The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1868-07-19

North, hoping that such complete chang
OF scene and climate might restore his los
spirits and rapidly failing health; nor di'
their expectations prove vain. In a few
months Mr.. Raymond was once more abl
TO resume his practice, and very soon fount
himself in a position which would enabl,
him to reclaim the losses his ll-health haG
occasioned, and provide to his hearts con
tent for Alice's future education. He could
not bear the child out of his sight, yet his
good sense and strong love told him that as
a man lie could not perform the duties so
necessary for her health and the proper cul-
tivation of her mind SO, like sensible
man, he determined to sacrifice his own
pleasure to her interest-to accomplish
which he made it his business to find such a
nome and such guardians as would ensure
the fulfillment Of his fondest wishes in her
regard. After many inquiries and much
deliberation, his choice fell upon Catholic
institution under the charge of the Sisters
nearly supply the dead mothers place to his
little one than those who paid no heed to
the promise: Whatever We do for one of
these little ones, ye have done unto me,"-
command and promise which sway the
every act of these devoted women. So to
their care he committed Alice, trying to
soften the separation by frequent letters
and visits. Well, to make long story
short, matters progressed favorably for
both-Alice improving in health, beauty,
and learning, beyond his most sanguine 'ex-
Pectatlons, while his own prospects at the
bar gave promise of rapid advancement,
when, just as Alice entered her fifteenth
year, Mr. Raymond again became so ill as
to necessltate his immediate withdrawal
from all business cares. Sadly against his
will, Alice was brought home to take her
place by his bedside and look after the COM
forts of his little home. Bravely, nobly,
and we'll did she perform all her duties-her
character and powers seeming to develop in
accordance with each new claim upon them
There is nothing like trouble to bring out
the finer qualities of woman's heart; if
row is snS RGcHeny to extractp IT, t., ~, mhnt Int
makes men cross, morose, and selfish, turns
woman's finer nature into something very
like an angels.
"Thus eight months passed, and Mr.. Ray
mond gave evident signs of failing rapidly.
Seeing his little means not likely to more
than last his own life, occasiOned him many
q bitter pang of anxiety for the future of his
dear child. In the midst of the conflicting
thoughts and vain efforts growing out Of
this subject, there arrived most unexpected
ly from his old home a very dear friend
who had, by accident, heard of his Illness
and had hastened North for the sole purpose
OF mnistering to his necessities and looking
after the future of Alice. You may divine
the rest-how the friends devotion won
the daughters gratitude; how her heart,
hitherto, only occupied by the father, the
good Sisters and her schOOlmates, now
found room in it for this stranger who had
come i'll the guise of ministcring angel.
"a susceptible and tender-hearted girl
can never withhold affection from those
who show her kindness and consideration
1t is this feeling, which many in their early
life, who know nothing of the depth of their
own hearts, mistake for rlove-learning, often
when too late, their fatal error. No won
der, then, that the father, in answer to his
friends entreaties, begged Alice to consent
to be his wife. Having before her eyes the
hopelessness of his recovery, and seeing<the
eagerness with which he seemed to grasp at
this promise of hope and protection from
her, she gave her consent. What if she was |
but child, just in her sixteenth summer,
and Mr.. Hampton twenty years her senior
More certs5n, thought Mr.. Raymond, of her
future life being guarded from temptation
and shielded from care; SO she was mar
in one short week after, Mr.. Ray
mOpd folded his hands in peaceful serenity
for his daughters future, and closed his
eyes upon a life which had been one of many
cares and much deep-hearted anguish.
"Mr. Hampton lost no time in settling
Mr.. Raymond's affairs, and then started
with 4his young, serrowing bride for his
Southern home. The climate proving too
for Alice, they returned within
the year to the neighbOrhood of her old
home, doubly hallowed now by her fathers
grave, where her husband purchased beau
tiful house, surrounding it with every
requisite of beauty and comfort. There he
spent two peaceful and happy years, never
of his childwife, or regretting any
sacrifice for her pleasure or comfort. But
the summons came for him, too, and he
passed away aftera few days illness, leaving
his fair young wife sole heiress to all his
wealth. A few months after her husbands
death, her health, never strong, began to
fail, and ere long unmistakable symptoms of
a spinal affection ripened into disease and
helplessness. ,-ar
I" All that medical skill could do was
done, but in vain and no wonder, for be-
lieve that the species of living martyrdom
that the doctors subject the victims of such
diseases to, increase far more than they
lessen the suffering