The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-05-31

| N8fJOW man
cmbst, are, think, reasons enough to max
me- withhold my consent to this marriage
WAY, surely, Dennis, you don't think that
gioni FOB although far from doing my owI
duty, stin hold to my faith as q precious gift
and would preserve the Same to my child. Blu,
see no danger. Mr.. Stewart tells me that hi
was baptized in the Episcopal Church, and
though not claiming to be q member of any, ht
yet loves Kate too much to cross her in mat
tea of such vital Importance"
i wouldn't trust him" broke in Dennis, "far
| Their than could see him. He may blind you
I with his Episcopalian baptism, but he is al
heart q prosecuting Caivinist, and he would
he believes to be the damnable superstition OF
pogps%sy Sy, pen.i.., said mr.. o,nrisn. quite
a. afa 4p.t did you ever hear him say anything
"No, I can't say I did; but others have, when
there was nothing to be lost by speaking his
true sentiments. Beside this, Have studied
my man closely, and know that whatever
don't suit his bent, he hates, and you might a.
well be whistiing jigs to milestones, as ever to
hope to move him ont of his prejndices."
else, Dennis O'Brien was overruled by the per
| sistency Of his wife, and the sad face and
changed spirits of his beautiful child. There
was but little care taken in that day by some
Catholics to exact promises; they had not yet, in
this country, realized the danger of such mar
risges, and where the Protestant element was so
predominant, it was impossible to prevent them.
1t was at subsequent period that the abuses
growing out of this want of care, made the pre-
sent discipline imperatively necessary: Whether
the effect of the gloomy forebodings of hel
| husband, or the conviction of her own ur1ful
filled duties q conscientious mother, in re.
garding only worldly considerations in the
training of her child, weighed upon Nora, GER
tain it is, that Mrs. OBren felt an upaccount-
able restlessness and sense of gloom, the
time approached for the contamination of her
daughters marriage. She turned with more
nov how, OH hn1 folf
day to prayer, and sought an opportunity to
hold animpressive conversation with Kate upon
her new duties, and the necessity of keeping
her faith and it's practice inviolate under all
circumstances But what is precept to the
young without example; and Kate O'Brien-
though moved through her sensitiveness, by
forget how secondary religion had been deemed
in all the previous relations of her life. The
world, with it's golden calf idol, had been the
vestibule through which her feet had walked
to the temple of God. But she made allu
sions to these natural suggestions, but quoted
her mothers fears by promises to be more faith
full and serious in the future. Her father also
spoke to Mr.. Stewart on the subject of perfect
his suggestions i'll an amiable, light sort of n
way, saying as reply, and termination
to an unwelcome subject:
Have no fears, MI. OBrien, for dare say,
in few years, that Kate and will be both of
the same mind in this matter"
A very equivocal rejoinder, but one that the
H.,
fivorably. Under the illusion, then, of happy
future, preparations for the wedding went joy
fully on, and the beauty of the bride, the ecldt
of its magnificence, compensated the weak ma
turc of the mother for all past anxieties, and
made the parting hour less painful than either
parent had ever dreamed, by any possibility, it
could be. Thus, how often we lull ourselves
into fatuous hopes, when the cloud that is
freighted with destruction already rests the
verge of the distant horizon.
When quiet was once more restored to the
house, and things had assumed their wonted
form and place, husband and wife sat, each
buried in thought, watching the movements
and expressive countenance of their sole re-
manning child, as she busted herself fastening
n ribbon around the neck of pet kitten. She,
too, was beautiful, and as she suddenly jumped
up, and ran out of the room after the cat, her
father turned round to his wife and said:
1T would be fearful thing, Nora, if the
soul of that child should be lost. Beauty is
certainly of Gods gifts, to be thankful for,
but, somehow, 1 wish He had given my chill
dren less of it,"
"Why, Dennis, love, how gloomy you are!
think the career of our Kate, thus far, ought to
make you hopeful for Nellie's future, likewise"
60 don't see things as you do, Nora gloomliy
training requires a strong mind, and plenty of
religion thrown in, as a ballast to keep soul
from going to pieces under IT; and that little
one bids fair to follow in her sisters steps.
I'll tell YOU what it is, NORA" continued Mr..
O'Brien with great vehemence, you have had
your way about Kate and was weak enough
to give my conscience III your keeping but, ny
the powers, Ill not do so again! Nellie shall
stay at the convent until her schooling is done,
fine manners or coarse; then, if she forfeits in
the future her lights and graces, at least. will
be free from self-reproach, which is more than
amnow, by the same token, when think of Kat e
under the influence of her bigot of a husband
The fathers fears We're not without founda-
tion. Nellie, now nearly fifteen years old, pos
sessed more intellect and force of character than
her sister, while her beauty was also of more
delicate, spirituelle type. Already she manifested
a spirit impatient of control, and one that was
both ambitious and aspiring; while she lacked
the softer and more affectonate disposition of
Kate.