The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-12-25

m H Il, be feared that this winter viii
prove especially hard upon the more desh-
tute members Of society in our midst. Tue
price Of cotton has as important bearing |
upon the beggar as upon the naooo. ~ ~
also grave and important question, though
they may not know it, for those unfcrtu
mates who are not willing to beg, bul
prefer to suffer the sharp privations OF
penury. Our whole community 'his
season is laboring under marked pec"-
mary distress on account Of the limited
returns brought by our great Southern
staple, and while both rich and poor CAM
as a general thing, reduce expenses so as
to meet the emergency, there are some SO
poor that they have already reduced their
outlay to the lowest possible limit.
In the meantime expenses increase. Coal
| is at double price, wood is extremely high'
| and the severity of the season almost I'M
| precedented. 1t is evident that great SUI
| fnrinp must ensue. This must be matter
| n, serious consideration to all who do not
consider poverty a crime. The orphan Is
destitute withous any fault OF his OVID
the widow is Il ally clad aud only half
nourished with f.ud, because the sudden
h,oy of sickness ~ accident took away her
b,sha,,, and left her with Il family of small
children. whom size is actually unable to
support.
Now it ca, .",!ly be called dishonest for
a man to keep his own property, yet one
can scarcely suppose that, when the Al
mighty has given To some more than they
need, he intends them to hoard up that
surplus while other human beings are sui-
, tering and perishinS from sheer want along
side of them This view may appear Il
!, many to be Il mere refinement of sentiment
ality, but the day will come when 1t vii
/. look like plain common sense.
There was n gentleman of wealth wh'
( had aca uireii the l.abit of living luxuriousll
: and prolusely, but Il charitable disposition
and the presence OF much distressing pow
8 erty in his neighhorhood, wrought up0i
him to such an extent that finally his III
II come was expended for its relief. Gradu
= ally his costly furniture gave place t
articles of comfortable but far simple
r. style, and W lille hospitality was even NOR
cordial and open handed than before, ex
J. travasance entirely disappeared. At las
old age Slapped the vigor OF his frame, an
" nature gave way. He was upon his death
n bed, and occasionally his mind wandere
through feeblencss of body. Once 1T SCENE
to the old man that he had grown youn
again. He was surrounded with ever
= adjunct of luxury. Damasks and silk
r costly woods inlaid with ivory, gilded min
rors and glorious paintings, golden vesse
and cleaning jewels were profdsely scat
o tered around. All seemed beautiful, but
.. frown came upon the old mans face, for Ii
/. still knew that he was dying. And as h
y pondered, it seemed to him that he saw h
e Saviour expiring on bare wooden eros
!. A mortal paleness overspread his feature
re and cold drops of~anguish stood upon b
sr brow as he glanced again at the finer
- about him. "My God what do l wat
Is with all this 2" he exclaimed, as he stru>
lie gled to a sitting posture. The excitemen
III however, had recalled his wandering sense
:, and he saw objects as they were. The
,e was his weeping family simply clad al
Ut his unpretending apartment plainly fu
ss nished, A smile Of satisfaction lighted L
A. his face, and sinking back upon the couc
Us he was dead. But the smile was ST
nc there.
~ az No doubt there are many who to son
IA. extent make sacrifices Of this kind and wi
- could not rest if they thought fello
vs. man was suffering near them, while the
I'd were pampering their flesh and spirit wi
be every costly luxury and useless vanit
Ell But there are many others who cannot s
NO matters in this light at present, and new
C. will, perhaps, until Il little of the light
r. eternity comes over their horizon.
IN, -