The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-02-15
Story of the South.

Story of the South.
Here is beautiful story that has come to this
apartment, and is sweet an offering as was ever
laid by youthful hearts at the feet of the Icing
Master, says the New Orleans Morning Star.
Two Of our good Catholic young ladies, who are
always planning in quiet way to bring some sun
shine into the hungry, starved lives of Others have
4 way of going out on Sunday evening with their
banjo and visiting the sick and sorrowing inmates
Of the Home for Incurables. especially those who
occupy the room kept by st. Roch's Circle of St.
Margaret Daughters. In playing and singing for
them they help to while away the dreary hours of
suffering and trial The young ladies are excel
lent musicians, and several Sunday evenings ago
paid their usual visit to the institution As they
passed from the dim and saddened home of suffer-
ing into the broad Henry Clay avenue, the evening
sun was setting and the glorious tints of purple
and gold and crimson threw glow over earth and
We are SO near the river" said one of the
girls let US 90 out to the bank and see the sun
set over the waters"
And so they fingered on in the beautiful evening.
singing snatches of song as they walked. 1t was
cry far up, and as there was no one around so they
let their hearts speak their joyous and peaceful ac-
cord with nature. Presently they encountered 4
solitary individual. poor, old crippled negro man,
Gaming on a crutch near the river bank
"Land-a-mussy, my young misses" he said. ''wuz
laat YOU singing dem pretty songsl Dose am de
same songs my young missus used to sing 'fo' dc
war Use been listening here, and / 'car' to God
thought dat wuz her angel choir come to sing to
poor old Ben. she knowed he wuz so lonesome
and heartbrollen all by hsself in dis world Won't
you please, misses sing and play something for me
Ike she used to do! Won't you please sing 'Way
Down on de Swanee Riber,' for poor old Benz |
always dubbed dat song"
Why, of course we will, said the lovely girls.
and they tuned their instruments and sang one old
plantation melody after another, as the aged dark
cy requested while the tears trickled down his
cheeks in the evening shadows.
Now we must go" said one of the girls kindly,
70. Nissus, do sing just one song more" said
he old man. DO honey. Ny young missus would
do 1t if ] had axed her. Does you know dat old
l7mn Sweet Star OBJ de Seap Ny young missus
used to sing dat an amt bin heard it since she's
BIN gone 10 heven"
Why! are you Catholic" exclaimed the girls.
Dat IS" said the old man proudly, drawing
rom his pocket a medal of the Blessed Virgin.
My Young missus gave me dat and she tole me dat
.r Blessed Mudder wuz de star OBJ de sea. Now
DO sing dat hymn, honey" he pleaded.
Inc girls sang softly the beautiful strains of the
Ave Maria Stella" and the old negro bowed his
lsad IN reverence. When they finished the elder
@ sand, Did that song do you any good uncle"
=. 9AoIeN dlu. IL made me INK OF heben, whar
HF mlssus tole me | would go if | would be always
good Catholic. never forgot dem words. l goes
. my mass cherry Sunday, an l receives my Lord
men ! can he added reverently, bowling his head.
Well uncle, | am going to sing you one more
ing that viii help you too" continued the young
T,' and touching the strings of their mandolin
la guitar the sweet voices rose heavenward in the
s ,oa-tme song, "Shall We Gather at the River
i was all very touching, this scene on the river
anA the pure true faces of the young girls, the
5sry ear-stained face of the old man, as he lean
forward measuring every note they sang. They
oseo with the refrain "Soon Well Gather by the
,u9yg River Soon Well Gather at the Throne of
When they held out their hands to the old man
WV saia, There uncle, that is Gods message to
VI inns Sunday evening. It's good message that
ana your Young miss have sent us to bring you.
s5 j-A over it, remember it; it viii do you good,
~ 3ep You 10 bear your loneliness Good-by!"
IA me next moment they were gone; while the
Ina. y man walked slowly homeward, carrying their
s,7a3e IN his heart
ms Is Il true story, with the true ring, and is
D.du'l1ul an etching as was ever wrought from
pure white lilies that should always bloom in
Young girls heart.