Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1892-04-13
4 Modern Saint.
GEORGE W. CABLE.

/ Half century ago there came to New
Orleans, with her husband, Charles
Haughery, Young woman lately mar
ried. Hei maid, name was Margaret
Gafiney. She was native of Baltimore,
whence she had just come. where her pa
rents had died of yellow fever, when she
was very little child, where kind fam
ily named Richards had brought her up
TO young wnmanhond, and where she had
been married. She had not been long in
New Orleans when her husbands heaIih
failed. He sought change in voyage
to Ireland. and died. Hr only child
quickly followed him. and the young
wife was left. for The second time in her
short life, alone in the world.
Her equipment for the varied expert
ences of the unIired years that lay be-
fore her was of the simplest sort. Or ed
ucation she had almost nothing; Of beau
ty as liltle-to The outward eye accom-
plishments. none exterior graces, none ;
aggressive ambition, the disposition TO
scheme or strive for station or preference,
none ; spank irg gave y, exuberant mirth,
none more than you or | money, some,
little, irihe; financial sagacily. a fair
share, but nothing extraordinary frugal
iy? yes. irngaiIy-as TO herself. W hat
else? religion? Yes. yes pure, sweet,
gentle, upbubbling, overaowiug, plenti-
ful, genuine, deep and high a faith prov.
ing itself necessarily in works, and a
modesly and unconciousness that madr
her benefcence as silent as stream IN.
dtrground. Here was one of those ma
lures, rare among women, rarer still
among men, whose happiness is found in
blessing not in being blessed.
She went into the domestic service OF
some Sisters of Charity and Protestant la
dies in the orphan asylum founded by
Julian Poydras. When a separation was
made, and the Sisters opened separate
institution, she went with them and took
the management of their large dairy.
But her heart was also in every other
branch of their work she toiled for them
and their orphan wards with the ardor Of
a mother, and found all her Joy in seeing
them gradually rise ont OF want into com
fort and finally into independence. AL
most The only smile of amusements thai
the incidents of her life afiarded is that
provoked by the true picture of the young
widow trundling wheelbarrow-load oi
provisions through the streets to the asy-
lum, given to the orphans on condition
that ,he would carry it to them. She
remained in this connection for many
years, always greater than her Stallion
greater than she knew. When at length
the institution paid its last dollar Of debt
she loft it to pursue the dairy business on
her own account.
This business in lis new aspect pros
pered greatly. For she gave it her OWL
close attention, and she had almost nc
wants at ALL Besides, ;e was woman
of strong, good sense, aud, for one hing
was wise in her choice of companions and
/ counselors. The good Sister Regis, Su
p parior of the Sisters of Charity, 50 noted
for holy living and va liable werks Wa;
from the first her closest friend. Marga
ret's heart was IN, her helping hand wa.
under, all the Sister Superiors plans
her impulse was not to get friendship, but
10 give it. Thus it came to her Il hun
dred-lold the more. She never married
again. The late Mr. Macready, a mos
esiimable gentleman, of the widely
known New Orleans house of Stauff;r
Macraedy G. Co., was one Of her chosen
advisers. have often seen them in his
store standing and conversing in quiet
contemplative way on some business oi
hers-for her business grew. 1t had
those homely qualities that make for solid
increase, and as it expanded her modest
fame rose with it like a rising day. IL
1860 she opened a new business in the
heart of the city-Tchonpiroulas Street
1t was a bakery; she made bread.
But long before hat. as well as long
and ever after it. any man might say Il
you as a strange female passed in dingy
milk cart-or bread cart in later year.
sitting alone and driving the slow, we'll
fed horse, "There goes Margaret"
Margaret who?'
Margaret. the Orphans Friend" "
l Isupose We should Lave forgotten her
married name entirely, had not the in
voices of her large establishment kept il
before us. "Go to Margaret was the
word when a country order called for
anything that could be bought of her
but the invoice would read:
Z