The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-10-24
LOST AND FOUND.
A wAYs1DE REM1N1scENcE.

What woman, travelling alone, has not en-
countered the embarrassment of entering
already nearly filed with passengers
Perhaps the awkwardness of the situation may
not be as keenly felt by those who frequently
meet it, and who are accustomed to the mani
fold jostlings of this busy world, as by u re-
cluse like myself. However this may be, can
testify frGm experience that the ordeal is
painful one to a sensitive and shrinking nature.
So it Glanced that, upon discovering this con
dition of affairs as 1 entered N car at PRESCOTT,
ON q fine morning in June, 1867, dropped into
the first vacant place my eye detected, by the
side of an elderly lady dressed IN deep mourn
ing. The first glimpse of her face and manner
satisfied that she also was from the
States" and felt quite ut home with her at
once.
We soon fell into conversation, and found
my companion most agreeable, quiet, and inter
hgent. We beguiled the monotony OF n rail-
way journey by a pleasant CHAT upon tne
scenery through which We were passing, ana
such other topics as came uPpermost' l no.
ticed, as stopped few minutes at Brock
vile, that she seemed to scan all that could be
seen from the with deep interest; ana
again, as we pursued our course mp the river in
sight of the Thousand Islands, she was quite
absorbed in her observation of the scenery.
Beautiful islands," / remarked, would
like nothing better than to occupy some days
in exploring their fairy haunts."
You would find many of them beautiful
iudeed!n she replied. "They are very dear to
me- for my early life was passed in their
neighborhood, and retain for them much OF
tho affection that clings to the memory OF dear
for many years What frequent merry-mak-
ings and picnic festivals did the young people
from the American shore and those of BROCK
vile enjoy among the windings of their plctu-
rescue labyrinth, long agoF she added Win n
sigh.
way to Illinois, to visit her children there and
had chosen route, that she might catch =
passing glimpse OF scenes most interesting to
. her, from their connection with memories Of
the past.
Time and space passed almost imperceptibly
to us, as we were engaged in discussing one
subject after another of general interest, unit
some time in the afternoon, when, clatter clat
ter thump! thump! q jolt and bounce
brought every man in the'ear to his feetr ant
caused every woman instinctivcly to settle
herself more firmly in her place while yolle!
something wrongp Cars off the track !!
1--WE shall be down the senibankment| burs
movement preventing the possibility of reach
ing the door, to discover the cause of all thi
disturbance. The time seemed long, but il
reality occupied only few seconds, before TIL
motion ceased suddenly, with hitch, back
ward jerk, and conclusion, which had well
nigh thrown all upon our faces; and TIA
uttering with hasty tremor, " DON'T be alarmed
ladies and gentlemen-no danger! axle brok
cars off the track. We shall be detaine
here some time" And away he went.
This announcement was met, am sorry t
say with more murnurs at the detention, tina
thanks for our providential escape from imm
nent peril. How uutortunateF cried on
" And in this lonely. disagreeable place, too
added another A third wondered where W
were, when one of the company familiar wit
the route volunteered the information that W
were not many miles from Toronto.
Now, from the moment sat down by m
new acquaintance, 1had diviRed-by that so
of mysterious sympathy, impossible to defn
but which will he undeTstood.by all coRver
to the Catholic faith-that she was, like m.
self of this class, and she hadformed the san
conjecture in relation to me which was, pc
haps the cause of our having formed a sudd'
intimacy not quite in keeping with the nati'
reserve, not to say shyness, of both. Our fir
aud simultaneous act, upon the occurrence
the incident recorded-in terrifying ourselv
with the blessed sign of benediction- aud pr
lection, so precious to all Catholics-had co
firmed the mutual conjecture and establish
strong bond of sympathy between us.