The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-05-07

"It's mighty cold in these parts," said the
head grumbler of the party, getting thawed
into something like a pleasant mood, as he
stamped his feet on the oakeb floor to hurry
up the warming process.
"Wa-al, now, I've seed it heap colder nur
this, said the landlord, smiling good
81 wouldn't live on the top o this bill" said
the second grumbler, tugging at his gloves to
get them of. eff was paid for it,"
"Wa-al, calkerlate there's mighty site
wus places nur this" said the landlord, just
little miffed at the aspersions cast on his ma
tive place. you'd like it better eff you were
here awhile"
"You are right, landlord" said the cheerful
man then, turning to Cecilia, he asked, "did
you ever drink any whiskeyp
"No, no, sir" she replied, surprised at the
"Well, you had better take little" he said.
az guess not, sir, don't know how it would
"Taste! why, it will be fine, better than
confusion. "if they don't have very good
living in this country, they know what good
whiskey is, and keep it, too. Come, you better
life iote e You, and be pleasant to taste" -
well, sir, suppose So"
"Of course now, that's sensible Landlord,
| bring light whiskey punch; have it hot and
nicely seasoned, and fetch one for me-only
| you need not mind about making it light"
The punches were brought, and Cecilia
slipped at hers and then made wry face, as II
b "Come, now, that will not do" said her
friend, "try again, it will do you good, a
moderate amount of the real Virginia noun
| tain dew will hurt nobody"
| Cecilia tasted again, then little more and
again, until her glass was empty. After a
| while they had supper, a good, substantial
country inns of America used to furnish before
| railroads and telegraphs were 80 common, and
civilization and refinement were SO generally
diffused over the country. Instead of the vii
| 1ots, o<nt nfAr h0nf afaak II
| ing turkey, sour bread and indigestable dough
nuts of the railroad hotels of to-day, they had
good amber-colOred coffee, smoking hot, with
| real eam-in it, biscuits, hot and light as q
| feather, fresh butter, sweet and good, chicken,
fried nicely brown, with q rich gray, broiled
vensiOn, with the natural flavor preserved in
| it, and that once never missing, now seldom
seen, dish, pork and hominy. which was gotten
up in style that would have cast no Blot on
the reputation of the cook. Ample time was
allowed for the meal, and when it was over
the travellers returned to the sitting room.
! Now, then, gentlemen and ladies'" said the
driver, +" we are all ready"
You're not going on tonight" said the
Eyes, sir, that's my ORDERS" replied the
driver, Sand besides there's no telling how
soon there may come storm, and don't want
| to be showed in"
Taking another look at the comfortable fire
and last warming of toes, the passengers re-
sumed their seats in the stage. They were SO
much fatigued with their long journey, that
|
| of the road kept them awake. The coach
rolled for ward, then righted up, pitched all on
one side, nearly turning over, and the next
turn would bring the other side over, and the
passengers were thrown first one way and then
another, pushed into q tumble in one corner
aud then back-again. Through all this they
slept, only waking up fora moment, when some
extra great lurch was made by the vehicle
| The morning of the fifth day thought them to
the end of the stage route. Before separating
Cccelia's friend to whom she had related the
oil roff,
| with such improvements as suggested them
selves to her mind, endorsed the conductors
pass, adding request that all who could as
sist her on the journey would do so. The name
he signed to this was one of the most popular
and beloved i'll the western country, and since
has received the nations honor and reverence
although the bearer of it has been " gathered
to his fathers"
At PIttsburg Cecilia applied to the captain
of the Indian Queen, small boat, which wa,
advertised to leave for New Orleans immediate
ly. After reading her pass and the endorse
ment of it by her late fellow-traveler, tb'
captain gave her permission to come on board
1t was SO late in the season, he sad that b'
was fearful that his boat would get froZeI
in before they reached a warmer climate, and
as he had good load ON board, he left tina
evening. After trip of eleven days, the gooG
boat arrived safely, and, with twenty five cent
in her pocket, Cecilia landed to try her fortuna
in the Crescent City.
CHAPTER XIV.
Mary returned 10 her bohhe Win sau heart
for there was no one there to welcome her, an,
cheer her life with love and kindness. Tn
many privations that she had borne, the task
of work that she, although tender in years
had performed ; her perseverance in the ell
deavOr to earn the little money that had bee
= their main support, and her denial of n
pleasure and amusement to herself she La
. felt pleasure, because they added to the con
fort of her who had been III all things IA kin
: and loving mother. But that support was no.
3 gone, for, although her mother mad been feebl
!, and unable TO do much, her presence cOu
y manded respect for the house. her inhuenC
t was he tie that held them together iarn
+ ~. The house must now be closed, the fmrn
=. | ture sold TO nav the rent and funeral expense