The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1878-01-20
4 EEMARKABLE CONFESSION.


HOW A CATHOLIC PRIEST WROUGHT THE FAITH
TO A TEHAN FAMILY-"KNTEhTAININ ANGELS
UNAWARE.
Mr.. Enoch Fenwick, Of Chicago, wri
the editor OF the Arc Neria:
Businsss took me to Galveston, Texas, in
May, 1875 My evenings unocoupied.
and beng very Lonesome at the hotel, sWB1r
society st the Episcopal mansion the BIsuop
was absant, but l found Rev. Father Cham
bcdut, Vcsr general Of the diocese, Is very
zeRluus and genial French priest who bad
been many years before on tho mission servi e
in Louisiana and Texas. On my third visit to
Father Chsmbodnt, our conversation led to
hs carly experience in Louisiana and Texas,
and fnuuG had opened mine Of great
value. aud of intense delight to me. have
,f4on intended to write DOT some of the moi
dents, 60 that yonr readers conid participate
with ME in the repasS which offered me such
peaslr If this narrative pleases You, Will
-ndeavOr to report more of Father Chamboduts
Incidents
Father Chambodut was static ned some years
in Lousiaua Cat Natchitoches, l thiuk). but
was after wards sent to Texae, while still q
young priest, and foll of that ardor 80 char
acteristic OF the Frep Gilman. On one occasion
he had tick call eighty miles of Procuring
good strong mule, and starting carly, be made
sixty miles the hrst day, when he wss forced to
camp Srt upon the open prairie for the night.
Starting at sunrise the next morning he had
proceeded some ten miles when ne Came to q
creek which, owing to heavy ialn stor n the
less he followed the trail into the creek, aud
bis mule was soon swimming. On nearing the
opposite side the mules legs got entangled
among sors roots, when bltu rider and ami
NAL won't under. PrcvidentHlly, and almost
miracu!ously, Father Chaubodut succeeded in
saving his own life, while the mule also uan
aged to get to the bank. 1t wos the month of
January, and tue water was very cold. Father
ChambUdut remounted his mule, but
chilled to be barely able t" keep his seat.
After riding some SIX miles he rescked sung
hopse bpd on rsppiEE at tue door elderly
lady opened it, WHO, seeing the poor, half dead
yourg man. Instantly and cordially invited him
in. Hurryiug to su adjoining room, she took
DOT full SUIT of her husbands clothes, pot
them Oh the bed, AND told him to 90 IN ard
change as quickly as possible. Sac had Dot
delayed him by asking him questions as to his
accident. While he was charging clothes she
went into the kitchen and had cup of coffee
ready for him. Then, when ne was warmed
up and comfortable, the thoughtful, kind
hearted old lady questioned him to his ac-
oident, ard they had q very pleasant oonyer-
the sensible and prompt Eiudness Of bis host
When dinner time arrived the father and
cons who had been out in the fields came in,
mother had been. Dinner was announced, and
then the old gentleman began asking bless
ing which Father Cham bodut thought would
never Gene to an end. But the dinner WAS
eaten at last, and the men went out to their
work, " bile Father ChSmbodut had to AIT
awhile longer until his clothing wrs dried.
The "long blessing, grace" and the COO
yersaton with the mother, had satisfied
Father Cham bOeut, that the family were prac.
tical CaTistians, hence he was not much sur
prised when the Old lady asked him if he was
chnrcG member.
" ! an, madam" he replied.
Arc you p. eabytcrianf'
" am not ma en-
"Are yea q BAptstf'
" No, III . am
Are you a Methodist Z"
" l am not, ma'sm.'
Are yon 'PlscopAli'
mo, ma'am.'
al hope you are not MormonH'
" am not ma am"
"Well, my good young man, what ch urch do
Won belong 10 Z" asked the old lady much as- |
tonisbcd that she had not yet named the right |
one.
AZ am Catholic madam and, more yet, |
ain a Catholic priest.
Tine old lady was evidently terribly shocked,
and, raising her hands in pious horror
"Oh y sad she, ito think such q NICE good |
young man like you should be Catholic and |
a priest Oh, my young friend, my heart
has taken suoh q dee p interest in you that
will pray hard to God for your conversion"
stop, stoPp said Father c.. Selling her
band; .'don't do that; don't do that; but
pray that may always do the will OF God"
The old lady was taken aback at his prompt
and earnest remembrance, and thinking for q
replied why, that is n good pray
er, and Will obliGe 700 by praying "a you de-
SIRE"
{" That is right" replied Father c.. lyon
pray for me that may always 40 the Will OF |
BOD, and will pray the same for you"
In o short time after, Father G. was able to
cave for his destination, after ftst promising
ais kind friend that he would cali to SEQ
hem should he ever revisit the neighborhood.
he lad formed q very high opinion of the good
character of his now friends, and
10 felt be could never repay their kindness to
aim.
Some two and half years later, ia the
month OF June, he had occasion TO visit the
leig b Dor God of bic old friends; he determi cd
o hunt them up, bot had evidently lost bis
eckoping. At length noticing nice house q
he mihat of o 8ne farm. and mcch glperior {