Page:Anecdotescatechi00spiruoft.djvu/55

 after another  out  of  the  cavern  in  her  mouth,  and then disappeared  altogether. When evening  came the monk  and  his  companion  ventured  out  of  their hiding-place, and  to  their  great  delight  found  the  two dromedaries lying  close  by,  patiently  waiting  for  their master’s return. With them  was  also  an  ample  supply of very  acceptable  viands. With tears  of  gratitude to almighty  God  for  their  wonderful  deliverance,  the fugitives mounted  the  dromedaries  and  in  a day  or two  reached  a Roman  camp,  where  they  were  kindly received and  entertained. There they  took  leave  of each  other,  and  departed  to  their  respective  homes. In cases  such  as  this  we  may  quote  the  words  of David; “ This  is  the  Lord’s  doing,  and  it  is  wonderful  in  our  eyes.”

God often  brings  good  out  of  evil. A certain princess, accompanied  by  her  two  daughters,  was  once driving to  a wedding,  which  was  to  be  celebrated  in a neighboring  castle. The three  ladies  were  very elegantly attired  and  wore  a great  many  jewels  and gold ornaments. The road  they  had  to  take  lay through a forest; just  as  they  entered  this  forest  the coachman, who  was  driving  very  fast,  went  rather  too near a tree,  the  drooping  branches  of  which  brushed the occupants  of  the  carriage. One of  the  branches caught a string  of  pearls  which  one  of  the  young ladies wore  round  her  neck,  and  broke  the  cord  so  that the pearls  were  all  scattered. The girl  cried  out  in dismay,  and  the  carriage  was  stopped  while  the  servants went  back  to  search  for  the  pearls. They were