The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-10-24


young Highlander, of dark complexion, and
with soft, black eyes and whose remarkably
] fine face glowed with intelligence and mild
ness Her beauty was more conformed to the
| Lowland type; her eyes being of deep, clear
blue, her hair naXen,' and her complexion ex
ceedingly fair, while her teeth of snowy white
ness had little prominence that caused them
TO be slightly revealed between her rosebud
/ lips, even when her countcnance was in repose.
! Her form was very slender, and her beautiful
face so youthful as to seem child-1ike. never
saw snch perfect eS preston of soul-absorb-
ing yet patient and subdued sorrow as fingered
upon every line of these youthful features.
1--WE entered the RecOllect church, and re-
manned near them during the service. 1t was
my first visit to Catholic church, and had
never before been present at the offering of the
| holy sacrifice.
''Soon after our entry, 1 noticed that first
one of them and then the other passed for
Il brief space of time into d little curtained
box at the side of the aisle; but, being ignorant
of Catholic usages, l did not know for what
purpose, though l was deeply impressed by
their solemn, reverept manner, and the peace
full expression of their faces. During the pro-
gress of the service which commenced soon
after, saw them approach the rail before the
altar, and knew it was to receive holy COM
munion. The sweetly serene and pensive light
that rested upon their features after that
solemn act is still wildly before me, notwith-
standing the lapse of years.
"When they left the church, 1 followed
closely, determined to learn something, II
possible of their history. At the church door
the man parted from her, and went away in
an opposite direction from that by which we
had come, leaving her to walk back alone. As
l walked by her side, addressed some casual
remark to her, and then, confessing the inter
est I felt in them on account of what l had
accidentally overheard the evening before
of the grfsfs M I'LL R %e rs u tictiOn
"We sauntered slowly down the narrow
streets from the Recoffect church to our places
of abode, and our young hearts being drawn
together by the bonds of sorrow, l mingled
my tears in sympathy with hers while she re-
lated her artless story.
"SLe was the only child of q minister of the
Scottish Kirk, whose name was LiFuder, and
who died when she was quite young. Her
mother, being left in feeble health, and destl,
tute of any means of support, gladly accepted
the home offered by her sister, who was mar
rieti SOME years before to Highland gentle
, man by the name of Kenneth McGregor, and
, | who became q Catholic after her marriage,
"They were welcomed to the house OF heI
, | aunt with true Scottish hospitality and the
most devoted and delicate attentions which
affection could devise were lavlsheG upon hel
broken h earted mother, to sootho and comfort
5 her, while the little Maggie became at ones
Y the pet of large household of cousins Older
+ thanherself, who regarded her ever after as
dear sister. So kind were the whole family II
- her, that she WAS not permitted to feel the los
c of her father in the-sense- most chlIIlng AM
r painful to the heart of the orphan, that o
o being an object of Indifference and neglect
/ They went frequently to visit their Lowlant
l friends, and kept up an intercourse with then
Y
l. "When she had reached her twelfth year
+ the minister of the kirk which they had at
n tended since their removal to the Highlands
c several of his small ngregation anon
whom were her mother and herself, made thei
@ profession to the Catholic faith, soon afte
It which event her mother died.
II "When Maggie was i'll her fourteenth veal
:, she became acquainted with Donald MacpheI
son, whose father was warm friend of he
e uncle Kenneth. strong attachment 500
l. grew up between the yonng people, and whe
LII, SiNtn l9QnalI
is When they had been married about SIX year.
If and had three children-the Oldest OF them
g. daughter five years old and named for hcrset
d and the Others boys-Donald thought best /
lc iuin q colony (among whom were two of In
e. cousins and their fttntIies) who were preparin
q to depart for one of the new and remote di
If trcts of Upper Canada. Donald, as the oil
H. best fitted by education for that purpose, w:
n appointed surveyor of the wild lands, and I
IN lay ont roads in the wilderness.
at "They suffered much in parting with hon
of and friends, but alas subsequent floods of a
III Fiction obiiterated all traces of those light
ly griefs. --
" when they were at length in sight of Newfuun
C. land, and hoped they were about to reach u
end of it in safety,Na storm in the Gulf of
tn Lawrence drove their vessel upon the rocks
: :; the darkness of evening, and it was wrecke
de Tire poor young parents dashed their lit
% Maggie firmly to plank, and committed h
re- to the waves; ; then taking each child, al
i imploring the aid of heRven for themsely
and their little ones, they plunged into Il
or water The mother was soon exhausted Wi
lie the bufTeting of the waves; her child W
lis borne from her arms, just before she W
er. thrown within the reach otNtrlendly han'
vn and taken up unconscious Donald was dash
To- against the rocks and caught from the recedi
re waters of an immense wave, shortly after,
those who were the shore Watching
nj render aid TO the sufferers, tnsenstbe and q
he parentIy lfeless. The child he had was al
ed lost.
ed "They were taken to hshermaD's hut, AZ
Ito by the perseveTing EFFORTS OF those IN after
"A ance animation was restored, though\ it "
led some days before they recovered their concio
tic ness, only to find that their children and tn