The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-04-26
THE sIsrERs or CHARITY.


noble passions Ofthe worstc classes against OF
L Ialth-than the New York Eranqelist A col
II responding OF this journal, in a recent issu,
> pays the following just tribute to the Sister
n Oh Charity In Paris Founding Hospital
s But little would be ACCOMPLISHED by tn
n largest means and the most judicious organ
=, iza!lol, We're it not for those humble auxil
=, lafles, who take upon themselves the hard
I est part OF the work, the Sisters of Charity
c Ihey are not paid Tor it, they derive from
t 1in no worldly advantage, but devote thei
n christian self-denial. On their banner i
a inscribed only these words of the Divin
Master: lnasmuch as ye have done it unit,
one OF the least of these, We have done j
unto me-" The. may sometimes have
narrow superstltlous conception Of thei
calling, but have seen great deal Of them
and my experience leads to n Jifferen
opinion. l found them, on the contrary
! remarkably free from bigoted prejudices
they deal too much with the saddest reali
ties OF life, not to be indulgent and liberia
in their views.
The sacrifice of domestic ties and affec
ZION seems to, direct all the instincts of tlieil
w"ii'ily nature toward the suffering OBJ
lects OF their care. She who can never have
eh!dreh OF herown to return her love, can
Lavish her affection on the wretchcd little
orphans committed to her; she can be a
sister to the wounded soldier in the hospi-
tai, to all the sick and dying. The finer the
Womanly nature, the more beautifully il
her duty fulfilled. 1t inquiries their sweet
words OF consolation and sympathy, it leads
them to relieve, by the most graceful devil
ces, the -dreariness of the hospital wards,
making it really home for the wanderer
qua the forsaken, and it truly justifies the
names OF mother and sister, switch suffering
humanity has given them. -.
| once, III the Hospital for FOun,llinps. l
was talking with q Sister having CHARGE Of
nsvy<AS IL:
soon us they are found, when a little being
was brought to her. On the rags which
hardly covered him was pinned paper.
bearing this saddest of all human records
rather, mother, unknown" 1t was n
beautiful boy, four OF five weeks old. but il
had been exposed to the cold all night in nm
alley, aud its short life was rapidly ebbing
away How many homes would have blesse d
the advent Of such u child! But no Young
mother, exulting in the possession of her
nrsI- porn, could have tended it more loving
~ than this humble Sister. She covered
It's pale little face with kisses AS if re-
called by them Il moment to life, the child
opened Its eyes and met hers with a sineu-
lar expression OF intelligence, then shut
thea forever, thus taking to heaven the
sweetest thing OF this world, u mothers |
sin1le- This woman was young, very hand |
some, and naturally refined, yet her whole
life was enclosed within these walls. where
vice, shame, and despair threw their inno-
cent victims into her arms. Long shall /
the sweet, saint Y face, and the
we We're Watching together the last mo-
l0ents of the poor little founding: " You
have no children of your own % our wo-
manly hearts united in an almost uncon-
'cious yearning for this young life passed
away. Was that a useless existence. the
product of weak superstition on the
contrary, it's moral beauty illumined this
'addest of all abodes of charity, for the !;
mere thought that these poor little ones had
been abandoned by those who gave them
'eing, seemed to fill the very air of the
,lace with chilliness and gloom. In the
ward which receives the children past the
irst stage Of infancy, collected in alleys, in :
he streets, and tenement houses, I found n 1
,roup of poor little girls that neither ca l
esses nor loving words could awaken from L
ne r sad apathy. One just brought from !,
made the room resound with the piteous CRY. e
mamma, mammal" and they all stared NJ r
er, as if the sweet word had no meaning for D
hem. Leaving, with slludder, this scene of e
isolation. turned my steps to the hospi- G.
Al for convalescent children; there all was p
ope, life, and sunshine. From the homes II
T the poor, from the different hospitals for
ne sick, the children are brought, when all %
anger is passed, for the benefit of fresh air ii
nd good nourishment Here, in spacious e'
alls, under the shade of stately avenues, IN
1o ahii uCuS VI hOWcIS, Cney rOmD and +,
lay, and get fresh blood in their pale cheeks. al
ach little face had IL smile ion the visitor. 10
'ch small, emaeiated hand sympathetic an
'essure. The Sisters were moving to and ae
III happy bustlipg way, propping up nj
is one in his little chair, giving n kiss to We
lother, distributing the nourisiilng food so an
eediiy craved by all. 1t was u.le of the ca
ettiest sights in the world; the sky seemed I'M
ler, the flowers sweeter, as If nature ihs
med IN the work of love and charity. WI
Had not already passed the limits of a Pc
ter, could describe many other places los 1o
lere the same wise forethought, the same 10
voted charity, are working equally beau we we
III results. Often during these visits, | on
aught of st. I4ulie's Hospital New York. go