The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-02-19

greatjnward truth of which it was but the
So az the weeks came round went with
Mary e Mass on Sunday morning; in the
EVENING" filed my seat in Mrs. Etiots pew
ut the IFish church. 1t was strange how un-
satisfyiAS how meaningless the service seemed
some pes to please Mary, Mrs. Eliot too
would FLO St. Joseph's-only to please Mary,
skea but began to think there was an
insssnag pleasure and comfort IN it to her
eetf; Az watched her closely, because l
kAsip 1t rs SO with me. But would not have
owned&k No; meant to prove that could
come q hnscatbed from the ordeal of being
sulifeo&M to the "insidious influences of Ca
thOaicH&p Perhaps it was for this reason
seconded little Mary's appeal that one of the
priestsa father Russell they called bim-might
como all see her.
: tStG6As been used to see priest visiting
at hsr Aeme, Mrs. Eliot" urged "and if she
is 70 heN Catholic, it is only proper she should
have hey wish, or how can she be rightly
trained II her religious duties"
You He perfectly right, Christine, and 1
desire every way to forward my sons
sessakMrs. Eliot and that day crested
nece waelispatched to St. Joseph's Church.
expiain4Ag that she had the guardianship of q
charlottesville, and would be glad IT the priest
were plxesed with him, with his gentle man
ners aHA agreeable conversation. But Mary
" as delighted. She seemed as if she had found
aXnanow shall be quite happy" she said
to me, as put her to bed that night, and
waited N she said Our Father" and {" Hail
Mary n~@she never missed that; she had
pronaiseSa "dear papa" she never would.
And =, as the weAks and months passed by,
new tkSpghts came TO me: doubts as to the
reljRie& ssf nay .childhcod, increasing convlc,
ties. q lea 4,l 81 ~. Ana
light to which God was drawing me; and not
only me- for found that Mrs. Eliot was pass
ing through the same mental conflict
One evening, sitting in the freight when
Mary had gone to bed, she toia me 1,s s;ninc
strength in her mind that there was reallCy
in the Catholic faith which called TOT at leass
candid investigation and much Thought. anu
l. in NV turn, confded to her my own
feelings how tho faith of my childhood was
poweriess to satisfy my hearts deepest need
and how I longed for something more reai'
NV I've viii talk to that good Father Russell!
when ho next calls hcre," said Mrs. Eliot.
And she did so. During the next four weeks
we listened to his teaching, named an u, our u,
doubts and difficulties, and as one by one they
disappeared, and the cloud of prejudice was
| dispeiled from our minds, peace came TO uS
| that neither had found before. MIS-. 6no',
| after her life OF varied pleasures and sorreWsi
| / in NV rirlhood, with an untriei future De-
fore meStogether found happiness and rest.
thus safe on the rock of the infallbie Chnrcn
of Christ. -,
happened: why my early happiness was cloud
cd and sorrow and separation darKened NY
life. Through disappointment ana tnrousa
trials God drew me to Himself, into the tulnes
of light and knowledge. And how ehanget
nv life seems! So much to do for the Grea
Master. dear ones to pray for, to wiz to tn
truth; work all around, in my own heart
my home, and in the world.
so sit at my window this calm May nign!
as sat a wear ago-so much the same out
wardiy, all so changed within. Mary is SLEEP
messenger of and 10y to .s stesph and he
d soft arms " III Irvine round my neck, and caus
j. hap dreams of home and my little sister;
, And soon, very soon, l shall be among then
, for am going for visit to the west to see ~
, mother and Arthur and Rose after this Ion
k absence. Just q year! part of it SO sad and
Q hopeless, part of it so peaceful and happy; D.
u now that it is closing--this first twelvemon'
heart / am thankful, even for the sorrow, as
=, brought me to steephill and little Mary.