The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-03-10
Inr Star and Catholic Messenger.
T oErTANs, sUNDAY, MARCH 10. 1878.
An Old Baby.

1
under their maternal roof very oid
in the person Of an English sailor VINO
to be one hundred and two years OF age'
venerable relic of the past, whom We
ID this week in his new home, was oofh
he high seas, under the British nag, IN na"S
and is consequently few monChs oiu'i
than our great nation. Losing Do1n pa
vhile he was still an cjnfant, ne mas
IN no home but the deck OF vessel mas
ned to NO lullaby except the murmuring OF
bcean, and has experienced no lovipg care
what a cold world bestows now and then
nsh interest or policy.
the last ten years he has rosmed from
J to place, barely earning q livelihood by
iobs of different kinds of woI x, until, at
in our own hospitable and charitable city
,uud himself too feeble to work, and too
to procure assistance.
this emergency he came to the House OF
Little Sisters of the Poor, on Laharpe
&c, corner of Prieur, and made known his
and destitute condition. 81 am over
hred years DID," he said, "my time must
be over. Let me stay with you until
CRY like this was sure to win lts way 10
,ompassionste heart Of the Mother of the
ke Sisters of the Poor -bnt her sympathy
mingled with grief, for alasl there was no
in the Home for the poor old waif OF
nne.
very bed was occupied and every corner
d when he made his application, but che
Sorted him by promises Of help as soon az
a. practicable. Day after day he came to
If there was room for him, and often he
ht have been seen, sitting at the gate, wait.
for the chance when he might enter In
rest.
airing this period of uncertainty and delay
told his simple story to the Mother, who
other day repeated it to us. A most inter-
Ing one it is, too, with it's "reminiscences OF
ct men and it's recollections OF stirring
nts.
saised by the English Admiralty, our old
o was o participant in all the battles fought
England from 1906 to 1915. He was in the
ody scenes of Trafalgar, and assisted Nelson
bis last moments. He was afterwards sent
one of corps of engineers to take part II
famous engagement of Waterloo; and
wing returned to the navy, he was on boart
the English ship Bellerophon which con
ved Napoleon to the rocky prison OF st
blenss
All of these details, and many others whlci
have not time to repeat, were given Win
ecisiou, candor and an earnestness whlcl
mid not fail to convince and interest hi
teners.
In the meantime the poor old sailor
meless, friendless and destitute, lost DOT
mo and patience, and one day he tol
Mother, without the least apparent idea
kopp or sin, that as he was born on tne se'
thought he would 60 and die in the river
Startled by his esrnestness, the good Motne
proached him for his rebellion against Go
hen, to her surprise, she found that he kne
bthipg of God or heaven, of the devil
ternity.
Through all the varied vicissttudes- o
fe, he had never been told of Him who rni
he storms and waves, had never learned Tn
he soul once launched upon the voyage
ternity, must keep its destined port in vie
nd that to engulf this heaven bound oa
en- iii the waves of time, was shlpwre
Re khan any the sea had ever caused.
TX La mind naturally inte elligent' and
a., hive with virtuous instincts, the bra
y br listened to the lessons Of Christian
Z, him by the gentle Mother and for
me in hundred years learned to kn
3 he came and whittier he was tendl
4 Nom as he had been received an INN
Home, he asked for baptism. " he
said, "and he longed to become CT
;" and SO, on the 11th of February Il
baptized in the chapel of the LII
I and thus ended long and peril
in the safe anchorage of the one