Pocket-handkerchiefs of OUR calibre would be thought decidedly aristocratic; and aristocracy in Paris, just at that moment, was almost in as bad odor as it is in America, where it ranks as an eighth
deadly sin, though no one seems to know precisely what it means.
So defiling was their presence that a true Cistercian might not raise his eyes to their face or touch their finger-tips under ban of church and fear of
deadly sin. Yet here, day after day for an hour after nones, and for an hour before vespers, he found himself in close communion with three maidens, all young, all fair, and all therefore doubly dangerous from the monkish standpoint.
Tempted by a dream of happiness, he had yielded himself with deliberate choice, as he had never done before, to what he knew was
deadly sin. And the infectious poison of that sin had been thus rapidly diffused throughout his moral system.
One morning, in cool blood, I slipped a noose about its neck and hung it to the limb of a tree; - hung it with the tears streaming from my eyes, and with the bitterest remorse at my heart; - hung it because I knew that it had loved me, and because I felt it had given me no reason of offence; - hung it because I knew that in so doing I was committing a sin - a
deadly sin that would so jeopardize my immortal soul as to place it - if such a thing wore possible - even beyond the reach of the infinite mercy of the Most Merciful and Most Terrible God.
Do not forget the
deadly sin, do not forget the appointed discovery, do not forget the appointed suffering.
In such minds, disregard of religion is a more fearful treason,--a more
deadly sin.
It was a marvellous spotted thing, as effective as the seven
deadly sins. In a thoughtless moment I asked one of the gardeners what it was called.
For pride, she said with great severity, was one of the seven
deadly sins, and humility and lowliness of heart were virtues.
Of all these countless allegories none was reiterated with more unwearied persistence than that of the Seven
Deadly Sins (those sins which in the doctrine of the Church lead to spiritual death because they are wilfully committed).
Cursed be them that oppress the poor and needy; it is one of the seven
deadly sins."
I always say to Ellen: Beware of monotony; it's the mother of all the
deadly sins. But my poor child is going through a phase of exaltation, of abhorrence of the world.
Pride is one of the seven
deadly sins; but it cannot be the pride of a mother in her children, for that is a compound of two cardinal virtues--faith and hope.