The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1875-07-04
CHAPTER XXI.
ALL THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO you.

to luncheon from visiting some sick persons {;
Martha had staid at home to cut ont work to
be given to poor women. She entered Marga-
rets room as she was dressing, holding one
hand behind her.
4" have had q note from DR.. James to day"
said Martha. "He is in the city, and we shall
see him tomorrow"
Margaret looked up inquiringly.
" You have something else to tell! see it
| in your face. Why do you make me waltz
90 have something else to tell, and this sh all
tell 1t for me-" she answered, laying q letter
down On Margaret's table, and going out of
the room. Margaret. with trembling fingers
tore 1t open, and read as follows:
"NEw YORK. March 10.
My Dear Miss Lester: 1t has not been from
disaPprobation, nor neglect, nor Indifference
that have left your letter so long unans W ered
1: Is because earnestly desired, if possible, to
give you some GOOD news in return for that
which you sent me.
1ou speak of owing your conversion partly
TO me, and am very happy that this should be
true s ont your letter has done greater work
for me than you thought it could when you
wrote it. Miss Lester, ought to have been
wnere you are now year ago; bat pride of
intellect, perversity of will, and, latterly, an
other obstacle, have stood in my way, and l
might have kept on blind and miserable for
the rest of my life. Youehave found the church
OF God through it's treasures of charity, dis
p'ayea IN ITS works of mercy to the poor, tho
weak, and the sinful it was your heart, so to
! speak, that carried you there. have found
| the same church entirely by my mind. / have
seen repeatedly shallow prejudces, ground less
suspicious, and fanaticaf attacks met by calm
strong. logical arguments. l have seen the
cafplnS opinions of sects dwindliBg away be-
tore the majesty of revealed faith. / have
! recognized that intellect, learning, science
philosophy, shine brightest in that church
winch the scofters of the day assert to be in
her dotage aud dissolution have been forced
| nj last, TO admit her divine authority, and the
consequent infallibility of ber teaching and
! there was but one thing left for me to do How
long would have resisted light, conviction 7
cannot tell. Cowardice, pride and some
thing else held me back then your letter came
| as push from friendly hand to a wretch
clinging to the feeble branch which threatens
to give way in his grasp and precipitate him
INTO the abyss below, yet fearing TO take the
leap which will land him on firm pround
we have landed on the rock-you and l.
COO grant that we may stand on it for ever.
nave much more to say, but can write TO
more. more. have been for a week making re-
treat at the house of the - fathers, and 1
shall be baptized in their church to- morrow
morning, Feast of ST. Joseph, after the nine
o'clock mass You will come, will You not 7
Fray ior me- Francis JAMES"
Margaret read this letter steadily through to
the end, and then fell on her knees by her little
table, where Martha found her some time after,
when she came to summon her to luncheon.
He has asked me to be his god mother, ("
remarked Martha, as they were sitting at the
dinipg-table.
" Has hep should think he would have
asked me-" responded Margaret.
Don't you remember what you told me once
about the spiritual relationship between spon-
sors and their god children, and what it pre-
cludCsi"
Margaret slightly smiled, and the subject
was dropped.
On arriving next morninga at st. -- church,
Margaret found that the first pew was reserved
for Martha and herself, and soon DR.. James
appeared and knelt with them. To the sur
prise and delight of Margaret, who should
enter the sanctuary to celebrate mass but
Father Barry, and it was he who, ut the con
clusion of the Holy Sacrifice administered the
Sacrament of Baptism.
MsrgaEets cup OF happiness Was very full
when, going into the house afterwart!, by in
vitatton, she was able to exchange congratuIa-
tions with her good friend Father Barry, and
grasp, with glowing face and speaking ey es,,
the hand of the newly baptized. They both
agreed TO dine with her, and then she went
home with Martha, wondering over the chan ges
which one year had brought about in her life.
and thanking God in her heart for her CONVEX
sion and for that of the person dearest to her
in the world.
The dinner that evening was n very delight
fnl one. Margaret and the Doctor were sur
prised to find all embarrassment between them
gone. All their past intercourse seemed far
away and like what had happened in a dream.
and they felt that they were beginning their
friendship over again on a new aud true basis.
Margaret had many questions to ask of
Father Barry about Sealing, and the different
families she was interested in, and he had a
great deal to tell her, as we'll as questions to
ask in his turn. And Margaret told all about
the beautiful religious houses she had visited,
and about kind Abbe Saincere, who had done
her 30 much good, lent her books and led her
gently on till she was safely in the fold.
Martha Bnrney had to tell of her horror
when she found what Margaret was wrapped
up in; how she scolded, and argued, and ridi
cuied, and at last went in secret to see the
Abbe, to demonstrate with him. How she was