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. - -,., _ . , +, - . ... ... .. . .. 4 -,-.. - - ... . . . .. t . ' . . . . V . _ _r "_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ aStarandCatholle Messenger I, rmoarsma usr s ISI WorningStar andCathollo IWem ORlrr. O·seho Puis.aon Oomp.ay, sat -- *, De;epd8ra.s&r, parno of Oamp. eDireoeo theompyare a Mox bTAx h been et fL'korot·~erohoawompuer ith the approval of the eoeleish Bv. Arhbbishop N. J. Psac~ sauthority of the Dlooese, to eupg H ePreiient. admitted want in New 3rlea1e, a Vice President. mainly devoted to the intgrea o V eev. (. PAe, Catholic Churoh. It will ot 4nterdls C. Moraur. , politics except wherein they int with Catholic rights, bat will e T. J. 8Yrr:. - - - iniquity in high places, wthout -.J. urr, C. M. - ; . . ,= _ persoe or parties. Next to the l B. NSrr .ar , C. 89. R rights of all men, it will epep a flly m P.". NEA"A"T, C.pion the tem poral righte of the poe . P. F. ALLUN, T. limose. MAR". ApprlL of e Meotl Ie. l Mos r J. CArru, We approve of the aforesaid a B.aOItr. r, taking, and commend it to the Oathe of our Diocese. eoomunlations,a tobeaddressed to the )Jt J. M. Arcanor 1 NwO OOLma rsefltasMorneseerse7estAoMa.Zilleneaer Dr1mber 19, lrsr. danieton Oe--o. lle -oydru eet, corner of Camp. "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THEM THAT BRING GLAD TIDINGS OF GOOD THINGS!" term--ingle Copy, e cnt; . yFl, a -inm VOLUME VIII. NEW ORLEANS, SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 21, 1875. NUMBER 3 rnn .tar and Cafhnl f MaeeOncPr_ I CT DeTaQIDrrW ncv us. I n I. A Ai.roi. s W n. . .. i : n..e ....1-:...-. - rning Star and Catholic Messenger. ,W ORL.aAN. UNSAY, FEBRUARY I2, 1875. TL1h1RAPRIO SUIMARY. TroRIGN. Azi.-Alfonso bas issued a decree calling 70,000 additional troops, 15,000 of which to be sent to Cuba.-khe Carlists have reinforced and now threaten Bilboa, the iste having fallen back. xcu.-The Assembly has made littlqo in the disoussion of the Constitutiona and the vote on the section prescribi g manner in which the Senate is to be n ted, showed that on that point, at east, agreementof the several Republics artle seriously disarranged. The xtreme ublicans have decided to make necessary oas as to deteils in ord to save the titutional bills, which t y consider a t stride towards the fsal tablishment of abli.--Napoleon's n, the Prinee eial, graduated at W 1wich on the 18th, the Pays says the "From to-day the ce will wholl d ote himself to the di ton of Imperialis policy." T BRITArI ND D Ia . D..-Election of JMitchell-L don, Feb. 12.-The Dublin mas says t Home Rule members of Par ent prop to formally submit a demand the re I of the act of Union, and on rejecti , they will withdraw in a body th mperial Parliament. In the House Co onse, to-day, Mr. Sullivan, member for t gave notice that on Monday next he Sall attention to a breaoh.of privilege r. Lopes, when alluding to the Home a, Feb. 16.-An election was held to-day perary, and John Mitabel, candidate of ationalists, was elected without opposi don, Feb. 17.-It is reported that John el refuses to take the oath of allegiance -also said- the Home Rule members will to support Mr. Mitchel, his policy dif frot theirs At a meeting in Tipperary, declared, that in case Mitehel was re they would again return him. , Feb. 18.-Mitchel declares that he an gain again for Parliament, in the Sipperary, if his election is annulled. d he be defeated there, be will continue utest at any place where a Parliamentary on is to be held. He is most enthusiastio reived by the people of Tipperary. don, Feb. 18.-Disraeli moved to resolve John Mitebel was ineligible, because he a convicted felon. The resolution was ted without division. The motion for a election in Tipperary was then carried ut division. UNITED STATES. w CATOLiC Br~sops.-Y'et York, Feb. 16. ble to the Freersma's Journal announces Jas. A. Healy has been made Catholic of Portland, Me.; Thomas Gallerry, the stinian, Bishop of Hartford; Kam, of r's Ferry, Bishop of Wheeling, Va.; tbeyer, Bishop of Green Bay; uHarley, p of the See created for Peoria; John d, Vicar Apostolic for Nebraska; 8eiden the Benedictine, Vicar Apostolio for part nesots. OGEs.