Adrien Sylvain

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

X.

XI.

XII.

XIII.

XIV.

XV.

XVI.

XVII.

XVIII.

XIX.

XX.

XXI.

XXII.

Before Holy Communion

Jesus

XXIII.

XXIV.

XXV.

XXVI.

XXVII.

XXVIII.

XXIX.

XXX.

XXXI.

To Obtain Peace

XXXII.

After Holy Communion

XXXIII.

XXXIV.

XXXV.

XXXVI.

XXXVII.

XXXVIII.

XXXIX.

XL.

XLI.

XLII.

XLIII.

XLIV.

I. (2)

II. (2)

III. (2)

Our Dead

IV. (2)

V. (2)

The Lesson of a Daisy

VI. (2)

VII. (2)

" Learn of Me, for I Am Meek and Lowly of Heart "

VIII. (2)

A Simple Prayer

IX. (2)

Simple Counsels for a Young Girl

X. (2)

A Recipe for Never Annoying Our Friends

XI. (2)

Beneath the Eye of God, God Only

XII. (2)

XIII. (2)

The Power of an Act of Love Towards God

XIV. (2)

Be Serious

XV. (2)

Consolation

XVI. (2)

Holy Communion

XVII. (2)

After Holy Communion (2)

GOLD DUST

A Collection of Golden Counsels for the Sanctification of Daily Life

TRANSLATED AND ABRIDGED FROM THE FRENCH

By E. L. E. B.

EDITED BY

CHARLOTTE M. YONGE

GROSSET & DUNLAP

PUBLISHERS NEW YORK

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Printed in the United States of America

[pg 007]

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To

E. B. H.

This little book is most lovingly dedicated

This little book is a translation from a collection of devotional thoughts published in France under the title of In the south of France, during the summer, little children and old and infirm poor who are incapable of hard work, in order to earn a livelihood, employ themselves in searching the beds of dried up rivers for Who is there that has not experienced at some time in his life those teachings so soft and gentle, yet so forcible, which make the heart thrill, and reveal to it suddenly a world of peace, joy, and devotion?

It may have been but a word read in a book, or a sentence overheard in conversation, which may have had for us a two-fold meaning, and, in passing, left us touched with an unknown power.

It was the smile on the lips of a beloved one whom we knew to be sorrowful, that spoke to us of the sweet joy of resignation.

It was the open look of an innocent child that revealed to us all the beauty of frankness and simplicity.

Oh! if we had but treasured all the rays of light that cross our path and sparkle but for a moment; oh! if we [pg 013] had but engraved them on our hearts! what a guide and comfort they would have been to us in the days of discouragement and sorrow; what counsels to guide our actions, what consolations to soothe the broken heart!

How many new means of doing good!

It is this simple work of gathering a little from every source—from nature, from books, above all, from mankind itself—that is the intention of one of your fellow-creatures, dear souls, you who long so to make your lives more holy and devout!

And in the same way as the gold dust, gathered and accumulated from the river's bed, was the means of bringing a little profit to the hearth, so would we endeavor to carry a little joy to your hearts, and peace to your souls.

Gather, then, these little counsels; gather them with watchfulness; let [pg 014] them for a moment penetrate deep into your heart; then scatter them abroad again, that they may go with their good words to the help of others.

They will not be importunate, will not even ask to be preserved; they do not desire fame; all that they seek is to convey a transient blessing.