The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-03-29


| settlers. without any provision for their
| spiritual wants and many of these settlers
| after the Restoration answered but too faith
fully to the description given of them by one
who knew them we'll: +" have hunted with
them," says he, " have diced with them,
| have drunk with them, l have fought with
them but have never prayed with them -
and another. might well describe an Irish
| Protestant as man who never went to
church and hated Papist.
| A REMARKABLE CoNvERsI0N.-Last Au-
gust the Rev. ii. Duranquet, S. j., whose
| name is ever associated with the deeds of
charity, attended IL German and his wife
who had come off from ship seriously ill.
| Both died, leaving two little girls, .and
boy aged two years, named Frankly. The
good father knew that the children were on
the island and that a Jealous bigot had al
| ready determined to secure the effects of the
parents and send their orphans out West.
Without losing an instant, the Rev. Father
took measures to thwart his design !; he sent
! the girls to the Prince street Orphan Asylum,
[ New York, but what was he to do with so
young boy7 Could he hope that one so
much under age could be received in the ST.
Patrick's Male Orphan Asylum? Trusting
| to the charity that reigns in that dear nur-
sery of youth, he sent the attendant up there
| with little Frankly, who was not only sick,
| but covered with vermin and that pest of
the island, Itch. Unable to rest from anxiety
for the fate of the poor little hoy, the kind
priest hurried up to find if shelter could be
afforded to the object of his solicitHde, and
to his inexpressible joy found that Frankly
was already quite domesticated Mt the asy
! lum. A few days OF tender care soon res
tored the little fellow to health, a heavenly
brightness seemed to shine on his fair white
brow and intelligent face. Time flew on
and Frankly, and one other little orphan boy,
known as Petty, both too young for the
classes, were allowed free range of certain
portions of the asylum, being docile, bright
little fellows, neveri in the way to any ones
tlisq,,iet. Some time ago, the door bell rang
and two lady visitors were announced at
the aSy lum. The kind Sister Superior hast
cnetl to receive, them; one was a German
ladl. apparently in very good circumstances
and well bred-she was accompanied by a
lady friend acting as her interpretress. At
ter the usual compliments, the lady informed
the Sister that she had been visiting four of
| the public institutions for little boys in the
city, to find q little fellow to adopt and
bring up as her own son, as she had no chill
dfen living, but that she had not seen one
that she would wish for until her eyes Lit
upon little George, the gentlemanly little
fellow who waited upon her ut the door as
she came in, and, who, after courteously
| showing her into the parlor, desired her
name. cob" said she, " If you will give
me that little boy or one. like him
Twill do any thing you advise for him,
for l said to my friend as / came in:
Here is the place to get nice little boy.n
The Sister Superior had already judged that
her visitors were Professionals from their ex-
pressiOns, and after q few judicious remarks
about the cireHmspection exercised before
putting the little boys out, inquired their
religion. They were Lutherans; still the
lady urged her request. She was told in
reply that the chiidren's spiritual good was
of paramount Importance; hence, that they
| 80 K,..A
| she was ready to promise any thing7Zto have
the child visit the asylum weekly for in
structiOn in his religion and to educate him
| as a Catholic. Just at this juncture, the
| door opened, and quite unannounced, Mas
tiers Frankly and Petty came into the parlor
lady was transported with little Franky's
bright, healthy appearance which proved he
was as we'll cared for as any gentleman's
son. To her grief, she was told that she
could not have hina>; for even if she were IL
Catholic she could not have that boy, since
having little sisters it was wished he and
they should grow up under the same care
and not lose sight of each other. The little
fellow, however, seemed to know that he
had an angels Office to perform for the Lady
and to the astonishment of all who knew
his quiet ways, showed her marks of special
notice. The lady was touched with all she
heard and saw, and left the asylum much
edited. Too much Interested to stay awayi,
she continued her visits, and learning of
good Father Duranquet's efforts for the |
children of her cOuntrymen, she wished to |
become acquainted with him and SO called |
at st. Francis Xavier's College. The |
Astounding charity of the good Father inn
pressed her, and she came by degrees still
more interested in the Catholic religion
and SO did her fair interpretress also, and
on the Feast of the Publication of the |
Blessed Virgin Mary, they were both re-
ceived into the Church.-baptized in the
presence of the lady's husband, by Father
DuraIquet.-Aue Maria.