The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-02-12
WHY I1HAPPENED.

A year to-day casjt be-so long, and yet l
Said could not, row not bear my sorrowful
!5lfe for three mont4 And 1 am sitting here,
& ssephiIl: the May Tho is instling tho leaves
ut the chestnuts-th place is famous for its
(horse-chestnuts-tlrae ids are all in yellow
rlow with buttercusR rs they were then the
SCENT of the lilac coiss ur just the same from
the garden, mingld with the more delicate
sweetness from thelily -of-the valley bed just
beneath my window I was glad the lilies were
there that night, gid and yet sorry, for there
were lilies in just sch q bed in the old home
garden, and the lit, flowers spoke to me of
the dear ones left year ago this day.
Iremember how, 3aning out of my window,
watched the twilihtdeepen, and gut come
creeping, up, and tlr the first star shine out !;
and wosdered hovs3 was going to live on
amidst strangers, ID so far from my home
i'll the west of Engnd.
1t had AL happerdSo suddenly. Knowing,
is we did, Mat pabscould not get well, we
were SO used to hayh MN ailing, sometimes in
his room for lays tsekher, then again so much
better that he worlscree round the broad
walks of the sSnnN<& den-we were accus-
toned to all thasc Hhges; that don't think
ono of us really thszAt mach of his leaving
ns-only our MOTH md she suffered silently
as she watched ovtA Ms shortening life.
shall always rea4ber how we'll he was
that last day. 1t .s eirwedding day, and
had always been listle family festival, and
he sat up at tea-tip and talked so hopefully
of getting better, ID being able 70 enjoy the
summer that was oming. And when at last
nc left us for the light, leaning on Arthurs
arm while mamm6 allowed with his cushions,
4 he was laughing id Joking all the way up
stairs-we had nopedi, merry for weeks
/ supDose it mt have been about mid
night but it did NJ eeem rs if We had been in
bed long, when h1a Arthur say at the door,
papa is much worsy u was wide awake in, "a
moment then, anGEsn to call Agnes, WHOSE
room opened intdnine and when we had
dressed hastily d&ht up little Rose from
H., ,inov, I,,lf Fri; ,fSl,el and wandering. anl
hurried into papa DOM, for seemed to know
he was dying then&A
II was very quit There was just the sound
Of the ticking Of Era aaa s othsr son On
1 no movements ando words, for there on his
I pillows. white an,xhnusted from the sudden
loss of blood, our Tier lay dying; He could
not speak to us, bfAe knew us ALIVE were
l sure of that becs9sof the love in his eyes.
And SO, whilst theieck licked on, we st0ot
by, and mamma cJChed on the bed by his
eide, clasping his IND as IT she could not let
Rlim 90. Then alliance there was a change,
short convulsivereSth, and his eyes closed ;
d was ali over the md in obedience to sign
from nv mother lied up little Rose to press
f. kiss on the cold 10. and then carried her,
wondering and otsioning, back to her little
led, and living byef side cried myself into q
Aeayy sleep ThtJtOld me afterwards that
mamma gave no sps uttered no cry, but sui,
DSfered old Janet (y&shad been our nurse) to
lead her awav unftrll was arranged in the
II bathroom Butater she stole noiselessly
back, and shuttin hzrself in, spent the night
i alone with her dee; and there they found mel
in the early mornis kneeling by his side al
most unconsciousieE fingers pressed tightly
on the wedding-rR he had put on twenty
years before. a
I How strange al shushed the house seemed
! during the nextSN days! even little Ros.
I clept silently aboSfhe wide old passages and
stairs, and her LAD died away into silence
We told her thatesRa was dead and all hit
pain as gone. brIn me would not have it so
He was asleep, shBaid, in the room mp stairs
with sweet whitViolets and early spring
flowers round him.
People came to $4snge for the funeral, ant
We were measured d fitted for our mourning
and it seemed ver srrible to hear about suci
things-about boeats and gloves, and thu
6aapth of Grape, all u business-like way-wheI
our father was lyiG cold and still in the room
above. The fune@ day came, and We al
went. Mamma ant Arthur, myself, Agnes ant
little Rose, and ouA5rvants who had been will
Us so long-just W ho cared for hip and M