The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-08-29
assrsIng Star ana Catholic Messenger
NV oSLEANs. gUEDAY, AUausr = ,srs.


The crowd-the boys most loudly-gave q
cheer. She then looked, and amazed, peg
ceived how many Dyes were qptn her, but BY
the time . second cheer had gone up to the sky
II sm sure suoh cheers 60 shere--she turned
and with lady's winning manner bowed an
acknowledgement. And while tho third an
swered the act, che stopped biushing over tho
little child.
"where is your home. dear p she asked.
"What is homef don't know =" said the
child.
"Whsre your mother is. think, dear, you
win know it beat that way"
'But IL have no mother. have nobody
Eugene said he saw tears then fall from her
eyss upon the tangled, dirty little head OF the
child, and she answered quietly:
"Come home with me then. So have I
nobody. We will be somebody to each other
hope"
She took her into the carriage and another
cheer went up as it drove away, and showers
Of young leaves and fower-buds torn hastily
from the shrubbery were cast upon it, till 1T
reached the Park gate. Covered by them, she
went out of sight, all the time bending over
the ragged little stranger in apparently
earnest talk.
Then Eugene said hubbub ensued in the
Park. For the policemen began to pursue
those who had plucked the branches of the
shrubbery; indeed, the boys and the poor
people. But understand it is the way of the
world to punish such excitement a. that which
caused the act, though the accomplishing
earth 90 freely gave its blossoms for g tribute
to her. And the eyes which had watched from,
fine vehicles the whole scene, smiled sarcastic
caIIy, and such of their owners as were near
enough to each other to speak said. allow odd
Of heri How outre I"
That was all, and they drove on then, laugh
ing mockinsly. For that is the worlds esti-
mate Of such acts, 1t seems, which puzzles me
beyond measure. 1t is as If 1t believed no one
could possibly do anything from pure charity,
when even 30 far of motive az the distinction
Of being odd 10 given to o deed like Ethel Es-
mond's, but surely it ought to remember that
our dear Lord's words, making love the rule of
his law, could not fail to take root In some hu-
man hearts the world cannot have all.
The woman, still watching under the shadow
of the trees, drew long breath, as if of in
tense relief, when Ethel Esmond had PERFORM
ed her kind act, and the anxiety, at least, died
out of her eyes as she said, like some one who
had been watching in fear, and fENm whon tho
fear was now. removed, "Thank God"
Then, taking up her heavy basket, she cast
o loving, yearning look after Ethel Esmond's
retreating carriage, and any one very near her
might have heard her say, in broken and sor-
rowing whisper,
I'm tell her oh I'll tell her so quick to
do justice. But not yet, not till the lastl"
4 mt u0ana vh TOLD mo thia mart nj
my story. 1t was the woman herself, the
tried, and worn, and anxious, and long suffer
ing woman, for she was my mother.
We were very,poor, hopeleesly and unchang
ingly poor, as long as 1 could remember.
There was no touch of coDceAlment or pallia-
tion for our poverty in our one bare and shadow.
ed room there could not be it was too real to
admit Of any graceful subterfuge; and our
meagre allowance OF food and drink was quite
% palpable q fact IS our unsdorned, nay,
may almost say, unfurnished attic !; for our
whole subsistence was derived from the labor
Of my mothers hands, poor hands, now nearly
worn out, nearly ready to fold themselves in .
clasp Of eternal rect. II could have helped
her IL might have been different, but was o
DCoNy UuEUOD Vu uoE luobOouS LyAuB AoIpI0bo
there always. used to think, g. evening
drew near, and looked round the copfortless
room, what golden blessing would deem it
If had the power ofmotion for even that one
half hour of the twenty.four. 1 used to shut
my eyes-I always shut my eyes whom am
going TO make pictures for DySelf-snd imagine
her, at that moment, bending over the steam.
ing tub, wringing out the last pieces Of her
weary work, wet ank half blind with weak
ness, and aching from head to foot. And then
used to conjure up q scene; to yOu it will
seem . very poor little attempt ut happiness
am sure, but to me it wore all the unattaiuable
attributes of a castle in the air; it was only
myself awaiting her, with floor clean swept
and FIRE brightly burning, tho little tea-kettIe
Kissing on the hob, and our humble supper
table spread. 1t seemed to me would bear
ali the pain and monotony of the rest of my
days to purchase this. Ah in the midst Of
my dreams she would come wearily up stairs.
7 7. Ia, 6.r.f "a