The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-07-05

Y 5, 1868.
Of Mrs. Stewards death, at once made applica
ton for the children to be given over to them
and rs Mr.. Stewart felt assured of their ability
and affectionate interest to provide for them
and recognizing, also, their prior claim. he gave
his consent, and, with some feeling of regret
babe them adieu forever.
The shock received at the moment of his
wife's dissolution produced an impression that
liant, aspiring life, with her full beauty and
endless striving after a happiness which, after
all, only touched her fingers to elude their
grasp; the restless torture of those last six
months of life, which eliminated in death so
fearful and suggestive, were subjects ever
present to his mind, breaking up not only his
spirits but his health. He became more con-
slant in his attendance at church, but derived
but little consolation from the repellant fatal
ism of Calyinistic doctrines.
The only interest now left him in life was
conferred i'll his children, and he looked anxious
", hopefully forward to the time of their
jority, when once more he could feel that his
home possessed q charm. In time his fullest
hopes were realized, and he had every reason
to rejoice in the hour that had induced him to
place them under the elevating influence of
Catholic morality and religion. When Kate
was seventeen she returned home and was in
stalled mistress of her fathers house. Inherit
ing the beauty and amiability of her mother,
combined with dash of her fathers stronger
will, with a heart deeply impressionable to all
securely upon the rock that held her above the
waves and quicksands that had proved SO fatal
to her house.
A year or so after her return home, her father
was suddenly FRUSTRATED by a stroke of paraly-
sis, and though he subsequently rallied, yet it
very soon became evident that he could never
be q well man again. All the daughters time
was now devoted to his care and diversion, and
she gladly relinquished all the pleasures and
little dissipations natural to youth, to find her
reward in the happiness thus afforded to her
doc rifE damn md ttn c1,orry of1 h
business affairs, and SO he had his physical
maladies alone to trouble him. Mr.. Strong,
tho successor Of the now superannuated Dr.
always observed at their termination, that her
father seemed more fatigued than entertained
by them, but she was careful never to hint this
grace to work all things together for good
one evening when he was feeling more than
ing Kate's nimble fingers framing delicate
piece of work, he startled her from q preoccu-
pied thought by saying:
reading to me the other day, when asked to
hear something from-eHe ef-yeHr- spiritual
writer's :"
at was The Elevation of the Soul to God
Would you like ME to read to you again, father."
"NOt now. l was only thinking of how bar
rem Protestant Libraries of such text books
and how much clearer and more forcible the
salient points of Scripture are made to appear
when thus handled, than when some poor ig-
norant mind is left to search and sift for itself
some truth of which it feels the need. I think
if man had never read word in the Bible,
that he might learn the way to salvation alone
through such a guide that, for it strikes me
that the whole letter of the law is comprised
therein"
Kate's fingers trembled visibly over her work
as she wondered to what these new impressions
would lead. After pause, Mr.. Stewart cone
tinued:
al feel that 1 have not very long to live,
daughter, and all my worldly affairs are in
good order, 1 should like to be as we'll satisfied
don't know how it is, but my old faith don't
afford the satisfaction it formerly did and
when present my doubts and objections to
Mr.. Strong, he fails to give me anything sub
been born and raised in the Presbyterian
Church. that there may be sufficient therein
for my salvation, but, after all, / think should
like to know something more of that faith,
which through the fidelity of the one loved
best, and the faithlessness of the other, wrought
such terrible woe to me. Sometimes think
that if your mother can know of my long re-
gret, that it might be some compensation for
her to see me in tho same path at last" There
was a pause, and the stiffness and twilight of
the room seemed filed with the presence of in
visible spirits.
Father, would you like to see the Catholic
bishop."
"No my child, not him. Hisprcsence is fraught
with too many sad and rcproachful memories;
but 1 have met Father C, and l think L
should be willing to have talk with him: l
don't exactly know, Kate, what impression has
been conveyed to your mind in regard to your
dear mothers last hours. OF course, Bridget
has given you her version, and though am
not disposed to question her truthfulness in
the matter still cannot but feel that my part
in that transaction, it appears, undiyested of
| explanation, assumes a species of tyranny and
persecution which, God knows, was far enough
| from nv heart in that distracted moment. 1t
is impossible for you, from your religious stand
point to form a correct idea of the motives
| which impelled such n course / pursued.
| Side by side with heather idolatry was en-
grated in my education q horror and aversion
| of the Catholic Church. was taught to be-
perstition, and priestcraft, for tho subversion
of all just government, Of family unity, and of
all purity in religious worship. That it was
wickedness,' scarcely anything more, indeed
than q 'baptized paganism,, amalgamated