The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-05-31
NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 81, 1868
toll and privatien could never have brought to


| the handsome vigor into which he had devel-
oped, but also by the happy expression of his
countepance, which spoke eloquently of a con-
tented, cheerful heart.
Nora met him, will, little Nellie by i,er side,
clothed in robes of ~ texture and style very
different from the simple rustic garments that
she had thought handsome enough ten years
before for any one in her own station. She
had developed into wOuld-be fine lady and,
though q very handsome woman, yet there was
a Hash in her eye, and hard lines about the
rest, and oontrastsd strongly with the placid
repose of her husbands face.
You look ry>happy tonight, Dennis" said
his wife; have you met with another wonder
full streak of>fortnne9'
"Wen, Ses, believe have; but think it
is morethe talk have just had with Father
that has made my heart so light, and my face
nm index to that same"
!" Talk with Father Kendleton" exclaimed
Mrs. oBrien; III L. engage then, that money
"True for You, Nora, but what better can
do with the money that the blessing of God
has sent me than to give part of it to help
His cause in this great, growing CITY, which
ship
build a church ~
"Not exactly" replied Dennis; because you
see they can't raise money enough for anything
better than wood but have given my mite
for that, and Father Kendiston Ne. was kind
with, and, with the help Of God, by next
Christmas, Camp street should have q church
of the blessed St. Patrick big enough to hold all
who were willing to come into her fold"
"And 80 your pocket ightened of q Thousand
your good fortune" said Mrs. o'Brfen,. in NO
keep on giving to every gossoon that asks you,
until there isn't q cent left for your family to
bless themselves with"
"Never fear that same, Nora dear, for
what goes to God and the poor will always
bring blessing, and if it don't come in the
shape of money, it will be sure to take some
when one shape is safer than another. Lis
ten, now," continued Dennis, to the big
contract which is going to pay back hun
orphans. You must know that there is great
lot of people coming in here from the Northern
States, and they bring with them what is called
Yankee enterprise; and though their ways amt
just soft and pleasant as the French man
ners, yet they are the people to make things
grow, and raise this city to the place it ought
to take in the nation, with it's great commercial
advantages. They laugh at the old low, frame
houses, and declare that they will prove that
there is foundation strong enough for some
thing better; so a company of these spirits
have put their heads together, and projected
two large rows of three-story brick dwelling
houses, and have the contract to furnish the
brick for this scheme, and n nate little sum I
expect to make of it and who knows acushla,
but when these fine houses are finished, but
that your darling wish may be gratifed,
and you may stand across the street and
see shining. on a big silver plate on the
OBrien,' and sure if his name is on the outside,
it's his pretty little wife that will be living
within. But come, put on your bonnet, and
bring little Nellie, and Well go see the shops
that the French have fixed with beauty
enough to take the eyes out of the head of a
snake, and you shall have the prettiest earrings
and pin that you can find, and we'll get lot of
sugar plums and toys to take to our little Kate,
when we so to the convent tomorrow to see
her."
Under the influence of her husbands gay
promised Jewels Mrs. OBrien's frowns had
changed into happy smiles, and she went gladly
with Dennis out into the gay thronS that
crowded Royal and Charities streets, to see the
fairyland that French genius and taste had
evoked to celebrate the New Year. Unlike her
husband, this womans nature was spoiled by
prosperity. 1t only served to foster the plebian
love of ostentation and personal aggrandize-
ment which. under less favorable circumstances,
might never have developed. These elements
in her nature struck at the root of every sacred
feeling and principle, and these she held only
in subseryience to what she considered the in
terest of her own and children's future. Her
husband had watched with pain these evil
tendencies, but trusted to the indulgence with
which he met her every wish to see them give
way to a better and more natural state of feel
ing. But Nora O'Brien had marked out her
own course, and was bent upon reaching the
pinnacle to which her husbands growing
wealth, in this democratic land, could raise her
So, taking advantage of the day and easy mood
of Dennis before retiring for the night, she, with
many caiolings and loving ways, presented the
petition which, she termed it, was to be her
New Years gift.
"You know, Dennis that am not altogether
pleased with Hates progress at the convent,
and think it would be much better for her
| health we'll as her studies, II you would con-
sent toilet her go to Madame Figaro's, i'll New
York. Besides, she will have the best class of
associates there, and the advantagesof dancing
school, and lessons i'll politeness that will tit
her for the society intend her to mingle with
| when her education is finished"
81 don't see, Nora, alana, with the exception
| of the dancing school, bat that the good nuns
can teach her all you have named, and what is
of far more consequence will preserve her from
losing her faith, which is of more Importance
than the airs and graces of silly fashionable