The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-10-24
NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER a. 1859.

shining curls to her shoulders. The little boys
complexion was dark and clear, his black eyes
soft and brilliant. The startling timidity com
blned with searching earnestness in their ex-
preston as he raised them to mine and en-
countered my admiring gaze thrilled my very
conducting us, exclaimed, pointing to them,
"'What beautiful childrenh
Yes she said, with fond pride, and evil
IDENTIFY battered by our notice of her pets, 'they
are indeed beautiful, and, alas! their mis-
fortunes are as striking as their beauty, They
belonged to Scotch family on board vessel
that was wrecked off Newfoundland, and their
parents persisted. Mr.. Ferguson, q Scotch gem
tleman in very intirm health, from city,
was visiting some friends in that vicinity, and
happened to be passing in carriage with one
of them on the evening of the storm and the
shlpwreck, when, noticing the torches and
hustle on the shore, they stopped to inquire
the cause and to render assistance, il possible,
to those who were washed ashore. This little
girl had been lashed to q plank, and by won
derfal Providence, when the baby was borne
away from his mother, the same wave carried
him within reach of his little sister, who,
seized and chung to him as with dying grasp,
until she was snatehed insensfb1e by Mr.. Fer
guson from the top of wave which rolled far
up on the shore, and would have hurried them
back in its receding surf but for powerful
effort on his part, which had nearly cost him
his life, for he received injuries in the attempt,
by severe sprslins and otherwise, that rendered
him almost helpless for spuie, weeks. His
friend took the, children and himself in the.
carriage to his residence. oyer two miles dis
tant., Mr.. Ferguson was unable to leave his
bed for some weeks Unfortunately the physi-.
clan of that neighboFllood was absent. ssl4g sEf
.. 1t was long before they succeeded in sre-,
storing any sign Of life to either of the chill
dren and when their efforts were Mt leng til re-
warded BY faint evidences of returning auiIna-
tson4 they had 60 exert tllemsely yes W the utsi
! spark When they. began 10 IS 0saAsl
difficulty met their devoted friends. The nerves
of the little girl had sustained SO severe q
shock that she could not be aroused to n sense
of anything around her. When the physician
returned he gave little hopes of her recovery.
"'As soon as the gentleman who had taken
| them to his house dared to leave them aud Mr.
| Ferguson so long, he went to inquire after the
| survivors of the wreck, and found they had
DEPARTED in a vessel bound for Montreal: Mr..
Ferguson, therefore, as soon as he was recover
| ed, having become strongly attached to the
i little waits, brought them to us, that they
might DO where he could sometimes see them.
as The little girl recovered but slowly Her
sleep for long time broken by dreams OF
agonizing struggles, from which she would
\ awake screaming, and SO terrified that 1t re
4 quired our most anxious and tender efforts K
/ soothe and quiet her. During the first OF hei
l lucid intervals, she told us her name and whai
4 she could of her parents'
"WhiIe tho good sister was recfting thfi
! little history, L stood like one IN q maze. ths
conviction stealing lover me that these wer'
two of the children whose loss my poor friends
| the MacpheFsons, were bemoaning and wheI
Mt length she closed the narrative by saying
| that the child had revealed her name, seized
! her arm with n sudden grasp, and whispered
huskily, What did she say her name wasF
"sMaggie Lauder Macpherson ] tOttereC
to the nearest seat, almost fninting under thu
iF+eRSe- eSei tetnent-@S hAsfened for restora
tives, after taking which l explained to he
the cause of my agitation. drew little Mag
| gle to my side, and whispered fondly an'
, gently, My dear little lassie, knew an'
loved your mother
: Looking up most wistfully in my face. sh
, asked, Where p
So Here III Montreal replied.
"tThat Gamma be 7 she murmured wit
Q plaintive softness, as if half musing while tn
c very expression of her mothers own screen
resignation mingled with shade of disappoin'
" ment, passed over her lovely features.
e 81 That Gamma be-, gentle Teddy, for m
: mither (and she shuddefed as she uttered II
J was buried in the cauld wavesP
j "'No my child 1 said softly; your fatht
u and mother both escaped, and are living
- | though n great ways from here
y q 1t would DO useless for mo to attempt
Il description of what followed, as the truth
@ my assurance took possession of her mind bI
9 the excitement of the sudden and joyful sn
IT prise-whieh we feared might injurc her
G seemed to restore the elasticity of her youthf
g spirits, result that all other appliances ~
y failed TO secure. 1t was then discovered tn
n tho depressing consciousness of their ofphs
and destitute condition had so weighed up,
~ her sensitive young heart as to affect her de
IN cato frame, and prevent her restoration
IN health.
,e 81 Immediately sought my friends, and 60
O. them of the discovery, after which we went
ST see Mr.. Ferguson. Itwas agreed that shon
'g accompany the children to Upper canada, o. y
f. deliver them to their parents, they f6Tnishii
er all necessary means for defraying the expens
MS of the journey. i.uf,l
r J." set out with my little treasures tine ne
L. morning, under charge of old gentleIn
r. who was going to that vicInity~on busine
r. The second day we stopped at rude log cab
BY that aspired TO the dignity of an iun. WIN
en- the gentIeman who had charge Of 5ls-was 9
r. looking for u carriage, heard n familiar vol
re- outside, and looked from the window just
ss time to see Donald Macpherson hlfnselii IN =
,ir very act of driving away from the door, q
in ped loudly ON the window. lie saw me,