The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-05-03

I
ever, imnediately aftorward, in . softer
tone, How can give comfort, Hamish
II who need it 50 entirely myselfr
"That is tho very thing" cried Hamish,
eagerly. God love you, madam, do You
not sec that the only real comfort you could
try at least and comfort your"
Bid them pray, then, for the safe jour
ney Of my loved ones" she answered,
hoarseiy that is the only real comfort
they can give me-" .--.--
And why, then, couldn't we pray alto
bright idea. Why wouldn't you let them
come up here, madam: 1 warrant you they
would pray as the best of them never prayed
before, if they only seen your ladyships
honor kneelins and praying i'll the midst ct
them" y
she answered, laying her head once more ON
her folded arms, like weary or a chidden
child. eco you, good Hamish, and pray
with them yourself, down stairs"
Gin the kitchen, is it ?" said Hamisb, with
a considerable portion of irony in his voice.
Fax, my lady, and it's queer thoughts
we'd have, and queer prayers we would be
saying there, with the pot forenent US,
boiling on the fire, and Cromwell's black
rogues of troopers coming and going, and
flinging> curses and scraps of Scripture lac
cording to their usual custom) in equal
measure at our heads. No! no! my lady,"
he continued vehemently, "if you would
have us pray at all, it must be here-here
where the cross will mind us of Mother
who once stood at it's foot, and who was
even more desolate than you are a Mother
silent and heart br0ken-not because her
Child had gone before her into exile, from
whence He might any day return, bat be-
midst of tortures-and forsaken SO entirely
that it might well have seemed to her (only
she knew that never could beg as if God rs
we'll as man had utterly abandoned Him."
.tYou are right, Hamish; you are right"
cried Mrs. Netterville suddenly, touched to
the quick by his voice and eloquence. Go
you down at once, good Hamish, and bid
them come here directly. I shall be ready
by the time they are assembled"
AS Mrs. Netterville spoke thus, she rose
from the floor, and then, all at once per-
ceiying the strange disorder of her attire,
she began hastily to gather up her tresses,
previous to placing her widows Golf upon
them.
Hamish waited to hear no more, but in
stantly left the room to do her bidding. As
he walked rapidly toward the lower part OF
the mansion, lie drew a long sigh OF relief,
like one who has just got rid of heavy bur-
den, as in truth he had /; for he felt that he
had gained his point, and that whatever his
mistress might have yet to suffer, she was
safe, at all events from the effects ct that
first great shock of sorrow which had
threatened to overturn her intellect.
When he returned to announce that the
household was assembled and waiting for
her further orders he found her kneeling at
the priedieu, i'll all the grave composnre of
her usual manner She did not trust herself,
however, to look round, but merely signed
to him that they should come in and the
instant the noise and hustle of their first
entrance had subsidized, she commenced
reading from her open missal.
But the very sound of her own voice in
supplicatory accents seemed to break the
spell which had hitherto been laid upon her
faculties She fairly broke down and burst
into a flood of tears. This was more than
enough for the excitable hearts around her,
and the room was filed in a moment with
the wailing of her people. Hamish was in
despair and yet, perhaps, no other mode of
proceeding could have done so much toward
calming her a s did this sudden Outburst ];
for Mrs. Netterville had true English
woman's aversion to " SCENES" however real
and natural to the circumstance of the case
they might be- She instantly checked her
tears, and waiting quietly until the storm of
grief had in some degree died out, she col
lected all her energies, and read in low,
steady voice the prayer oreollect for those
travelling by land or sea, as she found it in
her missal. A few other short but earnest
prayers succeeded, and then she paused once
more. Her audience took the hint and
quietly retired. IIamish was about to follow,
but she rose from the pricdieu, and signed
to him to- remain.
Hamish," she said. gently but decidedly,
1 have done your bidding, and now l eN-
pect that you will do mine. l wish to be
alone for the rest of the day-do you under
stand alone with God and my great sorrow !
Tomorrow will begin the work for which
l have been left here, but to-day must be my
own. Come not here yourself, and look to
it that one else disturbs me. Keep n
heedful watch upon the soldiers, and see
that no mischance occurs between them and
any of our people / trust to you for this
and all things. Now leave me. If have
need of anything, I will let you know"
There was That i'll Mrs. Netterville's tone
Il 81, hl,