The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-04-30
These questions she asked herself over and

These questions she asked herself over and
over again. To return to New York seemed
almost impossible, after the terrible scene of
the fire, and to go again to Boston, was not
suitable to her wishes After much delibcra-
tion. she resolved to try and beg her way to
the South, of which Jake had given SO hatter-
ing an account.
The following morning she carefully fixed
up her clothes and started for the railroad
depot, where she loiterd around watching for
some one whose face would give her encour-
agement to speak. After looking for some
time without satisfactory result, she placed
her bundle on . seat in the Philadelphia train,
and went ont again to procure something to
eat on her journey. As she was returning to
the depot, the clerks in q small dry goods store
were trimming the doors. She stopped to look
made pile of blankets, finished it off with
three or four shawls. One of these, q dark
ground, with bright red border aud heavy
fringe, the girl admired very much. 1t was q
warm shawl, of fine quality, and she thought 1t
would be very comfortable while travelling.
Watching an opportunity, when the two clerks,
or entertainments which they had attended the
night before, were off their guard, she loosened
the shawl from the rest, and, placing 1t unde.
her arm, she hastened back to the depot, aud
once more took her seat in the train.
The cars were rapidly filling up;. porters
were running around in the mad eudeayor to
in, some timidly, others boldly took their seats;
news boys were running about crying their
papers, and the place was for the time, trans.
formed into perfect pandemonium. The girl
looked out of the window. The preparations
were nearly completed. A few last adieus
were being said, the freight was all in and the
one of the clerks she had seen in the dry goods
store standing by the door and anxtously
looking around, as If in quest of some one.
Then he came leisurely towards where she
was sitting, and her blood almost ceased to
| circulate as she imagined that he had recog-
nized her. As he advanced, his eye ran from
car to car, and then he stepped quickly Tor
ward, as if he would enter the train, when the
bell rang and they moved awsy, slowly at first,
but with increasing speed, until the depot and
city were left far ont of sight
before her.
"Please sir" she replied, I" 1 haven't got
any, 49, .,., , ..,, .,,,;nu , .o,,
of bills in q careless manner.
81 haven't got any money, SIR"
"What are you doing here, then ?" he asked,
rather roughly.
al want to go South, sir, if you please. MY
mother, sir, is in New Orleans, and want to
go to her, and haven't got any money"
do you expect to get to New Orleans with
"I> hope 1 shall, sir. don't want to stay
| here, sir, because have no friends here. My
! aunt, that lived with, d. ed two months ago,
and have had no home since, and must get
out to my mother"
"You are a very small child to start on such
a journey alone," said the conductor, after o
|
seemed to be considering what to do. I sup
pose you can't help being small, however, and
I admire your pluck, so you can sc, as far as
Philadelphia, don't go any further"
At Philadeip hIa she went directly to the cars
for Baltimore. Before the train started the
conductor came round, and seeing her, a rough
looking, poorly clad child, asked where she
was going and if she had ticket. To him she
told the same story as to the former conduct
or, but her story was not believed. The con-
ductor accused her of trying to run away from
] hnrna md nd har f,ff fna in6i m
that prayers and entreaties were alike unavail
ing, Cecilia left the depot, and sought a cheaI
place to stay all night. Here she remained
several days, and had almost determined tx
give up the effort to get South, when she me-
! the conductor of the Jersey road and told hin
, what had occurred. The kind-hearted maj
drew out of his pocket O time table card of hi
road, and wrote on the back of it:
The bearer of this, Cecilia Benson, being
without friends in this part of the country
3 with the pluck and perseverance of tru
t relatives in New Orleans. AS she has N,
0 money, the gentlemen connected with the rail
I, roads and other public conveyances on tn
T her such advice and assistance as may b
2 within their power, consistent with thei
!. duties WILLIAM JONES, Conductor"
q the Crescent City," he said, cor much mis-
n take the good feeling of our craft"
,. "oh! thank you, sir" replied Cecilia, Gan
Q 1 shall soon be with my mo6her again"
It al hope you may" he said, patting her o
IS the shoulder. al sincerely wish you success
e Goodbye, and when you get down there dro
y me line to let me know how You get along
d 81 will do it, sir. Oh, thank YOU" she SAT-
! accepting the gold piece he held out to her.
l. The conductors pass acted like charm u,
g til she reached the stage road, where she ha
$ to take stage to cross the Alleghany moul
s. tains. The coach was already filled with pa
,t sengers and the agent said that she must wal
h. How soon can get on 7" she inquired.
10 "pm not the proprietor" replied the mat
,e /" if he was here he might send you on at one,
r. as it is, you will have to wait-I don't kno
ID how long, may be week or two."'
q ata rs1t, 6o a