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 For one  tear  that  is  shed  by  a  sinner  can  move Him,

And your  sins  will  drop  off  in  His  tender embrace.

Then come  to  His  feet,  and  lay  open  your  story Of suffering  and  sorrow,  of  guilt  and  of  shame;

For the  pardon  of  sin  is  the  crown  of  His  glory, And the  joy  of  Our  Lord  to  be  true  to  His name.

— Oratory Hymns.

OU, my  young  friend,  may  belong to the  number  of  those  who reply without  a  moment's  hesitation  in  the affirmative to  the  question  which  stands  at the  head  of  this  chapter. You perhaps consider confession  to  be  a  heavy  burden. But listen  to  the  opinion  expressed  on  this subject by  a  famous  French  poet. I refer  to Francis  Coppee,  whose  varied  talent  is  justly admired. He received  a  Christian  education, and for  some  time  subsequently  to  his  first communion performed  his  religious  duties with fervor. But after  a  few  years  the errors of  youth,  and  his  aversion  to  confess certain misdeeds,  changed  this  pious  frame  of mind. Bad books,  bad  example,  and  evil  associates  did  the  rest,  and  caused  him  to  become absolutely  indifferent  to  religion.

But serious  illness,  which  prostrated  him for years  on  a  bed  of  suffering,  opened  the