and ‘Angeli, Archangeli,’ -we went about our different tasks; for we had promised Reverend Mother -to be doubly fervent in her absence. At 11 o’clock we said the office -and afterwards sat down to dinner, for which no one felt the least -inclined. The latter was not yet finished, when there was a ring at the -door-bell, and in a few moments our Prioress stood before us. We could -hardly believe our eyes. She then related her adventures which, for -more accuracy, I give from her own notes:-- - - ‘When I heard the door shutting behind me, and the key turning in - the lock, in spite of all my efforts, the tears came to my eyes. I - was then really out of the enclosure--back again in the world--after - twenty-seven years spent in peaceful solitude. The very sight of - the steps brought back the memory of the day when I mounted them to - enter the Monastery. I hesitated.... There was still only the door - between us, but no! my duty lay before me. I must prevent Lady Abbess - returning; so, taking courage, I started off with Hélène, who was - trying all she could to console me. I followed her blindly. As we - advanced, the traffic increased more and more. Motor-cars, cavalry, - foot-soldiers, cyclists, passed in rapid succession. On the pavement, - crowds of fugitives blocked the passage. Old and young, rich and poor, - alike were flying, taking only a few small packets with them--their - only possessions. Mothers, distracted with grief, led their little - ones by the hand, while the children chattered away, little knowing - the misery which perhaps awaited them. And the soldiers! they never - ceased. The Allies, in their different uniforms, passed and repassed - in one continued stream, while the motor-cars and bicycles deftly - wended their way between soldiers and civilians. I was stupefied, - and thought at every moment we should be run over; but my companion, - amused at my astonishment, assured me there was nothing to fear. We - had called on the burgomaster for our passports; but he was absent, - and we had been obliged to go to the town hall. After that, I called - on M. le Principal du Collège Episcopal, our chaplain, to state that - it was impossible to obtain a carriage (as I had arranged with him - that morning), owing to our poverty, and that I should therefore - be obliged to go on foot. He approved of our undertaking, and even - advised me to take the whole community straight away to Poperinghe. I - told him I must first prevent Lady Abbess from coming back; but that, - once at Poperinghe, I intended certainly to look out for a convent - which would receive us all. The British ambulance was established in - the college, and it seemed really like barracks. - - ‘Once in the street again, I heard, click! clack!! the British - soldiers were shooting at a German Taube passing over the town. We - hastened on. Many houses were already empty--nearly all the shops were - closed. Here and there a heap of ruins showed where a shell had made - its way, while out of the broken windows, the curtains blowing in the - wind showed the remains of what had once been sumptuous apartments. - We soon left the station behind us, and continued on the main road, - with here and there a few houses which seemed more safe by being out - of the town; yet some of them had also been struck. The regiments - filled the road more numerously than ever, while the unfortunate - fugitives, with a look of terror on their pale faces, fled from the - doomed city. Some, who had left days before, were venturing back again - in the hope of finding their homes still untouched. We continued our - way, stopped now and then by some unfortunate creature, asking where - we were going, and relating in return his story of woe. Suddenly I - heard myself called by name. “Dame Maura! Yes, it is really she!” - and, at the same moment, Marie Tack (an old pupil) flew into my arms. - Her brother, who accompanied her, now came forward, and took great - interest in everything concerning the convent. “Well!” he said, “we - are benefactors of the Carmelites at Poperinghe--my brother even - gave them their house. Say that it is I who have sent you, and you - will surely be well received.” I thanked him for his kindness and we - parted, they returning to Ypres, where they had not dared to sleep. In - my heart I sent a grateful aspiration towards the Divine Providence - of God, which thus gave me this little ray of hope. Meanwhile, the - parcels we were carrying began to weigh more and more heavily on us. - We helped each other as best we could, as I saw that poor Hélène - was almost out of breath, having taken the heaviest for herself. - The roads also were very bad, and we could hardly advance owing to - the mud. At length, after walking two hours, we saw the steeple of - Vlamertinghe in the distance. It was time, for I felt I could not go - farther. I remembered that Louise Veys (another old pupil) lived at - Vlamertinghe, though I had forgotten the address. I asked several - people in the streets if they could direct me, but I received always - the same answer: “I am sorry not to be able to oblige you, Sister. - I am a stranger, I come from Ypres--from Roulers--from Zonnebeke.” - At last, I ventured to ring at the door of one of the houses. It - happened to be the very one I was looking for. Louise, who was at - the ambulance, came running to meet me, with Mariette and Germaine - Tyberghein, and Marie-Paule Vander Meersch. The latter told me that - the church of their village, Langemarck, was burnt, and she feared - that their house, which was close by, would have met with the same - fate. At this moment, her sister Claire, who had remained with the - wounded soldiers, came running in, crying out: “Lady Abbess is here, - and Dame Josephine.”--“Where?” I exclaimed. Instead of answering, she - took me by the hand, and we both ran out to where a cab was standing. - I flew to the door, and was soon in Lady Abbess’ arms. I could hardly - restrain my tears. How was it then that the carriage on its way from - Poperinghe to Ypres had stopped just in front of the Veys’ house, - when neither the driver nor anyone else knew to whom it belonged, or - still less that I was there? Once again Divine Providence had come - to our help, otherwise we should have missed each other. The cabman, - who had innocently been the means of our happy meeting, by stopping - to get refreshments, now appeared. I explained that it was an act - of the greatest imprudence to conduct Lady Abbess to Ypres; but he - would listen to nothing--meaning to go. He declared the danger was - far greater at Poperinghe, and then drove away with Mother Abbess to - Ypres, leaving me in consternation. Mariette and Germaine Tyberghein - offered me their carriage, to return to Ypres. It was soon ready, - and we started back once more. Half-way to Ypres, we saw the other - cab again stationary, and a British officer talking to the nuns - through the window. We called out to our coachman to stop, knocking - at the window with might and main. All was useless. The noise of the - innumerable horses, provision and ammunition carts, passing, deafened - him, and he continued peacefully, quite unaware that anything had - happened. When we arrived at Ypres, the Germans were shelling it in - real earnest. I wished to go back again, to stop Lady Abbess at any - price, but was not allowed. They said no one would be permitted to - come into the town, and that the other cab would probably have been - sent back.’ - -This day was not to pass without another surprise; for what was our -astonishment, at about eight o’clock, to see Dame Placid once more in -our midst! The officer whom Mother Prioress had seen talking through -the carriage-window, had said that on no account could Lady Abbess -think of going on to Ypres, which was actually being bombarded. The cab -had thereupon gone back to Poperinghe; but Dame Placid had alighted, -and come to Ypres on foot. We crowded round her to get news of all that -had happened during the last four days, which seemed like four weeks. -After we had related all that had passed in the Monastery since her -departure, Dame Placid told us in return what she had gone through. On -the Friday afternoon, when our poor refugees had driven to Poperinghe, -they went straight to the Benedictine Convent, making sure they would -be received without any difficulty. But alas! the Monastery was full of -soldiers, and no less than fifty other fugitives were waiting at the -door. From there, they drove to the Sœurs Polains where, also, every -corner was taken up--then they went on to a private house, but always -with the same result, until at last some one directed them to La Sainte -Union, where they found a lodging. It had been pouring rain the whole -time, and they were all cramped and cold. Poor Lady Abbess missed so -much the little comforts she had had at the Abbey, and finally resolved -to return to Ypres, with the result we know. - -What could we now do to help her? It was decided that Sister Romana -should go back with Dame Placid to see if she could not be of use. -The two fugitives left at about 4 o’clock, pushing before them a kind -of bath-chair filled with packets and parcels for Lady Abbess and the -old nuns. A rather strange equipment, which was doomed never to reach -its destination. Having, with the greatest difficulty--owing to the -condition of the roads--arrived at Vlamertinghe, they were stopped by -several regiments passing. They waited, waited, waited, till at last -an officer, seeing their distress, gave a signal, and the soldiers -halted to allow them to cross. Despairing of ever reaching Poperinghe -with their load, they called at the house where Mother Prioress had -been received that morning, and begged to leave the little carriage and -its contents there. They then walked on more easily, and were able to -get to Lady Abbess before nightfall. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -THE BOMBARDMENT - - -To return to the Abbey. Everything had become suddenly animated there; -for, at the departure of Dame Placid and Sister Romana, Reverend Mother -Prioress had declared that we should all follow, taking advantage of -the occasion, as there was a cessation of hostilities for the moment. -In vain some of us begged to be allowed to remain behind; but we had -all to make our last preparations and go. When, however, the packages -turned up, each bigger than the other, we looked at one another in -dismay. How should we ever drag such a load with us? Dame Columban and -Dame Bernard offered to try to find a workman to help us, and their -offer was finally accepted. What happened they record. - - ‘Mother Prioress gave us her blessing, and let us out of the enclosure - door. Oh dear! What a sensation! Happy prisoners for so many years, - we now found ourselves in the streets. With a shudder, we started - on our errand. We had not gone a hundred paces, when, whizz ... - bang! a shell passed over our heads; a moment after, whizz ... bang, - another--then another--and another. Half-way down the street, a - British officer on horseback cried out to us: “Mes Sœurs ... à la - maison.” Where were we to go? We knew no one. We looked round to - find a place of refuge; and, seeing a man standing on his doorstep, - timidly asked if we might take shelter there. He willingly agreed, - seeming only too delighted to bid us welcome. As soon as the officer - had vanished, we asked our kind host if he could tell us where the - workman (Chinchemaillie) we were seeking lived, and on being directed - to his abode, we left the house. Once more in the street, we hurried - on. While crossing the Grand’Place, a perfect hail of shells and - shrapnel came down on all sides. Explosion followed explosion. The - soldiers and civilians crouched down by the side of the houses - whenever a shell burst; but we, ignorant of the great risk we were - running, walked bravely on. At length we concluded we must have taken - a wrong turning; so, meeting a pale-faced gentleman, we asked him - if he would be so kind as to put us on the right road again. He was - hurrying along, burdened with parcels of all sizes, and carrying a jug - of milk. When we spoke to him, he seemed almost dazed. “Yes, Sisters,” - he answered “... certainly ... but ... the Germans have just shelled - my house ... I am running to save my life.” We understood then why he - looked so disturbed; offering our deepest sympathy, we begged him not - to trouble. Recovering himself, he assured us that he was going our - way, and would willingly accompany us. We took some of his parcels - from him, and went along. At a turning in the street we parted, having - received further directions from him and thanked him for his kindness. - Another man, having overheard our conversation, came forward, and - offered to conduct us to the house in question. We went on, passing - several buildings which had been much injured, and finally, the - bombardment raging all the time, arrived at our destination, only - to hear that the workman had left the town in the morning, and had - not been able to re-enter it. The people of the house showed us the - greatest kindness, especially on hearing who we were, and insisted - on our spending the night in their cellar, saying it was far too - dangerous to go out again. We thanked them for their offer, but of - course set off again for the Monastery. Just as we arrived at the - Grand’Place, Hélène, who had already rendered such valuable services - to the community came running towards us. She was breathless and - almost crying, having been searching for us everywhere; we had been - out so long, and the bombardment had been so continuous, that the nuns - thought we must have been killed. We soon got safely home, where we - found everyone in a dreadful state of anxiety.’ - -On hearing the continual explosions, Mother Prioress and the community -had knelt down by the enclosure door, to pray for the safe return of -Dame Columban and Dame Bernard. As they delayed so long, Reverend -Mother sent Edmund to ask Hélène to look for them. Having done so, -Edmund returned and did his best to persuade the nuns that there was no -need to leave the Abbey. ‘You have your cellars to shelter you, why do -you want to go? What will become of me, when you are gone? If a bomb -falls on the convent, well, it will be the will of God. Why not die -here as well as anywhere else?’ We shall see later, that when the shell -really did fall on the Abbey, the good man was anything but resigned -to die. As he perceived that he gained nothing by his eloquence, he -went out into the street, and soon returned with a soldier, to see if -the new-comer might not be more successful. The soldier was at first -rather bewildered at his new surroundings, being an English Protestant, -but was soon set at ease on finding that we talked English. At this -moment the two wanderers came back, and set everyone’s heart at ease. -Of course there was no longer a question of our leaving that night, -especially as the soldier assured us that there was no danger that the -Germans would get into Ypres, adding that our cellars would be proof -against all their bombs. Edmund, by this time, was triumphant, and -pulling out his cigar-case, offered it to the ‘Tommy,’ who insisted on -his accepting a cigarette in return. Edmund then began to relate the -story of his woes. ‘What should I have to eat, if they were to go?’ -he exclaimed. ‘Imagine, the other day the Sister brought me my dinner. -What did I see? I could hardly believe my eyes! A piece of beef-steak. -I sat down in high glee; for I do not remember when I had had a piece -before. What was my disappointment to find what I had taken to be a -beef-steak was nothing else than a piece of fried brown bread. I could -have thrown it in the fire.’ The soldier then took his leave, though -not before Mother Prioress had given him a badge of the Sacred Heart, -which he promised to wear always as a souvenir of his visit to our -Abbey. We took care, also, to give him as many apples and pears as he -could put into his pockets. - -The number of people seeking shelter for the night in the convent -increased constantly. Already, some thirty persons had come; some -bringing their own mattresses, the others depending on our charity. We -gave all that we had. In the end, no fewer than fifty-seven persons -came for a night’s lodging. Numberless poor came also during the -day for food, for they could not find anything to eat in the town; -bakers, butchers, grocers--all had fled to save their lives. We were -in the greatest necessity ourselves, but still gave to all who asked. -We experienced the truth of our Lord’s words, ‘Give, and you shall -receive,’ when, a few days later, we were in the streets--without -a house, without food, without money. It was then, indeed, that we -received a hundredfold the charity we showed towards those who applied -to us in their distress. - -On the Wednesday morning, Our Lord gave us a little surprise. Our -chaplain had been obliged to leave Ypres the evening before, to place -the nuns who lived in his college in safety. But the Divine Master -watched over us, and instead of the one Mass which we had lost, He -sent us two French military priests to offer up the Holy Sacrifice for -us. Reverend Mother presented her excuses for the poor breakfast they -received--for we had nothing to give them but the bread which we had -made ourselves out of meal, and some pears--asking their opinion of -the situation. They strongly advised us to leave while there was yet -time and enquired where we thought of going. Mother Prioress told -them that the Lady Abbess of Oulton Abbey in England had offered, from -the very outset of the War, to take the whole community, but the great -question was how to get so far. They said that we ought to apply to -the British Command for help, expressing the opinion that the English -ambulance, established at the college of which our chaplain was the -President, would surely come to our assistance. They then left, saying -how delightful it had been to have found such a peaceful spot in which -to say Mass, after the noise and horrors to which they had been so long -accustomed. - -The day passed slowly. The Germans were gaining ground. The noise of -the Allied guns was now deafening. We were obliged to leave all the -windows ajar, to prevent the glass being broken by the shocks, which -made the house tremble from the garrets to the cellar. Monoplanes and -biplanes, friendly and hostile, passed continually overhead--the former -chasing the latter, which were dropping bombs without end on the town. -At last, two friendly aeroplanes undertook to mount guard, and remained -continually hovering round and round; but even then, the Taubes came; -and the fighting went on in the air, as well as on all sides of us. The -risks of remaining were certainly great; and yet--why leave our Abbey, -when it was still untouched? We were sure of a warm welcome at Oulton; -but how could the whole community get there, and, above all, our -beloved Lady Abbess? On the other hand, how were we to live in Ypres? -Not only were we in danger of being killed at any moment, but there was -no longer any means of getting food. For several days Edmund had, with -the greatest difficulty, procured two pints of skimmed milk; but even -this would soon cease. Again, there was certainly no more prospect of -receiving any money in Belgium, where the banks had all been robbed. We -had paid our debts prior to the commencement of hostilities; and so had -very little money left. In the afternoon, Mother Prioress determined -to go out and seek for information at the British Headquarters; for -everyone seemed to have deserted the stricken town. She took Dame -Columban and Dame Patrick with her. They went first to the college. -At the end of the Rue St. Jacques, a French soldier gave a military -salute and advanced towards them. It was one of the priests who had -said Mass for the community in the morning. He accompanied the three -nuns as far as the college, but told them that the ambulance had left -during the night, which was a very bad sign; for when the wounded were -removed, it showed that there was great danger. He also promised to -attend the next morning at 5 o’clock to say Mass. It was notified that -the Headquarters were to be found a mile and a half out of Ypres. The -burgomaster had also left the town. Going to the houses of several -influential people--M. and Mme. le Sénateur Fracy de Venbeck and Mme. -Van den Berghe and others--friends of the Monastery, Mother Prioress -and her companions found them all locked up, and the inhabitants gone. -One big shop was burning, and the French soldiers were trying to put -the fire out. A baker’s establishment had a large hole in the roof. -It was pouring rain, and the nuns had no umbrella; so they turned -their steps homewards. But their mission was not to prove useless; for -Divine Providence had arranged that they were to help one of His poor -creatures. Having arrived at the Grand’ Place, they were stopped by an -English officer, who pointed to a cart, driven by a soldier, which was -following them. In it was an old woman lying, apparently helpless. He -explained to them that, passing by a deserted village, which had been -destroyed by the Germans, he had found her lying in a ditch. He had -lifted her into the cart and taken her along with him, and he now asked -if the nuns could not direct him to some hospital or institute where -she would be taken care of. They went with him as far as the Hospice, -where the officials declared they had more work than they could -possibly attend to; still, as Mother Prioress begged so hard, they -took her in. The poor old woman was over ninety. How many are there -who, like her, find themselves turned out of the little home, which -had perhaps cost them their whole life’s savings. Why should the poor, -the aged, the infirm, the innocent, suffer to satisfy the ambition -of the unjust? Truly, ‘My ways are not your ways, saith the Lord.’ -In eternity, lost in the blissful contemplation of God’s infinite -perfections, we shall understand the wisdom of those things which now -surpass our poor intelligence. - -On Thursday morning, we arose at 4.30 from what might truly be styled -‘our humble couch,’ to be ready for the promised Mass at 5 o’clock. -During the night, we had harboured the Sisters of Providence, who were -leaving next day. Having waited half an hour, and no priest coming, -we recited lauds, prime, and tierce. We again waited in all patience, -but no one appeared. We could not miss Holy Mass and Communion--it -was the only source of consolation left to us; besides, we never knew -if, perhaps, we should live to see the following day. The regiment to -which the priests belonged had probably been ordered off during the -night--hence the reason of their non-arrival. At 7.30 Mother Prioress -assembled us all at the enclosure door, and, leaving Edmund in charge -of the convent, we put down our veils, and two by two, started for -the Carmelite Convent, situated a little way down the street. There -we learned that the nuns had left the day before. We were determined -not to miss Mass at any cost, so continued as far as the Church of St. -James, where we arrived in the middle of one Mass, after which we -received Holy Communion, and then had the happiness of assisting at -another Mass--celebrated also by a French chaplain, though not one of -those who had been at the Abbey the day before. On our way home, we -were met by a priest of the parish, who had served Mass for a long time -in our chapel, when he was a young boy, and, returning to Ypres years -after, had always remained attached to the community. He was touched to -see us thus obliged to break our beloved enclosure, and spoke words of -courage and consolation to us. - -The day passed in great anxiety, relieved by one little incident, -which, in spite of all our perils and troubles, afforded us amusement. -Dame Columban, busy cooking in the kitchen, found no dishes coming from -the scullery, where Sister Winefride now presided at the washing up. -She looked in, asking when the things would be clean, and found the -Sister, bending over a tub of boiling water, looking very tired and -hot, and received an answer, that all would soon be finished. Some time -passed, but no dishes came. Being at a loss to know the cause of the -delay, she went once more to the scullery to enquire, and found things -in exactly the same state as before. On asking what was wrong, Sister -Winefride exclaimed, in a piteous tone of voice: ‘Do you _really_ think -we are going this morning?’--‘Of course not! who said so?’ ‘I don’t -know, but I thought perhaps we might; so, in order not to have too much -to carry, I have put on two habits, two scapulars, two petticoats, and -I _do_ feel so hot! If I may just go to our cell and change, I think -I’ll get on better!’ Having, as may easily be imagined, obtained the -permission, she soon came joyfully back to her work. - -We no longer believed the assurance the British soldiers gave us, that -we were quite safe, and we now set to work to lighten our packages as -much as possible, only taking what was strictly necessary; it being -even decided that we should only take one breviary each, and leave the -other three behind. There still remained a good deal to carry; for we -were to take some provisions, not knowing if we should find refuge at -Poperinghe, or if we should have to go straight to England. It was -absolutely necessary to find some means of carrying our packages, -were it but a wheelbarrow. Mother Prioress now found a reward for her -charity, for the poor workman, whom she had so kindly received with his -family in the cellar, hearing of our distress, found a hand-cart, and, -what was more, promised to push it for us. - -The next day, Friday, we went out again to Holy Mass in St. James’s, -having had very few people in the cellar, for all those who could -possibly leave the town had already done so. When we returned, Mother -Prioress announced her decision to go to the Headquarters, and set -off immediately, accompanied by Dame Patrick, without even taking -her breakfast. The rest of the community went about their different -occupations, until she should return. Nine o’clock struck, half-past -nine, ten, half-past ten, still no Mother Prioress! To say we were -anxious but feebly expresses our state of mind. The shells and bombs -were flying in all directions; and the explosions--joined to the firing -of the guns--resembled some huge machinery with its never-ceasing boom -and crash. We prepared the dinner, which consisted of salt herrings -and fried potatoes; but there was no account of the Mother Prioress as -yet. Each ring at the door made us crowd round in joyful expectation, -but each time a disconsolate ‘No’ was all the answer we received from -the portress. We recited Sext and None, but no Mother Prioress as -yet! We consulted together as to what should be done. Some thought -Reverend Mother must have been kept--others that she had perhaps found -a motor-car, and had seized the opportunity to go to Poperinghe to see -Lady Abbess. The dinner was spoiling on the fire, yet no one cared to -sit down to eat. The bell rang, but we scarcely had the heart to answer -it--we had been disappointed so often. We felt sure we should only -hear another ‘No.’ Suddenly a joyous ringing of the little hand-bell, -which had served alike to announce the Divine Office, and to warn us of -German Taubes passing overhead, brought everyone to their feet, and we -soon crowded round our dear Prioress to beg her blessing, asking all -together for an explanation of her long absence. For greater surety we -shall cite her own notes:-- - - ‘The Headquarters had left the town, we had therefore a long way to - go. In town, there was ever the same movement of troops, but the - aspect seemed still more mournful. The shells had begun their work - of destruction on the Grand’Place. A corner of the Halles had been - struck. A house had received a bomb on the roof, which, penetrating - the building, carried away half of the front, making its way through - ceilings and floors, throwing the furniture to right and left, - carrying chairs down into the very cellar. The people standing around - were looking on aghast. We passed on, but soon a poor woman stopped - us: “And you Sisters, from where do you come?”--“We are the Irish - Dames of St. James’s Street.” “Oh yes! I know the convent well. Are - you also leaving?”--“I am afraid we shall be obliged to do so!”--and - we continued our walk. We had already turned off into another street, - when we heard hurried steps behind us, and some one crying out: - “Sisters, Sisters! Zusters, Zusters!” It was the good woman again, - with her kind face, her big handkerchief round her head, and her blue - Flemish apron. “Zuster! Don’t leave the town, come home with me, we - are poor, but still you can have my house and all I have.”--“Good - woman,” I said, taking her two hands, “thank you a thousand times, - do not be anxious for us. Our Lord will take care of us.” I could - have kissed the dear creature then and there. We could not stop. Soon - a crowd blocked our passage. “A shell struck here last night” they - explained to us--it was the Cercle Catholique--“and penetrated into - the cellar where a poor man had taken refuge with his three children, - thinking he would be more protected here than in his own home, and - there is his house (just two buildings farther on) untouched. The man - has his hand off, two children are killed, and the third, a girl, is - dying!” - - ‘By this time we had made our way through the crowd. The fugitives - were continually passing, leaving homes and all behind. At length - we arrived at the residence of the staff officers. We explained our - case to one of them, who received us very courteously, and who told - us the best thing to do would be to address ourselves to General Sir - Douglas Haig. An orderly informed him that Sir Douglas had left for - Brielen. The officer advised us to go there. It was already 8.30, and - we had still a good hour’s walk before us. The road resembled that - to Poperinghe. One must have seen the continual passage of troops, - motor-cars, horses, fugitives, in the narrow lanes, the roads inches - thick with mud, to have a true idea of it. Here and there a house - struck by a shell, or bespattered with mud almost to the roof, gave an - indescribable air of sadness to the surroundings; while a bouquet of - flowers, or an odd _bibelot_ discarded in a shop-window, remained as a - last souvenir of the joys and prosperity of our brave little Belgium. - Brielen now came in sight. We stopped before the Calvary, erected at - the entrance to the cemetery, and then paid a visit to the church. On - coming out, we met the Curé of the village, who interested himself in - our trials and sorrows. We then asked the way to the Headquarters, - where we found it was impossible to see Sir Douglas. His aide-de-camp - gave us some rather vague information, but kindly offered to get us - seats in a motor-car that was leaving for Poperinghe. It did not - start, however, till midday, and even then I could not go without - telling the community at Ypres. We set out on our way back to Ypres. - Just outside the village a poor woman, all in tears, stopped us, - showing us a big cavity which a shell had just made in the ground by - her farm. “I should have been killed,” she exclaimed, “except for the - brave English soldiers, who, seeing the shell coming in my direction, - had just the time to take me up and push me into the farm, but my cow - is gone! Our little farm was all our fortune!” and she wiped away the - tears with a corner of her apron. Poor dear! How many are there still - more unfortunate than she! As we approached the town, the whistling - shriek of the shells became more distinct; the Germans were bombarding - Ypres as hard as they could. We found ourselves almost alone in the - streets. Here and there a few soldiers remained in the doorways of the - houses. A shell flew straight over us! What a protection of Divine - Providence! A few steps off a building was struck, and we just escaped - getting a shower of bricks and glass on top of us. “Come to the other - side!” Dame Patrick called out. We crossed over, murmuring aspirations - all the time. A little farther on another shell burst, and the house - we had just passed fell a heap of shapeless ruins. We hastened our - steps to get out of the street, which seemed to be the chief point - of attack. We then breathed more freely, till--arrived at the Grand’ - Place--we were welcomed by a regular shower of shells which flew in - all directions. Happily we had almost reached our destination, though, - had it not been for Dame Patrick, I should never have known my way, - but should probably have passed by the Monastery. At the door we met - two brave Britishers whom I told to come into the parlour, where they - would be more out of danger. They did not feel afraid, and said they - were sent to search for some bread; for they could not get any in - the town. I gave them some of the provisions which we were to take - with us, with a little pot of butter, and--what I knew they liked so - much--as many pears as they could carry. They were delighted, and so - were we. We then talked of the war, and the old story came back again, - the hope so cherished by all, and yet also not realised: “Oh! it will - soon be over. We’ll be home for Christmas!”’ - -Our poor dinner was now served, the last we were to take in the dear -old home. The reading was made aloud as usual. The subject was ‘Holy -Poverty’--truly appropriate for the times and surroundings. The last -words which the reader pronounced before the signal was given, were: -‘The Lord has given, the Lord has taken away! May His Holy Name be -blessed!’ Had we prepared the reading beforehand, it could not have -been better chosen. Our dear Lord had truly given us our Abbey, and -had made it withstand the course of years, with all the changes of -government, wars, and revolutions, which had swept over Belgium, -especially Flanders--and now He was taking it away. May His Holy Name -be blessed! - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -FLIGHT - - -During dinner the bombardment had been at its height. In that short -half-hour almost twenty shells had burst quite close to us. It was our -side of the town that was being attacked--already a poor woman, begging -for something to eat, had told the portress that the roof of the -college was struck. Mother Prioress, deaf to all entreaties, said that -everyone without exception was to be ready at 2 o’clock. We went about, -looking--perhaps for the last time--at the dear old scenes, which we -had thought to leave only when death should knock at our door. - -We had already placed on every window of the convent a paper badge of -the Sacred Heart, and lastly erected a niche outside one of the garret -windows, in which we put the miraculous statue of Our Lady of the -Angels, which had remained unhurt outside the Monastery in the siege -of Ypres, in 1744. We had done all we could and must now abandon all, -leaving everything under the double protection of the Mother and the -Son. - -A little after 2 o’clock the hand-cart came round to the door. All the -packages could not fit in it, in spite of Reverend Mother having made -us take out nearly all we had gathered together; for she had learnt by -experience, in carrying the things she had prepared for Lady Abbess as -far as Vlamertinghe, three days before, the difficulties of walking -so far, and carrying a heavy parcel at the same time. The enclosure -door was then fastened on the inside, and all other important rooms or -cupboards being likewise locked, we passed with a last farewell through -the long-loved choir, which had known the joys and sorrows of our whole -religious life. - -We then went through the outer church into the sacristy, locking -the door of the grille behind us. There was but one more door which -separated us from the outside world--one door more! and we should be -out of our enclosure, perhaps never more to return! There was a pause -in our sad procession--the key was not there. Our Lord watched over -us once more; for, had we then continued in our procession, some of -us would inevitably have been badly hurt, if not indeed killed. After -a few minutes’ waiting, the key was brought, and already placed in -the key-hole, when a loud explosion, accompanied by a terrific crash -which shook the entire building, laid us all prostrate.... Bewildered, -rather than afraid, we arose, and saw, through the window, a shower of -bricks and glass falling into the garden. The first--though not the -last--shell had struck our well-loved Abbey. - -We now realised that there was no time to waste. Already Edmund was -screaming out from the other side of the still-locked door. ‘Why don’t -you come? I told you, you should have left long ago. The convent is -struck! We shall all be killed if you don’t make haste!’ The door was -opened, and with an indescribable feeling of horror, mingled with -uncertainty, we went out. In the street we raised our eyes in one sad -farewell to our beloved Monastery; and there, out of the cell windows, -principally that of Mother Prioress, a cloud of vapour and smoke told -us of the passage of the shell; while the remains of the garret windows -overhead and other débris of slates, bricks, wood and glass, strewn -on the pavement, proved without a doubt, that Divine Providence had -truly intervened in allowing the little delay in the sacristy, but for -which we should have been just on the spot when all this had happened. -A cry of anguish arose from our hearts as, hurrying along the deserted -street, we saw our convent thus apparently burning. - -Half-way down the street, another explosion behind us made us look -round to see if the Abbey had again been struck, but no! this time it -was the Institut Saint-Louis, just in front. Turning the corner, we saw -some ‘Tommies’ scrambling out of a house which had also been shelled. -As we stumbled over the bricks which covered the road, Edmund hurrying -us on for bare life, one of the soldiers caught sight of us, and -calling out to another to come to help ‘the Sisters’ he threw down the -bundle he was carrying, and seizing two of ours, he walked along with -us, his comrade doing the same. We shall continue the narrative from -the notes of Dame Patrick:-- - - ‘As we were nearing the Rue de Lille, where the shells were falling - thickly, two soldiers came forward to help us with our packages. We - chatted as we hurried along, stopping every one or two minutes, to - avoid a shower of bricks, as we heard a shell hiss over our heads and - fall on one of the houses by us. One of us remarked to the soldiers: - “It is very kind of you to help us.” To our delight they answered, - “It is our same religion, and our same country.” They were both Irish - Catholics--one from Kerry, the other from Belfast. When we reached the - outskirts of the town they were both obliged to turn back, not having - leave to quit Ypres. The Kerry man left us hurriedly; but our man - from Belfast ventured a little farther, though in the end he thought - it wiser to return to his regiment. So we shook hands with him, and - thanked him heartily, wishing him good luck and a safe return to dear - old Ireland! Our good Mother Prioress had a bag of pears in her hand, - so she said to him: “Here, take these pears and eat them, and we will - pray for you.” But he turned away, and said, “No, no, keep them for - yourselves.” Here the poor fellow broke down and cried. He hurried - away, waved his hand, and wished us God-speed. I happened, during this - little scene, just to have moved on, thinking Mother Prioress was by - me. However, on looking round, I saw she was some distance behind, - so I walked back to join her. To my surprise, I found her weeping. I - felt very shaky myself, but did not want to seem so. I jokingly said, - “Oh! Mother Prioress, what is the matter?” Then she told me what had - happened, and said, “I could keep up no longer when I saw that dear, - kind, genuine Irish-hearted man break down--how I wish I could know - his name!” “Come along,” I said, “let us hope that one day we shall - find it out, but don’t cry any more or you’ll have me joining in too.” - I then thought on my brave, tender-hearted countrymen who had left - home and country to serve in the British army as Belgium’s friends - and protectors, and I felt proud and happy that we Irish Benedictines - should have fallen in so often with Irishmen, always meeting with the - same kind-heartedness.’ - -We had left the town in a terrible state. Through several streets which -we passed, we could not see the other side on account of the clouds -of smoke and dust, occasioned by the bursting of the shells and the -falling buildings. Several telegraph posts lay across the road, with -the wires hopelessly twisted and broken. Soldiers were running to -and fro, propping up walls which had been shaken by an explosion in -the vicinity, or making for some new ruin to see if they could be of -any use. At last leaving the terrible sight behind us, we passed by -the Rue d’Elverdinghe, on to the road leading to Poperinghe. Here we -picked up the good fellow who was pushing the hand-cart. He took some -more packages, tying them all together with a stout rope to prevent -them falling off. His wife and little children were also there, for -they dared not remain in the town. How glad were we now that Reverend -Mother had listened to our chaplain, when he told her not to wait till -the last moment to place dear Lady Abbess in safety. What would she -have done in the midst of those dreadful shells, which, although we -had left the town far behind us, still continued--though we heard them -not so loudly now--to fly on their errand of destruction towards poor, -unfortunate Ypres. - -There is no need to describe the marching of the troops as they -passed us on the way, as Mother Prioress has already mentioned it in -her notes. What left the deepest impression on our memories was the -thick slimy mire we had to wade through. In some places it was so bad -that it was almost impossible to get on--we seemed to slide back two -steps for every one that we made forward. We trudged bravely on, but -before we had gone a quarter of the way some of us were already _au -bout_. We, who for years had not walked more than six or seven times -round our little garden, were certainly little fitted to go some nine -miles in that dreadful mud, and carrying parcels which, by this time, -seemed to weigh tons. At last Vlamertinghe came in sight. If only it -had been Poperinghe! We were not even quite half-way. We could hardly -push through the crowds of fugitives, each with his or her bundles of -different colour, shape, and size. Some men had four packages, two in -front and two behind, slung over their shoulders; others were bent -in two with huge sacks on their backs; others pushed wheelbarrows or -perambulators in front of them; while some were content with a little -bundle tied up in a pocket-handkerchief. One respectable-looking -man carefully hugged two umbrellas--were they his only treasures? -We passed through the village, and on, on, on! always in company of -troops, motor-cars, and refugees. The latter accosted us from time -to time to ask who we were and where we came from. They nearly all -seemed to know the Iersche Van Damen von S. Jacob’s Straat! Several -officers and soldiers saluted us also as we passed. If only the driver -of some motor-car would have given us a lift, but they flew past so -quickly--they probably did not even see us. The mason’s little children -took turn by turn to have a ride on the hand-cart, seated on the top of -all the bundles, while the others hung out of the poor mother’s arms, -who cheered them on, and told them wonderful tales in Flemish. One -little boy was squeezing an almost imperceptible black puppy, which -he would not let go for all the world. While the young gentleman was -having his turn for a ride there was a sudden halt on the way. The wee -doggie had managed to wriggle out of his master’s tight embrace and, -making good use of his long-sighed-for liberty, had fallen out of the -cart. Luckily, no bones were broken, owing to the soft carpet of mud -into which he sank. Indeed, the poor cart was obliged to stop more -than once, either to make way for two regiments who were marching in -different directions, or for two or three motor-cars passing all at -once, and, often enough, getting literally ‘stuck in the mud,’ or to -give a rest to Edmund and the workman, who had a hard time of it. - -It was now getting dark, and a thick mist was rising. The sound of the -firing was getting more and more feeble as we left Ypres farther and -farther behind. From time to time, a dead horse, stretched out in the -ditch or in a field close by, would make us turn away from the mournful -sight. We walked and walked--would we never arrive at our destination? -It became darker at every moment--we were obliged to keep well -together, for fear of being left behind. The trees which lined the road -loomed out as though they had been some unearthly spectres, with their -leafless branches like gaunt arms uplifted towards the sky to call down -vengeance on the earth; while, magnified through the thick mist, the -moon tinged with red seemed to reflect the bloodshed and carnage of the -battle-field. - -At last we caught sight of a feeble glimmer which--unlike the lights -of the motor-cars, as they sped along, throwing an electric flash -into our dazzled eyes and then vanishing, leaving the darkness more -intense--grew brighter and brighter as we advanced. Could it really -be Poperinghe? We hastened on, almost forgetting our fatigue. Yes, we -were truly there--it was Poperinghe! But where were we to turn our -steps? Soon we were surrounded by a crowd. Soldiers and civilians, men -and women, looked with commiseration on this new group of fugitives -who added to the number of those who already filled the town. Reverend -Mother asked to be directed to the Carmelites, remembering the -recommendation of Mr. Tack. Two girls offered to conduct us there. -At this moment a gentleman came forward asking what we desired (we -only discovered later that it was the Judge). In a few words, Mother -Prioress explained the situation. On hearing mention made of La -Sainte Union, where Lady Abbess had taken refuge, he informed us it -was quite close at hand, that if we wished he would conduct us there -first; and in case there should not be room for us all, he would -undertake to find us lodgings. Needless to say, we willingly accepted -the proposal, and in a few minutes we found ourselves in a cheery -little parlour, awaiting the Superioress’ decision. The permission was -accorded at first rather hesitatingly, and for one night only. Was it -astonishing? The poor nuns had just given up the school premises to -the French Ambulance; they had also given refuge to a community from -Oostnienukerke, who were afterwards rejoined by their Sisters from -Passchendaele, and now we arrived also! However, when they discovered -that we really were what we made ourselves out to be, and not German -spies, or vagrants--and especially as, during the conversation, one of -the elder nuns found that she had formerly been the mistress of Mother -Prioress when she had been to the convent at Hazebrouck in preparation -for her first Communion, the community having been expelled from France -eleven years before--they soon changed, and for a whole fortnight -showed us every kind of hospitality. - -Now Dame Placid and Sister Romana heard the news, and came running -down to welcome us, then Sister Magdalen and dear Dame Josephine. The -meeting was a happy one, which however soon changed to sadness, when we -related what had happened to the old Abbey. We were impatient to see -our beloved Lady Abbess. Soon our dear Prioress, who had gone first to -break the news gently, reappeared, and we all trooped upstairs, little -dreaming of the sad scene which that very little parlour would witness -in less than a fortnight’s time. Lady Abbess was at once both anxious -and pleased; so, after an exchange of greetings, and having received -her blessing, we retired. We now began to realise what we had done. -It was all so strange; we were now truly poor, not knowing what would -befall us. ‘Sacré Cœur de Jésus, j’ai confiance en Vous!’ We were -really and truly destitute of all human aid, and depended solely on our -loving Father in Heaven for everything. - -Soon the good nuns had prepared supper for us, after which we made a -visit to the church, and then were not sorry to be shown the way to the -dormitory. It had belonged to the children, who, owing to the war, had -not returned after the holidays. Oh dear! Where were our cells? Here -there were not even alcoves, but some pretty-looking curtains covering -two sides of each bed. We were not even alone in the dormitory, -several beds being already occupied. Suddenly, to our great surprise, -Antoinette Doone, one of our old pupils, who had always remained -especially attached to Mother Prioress, threw herself into Reverend -Mother’s arms saying that she also was stopping at La Sainte Union -with her two servants. She was delighted at the idea of sharing the -dormitory with her old mistresses. Truly the war brought about strange -coincidences, and made us meet with devoted friends when we least -expected it. Soon we were reposing on a soft mattress and spring bed, -and unaccustomed to such luxury, as well as worn out by the fatigues of -the day, we were not long in falling asleep. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -VISITING THE WOUNDED - - -It was late the next morning when we awoke, for there were no guns to -disturb our slumbers. However, we were up in time for the last Mass. -Having breakfasted, we set to work to carry our parcels upstairs, and -to clean our shoes, which, owing to our peregrinations, were hardly -recognisable, being simply clotted with mire and dirt. This finished, -we made our first visit to the wounded soldiers in the ambulance. -What a scene of suffering met our eyes! If it made us realise, more -than ever, that we had left our beloved enclosure, still it gave us -an insight into human misery which we should never have had, had we -remained peacefully in our Abbey. The _ensemble_ was not yet organised, -only those downstairs having bedsteads--the poor soldiers upstairs -lying on straw on the floor. The impression made was ineffaceable. We -now saw what war really meant, and we left, after having distributed -little cakes, biscuits and sweets, with a promise to come back as often -as we could. - -Mother Prioress was now called for, to see Edmund and the poor family -who had not been received in the convent, as the Superioress had been -threatened with a summons if she received any refugees. They had been -directed to the police station, where, having presented themselves, -they had been placed in an inn, and had passed the night in an attic on -some straw. They were also starving, having had nothing to eat. They -were quickly given some of our provisions, and Mother Prioress paid the -mason for his hard work of the day before. Being now a little consoled, -he said he would go off with his wife and children to a village close -by, to see if he would not be more successful in getting a lodging -there. Edmund remained, lamenting loudly over his misfortunes. The -chaplain of the community passing by, and hearing his sad tale, had -compassion on the poor man, and told him he might sleep at his house, -while the nuns arranged to give him his meals. After some days, -however, he found the priest’s house too far away from the convent, and -so managed to get a bed in a baker’s establishment just opposite. - -Every morning we had the happiness of assisting at two or four Masses; -for besides the Director of the community, whose Mass Edmund served, -some French priests who were attached to the ambulance also requested -permission to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice. Reverend Mother arranged -with the Superioress that we might go to the chapel when we liked to -say our office, where--instead of stalls--turning the chairs to face -each other, we improvised a choir, and recited the Benedictine hours -with the usual ceremonies. We were, of course, obliged to advance the -night office, saying vespers and compline at 2.30 and matins and lauds -at 4.0, it being often necessary to bring the chairs close to the -window to have light to finish, if, as it sometimes happened, we were -unable to keep to the given hours. - -On Sunday afternoon, eleven nuns from the Rue de Lille at Ypres came -to beg a refuge. They were expelled French nuns of the Sacred Heart -of Jesus, who had devoted themselves since the outbreak of the war in -our parts to tending the wounded soldiers. It was they who had had -such a narrow escape when the Germans came to Ypres, whilst they had -their convent full of Belgians. They told us afterwards how good their -wounded had been, and how the greater part, as soon as they were well -enough, used to come to Benediction and sing with the nuns. - -Now, however, they brought sad news from the town, which was being -bombarded worse than ever. They had been obliged to fly for their -lives; one Sister had been killed by a bomb, a servant badly wounded, -and their Superioress had stopped behind with two nuns, compelling -the others to leave. They had at first taken the wrong road, going -straight to the scene of battle; but being sent back by the British -soldiers, they had made their way, as best they could, to Poperinghe. -They had lost six of their number, not knowing what had become of them; -seventeen had left the convent, and now only eleven had arrived at -Poperinghe. - -The next day our servant-man came round to say that he had received -an invitation to go back to Ypres the following day with another man, -who was willing to run the risk of returning. Needless to say we -were delighted to have such a good chance of getting news about our -Monastery; and all prayed for his safety. We anxiously awaited the -result of this venture, hoping that he would be able to get into the -convent, and that, above all, no harm would happen to him. True enough, -he came back in triumph, dragging another huge parcel of things he had -managed to secure for himself. The dreadful account he gave of the -Monastery filled us with despair, for, according to his description, -half the building seemed to have been destroyed. Happily, the person -who had accompanied him called the next day, and told us that Edmund -had greatly exaggerated the mischief done; and he hoped that if the -Germans