The Opelousas courier., 1886-07-31

they ever heard her utter harsh word. The
amount of good she has done the world is
almost incalculable. She has built up into
strength many convent which was in need.
Thousands of children have been under her
care and guidance, and many of them have
received teaching from her personally. She
always took an intense interest in her pupils,
following them often long after they had gone
out from her into the world, and time and
again when they have found themselves in
trouble or distress of any kind, they have
come to her for comfort and advice just as
little child comes to its mother. Many have
been brought into the fold by her sanity ex-
ample and many have been saved fIom shame
by her kindly advice and warning. In the
hour of afliction she has often helped to SOFT
en- the bitterness of grief and her words OF
Christian assurance and comfort have bright
ened the path of more than one poor timid
soul into the dark valley. Her professed OBJ
ject in life was to enlighten the hearts and
minds of youth, and in this she has been emf
nently successful. She has lived to see many
follow in the course she pointed out to them,
and the prayers and blessings of numberless
grateful hearts will follow her to the grave.
Her work will be as lasting as her memory"
About IL months ago, her health failed. In
Paris, she was attacked by congestion. OF the
lungs and brain, from exhaustion and the
great heat, but she lived with varying health
until the 10th of June last when the DANCE
rous symptoms of her malady again manifest
ed themselves and in a few days she was
brought to the point of death.
Conscious of her approaching end she
calmly prepared herself for the great change,
and give such instructions to those around her
in regard to her wishes after death.
The incidents of her last moments cannot
be better described than in the following from
her intimate friend and Secretary, Mother
eraser to the writer
Paris, June a2d, 1886.
DIR. c. A. Hardey, Chataigrier, La.
Dear Sir:-I had hoped to give you, ere
this, some account of the last days and hours
of our revered and much lamented Reverend
Mother Hardey, of whose peaceful, edifying
death on the I7th inst you were, we trust, duly
apprized from Manhattanville. 1t was truly
the crowning of her life of generous devoted
ness to the service of God.
During the month of May her continued i'm
provement had revived the hope that we might
obtain to possess her, at least, few years
longer, and even Reverend Mother herself
entertained this possibility that OF her
|
| Tones, so as to secure the beneficial effects of
| a sea voyage, always so favorable to her.
During these weeks of comparative relief her
active mind was, with characteristic seif-forget-
| fulncss, ever occupied with the interests she
| had so earnestly sought to promote during a
government of over fifty years. Not less mind
| full was she in her affectionate solicitations tor
| the welfare of those near and dear to her; she
p&Sed it by her foresight and regulating OF
| the return home of your dear children. whose
presence in the family circle will help to con-
sole you in your grief at the loss OF one SO
dearly loved.
| At the beginning of June, seeing our dear
sufferer SO much better, our Mother General
deemed herself justified in undertaking trip
to Belgium; but already on the 10th tele-
1 gram announced a new crisis had again
| brought our dear Mother to the verge of inn
mediate danger-the verdict of the eminent
/ physicians called into consultation throughout
| her illness was but too CORRECTIVE: that the
| principal organs of life were worn OUT
4 Mother General adds: ssworn out solely for
the welfare Of souls and the service of the Di-
/ vine Mastero This last accident-the same
/ of which dear Lena died-emboli- ould
have caused instant death had it not been for
the timely administration of remedies-which
| with the Doctors enlightened, energetic treat
ment, and dear Rev. Mothers wonderful con-
stitution conquered the danger for the momeni
and led us to hope she would live to see, once
more, Rev. Mother Jones and Mother Hoey
who had sailed on the I2th inst. But this las
sacrifice was TO embellish her crown, she fell
her days were numbered, and when reminded
to pray for the safe, speedy voyage of the ira.
veiers, she did SO willingly-but added verJ
emphatically: "Never, never more will Rev
Mother Jones see me again."
Already on the evening of the 10th, oul
Mother General arrived from Belgium to con
sole our dying Mother with her much desired
presence. Preparing for Holy Communion OF
Pentecost Sunday, she remarked feelingly
SIT will be my last, but, this happiness wa
to be once more granted her on the Tuesday
following, when she received also Extrem,
JUNCTION with the jubilee indulgence. During
! these touching ceremonies, and to the yer,
last she was fully conscious, but after this sh'
was unable TO speak and was sinking rapidly
!. Thursday morning the I7th, was to end he
sufferings; at half-past the Chaplain applies
J to her once more the indulgence in articul
morris, and the Community surrounding he
deathbed, one of our Rev. Mothers readinI
! the prayers for Dying, responded to by all
I reYered Mother gently breathed her last, $
Il
! could hardly realize she had ceased TO live.
ALI expression of suffering had disappeare
E from her venerable face, and after she wa
Z laid out on her couch, veritable heavenl
] smile illumined her countenance. One coul
5 not weary looking at her. Visitors being ad
, mitted to the chamber in which she was eS
$ posed, il was constantly filed, and man
I proofs of the veneration in which our dea
3 Mother was held, came in from all parts. Tn
4 Duchess of Pastrana, dear friend of her:
. adorned her bed of repose with magnifeeT
crown. Many other friends, Americans resid
ing in Paris, as well as others, sent in tribute
D Of grateful remembrance.
In her kind forethought for our America
1 Converts, our Mother General had the bod
: embalmed, in case Rev. Mother Jones Nigh
Y wish to have it taken to America. But, in th
: meantime, she was deposited in the crypt
$ our Convent at CONTAINS, where it is now ds
# cided she viii remain, since this was des
v Rev. Mothers own wish. Her funeral wa
i conducted with pomp not usual with us, an
/ the procession of carriages accompanying tn
It remains, also more imposing.
There is left TO US now, the legacy of PR
{ cious remembrances and useful lessons en-
g bodied in her long and useful life, her pral
y ers and more eflcacious protection, now th;
+ she is in the possession of that Heart, she
n zealously labored to make known and love,
e This must be, dear Sir, your comfort andcol
ISOLATION, as tits ours.
&; We realize in its fullest extent what ol
Q society has lost in her, who had been, as ol
e Very Rev. Mother General expressed ii, OF
, of its frmest columns. Her wonderful al
Y ministrative abilities and winning virtue
rs magnanimity Of heart and character will
IS be found again united in the same degree, f
Z she had been specially prepared By Diyil