given in defiance of the law, is an accusation
against them before heaven and earth. _Exsurge, Domine, et judica
causam tuam!_

[1] I have already spoken of Sister Mary Lemonnier, persecuted for
knowing too well how to write and draw flowers, &c.--"My confessor,"
says she, "forbade me to gather flowers and to draw. Unfortunately,
walking in the garden with the nuns, there were on the edge of the
grass two wild poppies, which, without any intention, I lopped between
my fingers in passing. One of the sisters saw me, and ran to inform
the superior nun who was walking in front, and who immediately came
towards me, made me open my hand, and, seeing the poppies, told me that
I had done for myself. And the confessor having come the same evening,
she accused me before him of disobedience in having gathered flowers.
It was in vain I told him that it was unintentionally done, and that
they were only wild poppies; I could not obtain permission to confess
myself."--_Note of Sister Marie Lemonnier_, in Mr. Tilliard's Memoire.
The newspapers and the reviews in March, 1845, give extracts from it.

[2] It is often from an instinctive tyranny that the superiors delight
in breaking the ties of kindred. "The curate of my parish exhorted me
to write to my father, who had just lost my mother. I let Advent go by
(during which time nuns are not permitted to write letters), and the
latter days of the month which are passed in retirement in the
institution to prepare us for the renewing of our vows, which takes
place on new-year's day. But after the holy term I hastened to fulfil
my duty towards the best of fathers by addressing to him both my
prayers and good wishes, and endeavouring to offer him some consolation
in the afflictions and trials with which it had pleased God to visit
him. I went to the cell of the superior nun to beg her to read over my
letter, fix the convent seal to it, and send it off; but she was not
there. I therefore put it in my cell upon the table, and went to
prayers; during which time our reverend mother the superior, who knew
that I had written, because she had sent one of the nuns to see what I
was about, beckoned to one of the sisters and bid her go and take my
letter. She did so every time I wrote, seven times running, so that my
father died five months afterwards without ever obtaining a letter from
me, which he had so much desired, and had even asked me for on his
death-bed, by the curate of his par