could be repulsed, we should be able to return in four or five -days. - -Mother Prioress determined to ascertain the truth of the case for -herself. She accordingly made enquiries as to whether it would be -possible to go to Ypres in a motor-car. M. Vander Meersch, a solicitor -who lived near the Abbey, came to our help, and an officer was found -who was willing to take two nuns with him. We begged our dear Prioress -not to expose herself to such evident danger; but, as usual, she would -not listen, and it was decided that Dame Placid should accompany her. -God, Who ever protects those who put their trust in Him, arranged -otherwise, and the motor-car was prevented from leaving Poperinghe. We -heard afterwards that at the very time that they should have arrived, a -bomb had fallen on another motor, and killed five officers. - -During the next days, news poured in from Ypres. At one time, we heard -that the Germans had been repulsed, and their guns captured, and that -Ypres would soon be quite safe again; shortly afterwards, it was -announced that the enemy was mercilessly bombarding the town, some -houses were falling, others burning. We were more than ever convinced -that we could believe nothing that we heard and must necessarily see -for ourselves. Besides, the guns which we had only heard feebly in -the distance, on our arrival at Poperinghe, could certainly be heard -far more distinctly now; were we going to be bombarded a second time? -It really seemed probable, for German aeroplanes appeared in sight, -apparently scrutinising the movements of the Allies, and had not that -been the beginning of the hostilities at Ypres? - -In the streets, the regiments passed and repassed--the poor, brave -fellows marching off to the battle, and the others coming back from the -trenches to have a well-merited repose. It was often touching to see -how those who had not been ordered out would await the return of the -troops, anxiously scanning the lines as they passed, and on perceiving -a comrade, perhaps a ‘chum,’ coming back unhurt, they would run forward -and give a hand-shake with a joyful greeting, as the horses trotted by. -But alas! there were always a number of empty saddles, belonging to -those who had been taken to the ambulance, or--worse still--left dead -on the battle-field. The horses themselves seemed mournful, as they -followed mechanically after the others, as though they felt it must be -partially their fault that their dear masters were no longer there. -Often, also, numbers of German prisoners would march past between two -files of British or French soldiers on their way to the station. - -Our poor wounded French soldiers were not forgotten. By this time -things were arranged better; nearly all had beds now, some even -sheets. And this was due to the unflagging devotion of three priests -attached to the ambulance as infirmarians. They certainly preached to -us a silent sermon of self-forgetfulness and heroic charity; and our -greatest pleasure was to hear them relate all they had gone through -since the War broke out. In the French army alone, 40,000 priests -mixed with the common soldiers, the greater number being combatants. -The brave wounded also gave us many a lesson, never finding fault -with anything, never complaining of their dreadful wounds. And yet -how horribly some of them were mutilated! A great number were obliged -to have an arm or leg amputated--one had his lower jaw carried -away--another, his whole face from below the eyes. Most of them -were wounded in the head, which made them suffer dreadfully, some -even being delirious. There were some who belonged to the highest -aristocracy--Counts and Barons were there, lying on straw or hard -stretchers; others again were quite young, only twenty or twenty-one. -Yet all were patient, all courageous, all _sure_ that in the end the -Allies would win, and the Germans be defeated. The unfortunate victims -who died of their wounds were carried out to a little hut or tent -erected in the garden. As we passed by, we would lift up the curtain -which hid them from view, and say a ‘De profundis’ for the repose of -their souls. Sometimes as many as eleven or twelve lay there, awaiting -the coffins which could not be made quickly enough. One poor Zouave, -who had probably been dead some time before it was found out, lay there -with his arms uplifted, as though he still held the gun, with which he -would, even in death, lay low his enemy. - -But we cannot do better than take from the notes of Dame Teresa, who -was so devoted in visiting the ambulance:-- - - ‘At Poperinghe we spent all our time making badges of the Sacred Heart - for the wounded soldiers. Almost every day we went to visit them. This - gave us the greatest joy. The first time we entered the large room No. - 1, where they lay, some on beds, others on stretchers, we were struck - with horror and pity. There they were, young men and middle-aged, from - every department of France; some had been struck on the head, others - on the chest, back, or shoulders, or else wounded in the legs. And - yet not one complaint escaped their lips--only one poor fellow, who - was delirious, called out as we passed by: “My head, my head! oh, if - you only knew what it is to have such a headache.” Another soldier, - just twenty-one, said to us in the patois of the South of France, - “Franche! Franche! shall I ever see thee again!” We went from one - room to another, speaking to each, and cheering them up. We gave them - pears, and it used to be our greatest pleasure to peel them, cut them - in small bits, and now and again we would put them in their mouths, - when they were unable to move. They were as simple as children, and - loved our visits. “Sister, you’ll come back to-morrow won’t you? It is - so nice to see you, it cheers us up!” I remember one incident, which - shows their simplicity. Dame Walburge and I had been going round, - distributing small bits of pear, which they much relished as very - comforting to their parched lips; but there came a time when we had - exhausted our last pear, and still many soldiers had not had a bit. - Of course next day we would serve them the first; but Dame Walburge - whispered to tell me one poor fellow had been watching me so anxiously - for some time. I turned towards him to say a little word of comfort, - but he interrupted me, saying in a fretful, childish way: “Oh, Sister, - and you have given me no pear, and I wanted one so badly!” In vain we - searched our pockets, all the while promising he should be served the - first next day. He repeated: “It’s to-night I wanted it.” We left the - room sadly, wishing, for once in our religious lives, that we had a - penny to buy him a pear. But Almighty God, Who is all-powerful, heard - the prayer of His children; for hardly had I told this story to one of - the nuns of La Sainte Union, than she gave me a pear, and though it - was already dark, we ran back joyfully to our poor wounded soldier, - who seemed dumb for joy, but his happy face rewarded us beyond words. - - ‘The unselfishness of the soldiers towards each other was marvellous; - once, while peeling a pear for a soldier--one who was eating a piece - of bread--he said to me: “Sister, I am sure my neighbour would also - like a piece.” I turned to the other, who answered timidly: “Yes, I - should like it; but see, Sister, I have a little bit of meat on my - bread, and he has none, so give it to him!” Needless to say, I divided - it between them. - - ‘Sometimes they would give us a little money out of their purses to - buy biscuits, or cheese, or, as they said, “something to eat.” One - Zouave asked us to buy him a pair of socks. - - ‘At this French Ambulance we also had the joy of making the - acquaintance of three soldier-priests, who daily said Mass at the - convent, thus giving us the happiness of sometimes hearing five Masses - a day. I do not quite remember the names of the priests. I think one - was called M. l’Abbé Tecq, another M. l’Abbé Couq of Dijon, and the - third was M. l’Abbé Louis Charbonnel of Avignon. This latter was very - fond of Benedictines, and gave us a special blessing before leaving, - assuring us that we should immediately feel “at home” among our - Sisters at Oulton. - - ‘These priests were more than devoted to the soldiers, administering - the last sacraments, and bringing Holy Communion to them, no matter at - what time of the day. The little badges of the Sacred Heart also did - their work; all the soldiers asked to have them, and insisted on our - pinning them ourselves on their clothes; the priests wore them, and - distributed hundreds, so that we could scarcely keep pace with their - fervour, except by working at them every free minute we had. Some - of the infirmarians even asked to have a few to send away in their - letters. - - ‘They wrought many conversions--the soldiers all wanted to have them.’ - -Again there was dreadful news from Ypres. The hospital was entirely -destroyed. The British soldiers had gone with their motor-cars to take -away the four nuns, who still risked their lives by staying to tend the -poor victims, who were daily struck down in or about the town. Four -other nuns had been killed in their cellar. A priest carrying the holy -oils to a dying person had been struck down in the street. The Germans -had even made new bombs, bigger and more destructive than those used -before. What should we do? Would it not be wiser to accept Lady Abbess -of Oulton’s kind invitation, and go straight on to England while there -was yet time? But our Abbey! Why leave it, if we could possibly return? - -We found ourselves surrounded at Poperinghe by every attention which -charity could suggest; and although the community of La Sainte Union -had often the greatest difficulty to provide for the increased number -of fugitives, there being two other communities as well as ourselves, -still we received everything that was possible in the circumstances. -However, as the officer in charge of the ambulance demanded one thing -after another for his soldiers, he came at last to claim the room -which had been placed at our disposal. The Superioress was obliged to -yield, and the ‘chef’ soon established the supplies of food in what -had been our refectory. We were now forced to take possession of the -nuns’ refectory, going to our meals before or after theirs. We thus -found ourselves at table not only with the two other communities -above mentioned, but also with the servants of one of our old pupils, -who were also stopping in the convent to help at the ambulance. We -managed as best we could, and still kept up our tradition of entering -in procession, saying the ‘De profundis,’ and then reciting the -Benedictine grace before and after meals. This was not all. There was -a door at one end, which led into the room given up to the soldiers; -consequently, at any moment, one would appear in the refectory to -fetch a loaf of bread, or some meat, &c., and then repass again on his -way out. Once, when a priest came, Mother Prioress gave him a pear, -as also to the soldier who came after him; but soon the Superioress -put up a large screen, which enabled them to enter without disturbing -the community. They had a very hard life. Often we saw their shadows -through the mat glass as they stood at the windows, eating their -dinners in the rain and snow. - -And now Our Lord was preparing a cross which we had not counted on, -and which added to the grief that already weighed down our hearts. Our -poor dear Dame Josephine, already fifty-two years professed, now left -us. Feeble and infirm, the shock had been too much for her. The want of -good nourishment had also told on her--she was soon obliged to keep her -bed, having caught cold. The doctor, on seeing her, declared the case -dangerous, and proposed that she should receive the last sacraments. -This took place on Friday, November 13, Feast of all the Saints of the -Benedictine Order. Alas! we little expected that another one would so -soon increase their happy company. Saturday, our dear patient seemed to -rally a little, and none of us believed the infirmarian, when, in the -evening, she told us she was dying. However, Mother Prioress remained -some time alone with Dame Josephine, helping her to renew her vows, -and offer up holy aspirations. She herself did not think she was so -bad; but, always ready to obey, she followed the prayers suggested -by her whom she had known when she had been Sister Maura--a lively, -fervent, eighteen-year-old postulant, and whom she had always cared for -as a mother. Now that her dearly-loved little novice had grown into her -Superioress, she submitted herself with child-like simplicity, asking -her blessing morning and evening, thus edifying greatly the whole -community. She therefore now made, when Dame Maura proposed it, her act -of resignation, should God demand the sacrifice of her life. - -Two of us offered to divide the night between us to watch by her -bedside. After 1 A.M. she slept a little, though her breathing was -difficult. At 2.30 she awoke, and seemed rather restless. Before going -down in the morning, Mother Prioress paid Dame Josephine another visit; -but we could no longer distinguish what she said. We replaced each -other during the Masses; but about 7.30 everyone was called out of -church, there being now no more doubt. The Superioress of the house -knelt with Mother Prioress close by the bed, and several nuns of both -communities joined their prayers to ours, during which our dearest -jubilarian breathed forth her innocent soul. It was the Feast of the -Dedication of the Churches. Our Lord had chosen the day Himself, for -had she not passed her whole religious life in the service of the -altar as sacristine? And by a curious coincidence, in which we may -again detect the loving attention of the Divine Master, the burial, -settled at first for Tuesday, was put off till Wednesday, Feast of the -Dedication of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Sad at any time, the loss -of our dear Dame Josephine now appeared doubly so--in exile, and in -the midst of so many other trials. She had truly ‘chosen the better -part,’ and we felt a sort of relief to know that she had been spared -the horrors which we should, in all probability, live to see. Every -one showed us the kindest sympathy in our loss. Dame Aloysius and Dame -Columban performed the last duties to the dear departed one, and laid -her out in the same little parlour where she had come to welcome us, -just nine days before, on the evening of our arrival. Every one came -to pray by her corpse, all the nuns, the chaplain, even several of our -old pupils, who, having taken refuge in Poperinghe, heard of our sad -loss--and last of all, poor old Edmund who for a moment forgot his own -troubles to grieve over dear Dame Josephine whom, like everyone else, -he had esteemed and respected. Each, as they left the little room, -where such a peaceful silence reigned, declared they had never before -seen such a holy and happy death. - -Thanks to the intervention of M. Vander Meersch, already mentioned, -and who was a personal friend of the burgomaster of Poperinghe, Mother -Prioress obtained permission to place the dead body, having previously -secured it in a double coffin, in a private vault in the cemetery; -so that if--which God grant--we are able to rebuild our Monastery at -Ypres, we shall then lay dear Dame Josephine with her other religious -Sisters. - -We recited the Office of the Dead round the holy remains, in the -convent chapel, and sang the Requiem Mass at the funeral. This latter -should have really taken place in the parish church, but the Curé, -kindly sympathising with our numerous trials, offered to perform it at -the convent so that we should be thus enabled to keep our enclosure -as much as possible. We sang the Mass (at which all attended) with -great devotion, in spite of the severe colds we had all caught. At the -moment of consecration, when, in deepest recollection, we adored ‘Our -Lord and our God,’ Who thus deigned to come down from Heaven among -His sorrowing children, the well-known hiss of a descending bomb made -itself heard, and in the same moment a formidable explosion took place -quite close to us. The Holy Sacrifice continued without interruption. -It was only afterwards we heard that the Germans had aimed at the -ambulance established, as has been said, in La Sainte Union. Missing us -by a few yards only, the bomb had struck the house next door, doing, -however, but little damage. Four girls of the Congregation of Our -Blessed Lady carried the coffin to the cemetery, while the nuns of the -house accompanied our community. The sad little procession wound its -way along the muddy streets, amidst troops of civilians and soldiers. -Nearly all saluted as it passed. The prayers being sung at the grave, -the coffin was deposited in the vault, and we returned silently, -stopping to recite ‘De profundis’ at the little portion of ground -allotted to the dead nuns of La Sainte Union. