The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-06-14
NUMBER 10.

4 little girl. Nellie had never given any evidence
OF much natural piety, though, in her youth,
she had kept to the letter Of the law in the full
hAment0 OF her religious duties. Each year, how
ever as she advanced in life, found her more
lndiherent; and only to please her mother did
| ance of fidelity in such things.
About year succeeding these sad events, Mr..
Talinadge was called by pressing business to Il
reluctantly from his little family, for he loved
his home, and felt unwilling to leave it even for
a few weeks. Alas! those anticipated weeks
those terrible accidents, frequent in our
waters, happened to the boat upOn which he
embarked; and, in q moment, without time for
thought or word, his, with numberless other
souls, was hurled into eternity.
The agony OF his wife, when the news reached
her, was wild and convulsive. For time she
was naturally 80 rebellious, that she failed to
find those consultations which come so merc-
fully to the more regulated and trusting heart;
and thus, she put upon God the blame which
rested solely within herself.
Alone, with two little ones, the youngest an
infant boy of few weeks, with barely means
enough to last, with close economy, more than
two years, ut the most young and inexpcri
| encctl, her trial was indeed hard one; but she
made it even greater by the uncontrolled,
bellious spirit with which she met it. Her.
mother did all in her power to console her, and
induce more Christian and philosophical view
| of her situation. Mr.. Stewart wrote her letters
she needed--otfcred it. too, in such words of
generous sympathy and interest, that she felt
they were not a mere empty form, but could.be
accepted and relied upon, if her necessitics de-
manded the obligation. ~
By degrees, under the soothing hand of tsasc,
the weight grew lighter, and she carried her
health was now failing, and demanded mich Of
hefcare and time and thus, tho dread OF o new
trial absorbed somewhat the grief Of the old.
These fears were realized within the following
nf IL moi hnr phnan XIV
faults seemed virtues to her, merged as TREY
We're in u life of unselfish devati6i and ceaselsss
love; and, rs she was eAtfiB4b ASuy from her
sight forever, gloom far darker than she, hdd
yet known settled like .. funeral pail upon, her
soul, and for many, many, weeks she refused all
consolation and cOmpalliopsllip from >y1upa-
thizing friends: and even the nccessitic. 1T her
little ones failed to rouse. her from this VIDE
At length the settlement Of affairs Compelled
grief was renewed when sire found thar in th..
f,lllncss of her mothers 1--we, for her. sl,. Ind
sacrificed many of her oMn tastes and wants in
order to lay by quite nice little sum OF u.nsy
as II legacy for her future needs.
The winter following Mrs, O'Bricu, death
Mr.: Stewart made his first visit to New orle!ihs
SO closely as he was with the memories of her lbst
sister, Mrs. Talmadsc welcomed him warmly aid
received him as n brother in her home. Sliefislt
no hesitation in giving him her full con IitieuSe
regarding her business, and asking his ad.Iise
for her future course in the management ut her
affairs. In one of these conversations. fly
startled her by a proposition Of marriage. .'2n
81 cannot bear, Nellie" he said, "to l.4ye
you so isolated and so lhnch in need of IL srr6Hg
arm to lean upon. My home is also desolare,
and my children need a mother; and who can
so well supply that place, Nellie, the sister of
her who is gone. | make yon no wild protfs-
but can offer you a comfortable home, wlthiia
sincere affection, accompanied by an earnest
desire to promote your happiI,ess" ~ ~
tinued: .r/ jan ~ .. yiiI
"Don't give me your answer, now, Nellie fpr
see how such II proposition has startled you
by letter your conclusions"
And she did think over it, and weighed itfin
all its bearings; and, by degrees. the worldly
advantages of the connection suppressed all tht,
repugnances and conscientious scruples thht
would force themselves into these private
council chambers. 'l5.-,. BEit
True, she had no love to give Mr.. Stewart
she not by nature gifted with much sensi-
bility, and what she possessed had been lavishsd
she argued, "who the object be, provided H.
can secure to me and my children all that /
most love and cOvet in this world; and oyI
like Charles well as any one else and ltsis
growing to be rich man, should be "a fi,Dl
not to accept him." so, she wrote him to this
effect, and the early fall settled upon for
the fulfilment of her promise.
Upon the return of Mr.. Stewart to New Or
leans, when the preliminaries of this business
arrangement had all been settled, he said with
some appearance of agitation
There is one more point upon which have
not touched, Nellie, trusting that you would
relieve me of the necessity. The subject was
such a source OF trial in my first marriage, and
is fraught with bitter and remorseful memo
RES that never wish to allude to it. Need
say that it is religions 1 want to relieve your
mind i'll advance, by telling yOu that my views
have undergone a very great change; that
Catholicism occupies far more exalted position
in my judgment than formerly; and, that not -r
only give my free and full consent to your uu-
molested practice of its requirements, but am
also willing that my children--Kate's little
ones-may be brought up in the same. Indeed
they are already somewhat initiated for Biddy
has been faithful to the memory, of their dear
mother"
The face of Mrs. Talmadge turned crimson Mt
a.: tod confo g..