The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-05-21
THE LITTLE CANDLE MAKER.
Charles E, Whitney in New Orleans Times
Democrat.

WOrShipers that pOurs out OF the ole
sc. Louis Cathedral after low mass,
he will notice that the greater number
pass down the alley on the north side
, Of the editice and distribute themselves
arp and down the Rue Royal. Just be-
low this, Rue St. Anne crosses the
nor busy thoroughfare, and is but
= stones throw from the cathedral.
the immediate neigdbOrhood there
sbouts has an air of sanCtity and &C.
clesiastical quiet abont it that is due,
perhaps, to the close proximity Of the
great parish church.. Show windows
are brilliant with gilt crucifixes, altar
candlesticks, communion wreaths and
ornate ~rOsaries; and as temptations
TO the eye of youthful lovers, little
bue~velvet prayer-books look coyly
out from hiding places on their shelves,
Vnviting the devout gallant to make
the heart of his belle futter by such q
present. Artificial flowers in great
clusters bloom in handsome Sevres
vases, and near them tasty biscuit
vessels for holy water fill up thegarni-
anre OF the store windows. Here one
could, in fact, furnish all the altar
Paraphernalia for either q grand
cathedral or modest private chapel
and when high mass is sung in the old
building so close at hand, it is not
difficult to imagine each window an
aitar and unseen acolytes swinging
their incense-holders as the rich organ
tones fill the little side streets.
Around the ri from Royal
street, on st. Anne, for many years
stood o one-story house fronting i'm
mediately on the street. The years
had evidently some ill-will toward it,
Tor the weather boards seemed more
dilapidated, the chimney more totter-
ing. and the green messy heritage on
IN roof more grasping in its clutches
on the shingle roof than any there
nbOuts. just before the fire of a few
years ago it was what would be called
q "tumble-down affair."" but in 1851
1t had a somewhat more presentable
appearance. This was perhaps dueto
the neatness and taste of that dapper
little old maid, Mile. Pierrette, who
occupied the premises, rather than to
MS architectural qualities. Every
spring she had the outside regularly
Nhite-washed, and the heavy shutters
gwen a glossy green that quite renew
cd the youth of the old building. Like
the larger stores around the corner,
her front room had caught the e~cclesi-
astical spirit, and in two large upright
glass case hung in long rows, the re-
suits OF the energetic maidsn's handi-
work.
Not even q modest sign or other no.
tlce gave testimony to the world Of
the articles to be found on sale within,
but all the Creole population knew
the place. Every year, just before
the time when the little ones take
their first communion, the store
would be crowded with children. Sc
iecting their tall wax candles for the
interesting ceremony. Mile. Pierette
commenced the manufacture of altar
candles. so it was reported, away
back In the days of Gen. jackson. In
TACT some of the envious ~shopkeepers
the way intimated that she had
made the wax lights for the marriage
OF some OF the old Spanish hidalgoes
when they occupied Louisiana, but
these sarcastic remarks were due, per-
haps, to jealousy of thelittle lady's
thriving trade.
No matter howlong ago it was when
she commenced the business, it is
true that for delicacy of
taper, grace of ornamentation, and
purity OF wax, there was no commun-
candles in New Orleans that could
compare with hers. Even the tinseI
with which she adorned them
mad q chic about it no one else could
copy, and the. tall ones, measuring
nearly five feet, were marvels of the
candle makers art.
1t was a source of much satisfaction
10 her, on great church occasions, to
stand lar back in the cathedral, near
the vestibule, and looking over the
heads of the kneeling congregation,
gaze with pride on the hundreds of
soft lights, all from her hand, that
shed their mellow radiance on altar
and picture. She had never been
known TO miss a mass, not ever dur
ing the cholera time of 1S47, and her
reputation as q devotee was not less
than her q candle maker.
Except in the shop she was neven seen
elsewhere than in the cathedral, and
the sweet faced Madonna ookingdown
from the pew could hardly BE said to
be oitener seen than Mile. Pierrette.
III.
Way back in the twentios q young
10y Of remarkable beauty produced