The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-01-25

izing to the last degree. Nay, nurses have
thefr eyes, and in accents of the most un-
feigned sorrow, begged that the orphans might
be allowed to stay with them, undertaking,
rather than part with them, that they would
support them at their own expense. 1t would
be very difficult to produce more honorable
testimony to the moral honesty. generosity and
our people. than the authentic facts we have
just mentioned They fell naturally in our
way when treating of the subject that pre-
cumstances SO beautiful and striking, much |
less in justice to the people themselves, pass |
them over in SILENCE
We shall now relate a short story, illustra- |
ting the attachment of foster brother; but
az we have reason to believe that the circum-
stances are true, we shall introduce fictitious
names instead of tho real ones.
The rebellion of ninety eight was just at it's
height when the incidents we are about to
mention took place. gentleman named
Moore had q daughter remarkable for her
| brated had she become, that her health was
always drunk as the toast of her native county.
| Many suiturs she had, of course, but among
| the rest two were remarkable for their assidu-
GUS attentions to her and an intense anxiety
| to secure her affections. Henry irwin was a
high loyalst, as was her own father whose
| consent to gain the affections of his daughter
| had been long given to his young friends The
| other, young gentleman named Hewson, who
in point of fact had already secured her affec-
| tions, was, unfortunately, deeply involved in,
or we should rather say, open leader on,
the insurgent side. His principles having be.
come known to Moore, as republican, for
| some time before the breaking out of the insur
rection, he was, in consequence, forbidden the
house, and warned against holding communi-
cation with any member of bis family. He
had succeeded however, before this, by the aid
of Miss Moore herself, who aware of his
principles, i'll placing as butler in her fathers
family his own foster brother, Frank Finne-
gan-an arrangement which never would have
been permitted had Moore known of the pecu-
liar bond of affection which subsisted between
them. Of this, however, he was Ignorant; ;
and in admitting Finnegan into his family, he
was not aware of the advantages he Afforded
to the prescribed sutton of his daughter This
introduction, however, came too late for the
purposes of prudence. Ere it was issued, Hew-
son and his daughter had exchanged vows of
mutual affection; but the national outbreak
which Immediately cnsued, by forcing Hewson
to assume his place insurgent leader,
appeared to have placed a barrier between him
and her which was naturally considered to be
insurmountable. In the meantime, Moore
himself, who was local mag istrate, and also
d captain of yeomanry, took an extremely
active part in quelling the insurrection, aud
in hunting down and securing the rebels. Nor
! was Irwin less Jealous in following the foot
steps of the man to whom he wished to reco III
| mend himself as his future son-in-law. They
acted together; and so vigorous were the mea-
sures of the young loyalist, that the other felt
it necessary in some instances to check the eX-
= ubr, ance of his loyalty. This, however, was
= not known to the opposite party for as Irwin
: always seemed to act under the instructions OF
b his friend Moore, SO was it obviously enough
y inferred that every harsh act and wanton
: stretch of authority which he committed was
t either sanctioned or suggested by the other
= The consequence was, that Moore became. ii
n possible, more odious than Irwin, who was
s LOCKED upon as rash, hot-headed -zealot
whilst tha xsteGssp. sufa tthres the cunning
8 sai cruelty of the senseless puppet he was
Q managing. In this, it is unnecessary to say
t they were egregiously mistaken. In the mean
y time the rebellion went forward, and many
Q acts of cruelty and atrocity were committed
g on both sides. Moore's house and family
y would have been attacked, and most pro
i badly murder and ruin might have visited
n him and his, were it not for the influ
t ence of Hewson with the rebels. Twice die
u tho latter succeed, and on each occasion witt
Il great difficulty, in preventing him and his
Q household from falling victims to the ven
geance of the insurgents. Moore was q mar
IS Of great personal courage, but apt to under
j. were opposed to him. Indeed, his prudence
l. was by no means on par with his bravery
o or zeal, for he has often been known to sally
?, out at tho head of party in quest of his enc
O mics, and leave his own mansion, and the live
II of those who were in it, exposed and defence
!, | less.
n On one of these excursions it was that h
n CHANGED to capture a small body of insurgents
y headed by an intimate friend and distant rela
J. tive of Hewson's. As the law at that unhapp,
e period was necessarily quick in it's operations
IS we need scarcely say that, having been takeI
IT openly armed against the king and the consti
l. tuition, they were tried and executed by thu
J, summary sentence of u court martial. deel
v and bloody vengeance was now sworn agains
i him and his by the rebels, who for some ii m'
o afterwards lay in wait for the purpose of re
o taliating in a spirit prompted by the atrocou
1t character of the times
n Hewson's attachment to Moore's laughter
t. however, had been long known, and his previ
s. GUS interference behalf of her father hat
g been successful on that account only. Now
ts however, the plan of attack was laid withou
f his cegnizance, and that with the most solemn
IS pjunotions to every one concerned in it not t.
% disclose their object to any human being no
If officially acquainted with it, much less to Hew
d son. who they calculated would once more tak'
d such steps as might defeat their sanguinary
y purpose. These arrangements having beer
d made, matters were allowed to remain quie
% for little, until Moore should be off his guard
3, for we must observe here, that he had felt il
9 necessary, after the execution of the captured
Y rebels to keep his house strongly and reso
y lutely defended. The attack was therefore
/, postponed until tho apprehensions created by
;, his recent activity should gradually wear
:. away, and his enemies might with less risk
: undertake the work of bloodshed and destruc
ton. The night at length was appointed on
J, which the murderous attack must be made
Q All the dark details were arranged with de-
;, liberation at which, removed as we now are
Q from the sanguinary excitement of the times,
!, the very soul shudders and gets sick. A secret