The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-03-11
Father Pierre.

of France, about the year 1928. His
uarepts were in comfortable ci,cnm
stances. Having bnt two sons, the 81
dest became, Of course, sole heir Dros-
npctivp to the estate, while iron, his
earliest 'chldhood Father, Pierre was
destined to the service of Rome, "proud
Mistress of the world" ~,
Far away in the classic shades of"1o
b,le France thirty years aga, dream
sred hoy knrlt on the time honoured
soil of the Old Wmf Id +, towing his ear
NEST prisons to heaven, for the. welfare
oflhe New. Early the Youthful aco,.
vie comprehended that his omission was
the euracy of lonely Bayou Pierre,
slushiug under the pertumed. vet mel
ouchnly gloom OF magnolias, under
ulumy cypress and fantastic moss, TO
the New World he WAS Father Pierre
donation from the balmy skies Of on
uIpnt France TO the priestl-ss Creole
phpuiation timing the hanks of that du.
plrafe stream; in the far nucnltured
yiIds of Northwestern Louisiana.
Through all the vicissitndes f
France, the same prayers, the same
chants assembled for the prIestlpss peo.
ME at Bonne Chas<e, his future ioca-
ton. From the glorious Three DAYS
fJnlr. and the reign of the CT izen
King; through the brief Republic of
Lamartnc; through the brilliant sway
of Napoleon III, ever the same: holi-
zon bounded the views aud aspirations
of Father Pierre; the same are norios,
the same masses sung for the souls of
his everything Parisbioners. Trained.
hefare he had seen them, to bear his
charge to heavan in his petitions, the
Whole labor of his life was but devo-
tion to this people.
Nearly twenty years ago fair-hair
ed sleRder youth. with that indeseril,-
able GLOW of Trans-AtIant' health
blaomiug upnn his cheek, entered onri
Threshold; delicate and slightly stoop-
ell in figure, hnt with eyes blue as his
native sky. aud heaming with the SAN
gaine fresh enthusiasm of yoath. Nv
husband had fonnd him, unable to
speak our language, struggling among
his primitive and nnwnr.lly parishi..n-
ers whose pateis was nniniellligible
iargon to lis native ear, to establish in
their midst Catholic Church.
From that time, as. our hnnse was
but few miles from bis church. he be
came one of its inmates. Tar;edly
beautiful, yet now, how sad seem in
the retrospect, those lovely vanished
days! to me the golden round of early
wifehood- 81, ...u.. ....-..
when the summers were green.
And the winter looked fair as mar
blc-browed maid;
When the spring on the hill was eter-
nally seen,
And the autumn her farewell forever
delayed '%- T.. q. Il
Clematis and rose-vines powered
onrImal home, aud at vesper hour
the enntemplative priest. saun,ered.
spirit rapt. slowly under winding ave
nuts OF elms and magn ,lias, his hrevi-
arg eiasped upon his breast, and lew
solemn chaunrs thrilling the summer
air till governing lit her golden lamp"
aud armed the dew -batIird shrnbbery
with myriad flashing silver lances
But Father Pierre burned with zeal
for wider arena of usefulness than a |
country tntorship, or IL rural pasrnrate.
cifeumscrihed in sphere and nnprnmi-
sing in results. Shreveport iay before
him with her splendid fntnie; and
there no Catholic spire lowered to
heaven to preach to the New World of
the elories of Rome.
When he left our house, it was to
take charge of class in the honse of
that model old Judge, cast in the RO-
man mould, wtnm 80 many 'nfns yet
wildly remember with mingled emo.
tons of satldcncd pride and pleasure
This was the tulrrGH. to his lever. and
Those who recall the low and pros
tate condition OF the Catholic commute
nifty thea, and contrast it's present
Prosperity. may fern some idea of the
VAST hercalean task which met the as
plrlng Young priest and the extrahrdi
nary zeal and fidelity with whicIf-he
executed it. Without means, save his
strong and nnwar+ring faith, he per-
severed until finally success crowned
us Efforts. The hearts of all, Of every
shade of faith, and their purses like
wise, opened to his appeals, and in
those liberal ante bellnm days, the old
prlncess of the realm, alas so many of I
mem now, likewise gone forever raj
llea 10 the friendless enterprise, and
SStlled his hnilding subscription with
signatures heavy in the hundreds
"hen Father Pierre resigned his class