The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-09-21

ing. to soothe us in our most bitter afliotiops
and pray constantly for our salvation, that
happy realization of all our fondest and
brightest hopes.
It would not, indeed. look kind of us, whle
speaking of this newly received sister, to leays
unnoticed the history of those good religious
with whom she has now become SO intimatelv
connected. We nre in duty bound to says
few words with regard to the life and we'll
earned merits of those good Sisters who, on
many occasions, have given us such kind,
greetings.
Many years ago a email colony came to "a
from Baltimore. At first they found many dr.
fiouIties, but they finally succeeded in estab.
fishing a school, in which was gathered mos.
of our Catholic children, the growing hope Of
of Vicksburg. Everything was going ON a
cheerily as a marriage bell, when came tia
clash of resembling armies, striking terror 70
the heart, and seeming to pronounce the dread.
full dissolution Of our little city. Brave mon
were called forth from their peaceful homes 10
WELD the acaptrs of death and destructioa
over the dim and bloody field of battle. The
ever good and kind Sisters of Mercy, actuatsd
by that charity which their name denotes, liks
wi Use left their peaceful homes in company
with the Very Rev. F. x. Leray, and were soon
found upon the field of battle, amid tho dead
and dying, soothing the wounded soldier, ~
sistiug him in his agonies, cheering him on bis
way to the shadowy land, and closing his eyes
in death. They alone could cheer the soldier
when life's tide was ebbing fast; they alone
could picture hope to "the pale cheek, tho
quivering lip and the closing eye;" they alone
could console him when the last sad notes Of
the muf1ed drum and the farewell shot an.
nounced to him, in his death agonies, the
burial of fellow comrade. Truly the soft
low voice of Sister was as choosing and vel
come to the dying soldier as the sound Of .
cool flowing fountain to the thirsty traveller on
the desert plains.
At length the contest was over and the Sis
tiers of Mercy again returned to their home
then in the safe keeping of Mrs. ODell. On
their return, their property, from the CASUAL
ties of war, was found to be in o very dilspi
dated condition. They have since been labor
ing among us for the period of over eight
years and we are joyous to say that they have
been able to repair the damages made by the
war on their property, and to reorganize .
school which for eficien cy compares favorably
with any educational establishment in our
country. Their number on first coming, az
has been previously stated, was very small
now they have the goodly number of thirty, 0
magnificent convent and school buildings
which their energetic efforts enabled them 70
erect in 1859. They have also been able to e.
tablish dourishing schools ut jackson, Miss,
and at Pass Christian on the Coast.
Their presence among us tending to our
weak and infirm, and visiting our hospitals;
teaching our children and ever ready to CON
sole US in our sorrows, soothe Us in our paine,
and pray for MS when dead, is really blessing
for which we can never be too thankful; for
who is more kind, moro generous, moro holy,
than Sister of Mercy. Bright and green DO
their path in whatever cline they may here
after wander! May prosperity and happiness
ever crown their efforts, and when ifes last
embers have lost their flame, when tho heart
has stilled its motion in tho silence of the
tomb, may their souls wing their Aight to tho
happy land to live bright and glorious in tho
love of Him Whom they have 80 faithfully and
lovingly served. J.P.P.