New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-10-26
- BOUIlie.',

There are but very few of our readers who
VIII know what the name of 'Bouttie'
means. There is one, however, who knows
no word IN the language more sweet and
suggestive. But perhaps it would be better
TO explain. Yesterday morning we made
an appeal to our readers in behalf of the
sufferers IN Memphis and Shreveport, and
during the llveiong day but one man spoke
| to US about 1t, and we were wondering if
our clergymen had read it and if they would
make move to help the poverty ami death
stricken IN the yellow fever districts, and
| we retained our respect for their we'll
| known charity by believing that thew were
| at work quietly, rabbi and priest, preacher
| and teacher But while we were thinkino
| 1t over we received the following note. with
two gold coins inc.osed:
To the Editor of the Enquirer
In the name of my swee. little girl now
bright angel in heaven, send you s. in
gold Tor the sufferers in Shreveport, | took
It from some precious little relics that were
ners. but if it help. to relieve some little
darling. dear TO her mother as mine was to
me. tn. receipt will be priced more than
the money by BOCITIE'S MOTHER.
Columbus. October S. 1879.
The above, with the money. was all. no
Other maine. but the name would have done
Va no good. and there was No CURIOSITY at
the moment to raise the veil. We knew
one thing. we could not have asked in orr
usual voice without showing that the words
o! "Boutt!e's mother had brought our
heare very near to our eyes. And now, as
We read 1t over II again, 1t brings up pic.
lures that we can feel better than describe
mother. whose noble heart was WIRING hv
Inc story OF the suffering OF other mothers
with living little ones. and little ones with
dead mothers. was moved to make some
sacrihce to save taen. She saw the suffer
ing OF the children IN the pIauge. stricken
eities. and looking into her heart of hearts
where 1t ~ enshrined in that holy of holies-
mothers atfectIon-she saw the face of
..'Bouttie." bright and beautiful, as she
knew 1t IN days gone past: for the child
IN her heart never, never died; never
sckened and faded and passed away; but
the moment the eyes were closed in death.
the image IN the heart quickened into life
nourlshed on a stricken mothers heart
throos. and 1t Will grow stronger till the
heart OF the mother is stilled, and she |
stands again by Bouttie, as if neither had |
died: Thus thinking, she resolved to help |
the little ones. and 10 save them from the |
Herod OF the plague. The mother remem-
Sered, how could she forget what she saw
so often, ''some precious little relics that
were Bouttle's, and sac looked them over.
Iae little playthings, precious for the
very wear of them. the child's tiny Jewels,
perhaps pair Of toe-worn shoes, and a
few books with bright colored pictures.
and leaves .wofully dog-earet and the
margins marked with the impress of little
fingers: but oh! they were dearer to her
than the diamonds Of Persia's potentate.
and she kissed them, and tor the hun.
fredth time moistened them with a
mothers tears. Among the relics were the
two gold coins, given the child for its little
bank long ago perhaps, but the gold had
ost its value as coin and was only pre-
nous because it had been "Bouttie's." And
'Bouttie's mother" took the gold as before
Ter mind rose the vision of little ones diving
n the cities on which the hand of God ia
she saw them, not with loved ones
Watching every breath and counting ever
'ulse,. while every human agency was ann.
aoned to save them, as it was with her lit
le one, but furnishing for food, mid scenes
# squalor,, with parents dying or dead. and
ne gold that wealth could not buv was
AIKEN from among the relics to minister 70
want We shall treasure the letter for our
eives-lt has touched our heart-and rbe
DIN shall go to Shreveport. Throughout
he land good people are moving to aid
iemphis and Shreveport, but in aIf the do :
a',ens there will be none so precious as
hat sent from the "relics" Of an angel by /
nirer. WV