The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-08-29

NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY MO
river Colbert, (NIississippi.) They toiled on,
undismayed by danger, undeterrcd by difficult
ties. They proceeded on their way, exposed to
the capricious shifting of the wcather-during
the winter enduring the northern blast, laden
with hail and SNOW, and in the summer suifo-
Gated by the extreme heat and the Sapory in
lection OF the malaria Sometimes being
obliged to carry on their shoulders their ca
noes and provisions, and at other times hating
to cut down trees to make RATS, to enable them
| to proceed with greater facility. Very soon
they were obliged to abandon the few horses
and other beasts of burden, as it was impossi-
BILE to retain them on account of the great in
| undations. At length it was thought advisable
to send back u company of men TO Quebec, I'M
der the command Of De Brennan, to procure
winter provisions their present stores
nearly exhausted.
Two of the Sisters of Charity returned with
this little band, finding it impossible to endure
any longer the extreme fatigues. Spur jose
phineD remained, bearing, enduring, suffering
with that true energetic devotion, that great
moral courage, which, had it. been developed
| through more conspicuous channels, would
have been productive of deathless= renown. But
silent and unseen, her nIinstrations are en-
banned III Heaven, or only kept in the vague
traditions of the Indian.
CHATTER X.
At last they had reached the very channels
through which the river Colbert discharges it
self into the sea. They then rcasccndcd the
river, and having found beautiful location
on slight elevation within about two hundred
miles of the Gulf of Mexico, they determined
to halt and repnse. after tl4sis t'z5Es
1 hls fabigues
Owing to the prudent and conciliatory MAN
nefs OF La Sale, who was both feared and re-
spected by the natives, they had met with no
hostilities from the Indians. Jhey had been
| favorably received by three of the tribes, and
! the others, though they made Offers of
| friendship, evinced enmity. These fnvora-
| BILE prospects decided the Chcvaliei dc La Sale
| at
! He called counsel, and after due and ma
tnre deliberation, it was resolved TO take pos
session OF the country in the name OF Louis of
| France. The scene calculated to impress
with feelings of grandeur and sublimity. The
| immense forests, which appeared to have con-
! tiuued undisturbed from the creation; the sol
emn silence which rGigIed through thsse vast
| regions, and which was interrupted only by
| the rustling of the leaves or the waving of the
branches by the wind. No trace Of cultivation
] appeared-the earth had never been turned.
| The great river, the "Father of WATERS was
particularly calculated to keep alive these i'm
| pressions. Forests as far as the eye could
reach, covered the face of the country, and de-
scended to the. very edge of the river, having
| their festoons of beautiful white and gray moss
| in its rejecting waters.
The CheValier de La Sale presided at the
counsel. At his right stood the CheYalier de
I FeHty aud aroundthe- rnstic-seAt- were dis
| posed the other gentlemen of his suit. To the
left OF this group, near II temporary altar
| adorned with the indigenous flowers of this
virgin soil, stood the priest. vested in the robes
fof the Church. AT the foot of the altar knott
Smur Josephine, and with her many of the
women and children from the ncighboring
tribe, whom she had already induced TO join in
| their beautiful worship, preparatory TO receiv-
ing the rites of baptism Very near the altar,
leaning against majestic oak, stood beautt-
full white column and simple Cross And i'll
the background of this great natural tableau
were scatterrd here and there groups OF Indian
| warriors, with various expressIOns OF wonder,
I establishment and feroeity plying over their
dusi1y features.
4I,. 7
Robert, Chevaler de la Sale, in the name of
his Majesty of France and his successors, do
take possession of this country of Louisiana,
with all it's seas, harbors, ports and straits;
also of the immense territory watered by the
! great river Colbert or Missisaippi.- as his
Majesty of Franco is q true son OF the Church,
he can annex no country TO his crown without
making it his chief care to establish the Chris
tian religion therein, Therefore the Cross the
holy symbol o. our religion, must be
planted" La Sale then delegated four of the
gentlemen nearest his person, and tho cross
| was firmly planted the soil of Louisiana.
Near it was placed che column to which was
ton, Louis 10 Grand, Roi do France ct dc Ma
varre, regne lie neuvieme Avril, l6S2."~~ 49,
| Tho whole party now chanted tho Te Dcafra,
the Erdudidt and tho Domino sdlrups fac ReJem.
And thus stood Louisiana under the shadow of
the cross majestic and lovely "a she came from
the hands of the Creator. Long before avarce
the axe had defled her f0rests-beforc North
ern invaders had ravishca her soil.
CHAPTER Xxi.
Two months after this La SaIIc returned to
France, leaving u small temporary fort, under
the command of DE Tonty. All things now
seemed to prosper-already the earth was be-
ginning to yield her rich haryests to superior
European culture. The fall Of the great trees
of tho forest under the sturdy strokes of the
axe, announced that the work of civilization
had commenced. A small charch, temporary
in material aud slight in structure, but well
suited to present exigency, was IN progress of
| construction.
Father Gabrielle and Sour Josephine were
winning many by the blessed efficacy of their
words, but more by the force of their generous