The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1888-04-21
A Heroic Nun.

In the presence OF all the FRENCH
guarding the Capital OF Ton
quin. the Govcrnor-General recently
bestowed the Cross of the Legion OF
Honor Oh Il MIN, Mother Mary Teresa,
S]u3erioress OF the Sisters OF Charity III
that Empire. The troops were drawn
up in the principal plaza of the city IL
Il square surrounding a platform Oh
which WIS the Governor-General and
his staff. When al iid-de-camp was
sent to Lrin" the nun he found her in
the hospital conso,ing a soldier who
was having his leg a%mputated. She
refused to leave the bedside until the
operation was completed, and then
followed the officer to the square.
where she wa> received by the General
in person and led to the platform,
amid the joyful exclamation of the
soldiers. The General then command
ed silence. and in solemn and impress
sive tone addressed her as follows:
Mother Mary Teresa. when YOU were
twenty Years of age you received IL
wound from ii cannon ball while assist
ing one of the wounded on the field of
Balakalava. LII 1859 the she'll from a
mitrailicuse laid you PROSTATE in the
front rank on the battle field of Magcn-
Il. Since then you have been in Syria,
in China and in Mexico. and if you
were not wounded it was not because
you have not exposed yourself to the
shot of gun and cannon and the sa5res
and lances of the enemy. In 1870 you
We're taken up in Reischoffen royered
with many sabre wounds among 4 heap
of dead cuirassers. Such deeds OF he
roism YOU have crowned a few weeks
which history records. 4 grenade fell
upon the ambulance which was under
your charge: it did not burst. but it
might have done SO at any moment
and caused new wounds in the bodies
of those who We're already wounded;
but there YOU were-yOu took up the
grenade in your arms, you smiled upon
the wounded, who looked at you with
feelings OF dismay, not for themselves.
but for you, and you carried it away to
a distance OF eighty metres.
ION laying it down you noticed that
it was going to burst you threw your
self on the ground: it burst; YOU
were seen covered with blood, but
when persons came to your assistance
You rose up smiling. as is your wont.
and said, That is nOthingr You are
scarcely recovered from yOur wound
and you return TO the hospital, whence
rhave just now summoned YOU"
During these words of praise the
good nun held her head modestly cast
down. with her eyes fixed on the cruci-
fix that hung by her side. Then the
General de her kneel down, and.
drawing his sword, touched her lightly
with ii three times on the shoulder
and pinned the Cross of the Legion of
Honor on her shoulder, saying. with a
quivering voice:
II put upon you the cross of the
brave in the name of the French peo-
pie and army: no one has gained it by
more deeds of heroism, o by Il life
so completely spent in self abnegation
for the benefit of your brothers aud
the service of your country. Soldiers,
present arms"
The troops saluted. the drums and
bugies rang out, the air was filled
with loud acclamations, and all was
iubilation and excitement as Mother
Mary Teresa rose up and said: Gen
eral. have YOU finished with me p
Yes" said he.
well. then, | am going back to my
/ wounded soldier in the hospital
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