-In the Senate, on the 18th, the eration of the question of seating Pinch was postponed by a vote of 39 to 22. The Ible object of the Republicans in doing to enable them to pass the necessary -lation bills; nevertheless, it kills k's chances. Edmundsi Radical, of t, offered a resolution providing for a election in Louisiana under Federal House has passed a bill adopting the jetty plan for improving navigation at outh of the Mississppi. Eads and his ates are to receive $8,000,000 for con ing such works and obtaining a depth of feet in the channel, and $150,000 a year twenty years while such a depth is cned. eek has been spent is considering the lation bills and the new tariff. Under t imported sugar will be taxed twenty cent more than heretofore. Sessaroor TrH SENATE.-- W'auhington, eb. 19.-The President issued a pro lbn calling the Senate in extra session -lock, March 5th. TA EL.arS A SENATOR.-S. J. B. n, who was elected Senator, on the at present Chief Justice of State and a VuIRmnrA.-The Governbr has signed 11 transferring tbb Capital to Wheeling. the 16th Allen T. Caperton, Democrat eted U. 8. Senator. nolo MAN's FEAT.-Patrick Fitz an employee of a firm of floor in Lowell, Mass., on Thursday i n last, carried a barrel of flour Saltogether over two hundred I eve pounds, on his back'%om the gham freight depot to the store of , without stopping, the distance be- i er a mile. The barrel was fastened I back by a rope. Mr. Fitzpatrick's c i s about a hundred and sixty-five and he seemed but little fatigued he arrived at the store, stating that .d earry it bac agatn at once for a Sdollars. e received the four 1 dollars add4ittloa as a reward for s rMm IC ,. ST. PATRICK'S AY OBSERVANCE. THE MODES O CELEBRATION CONS-)ERED. Letter fro the ev. Presddent of the C. T.A. Union of America. The Rev. President of the Catholic T. A. Union of America has written the following letter to Mr. Patton of New York, President of the Metropolitan U ion, in response to a request for his views as to the oelebration of St. Pat rick's Day by Catholic Total Abstinence Socie ties. The Rev. gentleman being himself an Irishman, and a patriotic one, and having worked with Irish societies constantly for ten or fifteen years; is qualified, aside from his position as head of the Catholic T. A. Union, to give'an opinion on this question worthy of attention. Father Byrne writes as follows: TaxETvro, N. J. Feb. 15, 1875. fvy Dear Sir-The question of celebrating the Festival of the great Saint, so dear to the land fropn which most of ous have sprung, is one that certainly comes home to the several Catholic Total Abstinence Booieties, in common with the various Irish Associations throughout the country, which are generally preparing to celebrate it with pomp and splendor. We ought to observe that day in a manner becom ing the character, extent and dignity of our organization. The pas s of our members are Irishmen, or- the desoendunte of Irishmen, eq-sally alive to the honor of the'old land. No body of our fellow-countrymen surpasses nas in loyalty of affection to Ireland's Patron, and there is none, I believe, more willing to testify it. That this may be dons in a manner con formable to the honor due a great Saint, and in perfect keeping with the character of our Union, is the object we should seek. We are aware that the modes of spending St. Patrick's Day are various, if not in a degree conflicting. Some parade, some dine, some drink-to do tribute to a great Apostle of the Most High! Sometimes a religious lecture in the Church, more frequently a national dis course in some secular hall-while, far too common, "the dinner," caronsal, toasts and revelry over "the flowing bowl" in the even ing. Surely some of these modes partake but little either of a religions or a patriotic char acter. Taking the pledge of Total Abstinence -standing in an organization arrayed against the drinking habits of society-cuts usloose, thank God, from thb worst of these. Our societies, however, very largely partici pate in the parade. That, perhaps, is the more acceptable mode to a joyous and nbuoyant peo pie. There is no doubt that some advantages attach to it; the yearning for outward display of our numerical strength is natural-the pa geant does some good. It is favored by many of our most worthy people, and it is certainly championed by those who hold themselves forth as the representatives of the dignity and welfare of our concerns. But one class show especial fervor for it. In the largest city and the smallest village we find the mtca who keepq the oerner saloon every where '' raising the wind" for a big parade. Across the bar he preaches parade; if he is a society member he votes "parade" at any cost; he busies himself to start a society espec;ally based on the central idea of parade. Not deny ing that some true and good men favor it, as I have said, we Temperance men notice thattour