The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-06-21


dren, took it ont and placed it safely under
lock and key in the secret drawer of his secre-
| tary. ..,f
At first, Mrs. Stewart took quite an interest in
her handsome new home, but ere long she became
too much engrossed by her position and calls in
fashionable life to pay much attention to do
Mestic details, save to see that its style and
ador,.ment were always CONNIE il ta.t AS it
necessary to have some show OF religion
before the world, and the Unitarian Church
was trequented by the literary clique par ercel-
IeMce, the service short. and preaching good, the
chief object OF the minister being mainly to in
terest his hearers, and never by any chance to
shock their sensibilties by hard and nnwel-
come truths under these considerations, Mrs.
Stewart took a pew therein and managed to
attend one service on Sundays. Attendance at
such an assembly this was IL mere pleasant
pastime. and conscience slept easy under the
q,laintance of Mrs. Stewart, either induced
thereto by previous feeling Of interest in her
sister, or by the accident of meeting her in So
cicty. and being won by her beauty, and charm
ing graceful manners. Among the number
were several members OF IL very staunch CathO-
lie family, whO at first, We're inclined to visit
/ presence. but who, ultimately, won over by her
destinations, concluded to cultivate her, hoping
that there might yet be some germ of the old
faith left in her heart, which, under proper in
fluences, would blossom into fruit.
CHAPTER VI.
Over vine-clad hills, through lovely valleys,
teeming with the cereal blooms OF our Western
lands you passed, to reach the house of Mr..
Miller, the head of the family above alluded to.
The situation was beautiful one, Astounding
points, which were q constant source of delight
to the many visitors that fequented this hos
pitable home, particularly. during the summer
months.
Mrs. Stewart had been invited, with few
| other friends, to make Ellerslie u visit, and
| as everything appertaining to country life was
a novelty to her, she gladly accepted the invi-
! tation. After several days of great enjoyment,
passed in visiting many of the surrounding pic
| turesque scenes, the family and guests were
seated in the evening around a bountiful and
appetizing supper, combining country rarities
with city luxuries, when a discussion ensued as
to the programme for the amusements of the
next day. Each one proposed plan, without,
however, eliciting any very warm response,
when, finally, Mr.. Miller, turning to Mrs. Stew
art, asked:
'!If there were any Shaker settlements in
Louisiana -
mo, indeed replied she, g: we far too
conservative down there, for any of those new
isn,s and ties to take root: Our people have the
reputation OF being far behind their Northern
brethren in intellectual culture, and all poll
| teal, practical, and scientific development, and
l won't say that they are not. But, think,
there is reason TO rejoice, when you see such q
steady repulsion to all moral and religious
| innovations we have displayed, and such a
brave adherence to the older and safer prin-
ciples of those statutes upon which the secure
ty of the social life and family circle depends"
:" That is true" said Mrs. Harvey, young
married lady, and sister of Mrs Miller, who
had spent several winters in New Orleans.
" But, if the Swans and philosophers not
particularly cultivated, the muses. and graces
| most assuredly are. There is no Northern city
that furnishes so many opportunities for ele-
waiting the tastes of the lower classes, by pub
| lie entertainments, such as grand church cere
| monials, imposing military parades, solemn and
impressive funeral professions, and the kalei-
descOpic pictures of the Carnival season. There,
too, Flora re- gns supreme in public square and
private garden; and almost every landholder
| manages to afford patch Of ground to he de-
voted to her honor; whilst here, tine money
| value Of every inch regulates the taste, and
sacrifices beauty and refinement to utility and
gain. But, above all, you can enjoy such q
| feast of music in New Orleans, surpassed only
States that can and does support full operate
company for six months i'll the yeart To so to
that city," continued Mrs. Harvey, now quite
warmed by her subject, "of genial climate,
| warm, loving, and generous hearts, from of
the cold Puritanicai towns of the North, is, in
decd, like exchanging the dismal fogs of Lon
don for the glori ous valleys Of the Rhineland."
Now, here interrupted her brother Rosa
Is of on one of her rhapsodies, and if she is not
stopped, we will never get our programme set
| tied for Tomorrow
sTrue enough" said Mrs Stewart; and
that reminds me, Mr.. Miller, that you wero ask
ing about the Shakers, and it occurs to me that
L have heard, indirectly, that there was colo
| ny of those people somewhere in Ohio Is it so !
for should like above all things to see them. :"
".Just what 1 going to propose, Mrs.
Stewart, when the question proved such o pro-
life suggestion of apotheoss for yonr beloved
Southern land. There isl continued Mr.. Miller,
% q Shaker settlement about twelve miles from
this point, and, if the company agreed, we
| will settle all further discussion. and make a
visit there, tomorrow =
4 ..Oh, that will be charming"' cried al ~ one
: voice.
:. But" said Mrs Miller, Louis the carriage
and buggy will not hold lis all
Well" answered her husband, " then we
can press the two riding horses into service
and as Rosa is always ready and eager to play
cquestricune, she. know, will he delighted to
ride way, and if tired, can exchange seats
: with one of the ladies coming homc.'
As early there had been transplanted from
Enp into The New