The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-12-11
aFxcn tbs Catholic world for Deeember.I
INCIDENT OF THE CHOLERA SEASON

Il was tho Hrst cholera season in America.
Yessels arriving weekly ut Quebec and Mon
srssi brought crowas Of emigrants, a,m salg
ang tho voyage aud claimed its victims. In
some instances, whole families were swept
away, and there wore few from which some
ruthless servant Of death.
A.yiolens panic few like wild-fre through
AL the Canadian borders, aud, gathering
strenQth as it advanced, seemed to have con-
sumed every sentiment Of humanity in it's de-
svS9&ating course before it crossed the province
! HE and penetrated our frontier country.
ghe people Of Vermont, ever noted before
and bince for their impulsive henevOlence and
tender sympsthy With ell human suffering,
heoenes nddenlg eteeicd against every emotion
~ pity. In u peEOxysm.0 of Henzied terror, they
I f16d 90 hEocted Sfegisas and all itnlni.
\ u Q hom crossing the border. This excited
arriying daily, through boats which still Piled
stho lake, Of prominent and weNknown Cana
dian citizens who had fallen victims to the
q Tho very clements seemed to sympathize, in
sonae mysterious way, with this strange and
0rratic condition of the moral atmosphere.
Days during which heat prevailed intolera-
of q bxeash of wind to stir the air, were sue
decided by nights shedding the very chills of
death from their pinions, yet so still that not
the CLEAN Of lightning were unknown through
the whole season. Birds on the wing, languid
and songIess. would fall dead in the streets and
yards. The housekeepers of Vermont. re-
nowned for their tidy habits, were spared
their usual warfare with flies, for not one was
to be seen. The hum of an insects wing to
break the dismal silence would have fallen
upon the ear'like welcome music!
On an unusually oppressive afternoon in the
latter part of July, was doing my best to
mako myself CONSIDERABLE, and musing sadly
upon the state of affairs along the border, and
s,,o nI,l cnff Karin of
grants who were prevented from pursuing
their course through the country, as that class
had hitherto done, not only unmoiested, but
assisted by the kind inhabitants. Now, stran-
gers in q strange land, they dared not ask for
the aid they needed to keep them from perish
ing, but were shut oat from all compassion,
not for any fault of their own, but, as it would
seem, by the direct visitation of God.
Ny husband was absent attending court in
defiant county. At that period OF my life
my health was, very delicate, and as sat with
my boy of two years beside me, and my baby
girl on my lap, could not dismiss the gloomy
train of thought into which had fallen, or
resist the overwhelming tide of sadness 1t
pressed ON me.
While was Illuminating thus, my young
brother rushed in, all breathless with excite
ment: 30 sister! sister! such poor, suffering
Irish family as there is hidden in the ravine,
mp the brocki thought would come home
from school that way, and so l found them
OH ann SO sorry for them, and what can we
dol If brother were only at home but he Is
gone, and, if lit should be found out in the vii
iage that they are there, they would have
been hurried Off without mercy, and they are
so tired and hungry. They have not had
mouthful to eat since yesterday, and did not
dare to stop to ask for any: The children are
crying for bread, and their father trying to
hush them for fear they will be heard, Oh!
what can we do w
AN this was uttered in breath, and COM
pretended the whole as instantly. Had the
All-Merciful noted the course of my thoughts,
and sent me this immediate test of the Sin
cerity of my sympathy If so, there should be
no hesitation in accepting the ordeal: SO L
told nv brother to guide them cautiously, I'M
der cover of thicket of willows and other
shrubs which marked the course OF the brook,
until they should reach our large barn on Its
bank used only to store hay from the meadow,
and, after seeing them safely sheltered tnere'
then to come back to me.
The tea-kettleA was mounted on the stove
and boiling in trice. Tea, bread, milk. anu
pared in abundance for transmission by the
time he returned.
NV girl Huldah, who had been gossping at
a neiahbor's came in just as had brought al
fairs to this stage. did not think best to ac-
quaint her with our secret, but told her was
Going ont q little while, and she must attend |
r. the children while was gone. was in |
the habit of visiting frequently, and providing |
for the wants of n sick family of colored people !
in the neighborhood, and she took IL Tor grant !
ed INV present mission was in that direction; |
for heard her mutter (she was n Yankee) as |
INV brother and took up our load and de-
parted: "a never did see any body that thought |
80 much of them kind o. critters! Caten me
talin' SO much pains, and a-puttin 11yseII o9s
to such q rate, a-waitin' on q lot o Jay gooo-
for-nothin, niggers, if they was sick!
When We reached the barn, the sight WIT
nessed was o Bore trial to my weak ana e1-
cited nerves. had the greatest difnculty 10
reasonable degrees OF eomPosure'