Life of Saint Monica

"They were thrown to the wild beasts. Felicitas and Perpetua, who had been tossed by a wild cow, though horribly gored, were still alive. Gladiators were summoned to behead them. Felicitas died at the first stroke, but the man's hand trembled, and he struck at Perpetua again and again, wounding her, but not mortally. 'You are more afraid than I,' she said gently, and taking the point of the sword held it to her throat. "'Strike now,' she said, and so passed into the presence of her God." Monica drew a long breath. "So weak and yet so strong," she said. "So it is, my child," said the old woman. "It is those who are strong and true in the little things of life who are strong and true in the great trials." "It is hard to be always strong and true," said the girl. "Not if God's love comes always first," answered the old woman. Monica was silent. She was thinking of her own young life, and how, with all the safeguards of a Christian home about her, she had narrowly escaped a great danger.