The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1860-02-01
5eltrte1 Stun.
From the Southern Field and Fircsidc.
The Sister of Charity.
by LAURA LINCOLN,

Just as attained my thirteenth year,
had the misfortune to lose my mother.
was the only daughter of six children,
and was therefore. good deal petted and
indulged. My father was cotton plan
Ter ia The State Of Mississippi. A sbor,
time previous to my mo;1cc::'. motSc:'. death, he
had sold his town residence, and lived al
together on Lis plantation, where he had
hitherto been in the habi. of spending
!be warm summer months only.
After the decease Of his wife, NV fatl
or was good deal perplexed AS - what
be should do with me. He did not wish
to keep me at home with no female as =
sociates of my own color, and be dis.iked
10 send me off alone, among strangers,
to a board ng school. One day my un
Gle WiI!red came TO see him and told
him that he vas about to send his two
daughters to the convent of N, to
remain two years, and requested him to
let me accompany them. 1t was a sore
tiisl TO my parent to send me so far from
him, out after mature deliberation he de.
c'ded that it WAS the best course he could
adopt. Ali well do | remember the
sorrow that filed my young hear, a, this
first parting from home--from my below.
ed father nd brothers, and lasf, though
10y no means least, the dear Ole black
NANNY rom whose sable bosom | had
drawn tie fountain Of life in Infancy, and
who had dressed and undressed me every
morning and night since was born. |
hung around her neck with tears and
ki.ses. for she had been ike second
moiler to me. Nor WAS the good crea
iure less affected than !. Ii Iii, master
she said, 'how's Miss Gertrude gwine to
get long way off yonler w herself? DO
pray let Ann 90 wid her, If you can't
spar me. The poor chile never washed
her own face and hands OF put on her
shoes and ST. ckIngs in her lie
And it was in vain that my father aud
uncle explained to her the impossibiiity
OF my taking a servant with me TO a
boarding sci oil. She would no, BE- con
vac! but persisted in saying that she
always seed Indies carry their own maid,
'""ut VII um, and she didu'l zee WHY
Mss Gc,Hud" couldn't 20 i,t,or
| went I" my urcle's home with him,
and MAS warmly WELCOMED by my ccu
sins, who We're deligh'e | t. learn that
intended accompanying them to school.
"a few da,s We were s'varniug it up
the Mississippi river upon one OF those
WoaL'g palaces, that WAX It's Ma.crs
ke thing u fo.'
Ia due time We arrived AT The CITY Of
l. VII ch was VT Iin lluty mics ,t
our destination. Thee We remained over
night TheIe WAS heavy fall of snow
during the night, aud whru We awoke
next "' rning everything WAS shrouGrd
III this spoticss mantle.
oh 10 k, Ellen! exclaimed, ~
opered the window. did YOU eve, see
anything more beautiful
And beautiful exceedingly il Was to our
unaccuslomcd eyes, which had never seen
sno" more I! an once or tNice in our lives,
and then It Was such as 20 melt in the
suns rays in few hour. 1t Was near
the end OF March, and VIII We left our
fair southern home the birds and blossoms
were bursting into bloom, and many trees
were already covered with their tender
green foliage. But here stern winter
still relgned monarch Of sl he surveyed.'
Alter breakfast We took our seats III
the numbering stage coach railroads were
not so comm'L then as now) for b., and
thence took hack Tor the convent, some
two miles further on. We arrived there
just before nigh,fall, very much fatigued
and thoroughly chilled.
In reply 10 my uncIe's knock the door
"as OF ened by fresh, good humnred
looking sister Of charity ia Eer black stuff
habit and closely fitting white cap, who
ushered us into the parlor, where a bIa
zlng wood fire was shedding warmth and
comfort around-blessings which we wea.
~ travellers could duly appreciate.
fhe Mother Superior soon made her
appearance when my uncle introduced
himself as DIR. Lester, and his two daugh.
tiers Ellen and Clara and his niece Ger
trude Ellsworth. Mother Catherine had
q pale benign countenance, which bore
the impress OF a life spent in fulfilling the
will OF her Master. She was very kind
10 us, setting Us al Our ease at once.
Uncle Wilfred returned to y. in tue
hack that night, After his departure
Mother Catherine carried us 10 her room
where she had nice liule supper served
for US. As We were so tired she did not
introduce us into tue recreation room a.
mong the pupils that night, but allowed
us TO go at once TO bed. She summoned
sister Bertha (lhe same that had received
US on our arriVaD and told her to con.
duct us to the dormitory and tell sister
Cecilia to select beds for US. We bade
the Superior good night and followed Sis
ter Bertha out upon a long black COLON.
ade. where the sound Of merry voices and
laughter reached US from the recreation
rooms on the ground floor, and then up
fight Of stars into a passage, upon
which the dormitory opened.
We entered and the nun called sister
Cecilia A nun was issued from eur
tanned recess in corner where she had
doubtless been engaged in DEVOTION
Tired rs 1 was I could moi hnt ha str,ol,