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -AN ATTEMPT TO REVISIT YPRES - - -When we arrived at the convent, we found that a soldier had called to -say that a motor-car would be starting for Ypres at 4.30, but which -would not return until the next day. We felt hardly inclined to accept -the invitation, but dared not miss the opportunity which would perhaps -not present itself a second time. Mother Prioress and Dame Placid -decided to go, and to pass the night in the abbey and come back the -following day in the motor. We were all so anxious at the idea that two -of us, viz. Dame Columban and Dame Patrick, offered to go on foot to be -able to help in case of danger. The narrative will be continued from -the notes of Dame Columban and Dame Patrick:-- - - ‘We set off at 2.30 as we should, of course, take longer than the - motor. Two of the servants of Madame Boone, who were also in the - convent, accompanied us, to be able to see in what state her house - was. At their suggestion we decided to follow the railway line, - instead of going by the high road; and thus we were spared the - dreadful mud and constant traffic we should otherwise have had. On - our way we met many poor people who were flying from Ypres; for the - Germans were still shelling it. They tried their best to dissuade - us from our purpose, depicting in vivid colours the great danger we - were incurring--we, however, continued on our way. Several aeroplanes - passed overhead, one of which received a volley of shots, so we knew - it must have been an enemy. Sad to say, it escaped untouched. As we - advanced we heard the sound of the guns louder and louder, till at - last we found ourselves once again in the noise and confusion we - had left a week and a half ago. Our hearts beat faster as we began - to distinguish in the distance the tower of St. Martin’s and of the - Hall; and we hastened our steps, wondering if the motor-car, which - was to bring Mother Prioress and Dame Placid, were already there, - and making plans as to what we should do for the night. The fugitives - had told us that the Germans were principally shelling the station, - so we determined to go round the town, and come in by the Porte de - Menin which would bring us immediately to the Abbey. As we were thus - settling everything in advance, we came to where the railway lines - pass over the high road, and were about to continue by the latter, - when a French policeman suddenly stopped us, asking where we were - going. We bravely replied, “To Ypres!” What was our dismay when he - politely informed us he was forbidden to allow anyone to enter the - town. In vain we expostulated, saying how far we had come, that we - only desired to see our Monastery once again, that it was quite - impossible to walk back to Poperinghe that night. It was all useless. - As we spoke, some poor persons endeavoured also to pass, but were - sent back. We then asked the officer if he had seen a motor-car with - two nuns in it. He replied in the negative, but promised to stop them - should they pass. He tried to mend matters by explaining that he was - obliged to obey orders, and that it was to prevent deserted houses - being broken into and robbed that persons were not allowed to enter - the town. “For,” he said, “people pass by empty-handed in the morning, - saying they want to see if their houses are still standing; they come - back in the evening loaded with things; is it their own belongings - they have, or some one else’s?” This, however, did not console us, and - we turned our steps disconsolately towards Poperinghe. - - ‘It was nearly six o’clock. The cold wind beat pitilessly in our - faces, for it was freezing hard. The stars were shining, but there - was no moon, so the road was dark. Should we _ever_ reach Poperinghe - again? What if Mother Prioress and Dame Placid were waiting for us at - the Abbey? They would assuredly think we were killed!... We walked - slowly on, debating what was to be done. At last we decided to try - to find a lodging for the night, and get into Ypres the first thing - in the morning. We stopped at the first group of houses which came - in sight. What was our joy to see a motor outside. Perhaps we could - get a ride home. We addressed ourselves to the French soldier who - was standing by, and asked if by chance he was going to Poperinghe - that night. “Yes!” was the rather laconic reply. “And would it be - possible to take us also?” That was another thing. We must wait for - the officer, who would be back, perhaps, in half an hour, perhaps - later. Then, as if to excuse his apparent unwillingness, the soldier - told us they were strictly forbidden, under pain of thirty days’ - imprisonment, to take anyone in the motors, as it had been discovered - that German spies had been acting as chauffeurs to several French - officers. Did we look like German spies? Be that as it may, it was not - inviting to think of waiting in the cold for half an hour or more, - and then meeting with a probable refusal. We consequently returned to - our first idea of getting a night’s lodging. We knocked at the first - door, but found the house full of French soldiers. We went farther on, - and, through a window, saw some English “Tommies” seated round the - fire with the members of the family. This looked more inviting. We - pushed the door open (there being no sign of a bell or knocker), and - at our enquiry, were told that the house was full, there being four - officers lodging there, as well as the private soldiers. We asked if - it would be possible to speak to an officer, and were requested to - step inside. Our visit being announced, a cheery voice called out, - “Entrez, mes Sœurs, entrez!” We entered the little room, and found - ourselves in presence of four officers, who were actually engaged in - making their tea, and who were more than delighted on learning our - nationality. They were very interested in our story, and pressed us to - take tea with them. We thanked them for their kindness, but refused, - not wishing to deprive them of what they so well deserved. Two of - them next offered to go in search of some means of conveying us back - to Poperinghe, as we were not likely to find a lodging anywhere. They - were also sure that the officer had never left with Mother Prioress, - for--as one of them remarked--“Ypres is a very unhealthy place for - the moment.” After some time, the two returned, saying they had - found a French vehicle, which would conduct us to within a mile of - Poperinghe. So, thanking our kind hosts, we followed our two guides - to the place where the carriage (if so we may call it, it being - rather a closed cart, drawn by mules) was standing. The soldiers - were busy unloading it. As we were talking, two lights appeared in - the distance, which rapidly grew bigger and brighter, as a motor-car - dashed past us. The two officers soon chased it, calling on the driver - to stop. He accordingly slowed down, and we learned, to our great - delight, that the officer (an English one this time) would take us - straight to Poperinghe. We were soon spinning along the road, leaving - Vlamertinghe, houses, carts, horses, soldiers, far behind us; and in - a good quarter of an hour, we stopped at the door of La Sainte Union. - We begged our kind benefactor to accept something for our drive; - but he refused, saying he was only too pleased to have been able to - render us this little service. As soon as we were safe inside, we were - surrounded, all asking what had happened to us, for everyone had been - more than anxious on our account, owing to the alarming news which - was brought from Ypres. We related our adventures in a few words, and - then had to go quickly upstairs to show ourselves to dear Lady Abbess, - who was greatly troubled over our absence, and enquired constantly if - we had yet arrived. - - ‘In our turn we now desired to know what had happened to Mother - Prioress and Dame Placid, so, during recreation, which we shared with - the other nuns, refugees like ourselves, we heard of their doings. - After going out in search of the officer who was to take them to - Ypres, and waiting in the rain and cold, the soldier who had called - in the morning found them and said the captain had been delayed, - and would not leave before 4 or 4.30. They had then returned to the - convent and set out once again, this time taking the key of the - Abbey, which they had previously forgotten. Arrived in the market - square, they saw a long row of motors drawn up, with soldiers busy - taking off the cakes of mud and mire which literally covered them. - In vain they looked for their driver. At this moment a regiment of - Chasseurs Français rode up four abreast. They had hardly gone when - the Dragoons, with their uniform of pale blue and silver, galloped - past also. This state of things lasted almost an hour. The captain - not yet making any appearance, they had gone in quest of something to - take with them to eat, in case no food should be found in Ypres. By a - strange coincidence, on entering the shop, they were accosted by the - manageress of one of the hotels of Ypres, who immediately recognised - them. At last, on coming once more out into the square, the soldier - met them again, saying that the bombardment was raging so fiercely - that there was no question of leaving Poperinghe that afternoon. It - was useless to think of sending after us, so every one had remained in - the greatest anxiety until our return.’ - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -PREPARING TO START FOR ENGLAND - - -Reverend Mother, despairing of getting into Ypres, was now determined -to leave Poperinghe and go to England; but again the question presented -itself--How were we to get there? As the English officers had been so -kind to us in our efforts to get to Ypres on the previous evening, she -thought that perhaps they would help us also for the journey. Dame -Teresa offered to accompany her, as, being the niece of Mr. Redmond, -it was felt she might be specially useful. So, accompanied by Dame -Columban and Dame Patrick, Mother Prioress set out to try to find the -officer who had given them seats in his motor the day before. He had -said he belonged to the aeroplane encampment, which we knew to be -just outside the town. Meeting an English soldier, we asked him to be -so kind as to show us the way. On hearing our story, he advised us -to apply rather to another officer, who would be better able to help -us, and directed us to the convent where this officer was staying. -The convent proved to be that of the Penitents of St. Francis, where -we received a warm welcome, and were introduced to two nuns from the -Hospice of Ypres who had taken refuge there. The captain in question -was not in; so the nuns insisted on our seeing their lovely little -church and sacristy, after which they found a soldier who conducted us -to the British Headquarters which were then actually at Poperinghe. -There we were received with the greatest courtesy by Captain Liddell -who promised to do everything in his power to help us, but advised -us, at the same time, to apply to Commandant Delporte, of the Belgian -Constabulary, who would be better able than he to find a train to -convey us to Dunkerque or Boulogne. - -We thanked the captain, and left to find the Belgian police station. -Having been directed several different ways, we eventually arrived -at our destination, and were received by an official who promised to -acquaint the Commandant with the reason of our visit as soon as he -should return, he being absent at the moment. We were about to leave, -when the door opened and M. le Commandant Delporte entered, and after -courteously saluting us, he begged us to take seats, and showed the -greatest interest in all that Mother Prioress related. He then said -that a train of refugees had left only the day before, and he could not -tell us when another would start. He referred us again to the general -staff, saying that, as we were British subjects, they ought certainly -to take us either in their ambulance cars or in a train for the wounded -on account of Our Lady Abbess who was paralysed, adding that he would -speak in our favour. We therefore turned our steps once more to where -we had come from, and having made known the result of our visit, we -were told to return the next day at 1.30 P.M., before which time -Captain Liddell would consult the Chief Medical Officer, and see what -could be done for us. We then took the road back to the convent, where -we were glad to find a warm shelter. - -The next day was Friday. Captain Liddell had promised to call on -us, should anything be decided before 1.30. The town was, however, -suddenly thrown into a state of excitement by the passing of a German -Taube which dropped a bomb on St. Bertin’s Church. Fortunately it only -slightly injured the porch, though it wounded several persons standing -by. Amongst the injured was the chaplain of La Sainte Union, whose hand -was hurt. We were next informed that the British Headquarters had left -the town. What then would become of the arrangements for our journey -to England? Immediately Dame Columban and Dame Patrick offered to go -and see if any message had been left for us, poor Mother Prioress being -unwell, and therefore not able to go herself. The narrative is again -continued from the notes of Dame Columban and Dame Patrick:-- - - ‘Having received Mother Prioress’ blessing, we started off, wondering - what we should find, perhaps an empty house? On our way we passed St. - Bertin’s Church, where a group of persons were gathered, watching - French soldiers clearing the road of the remains of bricks, stones, - glass, which were strewn about. Every window in the whole street - was broken. Hastening our steps we were soon in presence of Captain - Liddell, to whom we apologised for our early call, relating what we - had heard. He said that the staff had no intention of leaving as - yet, that as to our journey it would take several days to arrange, - for different persons would have to be consulted. The situation did - not seem very satisfactory, so, on taking our leave, we determined - to have recourse once more to the Belgian authorities. Just as we - arrived in sight of the building, to our great disappointment, we - saw the Commandant leaving in company with two British officers. We - immediately drew back, but, recognising us, he came forward, all - three officers giving a military salute. We begged him not to stop - for us, saying that we would call again, but he insisted on bringing - us into the house, telling the officers he would rejoin them shortly. - We stated, as briefly as possible, the unsatisfactory result of our - visit to the English Headquarters, and asked what was the best thing - to do. He told us that there was a train leaving the next day at 2.30 - P.M., but that in all probability we should not enjoy the company. - We, of course, declared that this did not matter. However, he told us - to decide nothing as yet, saying he himself would go to arrange with - the British officers, and would call on Mother Prioress next morning. - We thanked him profusely, and once more turned our steps towards - La Sainte Union to acquaint Reverend Mother with the result of our - negotiations.’ - - - - -CHAPTER X - -A SECOND ATTEMPT TO REVISIT YPRES - - -Were we, then, to leave Belgium without seeing our beloved monastery -again? The thought was too dreadful. This time Dame Placid begged to -be allowed to venture back, and asked Dame Columban and Dame Patrick -if they would go with her. They at once agreed; and having begged a -blessing from Mother Prioress, started off, accompanied by the two -servants of Madame Boone, poor Mother Prioress being still unwell and -quite unable to accompany them, to her great disappointment. Dame -Columban and Dame Patrick will again tell the story. - - * * * * * - -‘We were now _determined_ to succeed--it was our last chance. - -‘We had not gone far, when the whirr of an aeroplane was heard -overhead. It flew too low to be an enemy, so we wished it good-speed, -and passed on. Shortly after, some fugitives met us, who, seeing the -direction we were taking, stared aghast, and told us that the Germans -were bombarding Ypres worse than ever. Should we turn back? Oh no! -it was our _last_ chance. We continued bravely. Soon, others stopped -us with the same story, but, turning a deaf ear to the horrors they -related, we pushed on. Over an hour had passed, when, after a brisk -walk, Vlamertinghe came in sight. More than half our journey was -accomplished. Just as we approached the railway station (we had again -taken the railway track) we heard the whirr of an aeroplane, then -a volley of shots flew up towards the aeroplane. We knew what that -meant. We could see the shots of the Allies bursting in the air, some -near the Taube, some far away; alas! none hit it. What should we do? -We determined to risk it; and passing under Taube, bombs, shots, and -all, we hastened through the railway station--soldiers, men, women and -children staring at “these strange Benedictine nuns!” - -[Illustration: - - D. Teresa. D. Placid. D. Columban. D. Patrick. - - Mother Prioress. - -THE MOTHER PRIORESS, DAME TERESA, AND THE THREE NUNS WHO REVISITED -YPRES. ] - -‘Hurrying on, we met two priests coming from Ypres. We stopped to ask -advice. They told us that our undertaking was decidedly dangerous. -There was hardly a person left in the town; they had gone in in the -morning to see if they could be of any use, and were now leaving, not -daring to stop the night. They told us that there was still one priest -who remained in the establishment of the mad people, just outside -Ypres, and that we could always call on him, if we could not manage to -reach our convent; but they added that he also was leaving the next -day with all his poor protégés. We made up our minds to risk all; so, -asking the priests’ blessing, we went our way. Other people tried in -vain to make us turn back, especially two men who assured us we should -never be able to accomplish our project. We thanked them for the -interest they showed in our behalf, and asked them if they would be so -kind as to call at the convent at Poperinghe and tell Mother Prioress -not to be anxious if we did not return that night, and not to expect us -till the next day. We were now approaching the cross-roads which had -proved so fatal on Wednesday. A Belgian officer on a bicycle stopped -to ask where we were going. We told him. He said it was simple madness -to think of doing such a thing. He had been with his soldiers trying -to mend the roads a little farther on, and had been obliged to leave -off on account of the shells which were flying in all directions. We -thanked him, but said we would risk it all the same. Arriving on the -high road, we soon found ourselves in presence of a French policeman -who asked where we were going. “To Ypres!” was the determined reply. -“No one can pass. You must go back.” What were we to do? We determined -to go on. Were there no means of getting in by another way? While we -stood as though rooted to the ground, we caught sight of a French -Chasseur on the other side of the road, who seemed to have some -authority, and who was trying to console a woman and two weeping -children. We immediately applied to him, and told him our distress. -He answered kindly, but told us, all the same, that he was afraid we -should not be able to enter Ypres. We begged to be allowed to continue, -if only to _try_. He smiled and said: “If you _really_ wish it, then -pass on.” And on his writing down a passport, we went on triumphantly. -It seemed as though God were helping us. - -‘We had been so taken up with all that had passed that we had thought -of nothing else, but now that we were in sight of the goal we realised -that it was freezing hard. The stars were shining brightly, from -time to time a light flashed in the distance, then a sinister whirr, -followed by an explosion, which told us that the Germans were not going -to let us pass as easily as did the French Chasseur. Wondering as to -how we should succeed, we came across an English sentinel, and so asked -his advice. He told us that he thought there was no chance whatever of -our getting into the town. He said that he himself had been obliged to -abandon his post on account of the shells, that the troops in the town -had been ordered to leave, and that those coming in had been stopped. -(We now remembered having seen a regiment of French soldiers setting -out from Poperinghe at the same time as we had done, and then they were -suddenly stopped, while we went on and saw them no more.) Despite what -the sentinel told us, we remained unpersuaded. Seeing several soldiers -going in and out of a house just opposite, we thought it would be as -well to ask a temporary shelter till the bombardment should lessen. We -ventured to ask admission, when what was our surprise to receive the -warmest of welcomes and the kindest offers of hospitality. We could -not have found a better spot. The family was thoroughly Christian; -and, in this time of distress, the door of the house stood open day -and night for all who were in need. How much more for nuns, and more -especially enclosed nuns like ourselves! They had seen us passing on -our way to Poperinghe, just a fortnight before, and had accompanied -our wanderings with a prayer. A few days ago they had also given -refreshment to the Poor Clares who had taken refuge at Vlamertinghe; -and now their only desire was that God would spare their little house, -that they might continue their deeds of mercy and true charity. To -give us pleasure, they introduced an Irish gentleman who was stopping -with them, since the Germans had chased him out of Courtrai. A lively -conversation soon began, while the good woman of the house prepared us -a cup of hot coffee and some bread and butter. After this, the Irish -gentleman, whose name was Mr. Walker, went out to investigate, to see -if it would not be possible for us to continue our walk. After about -half an hour’s absence, during which we were entertained by our host -(M. Vanderghote, 10 Chaussée de Poperinghe, Ypres), who made his five -children and two nieces come in to say good-night to us before going to -bed, Mr. Walker returned, saying it was a sheer impossibility to enter -the town that evening, as the shells were falling at the rate of two -every three minutes. He had called on M. l’Abbé Neuville, the priest -above mentioned, Director of the Asylum, who said he would give us -beds for the night, and then we could assist at his Mass at 6.30 next -morning. The latter part of the proposition we gladly accepted; but as -to the first, we were afraid of abusing his goodness, and preferred, -if our first benefactor would consent, to remain where we were until -morning. Our host was only too pleased, being sorry that he could not -provide us with beds. He then forced us to accept a good plate of warm -butter-milk; after which, provided with blankets and shawls, we made -ourselves as comfortable as we could for the night. Needless to say, -we did not sleep very well and were entertained, till early morning, -with explosions of bombs and shells, and the replying fire of the -Allies’ guns. Once a vigorous rattling of the door-handle aroused us, -but we were soon reassured by hearing M. Vanderghote inviting the poor -half-frozen soldier, who had thus disturbed us, to go to the kitchen -to take something warm. Before 6, we began to move, and performed our -ablutions as best we could. The eldest son of the family now came to -fetch us, to show us the way to the church of the asylum, where we -had the happiness of hearing Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion. -When Mass was over we wound our way once more through the dimly-lit -cloisters of the asylum, while we could not help smiling at the -apparent appropriateness of the place we had chosen with the foolhardy -act we were undertaking--of risking our lives in thus entering a town -which even our brave troops had been obliged to evacuate. - -‘Once outside the asylum, we found Mr. Walker waiting for us, with the -eldest daughter and three sons of M. Vanderghote, who were pushing a -hand-cart. We set off at a brisk pace along the frozen road. Passing -by a few French soldiers, who looked amazed at our apparition, we -soon entered the doomed town. There, a truly heart-breaking sight -awaited us. Broken-down houses, whose tottering walls showed remains -of what had once been spacious rooms--buildings, half-demolished, -half-erect,--met our wondering gaze everywhere. Windows, shattered -in a thousand pieces, covered the ground where we walked; while, in -the empty casements, imagination pictured the faces of hundreds of -starving, homeless poor, whose emaciated features seemed to cry to -heaven for vengeance on the heartless invaders of their peaceful native -land. - -‘But we durst not stop; the thought ever uppermost in our hearts was -our own beloved Abbey. How should we find it? We pushed on as quickly -as we could, but the loose stones, bricks, beams and glass made -walking a difficult matter, and twice, having passed half-way down a -street, we were obliged to retrace our steps, owing to the road being -entirely blocked by overthrown buildings. Here and there, we saw some -poor creature looking half-frightened, half-amazed at seeing us, while -suddenly turning a corner we came to a pool of frozen water, where -three street boys were amusing themselves sliding on the ice. Their -mirth seemed almost blameful among so many trophies of human misery! We -now came in sight of St. Peter’s Church, which at first glance appeared -untouched; but coming round, past the calvary, we saw that the porch -had been struck. - -‘One moment more, and we were in La Rue St. Jacques--nay, in front -of our dear old home. The pavements were covered with débris of all -kinds, but the other buildings had largely contributed to the pile. -We hardly dared to raise our eyes; yet the Monastery was there as -before, seemingly untouched, save for the garrets over the nuns’ cells, -where the shell had burst before we had left. We were now greeted by -a familiar voice, and looking round found the poor girl, Hélène, who -was anxiously enquiring if we were returning to the convent. But there -was no time to waste. The Germans, who had stopped bombarding Ypres -at about 3 A.M., might recommence at any moment, and then we should -have to fly; so we went to the door of the Director’s house to try -to get into the Abbey. What was our astonishment to find Oscar, our -old servant-man, there. Probably he was still more astonished than -we, for he had never dared to come to the convent since he had left, -and would surely feel, at the least, uncomfortable at our unexpected -arrival. However, it was certainly not the moment to think of all these -things, so we went in. The whole building seemed but one ruin. In the -drawing-room, where the priest’s breakfast things--laid a fortnight -before--were still on the table, the ceiling was literally on the -floor; the staircase was quite blocked with cement, mortar, wall-paper, -and bricks; the sacristy, where we were assembled when the first shell -fell, was untouched. The church, except for some five or six holes -in the roof, was as we left it; but the altar, stripped of all that -had once made it so dear to us, spoke volumes to our aching hearts. -Mounting the seven steps which led into the choir, we found ourselves -once more in that beloved spot. The windows on the street side were -in atoms; otherwise, all was intact. Our dearest Lord had watched -over His House, His Royal State Chamber, where He was always ready to -hold audience with His Beloved Spouses. We tore ourselves away, and -flew to secure our breviaries, great-habits, and other things which -the other nuns had recommended to us. Everywhere we went, dust and -dirt covered the rooms, while a great many windows were broken. The -statues of Our Blessed Lady and St. Joseph were unharmed, as also those -of Our Holy Father St. Benedict and our Holy Mother St. Scholastica. -Little Jesus of Prague had His crown at His feet, instead of on His -head; one crucifix was broken in two! The cells were almost quite -destroyed, big holes in the ceilings, the windows broken, the plaster -down, frozen pools of water on the floor. We hastened to the garrets, -where things were still worse. The roof in this part was completely -carried away, leaving full entrance to hail, snow, and rain; strong -rafters and beams, which seemed made to last unshaken till the end of -the world, were rent asunder or thrown on the floor; the huge iron -weights of the big clock had rolled to the other end of the garrets; -the scene of destruction seemed complete. We turned away; the other -part looked secure, the apples and pears lying rotting away on the -floors, where we had put them to ripen. In the noviceship, the ceiling -was greatly damaged; whilst down in the cloisters, by the grotto of our -Lady of Lourdes, a bomb had perforated the roof, the grotto remaining -untouched. These seemed to be the principal effects of the invaders’ -cruelty, as far as our Abbey was concerned. - -‘We now came across our old carpenter, who had also come into the house -with Oscar, and who had already put up planks on the broken windows in -the choir, promising to do all he could to preserve the building. He -also told us that one of the biggest German bombs had fallen in the -garden, but had not exploded, so the French police had been able to -take it away--another mark of God’s loving care over us; for, had the -bomb burst, it would have utterly destroyed our Monastery. We were now -obliged to leave. When should we see the dear old spot again? and in -what state would it be if we ever did return?’ - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -THE RETURN JOURNEY TO POPERINGHE - - -‘The hand-cart being overloaded, we had to carry some of the things -ourselves; and we must have looked a strange sight, carrying books and -clothes, stuffed in white pillow-cases--even Mr. Walker had one, which -he hoisted on his shoulder. We did not trouble about this, but silently -made our way back, through the deserted streets. We left the town by -a different way from that by which we had entered it, as a sinister -boom from the station warned us of the presence of the enemy. Our -road took us this time through the Grand’ Place. The whole back part -of the hospital was destroyed; and although the walls of the façade -were still standing, one could see, through the empty windows, that -the interior was almost entirely demolished. The Cloth Hall, also, had -not been spared, one corner being severely damaged, and the greater -number of the statues maimed and mutilated. If it could have remained -so, there might have been some consolation; but now everyone knows the -ruthless barbarity which has prompted the Huns of the twentieth century -to utterly destroy this wonderful monument of medieval architecture, -of which Ypres had been so justly proud during hundreds of years. It -appears that the belfry, the chimes of which were only surpassed by -those of Bruges and Antwerp, was struck just twenty-four hours after we -had passed it on our exit from the town. St. Martin’s, too, had also -been struck. We would, nevertheless, have entered, but Mr. Walker was -afraid to let us prolong our stay, as the shells were already flying -over us. Our thoughts naturally turned to the much revered and esteemed -M. le Doyen, who, victim of his heroic courage, had remained at his -post to the last, tending the wounded, and even helping to extinguish -the fires which the incendiary bombs caused in so many places; till at -last, seeing the interior of his beloved church already in flames, he -had fallen, struck down by a cerebral congestion, and had been carried -to the Dean of Poperinghe in the ambulance car. (Since, we have heard -that he is better, D. G., one of our old pupils having seen him in the -church at Poperinghe.) - -‘On emerging from the town, a little incident occurred. - -‘We came up with a British cavalry regiment. They were coming from the -trenches. They looked at us and shouted: “Who are you, Sisters, and -where do you come from?” Dame Columban answered: “We are English nuns -from the Benedictine Convent of the Rue St. Jacques.” This was too much -for Dame Patrick, who called out: “We are no such thing. We are _Irish_ -Benedictines!” “Irish!” shouted half a dozen of them, “and so are we,” -and they all began singing, “It’s a long way to Tipperary,” and, thus -escorted, we took a long, last look at the dear old town. Needless to -say, it was an Irish regiment--every man wore the harp and shamrock on -his collar and cap. - -‘We soon arrived at the house where we had taken refuge during the -night, and were not sorry to have a good cup of coffee and some bread -and butter and jam. Mr. Walker had told us of some of his experiences, -among which was the burning of Madame la Baronne Coppens’ house, this -lady being the mother of one of our former pupils. M. Vanderghote’s -eldest son had been left in charge of their house, sleeping in the -cellar at night. On one occasion when the bombardment was raging -fiercely, Mr. Walker had offered to accompany him. They kept watch in -turns. As Mr. Walker was sleeping, the son woke him suddenly crying -out, “Quick! get up! the house is on fire!” Half-dazed, he had seized -hold of his candlestick and followed the son to the door. All was in -flames. They turned back, half-stifled with the smoke, but could find -no exit. At last they managed to break the glass of the window, and -jumping out, just escaped from the place as, with a loud crash, the -roof fell in. Mr. Walker had his candlestick still in his hand, which -he showed us among pieces of shrapnel and shells, all souvenirs of the -war. They had also saved the dog, which was slightly burnt. - -‘We now hurried the preparations for our departure, as time was -passing quickly, and we had still a long walk before us. Our kind -host accompanied us as far as the cross-roads where the French -police mounted guard, for he was not allowed farther. By a strange -coincidence we met once more the Belgian officer who had seen us the -evening before. He was more than astonished at what we had done, and -was very pleased that all had succeeded so well. We thanked Monsieur -Vanderghote warmly for all that he had done for us, promising that, -if it were possible, we should assuredly call on him on our return to -Ypres. We then set off, two of us pushing the cart. We had taken but -a few steps, when a French official stopped us once more, saying that -no carts were allowed on the high-road, except those belonging to the -army. We had therefore to take a country lane, which had the double -inconvenience of being twice as long as the straight road and, indeed, -of being also almost impassable. However, there was nothing to be done -but to go forward as best we could; so off we went. Oh dear! One wanted -Goliath’s strength to push the cart over the stones and ruts. After a -few yards we came to a dead stop. The cart was stuck. We pushed and -pushed with might and main--vain efforts. We could not move it. We -were finally obliged to pull backwards, and thus managed to extricate -it. Taught by experience, we took more care next time, looking where we -were going to; so things went pretty well for about a hundred paces, -when, glancing behind us, what was our dismay to see a number of French -soldiers coming by the same road, some on horseback, others on foot, -others driving carts. There was only the narrow lane in front of us, -with no means of turning visible to the right or left. What _was_ to -be done? We hurried on as best we could, but what was the use?