The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-29

I = "
and get on their prison clothes, and in almost
the same breath proceeded to rain down such
torrent of fearful language on her and all
the people present that had to order her
solitary confinement before we could get her
stopped"
And the girl-young Katy Did she join
in that?'
She hardly spoke-but when she did, it
was to join in, and every bit as bad as the
mother. Oh, the regular Dublin women,
like these, could astonish you in the way OF
bad language-the ingenuity and variety OF
the horrible talk they possess Well; old
Katy went off at last at the head of the
gang, pretending not to know her way in the
passages-she that is far more familiar with
| and accustomed to them than L am-and
singing with the most awful voice you ever
heard in your life:
I wisht was in HarOld's Cross
It's there I'd get me skllly an me good sthraw
drOss.
81 sent the daughter to the infrmary
straight and there she remained till the last.
| The doctor told me she might or might not
get we'll enough to leave. You can never
! tell with consumption. She got infirmary
diet, and | sent the nuns, who visited and
nursed in the infirmary, a special message
about her. The mother of course was in her
own ward in the oakum division, The
young one seemed for a time better, and |
was in hopes she would be able to leave
her into a hospital in town, and have her
cared for when one day got word to come
round to the infirmary wing Katy had
taken a serious, bad turn, and wanted to see.
me. 1 always knew l was favorite of hers
anyway, neither she nor the old mother ever
used any bad language to me-
"Ah. but tell me, Mrs Smith, was that
gratitude, or was it only that they were afraid
OF your
1T was not that they were afraid of me,
for they were afraid OF nothing-human or
divine. Oh, not they, indeed! Look at the
way they behave to the magistrates. Young
Katy brought a brick into the Recorders
Court one day, and fired it at poor old Sir
Frederick. 1t was well she missed him. She
hit the lions-and-unicorn that was hanging
up behind the bench, and brought that and
the ten commandments all Gathering down
/ together. Amiable, poor old man, he was
alwaysl All he gave her in addition for that
was a month. People all said she should
have got six. Poor old Sir Frederick! Iu-
deed, l often think he understood these
| creatures and the lives they live"
After a pause for an instant the matron
| resumed: Il went up at once to the in
! Urinary. Katty's bed was in sunny corner
| far from the rest, and, indeed, one look at
her told me enough. She was much worse
than had seen her yet. She was greatly
changed Her eyes looked twice the size
they used to be; and, poor creature, clean
and whOlesomely clad, as she was only when
she was with us, she was well-lookng girl.
Poor Katy! She never SAID word-not
one; but from the instant came into the
room her eyes never left my face. 1t was
! just like the look of some dumb thing-a
! dog ar some animal in pain.
| Pm sorry not to find you better, Katy
said I.
"She made no answer.
care you in pain? Tell me" I asked
her
| tttNTo ,,o,or, sba operorod. Lr+ that
very moment her features were all drawn
and twitching with the pain of breathing. /
| gave her some loZengeS and left her. 1t was
no use stopping, and I was wanted else
where. The next day l was on my way to
| see her again. The nun in charge stopped
me at the door,
Mrs. Smith she said L don't know
| what to do with this creature. l am at my
! wits ends She is literally in the darkest
| state of paganism. | wonder if she was ever
as much as baptized She has not an idea be-
yond blasphemy, and l cannot get her to
! think for an instant even of the next world.
| She does not seem to hear me when l try to
| get her to understand the state of her soul.
| or ask her if she will see the priest, She
needs you, it is clear; for when she is deliri-
/ Gus all through the night, her mind runs on
| nothing else Try and say something to her
| will you? [ have met many bad case, but
Katy seems to be more hopeless than any
| thing in my experience
"The nun was really in distress. I could
see that" continued Mrs Smith. II went
over to the bed Katy was in doze NUT
| tering to herself:
"Mrs. Smit, nice ladyl Mrs. Smit gem me
! lozenges; I'll keep them-nice ladyn She
woke after a moment or two, and looked
| pleased to see me. l took a couple of oranges
out of my pocket and laid them on the bed.
Her eyes frightened up at that
What did you pay for them?' said she,
suddenly.
81 paid threepence for the two, Katy
said 1. 4 thought you'd like them
"'They chated you-bloody end to them!'
said she quite angrily. They chated you,
so they did. 1 , yer chated a lady-never!'
"'Katty, saio t. DO you know that you
| are very ill-very ILL.,
''She turned her head aside with sort of
| Indifferent, impatient air, and half closed
her eyes. Will you think of your soul,
Katy, and tell Sister Theresa you will see
the priest? Do, my girl! Listen now l
and Sister Theresa will say prayer for you,
and you will join u.s.
I'VE knet down beside the bed, the nun
and /, side by side. I'll never forget it,
| though l have been at many queer scene;
and We began the act of contrition. l took
Katty's hands and joined them together |
! thought | saw kind of light in her eye as
| l did it. almost as if she was amused at me,
but didn't like to contradict or be disagree
able
Poor Sister Theresa she began the prayer
oh, my God, l am heartily sorry for
having offended Thee
offended said KATY, obedIent to look
from me. And l detest my sins most sim
cerey,' said the nun. But Katy would 20
no further. The joined hands fell asunder
helplessly on the counterpart. L never
| chated LADY, she said. no neverp
Say the prayer, KATY said /, for me,
now-and | detest my sins
~ like Mrs. Smit,' continued Katy. Nice
lady-kind, gem me lozenges an'-an'
oranges L never chated lady; an the crate
of herrin-oy a Saturda' night-always gey
them t a dacent family-always; never
chased a ladyP
/ l.. IL, ] Il.