The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-10-04

short account of her early days. II was as
follows:
az was born in a pretty little: country
village Inn Kant; my father at the time
being in-a EXCELLENT business, things went
Eerf bright TN my eighth year, when !
rerS4rkea t6at my father was great deal
bot, and ~ plSoe mother would often be in
nsrs. OHedxy, 7 shall never forget it,
AAd BEEN with some playmates for u ramble
ii the fields, and on returning found man
in possession Of our shop and house for
debts which my father was utterly unable
to Pa Fhe .ooa, we're al, .old shortly after
wards, and we caGns to London without
even bed to lie qpon.E Mymother took z
small furnished ro@m, ~ sth9n. went out 70
got some, and from that time abe struggled
on, supporting my father and me, till about
four months. bef6tA aheg diedau Wait aud
trouble completed its work, my poor
mother took to her bed, and never LETT II
till she died. You know the re4t.TE i q
= By the time Annie had fnished the last
sentence they had got to their own door go
Alfred babe her farewell for the night. The
work, q nsi 81 goi6g down to Ars. Browne
room, when there was . gentle tap, and
Alfred's we'll known voice craved admit
entering the room, Annie soon perceived
there was something wrong.
:. Why, Alfred, What bet is the e; NATTER I
bad in one sense, good in another" he
replied. g have just received an offer of
one is not, sufficiently lucrative, think of
accepting it, hope, by perseverance, to
soon be able to send for my mother; poor
woman she is quite broken hearted"
Poor Annie tried.to speak, but failed, and
burst into an uncomfortable flood of tears.
At last she sobbed out. ,5sH =
50 Pardon me, Alfred, know must seem
unkind and selfish; but what will become
of me when you-when your mother has
gomez She has taken my mothers place
since her death, and / feel I shall have all
my troubles over again. 0, forgive me,
Alfred, this selfish ontburst, and think how
desolate will be my life.'
"Do not talk in this way, dear Annie;
say but one word, and you shall never be
desolate again. Annie, love you. Can You
return this loveq We will be married
before leave England; and you can remain
with my mother till L can send for you
both" 1-5 ~
The poor girl hid her face in her hands,
and wept tears of joy blended with sorrow.
At length she said 'A5
go, Alfred, why have you told me this
Why not leave me without telling me of all
this happiness, happiness 1 can never
"Why, what does this mean, Annieq
what am I to understand from this IA
future engagement"
go, no, no, Alfred; do not break my
heart with such q suspicion; but you know
have-I have a father"
"You have one who bears that name,
Annie, but who has none of the proper
feelings of q father in his heart. Forget his
existence, and be happy; you have sacri-
feed yourself long enough"
"Hush, dear, dear Alfred / must not
listen to this. He is my father, and am
bound by q solemn VOW to the dead never
to leave him. promised my dear, dear
mother would stay by him to the last. o.,
can now see her anxious face as she
called me to her bedside, and, taking
my hand in her poor emaciated ones,
said to me: Annie, l have one request
to make before 1 de- What is it,
mother said. 1t is, child, that you will
ever remain with your poor father, and
watch over him as have done.' answered
There will be LOthing to take me from
him, mother 8 My child, you are getting
to an age when young girls receive offers
OF marriage. 1t may be your case and il
is not likely that any sober young man
would allow such a drunkard as your poor
father now is to live with you.' She would
have said more, but l FASTENED to assure
her would never marry while my father
lived. 0, Alfred, had you seen how radiant
with joy her poor face became, you would
not be the one to try and turn me from my
purpose"
"No, Annie, 1 will not. 1 am sorry sh,
should have bound you to such a promise
, but will wait, if necessary, ten, or ever
, twenty years, hoping at last to have yo'
for my own"
Dear Alfred, fear your staying. If m.
!, father was to come home he might b
angry, and abuse you, or even worse an,
, o, dear Alfred, it would kill me if you wer
{ hurt by him."
!, "Why are you afraid, dear girlf hav
3 made you an honorable proposition, and
/ would stand my ground manfully if
| homef"
81 AS Alfred was speaking noise was hear
+ on the stairs, and the next minute tn
drunkard reeled into the room, his fac
. ghastly, and distorted with drink.
Chow now, young man, what are 70
doinu in nv room, ~ he niccupad