The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-06-10
A SISTER OF CHARITY.

A strange and unusual spectacle was
presented to the passers-by in London on
the 10th of April. 1t was a funeraI--no
uncommon sight in this teeming city !!
Yet this one was exceptional. A white
hearse with white plumes. Carriages full
of persons with white caps or white wells.
Cabs crammed with people, and following
the mournful procession, for many a weary
mile, a large but orderly crowd of men and
women, their faces set in sorrowful efforts
10 keep down the rising sob, but steadily
marching on under the burning sun Of that
truly summers day, until the gates of
the Kensal Green Cemetery were reached.
And then the procession of white yelled
women formed in twos and twos, and the
wall of both men and women burst forth
uncontrollably until the officiating clergy
themselves broke down, and for time
nothing was heard but groans and sobs
and tears. "And who was this :" asked
Protestant friend, "Whose death has
caused such sensation in this busy,
money-loving city of ours? Why, all
those men must have given up their days
work to come ?'' ''Who can Il be % was
repeated from every mouth. Reader, we
can answer the question. 1t was an hum
bic Sister of Charity, one whom the world
knew not, whom the rich probably often
passed with smile of scorn, as they
brushed by her on her errands of charity,
ono whose very name was unknown to
those who loved her best, save that one
which her deeds have engraved in the
hearts of men "Sister Stephanie." For
days before all was over, sobbing women
and little children and hard-featured men
would hang round the Convent door, and
eagerly ask of any one who came forth
chow is the Sister to-day 2" and when
the answer was unfayOrable, rugged hands
passed roughly across streaming eyes, and
the crowd dispersed with slow and sad
dened steps. And then the end came.
So sweetly. so peacefully, that those dear
est to her could not tell the moment when
the pure spirit went home without mos
ment's struggle, with the last words of the
Absolution sounding through the stiffness
of the dying chamber and the faint re-
sPonse, ''Ihsnk yOu," still echoing in the
ear OF the loving Superior whose hand she
held, and who had watched over her day
and night as only mothers can And there,
robed in her simple Sisters dress. she Law;
and in her hand fresh, sweet flowers and
round that iuanimate form, from early
morning till late at night, the poor crowd
ed, kneeling, sobbing, and praying. Each
had some story TO tell Of her loving care.
How this one had been saved both BODY
and soul how the other had been rescued
from lingering sickness how the third
would have starved but for help by her
timely given; how the fourth would have
yielded to temptation but for her kind,
earnest words and so the theme was
taken up and repeated by one fearful face
after the other. Now what was the
secret of this humble woman's power ?
Simple IN character, in word and deed.
how is it she had such influence ? The
answer may be found in one word Lore
bhe loved God with all her heart, and this
love extended itself to all around her in a
thousand TamitcatiOns which the inge..
nulty OF charity alone can teach. She was
likewise so thorough in her work, and with
such detestation of everything that sa-
Vored of humbug or unreaIity. What
ever her hand found to do, she did it with
au ner ini9ht, as IN the sight OF God an
example which all may follow who will
seek the same means, and strive to attain
a like simple and earnest spirit. 1t was a
significant fact that, whereas hundreds of
grand funerals, with all the trappings of
woe, passed unnoticed that week through /
our crowded streets, this one alone, es- /
corted by those ''patrons of our souls, the !
poor" as st. Ambrose calls them, at |
tracted the notice and sympathy of people |
of all classes and shades of opinion. ''Yef, !
when We first came to London, they spat |
al us!" quietly remarked Sister to whom |
we were speaking of this funeral May
we not look upon this change of feeling
as an indication, not only of the greater
hberality shown to our co>religionists, but
of the way in which the Sisters work had
told upon the masses in our great cities?-
London Tablet