--in ten -minutes they would surely overtake us. At last, turning round a corner, -what was our relief to see an open gateway leading into a farmyard. We -boldly pushed our precious load in, thus leaving room for the soldiers -to pass. We then tried if it were possible to find some one to help us; -because, judging from the difficulties we had met with so far, it was -really questionable if we should arrive at Poperinghe before evening. -After grumbling a bit, two men offered to come with us as far as -Vlamertinghe. This was better than nothing; and, as we followed them, -we fervently prayed that we should meet with some one else later on. - -‘On we trudged, wondering what had happened in the convent since our -departure. What if the Belgian Commandant had found a train, and -everyone had been obliged to leave without us! No, surely that was not -possible. We passed soldiers, men, women, children, wading through -pools of mud and water, and lamenting our long detour, which had made -us waste so much precious time. Vlamertinghe at last--still five long -miles to Poperinghe--should we _ever_ get there? On arriving at the -village, our two good fellows set about finding some one else to push -our cart, and finally succeeded. Having paid them, we set off once more -on our journey, when behold! a barrier was placed across the road, and -we had to come to a standstill. They told us a train was coming. We -looked and looked, but saw no sign of it in either direction. Meanwhile -a crowd of people assembled, who, accustomed to such proceedings, -pushed past, right up to the railing, to be the first to pass, and we -were left at the back. We waited and waited, still no train. What a -waste of time! Then came the sound of horses’ hoofs, and up trotted a -whole regiment of soldiers, who, of course, rode to the front, pushing -the crowd back, and us along with them. Still no train! We now happened -to look across to the other side of the barrier, and discovered another -regiment, waiting on the opposite side, with again a crowd of people -behind them. Should we ever get through? Still no train! Decidedly, the -good man’s watch must have been considerably in advance, or else he -possessed the virtue of prudence in its highest perfection. At length -a feeble whistle told us that the long-expected locomotive was coming. -But it must have been a train of wounded soldiers; for first it moved -forward at a snail’s pace, and secondly it seemed, to our worn-out -patience, to be at least one mile in length. However, it passed at -last; and, the barriers being withdrawn, the two regiments crossed -four abreast, then the crowds pushed through, and last but not least -came the representatives of the Irish Benedictine Abbey, with their -stylish-looking hand-cart. Once more, on we pushed; but the five miles -must have been German ones, which, like their dreadful soldiers, never -come to an end. - -‘Our guide kept bravely on, from time to time stopping to wipe the -perspiration off his face; for, although it was freezing, the poor -fellow had no light work to try to advance through the mud and dirt. -At last, passing by some houses, he left the cart in the middle of -the road, and vanished. The reason soon became evident, for a moment -afterwards he came out with a glass of foaming beer, wherewith to -refresh himself. Once again, on we went. Would the road ever come -to an end? Would we ever arrive at our destination? We scanned the -horizon to find some vestige of our approaching goal, but could -discover nothing but an endless succession of trees, hop-gardens, -fields. Finally, however, some houses came in sight, so plucking up -our courage, we pushed forward, and soon reached the convent door. -At last we should get a rest. Alas, how we were deceiving ourselves! -Once inside, we were soon surrounded by our Sisters, one more anxious -than the other to know what had happened, and to tell us what had been -decided during our absence. Parcels of every shape and dimension next -met our eyes. Arrived at the room which we generally occupied, what -was our astonishment to find dear Lady Abbess downstairs, surrounded -by the nuns of both communities. On catching sight of us, she was more -than delighted. We knelt for her blessing, and to tell her some of our -adventures, and then learnt the reason of all this excitement.’ - - * * * * * - -Mother Prioress will now tell what happened during the absence of Dame -Columban, Dame Patrick, and Dame Placid. - - * * * * * - -‘As soon as the three nuns had set out for Ypres, we went to the chapel -to recommend them to the protection of God, and by a fervent “Sub tuum” -we commended them to the care of the Blessed Virgin. They had promised -me to be back if possible that night, or at least the next morning, -if they could remain in the convent cellars without too much danger. -At 3 P.M. I was called to see Captain Liddell, who told me that the -British Headquarters would place two ambulance cars at our disposal to -conduct Lady Abbess and the community to St. Omer. The cars would be -ready between ten and eleven next morning. He also said that, once at -St. Omer, I had only to address myself to the mayor, or to the general -staff. I thanked him profusely, and told him of my anxiety for the -three nuns who had gone to Ypres. “It was a very imprudent thing to -attempt,” he answered. “I trust they will not be allowed to enter the -town, for it is being fiercely shelled.” I was very alarmed, as were -the rest of the community, to whom I related what the captain had said. -In the evening, we were assembled with the nuns from Oostmieunkerke -in the big parlour, which the Superioress had kindly allotted for our -use. The gas being cut off, we had only one pétrole lamp between us. We -spent our time working and praying. - -‘From time to time, on hearing a ring at the bell, we would ask if -the nuns had yet come back; one of the younger nuns would go and -enquire, but always returned disappointed. We looked at each other -anxiously. What would become of them this night? We could only -recommend them to God. Suddenly I had an inspiration. “Let us put -them under the protection of St. Raphael,” I said, “and promise him -a Mass to-morrow--there are several priests at the ambulance, one of -them will surely be free to say it.” Everyone was pleased with the -idea, and Dame Teresa went to make enquiries. She soon came back in -triumph, saying that the priest from Avignon was outside. We told him -our distress, and respectfully begged him to be so kind as to say the -Mass in honour of St. Raphael for the safe return of our three absent -ones. He willingly agreed. At the same moment the appearance of the -portress brought the cry to our lips: “They are there!” “No! it is -the Commandant Delporte, of the Belgian police, who wishes to speak -to Mother Prioress.” I went to the parlour, fear and hope alternately -taking possession of my heart. He came to ask if Captain Liddell had -called, and if the decision of the Headquarters suited us. I told him -of the arrangement and added, “Once at St. Omer, what shall I do with -our honoured Lady Abbess? May she remain in the motor, which they -say must return to Poperinghe that evening, while I go to the mayor -and general staff?” He reflected a moment, and then, taking one of -his cards, he wrote a few words recommending us to Major Kirke. “Take -this,” he said, rising, “and give it to the major, who is a great -friend of mine, and rest assured that all will be well.” I could not -thank him enough, and conducted him to the door. There I found myself -in presence of two men, who asked to see me. They brought me a message -from our nuns, telling me not to be anxious; they would not return -that night, but the next day, as soon as possible. I felt a little -relieved, but again the question presented itself, at what hour would -they arrive? Would they be in time? The next morning we arranged our -modest parcels, which--thanks to the dexterity of Dame Aloysius--were -soon ready, thinking all the time of our missing Sisters. For my part, -I went to prepare Lady Abbess for our departure, for the hour was fast -approaching. We must come to a decision--the three must remain at La -Sainte Union until the opportunity of joining us in England should -present itself. We had now to get Lady Abbess down the stairs which -were narrow and steep, and it was with the greatest difficulty that we -succeeded. We made her as comfortable as we could in an arm-chair in -the big parlour, where the nuns of the three communities gathered round -her, for everyone was filled with an affectionate respect for her, -mingled with compassion for her age and infirmity. We tried to hide -our perplexity and anxiety from her. It was now time to start, and the -three were not yet back. At this moment the portress entered the room -smiling--what was it? Captain Liddell had just called to say the motors -would not be round till 1.30. “Deo gratias!” To complete our happiness, -the absent ones soon arrived, covered with dust and mud, but producing -in triumph the great-habits and breviaries they had been able to save.’ - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -ON THE WAY TO ENGLAND - - -There was now no time to waste. The few treasures we had brought with -us were promptly added to the other packages; while it was decided that -each nun should wear her great-habit, as much to lessen the number of -parcels, as to preserve us from the cold, especially when crossing the -sea. We bade adieu to the Superioress and community of La Sainte Union, -who had given us such a warm welcome, and shown us such hospitality -during the past fortnight. They asked us in return to beseech Our Lord -not to allow the Germans to bombard Poperinghe, that they might be -able to stop in their convent, which they had only built during the -past eleven years, since the French Government had driven them from -Hazebrouck. - -A ring at the door interrupted our adieux. The voice of a British -officer was heard, asking if this were the convent where the Irish -Dames of Ypres had taken refuge. The answer was soon given; and while -some went to help Lady Abbess, others seized the ‘baggage,’ and all -were soon at the door, where a group of wondering children and other -people were assembled to see what would be the end of such an unusual -sight. The great difficulty was to get our venerable invalid into the -car; for although able to walk fairly well when helped on both sides, -it was almost impossible for her to mount the two small steps. However, -the soldiers soon came to the rescue; and, with the help of their -strong arms, she was soon established comfortably in a corner of one of -the motors, enveloped in a blanket and numerous shawls to keep out the -cold. The rest of the community were not long in getting in the motors, -and Edmund brought up the rear with a young Irish girl, Miss Keegan, -who had been trying to get home since the war broke out, and had now -begged to be allowed to make the journey with us. - -Owing to the heavy fall of rain and the unusual traffic, the roads -were in a very bad condition and consequently our ride was not of -the smoothest; but no accident occurred. Being frosty weather, the -wind was bitterly cold, and we were obliged to keep everything closed -that Lady Abbess might not be inconvenienced. She, however, kept up -bravely. We did not forget to say the ‘Sub tuum,’ nor to invoke our -good St. Raphael with a fervent ‘Angeli, archangeli,’ to which we added -the prayer for travellers. About half-way our kind guides came round -to the entrance of the cars to know if we wanted anything. We passed -through several villages and small towns surrounded by snow-covered -fields and frozen ponds. Nothing of note happened to vary the monotony -of the continual shaking of our motors. A little after 5 P.M. we came -to a standstill, and looking out, found ourselves in what seemed to -be a good-sized town. We were not left long in suspense, for soon -the cheery face of the officer in charge appeared, enquiring where -we wished to be driven, for we were at St. Omer. Mother Prioress -then produced the letter of recommendation given her by Commandant -Delporte for Major Kirke. The officer took the card, and soon we moved -off in another direction. After a few minutes’ run, we came again -to a halt, stopping some time. The officer then reappeared, saying -that the major was absent, and asking where we would like to go now. -Alas! we did not know, and wondered if it would not be advisable to -go straight on to Boulogne that same evening, to take the boat the -first thing next morning. The officer, seeing our perplexity, vanished -once more. Soon we were bowling through busy streets, lined with shops -well lit. Another stop, a few minutes’ wait, and off we were again. -A third halt--then another officer appeared, saluted, and asked in -excellent French if he could render us any service, or replace Major -Kirke, who was absent from St. Omer. On hearing our situation, he told -us that if we would just step out we should find accommodation in -the establishment before which the cars had stopped. As he was still -speaking, the persons who kept the house came out, helping us down, -taking the parcels from us, and seeming more than delighted at our -arrival. We were not sorry to leave the cars, for we were quite cramped -with the long, cold drive. The next question was how to get Lady Abbess -out of her corner, and into the house. At last the officer in charge -had the bright idea of carrying her on a stretcher. Accordingly, one -was brought down and laid on the seat opposite. We then helped her to -sit on the stretcher, and induced her to lie down. She was at first -afraid, not being accustomed to this novel mode of conveyance; but, -being reassured, she allowed the soldiers to carry her into the house, -and she was soon seated in a comfortable arm-chair by a blazing fire. -After expressing our gratitude to the good soldiers, we rejoined Lady -Abbess and soon made acquaintance with our kind hostesses. What was our -delight to find that they were secularised Ursuline nuns, and that the -house had formerly been a convent of La Sainte Union. It is therefore -unnecessary to state that we were received with the greatest charity, a -bed being even carried down to the room where we were for Lady Abbess, -so that she should not be obliged to go upstairs. Poor Edmund had once -more to be sent off, being conducted to almost the other end of the -town, much to his distress. - -After a good supper, we retired to rest in what had once been the -children’s dormitory, and fatigued by such an eventful day we slept -well. Next morning we were awakened by the deep tones of church bells. -They were ringing the 6 o’clock Mass in the cathedral, which was quite -close to the convent. We arose, and arrived in time for a late Mass. -We were shown to seats almost at the top of the church. After a few -moments we heard the sound of soldiers marching, and soon we had to -give place to them, for we had come to a Military Mass, celebrated by -an Army Chaplain. Two by two the soldiers advanced, being marshalled to -right and left by an officer. It was an Irish regiment, and there were -altogether about seventy soldiers who attended devoutly to Holy Mass, -and more than one, when the moment of Holy Communion came, mingled with -those who approached the altar. After Mass, we were conducted back to -the convent, promising ourselves a visit during the day to see the -many objects of devotion and interest in the venerable cathedral. We -were not disappointed. Amongst other antiquities is a ‘Descent from the -Cross’ by Rubens, and oil-paintings in memory of a visit which holy -King Louis IX and Charles X paid to the cathedral, in thanksgiving for -the success of their arms. The sacred vessels, also, were for the most -part of great antiquity, especially a very ancient pyx ornamented with -filagree work. Besides the high altar, in the middle of the sanctuary, -having the stalls for the bishop and canons behind, there were numerous -side-altars, among which the most remarkable was that dedicated to Our -Blessed Lady of Miracles. This miraculous statue was held in great -veneration by the inhabitants of the town; and in the great peril they -had gone through some weeks past, when the Germans were advancing on -St. Omer, and when the British had saved it by arriving only just in -time--for had they come but half an hour later, the enemy would have -been before them--in the moment of peril, the people had promised Our -Blessed Lady, to give a new bell to the cathedral if she kept the -dreaded invaders from entering the city. ‘Ex-votos’ without end hung -all round the altar, besides numberless engravings in thanksgiving for -miracles and cures obtained through Our Lady’s intercession. - -After our interesting visit, we stopped for vespers, which, since the -beginning of the War, were sung by the entire congregation; during -which time we profited to say our own vespers and compline. We then -went to visit M. le Curé de Furnes who, we knew, was stopping at St. -Omer, Mother Prioress desiring to have news of her cousin the Dean of -Furnes who, we heard, was at Boulogne. We also had the pleasure of -saluting M. le Vicaire. - -On our way, we met some soldiers from Morocco--easily distinguished -as Arabs, by their bright blue tunics and long scarlet cloaks, with -their big turbans, their blankets thrown round them, and their lovely -horses. When we returned to the house, we learned that Lieutenant -Stuart-Hayes, who had been so kind to us on the previous evening, had -called to see Reverend Mother. He had, likewise, left a message to -say that he would try to assist at Benediction in the evening; and -afterwards he would come round again. He would be also very grateful -if, before his visit, Mother Prioress would make out all that was -necessary for our passports. All being finished, we set out for the -cathedral once again; for although there were still twenty minutes -before Benediction, yet at St. Omer, as nearly everywhere else, the -churches, since the beginning of hostilities, were crowded, and those -who before never put their foot inside a church were now amongst the -most fervent; so, to secure our places, we had to be there in time. -The rosary was first said aloud, the priest ascending the pulpit, so -as to be better heard by everyone. After the ‘O Salutaris,’ repeated -alternately by the choir and congregation, the ‘Miserere’ was sung, -the people repeating the first lines between each verse of the Psalm. -There was something particularly touching in that cry for mercy which -arose from every heart at the thought of the dear ones who, perhaps -even at that very moment, were being shot down on the battle-field. -But what made the most impression was the hymn sung after Benediction, -and which still rings in our ears--that ardent supplication to ‘La -bonne Mère!’ ‘Vierge d’espérance, Étends sur nous ton voile; Sauve, -sauve la France! Ne l’abandonne pas!’ It was truly a prayer in the real -sense of the word, beseeching the Mother of Mercy not to forsake the -land she had so many times miraculously saved, and where, but a short -while before, had been seen such a wonderful outburst of faith at the -Eucharistic Congress of Lourdes--the spot chosen by Our Blessed Lady -herself, and where the devotion to the Son had ever been united to that -of the Mother. The sound of the grand old organ greatly enhanced the -beauty of the singing; and our hearts also mounted to the throne of -mercy in behalf of our well-beloved Abbey which we were now leaving so -far behind. - -Soon afterwards, returning to our lodgings, Mother Prioress received -the promised visit of the lieutenant, accompanied by a military -priest. He brought all the necessary papers with him, together with -a recommendation for the Governor of Boulogne, and took away our -passports to have them signed. Reverend Mother told him she would like -so much to have a Mass celebrated the next day in honour of St. Raphael -for our safe voyage. He promised to see if it would be possible; and -true enough, he returned a short time after with the good news that -not only should we have a Mass said at which we could assist, but that -he had obtained permission for the priest to accompany us as far as -Boulogne. We were now in jubilation and proceeded once more to arrange -our packages. The night soon passed, and next morning we proceeded to -the cathedral wondering where we should find ‘our priest,’ whom we did -not know, and had never seen! At the High Altar preparations were being -made for a funeral; so we passed to the chapel of Our Lady of Miracles -where a Mass was already half finished, hoping that ‘our priest’ would -perhaps say the next one. Towards the end, he came himself to look for -us, and told us he would not be able to come to Our Lady’s Altar as all -the Masses there were reserved, but that he would commence immediately -at St. Antony’s. So we crossed over to the other side of the cathedral -where Father Flynn (as we afterwards found out he was called) said -Mass, at which we all received Holy Communion. After breakfast we made -the last preparations; and, about ten, three ambulance cars drove up -to the house. The exiled nuns helped us as much as they could, giving -us each a postcard with a view of the convent as a souvenir of our -visit. They were sorry to see us leave, and told us to be sure and call -on them again, if we should ever repass by St. Omer. The soldiers now -came in with a stretcher for Lady Abbess; and the nuns were so good -that they insisted on lending a mattress, blankets, and pillows, which -would be returned with the cars. Having placed Lady Abbess on this -portable bed, the soldiers carried her out with the greatest care, -Father Flynn presiding and enlivening the whole proceeding with Irish -wit. We were soon seated in the cars, but had some time to wait, as -Mother Prioress was obliged to get a little money changed. Meanwhile -several people came to speak to us, among whom was the sister of one -of our former pupils, who, recognising our habit, came forward to know -what had happened to the Abbey. After a little while Reverend Mother -returned; but still the cars did not start. We soon learnt the reason -when Lieutenant Stuart-Hayes appeared triumphantly with a bottle of -light wine and a box of biscuits, which he insisted on our accepting. -We could not thank him enough for all that he had done for us; but he -withdrew immediately, after making sure we had all we desired, and -courteously saluting us, he gave word for the motors to start and we -were soon on the road to Boulogne. It was bitterly cold, so we kept the -car in which Lady Abbess was lying well covered. Just outside St. Omer, -a British aeroplane mounted from the aviation field. This was the last -we saw of active hostilities. Father Flynn kept the conversation going, -and, between the prayers and hymns, endeavoured to enliven the company. -He told us he was the first Catholic Chaplain to arrive with the troops -in France. He was going to the front on the following Wednesday--let us -hope that he will be spared. - -After running along for some time as smoothly as was possible, -considering the bad state of the roads, the inmates of one of the -motors heard a crack like a report of a revolver. At the same instant -the car stood stock-still--the two others following necessarily did -likewise. On enquiry, it was discovered that a tyre had burst, which -meant a little halt on the way. As we were just outside a village, the -inhabitants, though accustomed by this time to British soldiers passing -by, were not accustomed to seeing nuns with them and consequently -crowded round to examine us a little nearer. None being brave enough -to ask where we came from, they solved the problem themselves, and -christened us ‘Les Petites Sœurs de la Croix Rouge,’ a title which I am -afraid we hardly deserved. - -The country through which we passed seemed very picturesque, judging -from the glimpses we got from time to time by lifting up the flap at -the end of the car--fields covered with snow gradually sinking in -gentle slopes or rising in the distance in hilly ranges. From time to -time a woody glade would change the monotony of the succeeding meadows, -then a small village with its quaint little houses. As we were thus -putting more and more distance between Belgium and ourselves, a sudden -crash soon broke the reigning silence. The leading motor having drawn -up when at full speed, the two others--not expecting this--had run -one on top of the other. We were all thrown over on our seats and so -remained, not daring to move, for fear of what might happen next. The -truth was that the first car, owing to a rapid run down a slippery -hill had charged into a telegraph post, and that was the cause of our -being roused so unceremoniously out of the dreams of ‘auld lang syne.’ -The drivers soon appeared to make excuses for the fright they had -unwillingly given us, saying that there was no harm done, except for -a window broken. We were quite reassured and started off again. Lady -Abbess had fortunately not realised the danger, and only asked what the -noise meant, and why we had stopped. - -We rolled on once more, but our guides soon came to the conclusion that -they had mistaken their way; so, consulting their maps, they turned -back. Uphill and down again, going at the same flying pace, we at last -arrived in the historic old town of Boulogne. There we still continued -to mount and descend, for the streets seemed all very steep. It was now -between 2.30 and 3 P.M. and the boat would not leave till 4. We decided -it would be better to stop in our cars, as it was hardly according to -the nature of our vocation to go about sight-seeing, and if we got down -we should only stand shivering in the cold. - -The motor-car in which were Lady Abbess and Mother Prioress was next -driven off to the Governor’s house, and having drawn up, Father Flynn -alighted to arrange everything for us. We patiently awaited his -return, little dreaming of the honour which was being prepared for us, -till we saw the Governor coming in person to salute the Superioress. -Reverend Mother having returned his greeting, told him of the great -kindness we had everywhere received from the British Headquarters, at -which he expressed the hope that we would experience the same from -the French. He then introduced Lieutenant Treillard, to whom he gave -us in charge, with directions to see us all safely on board. With -truly French gallantry the lieutenant saluted the company, and Father -Flynn carefully pocketing his precious papers and jumping up by the -chauffeur, the car with Lady Abbess and Mother Prioress rejoined the -rest of the community. - -Our conductors, who were evidently hungry, now produced bread, tinned -meat, and cheese. One, buying some potato chips, promptly came to -share them with us. We declined to accept them, thanking him all the -same for his kindness. We thought we could not do better than follow -their example; so Mother Prioress divided Lieutenant Stuart-Hayes’ -biscuits among us. Father Flynn produced a packet of chocolate, and -then each in turn drank some wine from the solitary little mug we had -brought in case Lady Abbess should want anything on the way. As the -soldiers seemed very cold, stamping their feet on the frozen road, -Reverend Mother gave them also a drop of wine; and for one who refused -(having probably taken the pledge) she warmed some milk with the little -spirit-lamp we had. They were all delighted. Poor fellows! it was the -least we could do for them, when they had rendered us such good service. - -Captain Dwyer, who had brought our papers from the general staff to -Lieutenant Stuart-Hayes when we were at St. Omer, now joined us once -more (having been sent to Boulogne with despatches) to assure himself -of our safety. Our long stay ended by exciting the curiosity of the -bystanders, and we received rather indiscreet visits of persons who, -apparently passing innocently by the cars, lifted up the flap to look -in. Some ventured to talk, and we discovered one poor man who said he -came from the Rue St. Jacques, Ypres, and an old woman who had walked -all the way from Dixmude. - -At last it was time to go on board the boat. The ambulance cars took -us quite close to the gangway. When we had all got down with our -parcels, the soldiers lifted the stretcher on which Lady Abbess was -lying, and gently carried her on board and into the cabin, where we -helped her on to a sofa. Lieutenant Treillard superintended everything, -and good Father Flynn made fun all the time. The latter then gave -special injunctions to Reverend Mother about the papers, &c., and -giving us his blessing, with a special one to Lady Abbess, having in -his turn begged hers, with all possible wishes for a safe arrival -at our destination, he hurried off the boat, which was preparing to -leave. The passage was very calm, but cold and frosty. For more than -one of us it was the first crossing, Lady Abbess having up to this -time never even seen the sea; and, sad to say, nearly all proved ‘bad -sailors’ except, curiously enough, Lady Abbess. Happily, however, the -passage only lasted 1 hr. 20 min., so we were soon at Folkestone. -Thanks to our papers from British and French Headquarters, we were -passed successfully by the doctor and other officials (who stopped -two Belgian peasants following us ashore)--even Edmund got through -without the least difficulty. Arrived in the station, a telegram was -sent to a relative of one of the community in London, who kindly -looked out lodgings for us in advance. It seemed an interminable -time before the train set off, and afterwards, rushing through the -darkness, passing station after station, town after town, we thought -London would never come. However, all things come to an end, and so -did our journey, as at last we steamed into Victoria Station. There, -one would have said we were expected, we were so kindly received by -the ladies on the platform, who helped us out and pressed us to take -something. On hearing where we had come from, and how we had succeeded -in getting honoured Lady Abbess safe through so many difficulties, -everyone was more than interested; and soon porters were running in -all directions to get cabs to convey us to our destination which was -in quite another part of London. A bath-chair was brought for Lady -Abbess who was wheeled out of the station, Mother Prioress holding her -hand. One of the ladies, seeing the impossibility of getting her into -a cab, fetched a private motor-car. The gentleman who owned it, helped -by a soldier, lifted Lady Abbess gently in. Then they drove to the -hospital of SS. John and Elizabeth, whither it was thought better for -the present to take Lady Abbess. The soldier, overcome by the sight -of our dear Abbess’ patience, took her in his arms--exclaiming, when -he came downstairs, ‘I could not help it, she is such a dear good old -lady.’ Dame Patrick’s aunt (Mrs. Adamson) had arranged everything for -us, and so Dame Patrick, with Mother Prioress and Dame Columban, were -cordially received at her house. Lady Abbess remained at the hospital -of SS. John and Elizabeth, where, indeed, she received every attention, -together with seven other members of the community. Dame Teresa, Dame -Aloysius, and Dame Walburge experienced the same charity at the -Sisters of Hope. Edmund was also taken in at Mrs. Adamson’s. Those at -the hospital and the Sisters of Hope heard Mass there next morning; and -Mother Prioress, Dame Columban, and Dame Patrick walked as far as the -Dominicans at Haverstock Hill. We may here note the loving goodness of -Divine Providence, which had not once allowed us to miss Mass or Holy -Communion in spite of all the dangers and fatigues of the past weeks. -We were truly like the Israelites in the desert, for whom the manna -never failed. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -OULTON - - -Next morning we were all motored from our different lodgings to -Euston Station, where we were met by Mr. Nolan, brother of Rev. Dom -Nolan, O.S.B., and at 10.30 we entered on the last stage of our -never-to-be-forgotten journey. We had three reserved compartments at -our disposal, by the kind intervention of a gentleman at Victoria -Station, who had given a signed card to Mother Prioress, telling her to -show it to anyone who should question her. And so we travelled safely -from Ypres to Oulton. How strange it seemed, for more than one of us, -to pass by those scenes which we had thought never more to see in this -life! We had left our country, home, and all, to shut ourselves up -in the peaceful solitude of Ypres Abbey; and here we were, forced to -retrace our steps and to return temporarily to the world which we had -willingly given up. God was, however, preparing us another place of -refuge from the turmoil of Babylon, into which we had suddenly been -thrown. - -After changing trains at Stafford, where Lady Abbess experienced the -same considerate compassion which had been shown to her all along, -we arrived at Stone Station. There we were met by some of the pupils -of Oulton Abbey, who told us how everyone was expecting us, and how -they had tried during the past weeks to obtain news of us, but always -unsuccessfully. Two Dominican nuns from the Stone Convent next came -forward to greet us, one being an old Princethorpian school-companion -of Dame Columban and Dame Teresa. - -The carriages awaiting us were soon full, and as there was not room -for all, four of us offered to walk. We lost nothing by this; for -passing by Stone, the two Dominican nuns who had so kindly come to the -station to meet us, obtained permission for us to visit their convent. -We went all round the church (the community were singing vespers in -their choir) and then through the cloisters, which reminded us of the -dear Abbey we had left behind. We saw the community room and several -others, and lastly found ourselves in the parlour, where we awaited -the honoured visit of Reverend Mother Prioress. We passed an agreeable -time, till the sound of carriage wheels told us that one of the -vehicles which had already been up to Oulton had returned to fetch us. - -Our honoured Lady Abbess and the community were received with open -arms at St. Mary’s Abbey. It was with true motherly affection that -Lady Laurentia opened the doors of her Monastery to receive the Ypres -community. The two communities--Oulton and Ypres--have always been -closely united, and one of the first thoughts of the Oulton nuns, on -the outbreak of this dreadful war in Belgium, was for the Abbey at -Ypres. As early as September 17 the Lady Abbess had written and offered -us a home, in case we had to leave our Monastery; but for some weeks we -had refused to believe that this would ever happen. - -When we arrived we found the Lady Abbess and community assembled to -receive us, and also the chaplain, Monsignor Schobel, who was no -stranger, as he had often visited us at Ypres when staying with his -friends at Bruges. We were very pleased to see him again. - -By degrees we learned the trouble we had unwittingly caused the nuns; -for a letter which Mother Prioress had written five days before, from -Poperinghe, to announce our arrival had only come that morning, and -the telegram from London had followed almost immediately. Everyone -had been obliged to set to work to prepare for our accommodation. Two -large rooms were placed at Lady Abbess’ service. There were only two -cells free, so one was allotted to Mother Prioress, and the other to -Dame Placid. The rest of the choir dames were comfortably established -in a dormitory of the new building only completed since the month of -October. The lay-sisters found beds in another large room, and so our -wanderings came to an end. - -No one save those who have suffered as we have suffered can realise the -joy which we experienced in finding ourselves once more in the calm and -quiet of monastic life, where Holy Mass and Communion, the singing of -the Divine Office, meditation and spiritual reading, succeeding the -varied duties of the day, tend to soften the memories of the scenes of -bloodshed and wretchedness which can never be forgotten. - -Yet the echoes of this war of horrors reach us, even in our haven -of rest. As I write, news reaches us from our chaplain (Monsieur de -Seagher, Principal du Collège Episcopal, Ypres) who has returned to -Ypres to find his college entirely pillaged and almost in ruins. He -says that a third of the population has already re-entered the town; -all are in dismay at the heart-rending sight which meets their gaze. As -to our convent, he writes: ‘The state of your Abbey is also deplorable. -The shells have made great havoc there. The French soldiers occupy it -at present. In several places the water is rising in the cellars. God -alone knows what we shall still see, for the bombardment is not yet -finished.’ - -And now, what has God in store for us? We know not! When shall we -return to brave little Belgium, and how shall we rebuild our monastery -which, as has been said, should this very year celebrate its 250th -anniversary? God, in His own good time, will raise up kind friends who -will come to our assistance--of this we cannot doubt. In confidence, -patience, and prayer we shall therefore await the moment chosen by Him -Who has said: ‘Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things -[_i.e._ temporal gifts] shall be added to you.’ - -Meanwhile we beg the Father of Mercy and the God of all Consolation -to have pity on the world, and put an end to the dreadful punishment -which weighs so heavily on our unfortunate generation. May He enlighten -our enemies, that, realising the injustice of their cause, they may -be converted, and cease their cruelties. May He also, in His infinite -goodness, purge the entire universe from the crimes which have degraded -humanity and brought it down to the level of ancient paganism, so -that all, seeking only His greater honour and glory, may unite in the -canticle of praise which Holy Church places on our lips during the -Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and which first resounded on Bethlehem’s -plains round the crib of our common Redeemer:-- - -‘Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.’ - - - THE END - - - PRINTED BY - SPOTTISWOODE AND CO. LTD., COLCHESTER - LONDON AND ETON - - - - -_New Publications._ - - -_THIRD EDITION._ - - Paris Waits: 1914. By Mrs. M. E. CLARKE. With 24 Illustrations. 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