The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-10-15
(Continued.)
CHAPTER VII.


CHATTER VII.
.,or1 e, ths room, Mrs. Dudley turned to |
bnr husband and with n cheerful tone Gu
CURED, s,,u Wa talk of our dear
Clifford, now :" .c ,,+ -.
Read me- the letter again, wife. and let me
understara what it is he really says"
"NEw York, Aug. Goth, is
VI, Dear Father--I have received your last
favor inviting me to return TO NeM ;., o to nain
vow but my decision is to settle at the Nor 9TH
/ am of age, and all MY sympathies are WI WIN
th. section Of the m the South Having lived
Sara ao MANY Years of my life, find that my
aninions are no longer the same as In ooyhoou
Ihope this decision Wh,. ho aiwaTs hold in most
Taot;"nate remembrance. My prospects are
very good at present. and have no nee1 ,.t 10
cali upon you for pecnniary a;stsrs and willie.
i'ni;aya me Respectfully your son,
oeie<e ' CLiFFoRD OWEN"
A Mrs. Dudley closed the letter she said,
saaiy am afraid he calls mo mother only in
wanna and that have but little share in his
directions. Poor, little fellow How well re,
,msmber the night you brought him home to
me, and how delighted the sc children were WILL
'"e sI have no patience with him." rejoined
M Dudley. "He has disappointed me more
than words can tell. I am afraid he is both
Who was Clifford Owen, whose condnct nae
So disturbed the genial temper of Mr. Dudley
and thrown a shade of sorrow over the inVa
A husband and wife continued their con
vereation through many hours OF the night, nj
history could we'll BIO gathered from tnei
words but the story WIS silPie o-o' ca"
can soon be told H.,
He an orphan; q poor, irlenaless 20!
who had often passed Mr.. Dudiey's door ho'
willie and the little forlorn, motherless DO
frat met was beyond the recollection OF eithe
but for two three years, seldom had ia
passed without an interchange OF KIND wore
or friendly smiles between them 90,
ON his way to school, or at the corners OF tt
street. or on the steps of the omnibus, or
the door of the little chapel, somewhere and
some time, Willie Dudley was sure to meet II
friend.
portiops of his dinner, he gave him peck
money he taught him his own simple prayt
These were n few of the many ways in whi'
Willie became bound up in the humble col
panion of those early days.
Clifford was entirely alone in the worl
arrange as it may seem. And how ma,
of the little urchins that ill stree
are. like him, without homes or friends
He knew well that he had none in the wi
world to give him love or food or shelter, a
that two lonely mounds in st. patr.cks gra,
ward held the moulderinS forms Oh those
had once cared for him.
t. had never occurred to Willie that his
Their or mother could or would assist his p
IL.
for q long time unknown to either parent;
At last there came q crisis In the orphS
fate. He could no longer bear ms }oyl
niserable existence, and had joined MN
to a travelling circus company nay mad g
sold himself to one of the managers on cert
oonditious, for stated length of time.
Itwas when he told all this to WHINE on
eve of his departure from the city, thar
generous heart of the merchants son felt !
Sery dear was tho poor, barefooted orphan
his side and how their lives had blended
Cetscr until it was agony to think OF part
now. 80, ~; ,.
That nj sht, almost delirious with his sori
Willie contided all to his mothers Keep
and imp!ored her, for the love of him, to I
the friendless orphan home and MAKE
happy with her care. .,,
Mrs. Dudley underworld to console
boy and lead his mind away from ms IL
friend: hu+ words of no avail To 81
M, .,I,,.. n.l she felt Obliged to speaN to
bu,i,..I.. ,,t. the subject. lio at ilIat t"catc
as.l,... nd iaugnrd at Wtilie's plat"ntc
tacbi, ,...t: Nat tic cHiids griet was SO sine
III g.. uss, though su"ple, :" sioqh
Nh ,. .,:.t s,vurG 3" tor" with nE'
to-. . ..,. 5,, undt"y determined t" see
sila...