The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-09-06

sCreeC, 1OunO the most elhSh little fair
that fate had ever set drifting on life
ocean all alone. A bonnie wee thing wa
Madge Cecil /; SO frail that her tenure her
seemed too slight for holding; yet from tn
wonderful gray eyes came flashes that CAV
promise of splendid future. Golden hal
courted the sunbeams, and, fiecked will
light, wrapped around the most graceful
contour that twelve summers had eve
shone upon. She knew of her mother
death, for her deep mourning dress con
trasted almost painfully with the delicate
wilderness of her complexion. And when ]
drew her upon my knee and put the rosary
in her hand, she threw her arms around me
and sobbed as though her heart would
break. really trembled as listened, fol
storm of passionate agony was convulsins
frame which had little to offer in combat
Mamma! mammal" she sobbed out, and
she clasped me closer. Will God take me
home to herf o mamma! come back!n
My heart ached for the child, whose grief
seemed agonizing her very soul, so 1 tried
to quiet her, and told her of the brighter
home where, with the holy Mother of God,
her own mother would be singing halle
lujahs. I told her that this earth was only a
brief journeyingp place which led to the sweet
| haven of eternal love, the land where fare
wells could never bring q cloud, nor part
ings cast shadow. Then the large gray
eyes looked trustingiy up into my face, and
with her arms around me, felt the love of
my heart 60 out toward her with a strength
and purity had never known before.
Soon after this, her guardian placed her
at Madame Cathaire's large boarding
school. and "Uncle Hail." as she now
and friend.
Years passed, and watched her beauti-
full girlhood unfold. She had rare talents,
of the beautiful; indeed, a purer spirit
seldom lived in this mortal tenement. Yet,
with her enthusiastic, impulsive nature,
she possessed quiet strength of control
that caused visions of the old martyrs
to rise; for felt that she, too, could
wrestle with passion, and, with Gods
grace, subdue all sin.
And thus time sped on, and each passing
season left its impress only to mature and
render more perfect the succeeding; and
her eighteenth birthday found her the real
ization of spiritual loneliness. The exqui-
irregular waves from the low Grecian brow,
and the sweet, earnest eyes always recalled
those of Guido's angel, bearing the branch
of lilies, in his beautiful picture of "The
Annunciation." She was living with her
guardian, and her great wealth attracted
many in city where gold is the winning
card"
There was charming freshness and
mairete in the young girl, and at times
almost religious light cleaned from the
depths OF her large gray eyes.
Her guardians nephew, Henry>/ElsdOn,
had just returned from Europe, and l
watched him as he dallied, at/first careless
ly, among the crowd that gathered around
her. =,
1 did not fancy the young man, and there
was an indescribable barrier which rose up
always when tried to hike him. He was
what the world would call handsome and
distingue, but the droop of the lover lip,
the heavy. Jaw, and narrow forehead truly
told of the fierce animal nature within.
Madge was very lovely in this first season,
and it was plainly apparent that he en-
Itirely failed to impress her: indeed at times
her GOODNESS toward him was marked.
On returning from vespers, one mild
May evening, she asked me to accompany
her on her Sunday visits. OF course, 1
went, for who could refuse herr Down the
dark streets we wandered, till we arrived
at an old brick house that, hundred years
ago, may possibly have been in its prime.
She tapped at the dingy door, and, like an
angel of~light, her presence seemed to
brighten. the room. A sick woman lay
stretched on Il miserable pallet, and Il
racking cough shook her weak frame; but
smile of happiness illumined the pinched
features, and her voice was tender as it
thanked Madge for her gentle deeds of
love.
A wonian's kindliness is never more
beautifully displayed than in sick cham
Der; and my heart did homage to the young
girl, as she knelt 10y the sick woman's bed,
murmuring, in low, comforting tones, the
prayer:
"Visit, we beseech the, o Lord! this
habitation, and drive far from it all the
snares of the enemy. May thy holy angels
dwell herein, to preserve her in peace; and
may thy holy benedictions always remain
with her, through Christ our Lord. Amen"
Her face was radiant, and her upturned
eyes were holy with inspiration. Just then
a shadow darkened the doorway, and L
looked, to meet the eyes of one perfectly
absorbed in the scene before him. My
startled movement recalled Madge, and
soft color deepened in her cheeks as she
seemed to feel the observation of the
stranger.