The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-05-14


she taught Maggie to do the same. George
| was less reverential In his devotions, dropping
On nis knees before the esss he made very
prayer as Il be o
was a new and novel sight to Cecilia, whose
only prayer was the Our Father, which she
knew but imperfectly, and had seldom used.
Mrs Macourty soon came upstairs, however,
| and requested Cecilia. to come and say her
prayers. Cecilia was good at Imitation, and
| and blessed herself as nicely as if she had been
| used to doing SO all her life. She then fecited
the g Our Father" the mistakes che made were
kindly corrected by the lady. Next morning,
| as they were seated at the breakfast table,
Mr.. Macourty asked Cecilia if the lady was
| kind that she had lived with in New York.
ooh! no, sir, she replied, with q well-acted
shudder, she used to beat me, and treat me
"'Poor child, how you must have suffered"
said M. Masonrsy That terrible thing
:" YeeEna' am, she used to vent all her mad
fully aEoS n but that was not the worst"
sWhAf q * Hns there ~ asked Mr. Macour-
ty, in 6idonbtfnt tone, for the stranger had not
made very favorable impression on him.
They were Protestants, sir" said Cecilia,
with an injured look, "and would not allow
me to go to our church"
"She would not let you go to massf" said
he, still'mor dOubtfnlly.
q Protestant, and used to whip me when
asked leave to go to church, and so 1 ran
away"
religion" said Mrs. Macourty, who believed
Cecilia, and admired her courage in adhering
to her church.
A few days were spent in looking for Cece-
lia's mother without any thing being heard of
her, and then Mrs. Macourty said it was q
shame that the girl should stay at home idle.
Cecilia was sent to private. school in the
neighborhood, kept by lady of much expert
ence and ability, who promised to see that the
girl was we'll cared for and aided in her studies.
When she returned from school in the even
ings after having dinner, she was allowed o
time for play, and was then called in to pre-
pare her lessons for the next day. But Cecilia
did not fancy such employment, and, instead
lures, played with her slate and pencil, and
idled her time, except when Mrs. Macourty sat
beside her and watched what she was doing.
day, she was called in to see them, and intro
duced rs Mrs. Macourtys adopted daughter.
Mrs. Mcdonald called one day, and took very
kind interest in the young girl, asking her
books and companions, and spoke to her very
encouragingly and with much appreciation.
"You have adopted her 7" said Mrs. McDon-
aid, after Cecilia had left the room. II notice
she calls you ma"
said . .sps doing all We can for her,
to have no friends or relatives aud SO told
George was goino to make her one of the
liked"
Robert says that may adopt child when
ever / want to do So" said Mrs. Mcdonald
land have often thought seriously of doing
it, but have found no one that liked exactly"
g am afraid that, if you. wait until you are
suited exactly" said Mrs. Macourty, smiling,
"yOu will be u long time making a choice We
all have our faults, but if you took child
think you would soon come to love it well
that you would not part with it,
'Oh! certainly intend to do So" replied
Mrs. Mcdonald.
On another afternoon, as Cecilia sat thumb
ing her books, Annie came in, her face full of
pleasure and her eyes dancing with excitement.
"Come into the parlor, Cecelia," she said,
" come into the parlor!"
"No, l WON'T" replied Cecilia. q
"Oh! yes, do J" said Annie. "Mr MacVain is
in there, and he is such a nice gentleman. He
always brings us something good, pictures or
candy, or aPpies' or something good' Come in
81 shan't do it, tell you," replied Cecilia,
who was out of temper about her lessons.
Almost every day at school she would get
scolding about her lessons. The teacher ex-
cused her poor recitations for the first two or
three months, because she knew that the child
had not been used to confinement and study;
but when this time had passed she would
sometimes get out of patience, and such
scenes as the following occurred nearly every
day; WIN c.,o,,, uon
home Z"
"No, ma'am, did not.p
You did noti we'll, why notf
=" don't have time" replied Cecilia. al
have 70 set the table, wash the dishes aud help
with all the Homework"
lyon dot And Mrs. Macourty does not tell
You to study at homer
mo, ma'aLn, she don't" replied Cecilia. "She
says must learn to work, 30 that can sup
port myself"
"That is all very proper" replied the teacher,
but don't see why she sends you to school,
If she will not allow you to prepare your les
SONS, at least Iasrtially, at home. But sup
pose she knows own business"
|: Mrs. Macourty's stOre-roOm was we'll and
literally Supplied, and, as she had the most
impiicis faith in the servants, it was seldom
llANkad Gnnslia RaE- thiaa aRa. a1fhgngh abe