The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-08-23
CHAPTER XVI.

The rafting of the key in the lock, as
the jailer shut them up for the nj ght, came
like death knell on poor Nellie's ear. So
long as Ormston and Roger had been there
beside her, she had, quite uncOnsciously to
herself, entertained sort OF hope that
something (she knew not what) might yet
be devised for the solace of her mother
and now that they were gone indeed, she
felt as people feel when the physician takes
his leave of his dying patient, thus tacitly
confessing that all hope is over. The lamp,
which, in obedience to Il word from Ormis-
ton, the taller had brought in trimmed and
lighted for the night, revealed the cell to
her in all its bleak reality; and as she
glanced from the straw pallet, which at
Netterville they would have hesitatcd to-
place beneath IL beggar, to the pitcher OF
cold water, which was the only refreshment
provided for the dying woman, Nellie felt
anew such a sense of her mothers misery
and of her own inability to procure her
comfort, that, unable to utter single syl-
liable, she sat for few moments by her SIDE
weenng hopelessly and helplessly as a
child. Mrs Nctterville heard her sobbing,
and, after waiting a few minutes in hopes
the paroxysm would subside, said gently:
Nellie-my little one-weep not so bit
terly, entrcat you; you know not how 1t
pains me-"
: elbow can help it, mother7' sobbed the
girl. unable to conceal the thought upper
most in her own mind. " You suffer, and
the lowest scullion in the kitchen of Meter
Z Vile would have deemed herself ill-uscd in
such poverty as this !"
"Is that all. my child 2" said her mother,
with faint smile. Nay, dear Nellie, you
may believe me, that to a soul which feels
itself within an hour of eternity it is OF little
moment whether straw or satin support the
body it is leaving. Eternity yes, eter-
nifty ~ she murmured to herself. Alas All, !:
alas how little do we realize in the short
days of time the awful significance OF that
word, for ever"
"Mother, you are not afraidf burst
from Nellie's lips, a new and hitherto I'M
thought anxiety rushing to her mind.
" Afraid" Mrs. Netterville echoed the
expression with smile. "No, my daugh-
ter, by the grace of God and goodness OF
Our Lady l am not afraid. Nevertheless,
eternity, with it's ministering angel, Death,
are awful things to look on, Nellie; and IT
| could smile at aught which makes you
weep, it would be to think that such silly
grievance as straw pallet could add to
their awfulness in your eyes,"
Not to their awfulness, mother" Nellie
sobbed, " but to their sorrow; it is such a
pain to see you comfortless."
And has no one else been comtortiess
in death 7" Mrs. Netterville whispered al
most reproachfully. "Only consider, Mel
lie, this straw bed, which you lament so
bitterly, is a very couch of down compared
to His. when He laid him down upon the
hard wood of the cross to die.
"Mother, forgive me; l never thought of
that" said Nellie humbly. " only thought
of your discomfort"
"Think of nothing now, dear Nellie, but
this one word of Scripture, Blessed are
the dead who die in the Lord and hope
and pray that it may be so with me to-
night. Now, dry your eyes and listen, for
I have much to say and but little time left
wherein tc say it. Dry your eyes, for l
cannot bear to see you weeping thus. Your
tears have almost the power to make me
repine at DEATH"