The Irish standard., 1907-11-30
LOVE AND FAITH
A Beautiful Story of a Wife's
Devotion.
81 Will Never Let You Die q
Protestant"


and feeling. known from one end Of
New Orleans to the other as every.
body's uncle,' or Uncle ALI" says the
New Orleans Morning Star
Reference is made to the late Major
Alfred II. Isaacson; but it is not Of his
great public service that the Morning
Star" desires to speak today: not Of
his genial character or noble qualities;
not of the great charity that made him
loved by the poor and simple and help
less Of earth, but of a sweet and hall
lowed influence that pervaded his life,
leading him ever onward to higher and
better things, touching his soul like the
soft rustic Of angel wings beckonirg to
heaven, and finally leading him in death
to the bosom OF the one true Church.
Years ago, in the strength and prile
of his early manhood, Major Isaacson
then Protestant, was married to a, ,ie-
voted Catholic girl. Small use is it to
speak of the late Mrs. Isaacson here
She was known throughout New Or
leans for her sturdy Catholic faith, her
devotion to the poor and suffering. her
love for the sick and helpless. and,
above all, for her tender charity for the
outcast woman. This led her over for
tS years ago to form with Mrs. Tnom-
as J. Semmes. Miss Caserbergue and
the late Miss Marie Louise Rapier, the
first auxiliary of the House OF the
Good SHEPPARD. 1t was a work to
which she devoted her life, and when
the old auxiliary was reorganized some
ten years ago Mrs. Isaacson was anon.
the first members: and beside her own
name she placed that of her husband,
Major Isaacson. 1t was through his
generosity, love and his earnest .devo-
tion to his wife that she was enabled
to accomplish all the good she did in
this great city.
Her one sorrow was that her husband
was not of the true faith. Time and
again would she ask prayers for him
and tell what a good and gentle Chris
tian he was, if only God would give
him the light to see Catholicity with
her clear, spiritual insight. Yet she
never asked him to change his religion.
She placed her faith in God and let her
earnest, silent example and prayers do
the rest. Those who knew her well
felt that no one could walk hand-in-
hand with her for so many years as
he did and not imbibe something Of the
great light and truth that illuminated
her own beautiful soul.
Some years ago she died and then a
change came over Major Isaacson. He
missed the tender, gentle love that had
so completely filled his life, the bright
and cheering smile, the calm and steady
light of her pure and noble example.
For while it seemed to him as though
he, too, must die. Then one day 1t came
to him that he might still walk hand
in hand with her, though the veil Of
death divided them, il only he took up
the gracious work among the poor and
suffering and the asylums and reforma
tories that once was hers. He secured
the list of all the noble Catholic organ
izations to which she had belonged,
and, finding that his name was enrolled
side by side with hers. he sent word to
each that until his death he would con-
tinue the subscriptions of both. He
visited the House of the Good Sheppard
seeking by every means in his power
to aid In this work, which had been so
dear to her. He took special delight ir
st. Vincent's Infants Asylum, endow;us
bed in the memory of his wife and ar
| ranging to give in perpetuity all the
linen that was needed for this memori.
al and to furnish the milk that would
be necessary for the tiny waif who
would occupy 1t.
For years in her own home Mrs.
Isaacson had kept taper burning be-
fore the picture of the Sacred Heart
and the statue of the Blessed Virgin
Major Isaacson resolved that this light
should be kept perpetually burning,
and he himself attended to this labo,
of love; and every day. just as she did
in life, he would gather a. little bouquet
Of flowers and place before that sacred
shrine and the perfume was waited
heavenward as prayer on angel
wings.
Many a time did he show the writer
the scapulars and medals which his
wife had given him and begged him to
always wear. Il cannot part from
; them.' he said they are very dear to
me-" And then he would add: MY
wife always told me that she would
never let me die a Protestant" The
| tears would come to his eyes as he
added: Il intend to die in the faith Of