The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-09-05
Star and Catholic Messenger.


interested in her account Of her day IN tno ou'-
side world. 1t grieved me to the heart TO see
her 60 weak, and made her lie down ana resS'
wondering all the time what excited her DO.
She did NOT tell me the latter part OF the story
tin sad night afterwards, Though IL she mad,
without any explanation, IL gould only have
increased my bewilderment. Eugene came In
after awhile, and che had fallen into quiet
slumber, so in whispers he gave me his version
of the story, wondering at her INTEREST," in watch
ing as she did. said:
"That is easily explained, for the little
beggar girl il neighbor of ours, poor orphan
living with wrctched people, who abuse heT
.dreadfully. 1t was she who gave me my plant
She picked up the potato ont of the gutter near
a market, and put it in the old pitcher, and
when she found 1t sprouted she brought II to
Ra.n go
aWhat pretty addition to the story that
is!n he exclaimed and 90 that is the reason
mother watched her. Ivan Masking all kinds
romances out Of It,"
ssYes that IL the reason, Eugene. But though
the watch might come from 1t, mothers e1-
citenneut eonld not"
aPerhaps," he looked ut mo pisyineiy,
ssperhsps, dear Picoiola, "-he always called
me Piociola after that first niGht--"it comes
from h01 failing eSren9tns -
And % wss silent, having NO voice to speak,
he went over to the little couch where she lap
and falt bar pulse 90 gently o. not to wake her,
and locked 90 hee now white and wasted face.
I could Gee IL nom where lay. II waa Q
beautiful face with finely cut Seatures, such %
I would think the scuiptors and artists read
about might take for . model for one Of their
Rrandsst works, and just then 1t seemed TO me
that beauty Yves more perfect than ever. All
it was because she was 90 near heaven then,
and the loveliness Of her almost freed spirit
was shining there.
"She grows very veal, I" said he, turning to
me; "she must DO made to take some rest,
Picciola."
Then, though he stayed with me till she
awoke, and she did not awake for an hour' We
did not speak another word think we must
have felt the shadow Of what brooded over her
upon our hearts.
She awoke, saying:
"Yes, soon now, James"
Eugene went ont and brought her in come
nice wine. / suppose he had to do without
something to get IL for her, but he gos 1t any.
how, and after she took it che sat up and
talked quite chesrfully for awhile So, seeing
> this, thought might speak to Eugene OF
little thing had read of TO say to him when h
would como laid my rag flower in his hand
and said i:
"Now 1t is finished, and you must keep it Il
remember your Picciola."
Eyes" and he smiled one Of his own smiles
thought 90 beautiful, 81 am to b the Purcha
. ser."
"No," said, q little hotly, "that would hur
mo to the hearts CORE"
SWELL" he spoke very gently, ~ will no
vex you, dear. Let 1t be So"
81 am not 90 poor cannot give my frion
alittle ragln went on, somewhat chafed.
"No, indeed |" be assented, shat would b
wofal poverty But what q beautiful ragl
csuld not be boughtp
"Your goodness to me bought 1t long ago
said I, melting to tears now. "You did bu
"Ah that is It. And you will work o
other now, with real cotton, on what IL 1t
canvasH"
"No, Ane muslin, Eugene. And when 1t
worked It shall be sold"
"Yes. What is this the money Is to do"
I said nothing.
Nov, Picciola, is that trust You ke
such secret from your friend 80 closet
You think he is not to be relied on!"
"Tell him, love-" said my mother sit
only dream anyway"
swell" said, "mother loves fathers gra
90, and do too, though cannot 90 to II II
her. And che puts his name on 1t, In lit
white pebbles she picks mp on the river ba
in winter, but the wind blows them away,
the rain dashes them ont of their places, OF
snow covers them up. And in summer Z
plants thslstters on it in low grass, and IL
come up green and beautiful, but after WI
they fade, or some one Carelessly pulls aN
parts of them, or they are parched by the
20 they look brown and ugly. And she loT
90 to have his dear name put there 90 the
nor snow, nor rain cannot deface it, and o.
will always Shine on her first when she cor
near. And want TO get 1t for her, 30 che n
never shed tears to And heE WORK all gone VI
Sho vista the spot"
"And." said Eugene, in huShed tone, 70