Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-07-09
SISTER CELESTE.
BY c. c. GOODWIN.


Northern California, good many
years ago, while yet good women,
compared to the number of the men.
were so disproportionately few, sud
denly one day upon the street, clad in
the unattractive garb of Sister of
Charity, appeared a woman whose
marvellous loneliness the coarse
garments and uncouth hood pe-
culiar to the order could not con-
ceal. There was Sisters Hospital
in the place, and this nun was one of
the devoted women who had come to
minister to the sick in that hospital.
She was of medium size and height,
and despite her shapeless garments, it
was easy to see that her form was
beautiful. The hand that carried the
basket was delicate one; under her
unsightly hood glimpses of brow as
white as a planets light could be
caught; the coarse shoes upon her feet
were three sizes too large. When she
raised her eyes, from the inner depths
light like that of kindly stars shone
out There was
STATELY, KINDLY DIGNITY
in her mien, but in all her ways there
was dainty grace, which, upon the
hungry eyes of the miners of that
mountain town, shone like enchant-
ment. She could not have been more
than twenty years of age.
1t was told that she was known as
''Sister Celeste;" that she had recently
come to tie Western coast, it was be-
lieved from France. and that was all
that was known of her. When the
Mother Superior at the hospital was
questioned about the new sister, she
simply answered; 'Sister Celeste is a
sister now, she will be gloriied saint
by and by" The first public appear
ance OF Sister Celeste in the town was
one Sunday afternoon, when she
emerged from the hospital aud started
to carry some deicacy to poor, sick
woman-a Mrs. DeLacy, who lived at
the opposite end Of the town from the
hospital; so to visit her the nun was
obliged to walk almost the whole
length of the one long, crooked street
which, in the narrow canyon, included
all the business portion of the town.
When the nun started out from the
hospital the town was full of miners.
as was the habit in those days on Sun
eAbOA HOOnSs anu dS lHC SlSLcT DaSS-
ed along the street.
HUNDREDS OF EYES
were bent upon her. She seemed I'M
conscious OF the attention she was at
tracing; had she been walking in her
sleep she could not have been more
composed.
Many were the comments made as
she passed out OF the hearing of differ
ent groups OF men. One big, rough
miner, who had just accepted an invi-
tation to drink, caught sight of the
vision, watched the sister as she pass
cd. and then said to the companion
who had asked him: Excuse me,
Bob; have feeling as though my
soul had Just partaken of the sacra-
ment; no more gin for me to-day"
Said another: ut is fearful pity.
That woman was born to be loved, and
to love somebody better than nine hum
dred and ninety out OF every thousand
could. Her occupation is. in her case,
Il sin against nature. Every hour her
heart must protest against the starva-
ton which it feels; every day she must
feel upon her robes the clasp of little
hands which are not to be. One
boisterous miner, little in his cups,
watched until the sister disappeared
around the bend in the crooked street,
and then cried out: Did you see her,
boys? That is the style of a woman
that man could die for, and smile
while dying. Oh! OH" Then draw
inc from his belt buckskin purse, he
held it aloft and shouted; Here are
eighty ounces of the c.eanest dust ever
mined in Bear Gulch; it's all | have in
the world, but | will
GIVE THE LAST GRAIN
to any bruiscr in this camp who will
look crooked ut that sister when she
comes back this way, and let me see
him do it. In just Il minute and half
there would not be enough left of him
for the coroner to gather in sack and
sit on. " After that, daily for all the
following week, Sister Celeste was
seen going to and returning from the
sick woman's house. 1t soon grew to
be habit with everybody to uncover
their heads as Sister Celeste came by.
Sunday came around again. and it
was noticed that on that morning the
nun went early to visit her charge, and
remained longer than usual On her
return, when just about opposite the
man saloon of the place, kindly,
elderly gentleman, who was universal
" known and respected, ventured to
cross the path of the sister, and adj
dressed her as follows:
IL beg pardon, good sister, but you
are attending upon a sick person. We
understand that it is n woman; may |
nf 81 IL yVn qnn in - csic
YOU and your PATIENT" A faint flush
swept over the glorious face of Sister
Celeste as she raised her eyes, but
simply and frankly, and with slight
French accent, she answered:
1.-The lady, kind sir is very ill. I'M
less in some way, we can manage to
remove her TO the hospital, where she
can have an evenly warmed room and
close nursing, | fear she will not live;
but she is penniless, and we are very
poor, and, moreover, | do not see how
She can be moved, for there are no car
riages."
She spoke with perfect distinctness,
Notwithstanding the slight foreign ac-
cent The accent was no impeachment;
rather, from her lips. it gave her words
q rhythm like music.
The man raised his voice. Boys"
he shouted. "there is suffering wo-
man up the street; she is
VERY DESTITUTE AND VERY ILL.
and must be removed to the hospital
The first thing required is some mon.
ey." Then taking off his hat with one
hand, with the other he took from his
pocket $50 piece; he put his money
in the hat, then he sprang upon n low
stump that was standing by the trail
and added: Il start the subscription
those who have tritle that they car
spare will please pass around this way
aud drop the trifle, as they pass, int
the hat.
Then Sister Celeste had a new ex
periencc. In an instant she was sur
rounded by a shouting, surging, sirug
Cling crowd. all eager to contribute
There was a babel of voices, but fol
once California crowd was awaken
cd TO a full roar without an oath being
heard. The boys could not swear il
the presence OF Sister Celeste. In
few minutes between seven and eigh
hundred dollars was raised. 1t wa.
poured out of the hat into buekskir
purse; the purse was tied, and handed
by the man who first addressed her, I,
Sister Celeste, with the remark that i
was for her poor, and that when sh'