neighbors identified with the liquor interest are one and all fanatical on the question. Is it because their patriotism burns warmer and brighter than that of any other class? It may be so. One thing is sure-their profits are far heavier in times of big parades or excitement than at any other. We must, I think, learn to take the clamor of that particular class of patriots cuss grano salis. We must look coolly at the parade system on its own merits. In one respect we have said they may do some good, In an other, as an appendage to the religious homage we wish to show to a wonderful servant of God, they are tolerable, if they do not supplant the religious character of the day. In any view they are expensive, a point wecannot lightly consider-even if we would, especially in times like these. The faithful Irish people have always hon ored the natal day of St. Patrick solely on ao count of his heroic fidelity to the Apostolic Mission assigned him; they have never taken cognizance of his civic virtues. Now, mere ciric displays which monopolize the lion's share of the honr paid the Saint-and in this not distinguishing him from a civic celebrity, per haps of no relgion-cannot adequately express the Catholic sentiment and the tradition of our Irish fathers regarding St. Patrick. They incorrectly represent our patron saint and ourselves to the rising generation. If, however, we were to acknowledge the parades ss in themseves useful, they certainly exact an enormous expenditure of money. We are poor-small blame to us, all things considered. Of that we are not, and need not he ashamed. We are, in spite of ourselves, placed in a struggling condition. Heavy claims are continually made on us by .the needs of our religion and of our fellow-men. These parades absorb huadreds of lthossds of dollars. Many fortunes, indeed, fly away with the sun-down of that single day. Can we well spare it And if so could we use it in Sway producing more good. The widow, the orpha, thi ek and neody, ae thiek, ami I I our midst-out .i Sul said beed, in dire dietreess. What joy and blessings some of these hundreds of thousands of dollars would yield if funded for their relief I Our unfortunate emigrants, coming continually, are lees cared for by their compatriots here than those of any other nation. A great shame for as-while we pour out fabulont smse on pa rades, part of which would secure them pro teotion and aid thror h their hitter trials in a strange land. There are but too many way. in which monies could be used to asubserve our credit and secure for or- national name honer thbat would live longer than a day. If we could re on together calmly about all this we would reach, I think, a wiser result t'san ihe lavishing of such vast amounts on tnees annual parades. But it has been charged against us that we are not a matter of fact people; that we let fancy y off with-wit and never bend oureelves to consider facts and figures. Is the charge true We have had enough hard knocks. at any rate, to make us practical. When we go to reasoning this way quietly, some of our glorions countrymen will fly at nos with the charge of being unpatriotic, forsooth ! Well, there are two kinds o; patriotism. The patr: otism of sentiment-loud, demonstrative, empty; - *nd the patriotism of devotion--sin cere, ~rnest, practical. This latter, I feel, exists among the wise and sober men compos ing our Catholic Temperance societies-quiet as it is ardent; practical as it is genuine. This sentiment avails of display only when it can 1 praet.cally beneficial. Merging in these great displays hardly re ornits the ranks of our Total Abstinence So cieti i. If not their practical utility to this cause is not clear. And if they usurp the re ligions claims of a great Saint's day, as in some cases they do, thenit seems to me that it is incumbent on the largest Catholio asocia tion on this continent, the Catho:io Total Ab stinence Union of America, to impress upon the celebra .ion of this great day the tone and character (f a true, worthy and practical ob aervaum-. With Catho ictty as the basis of our org..ir.ticpand Total Abstinence as our motto, we owe it to the saint to give him the full religious honor that is his due, and to our fellow-men we would set the example of mod eration which is a stfe-guard in the noblest undertakings. There are say five hundred societies in the Union of America, each under the direction of a pastor. Let them consult their Spiritual Directors as to how the day may be best kept without neglect of religion or unnecessary ex pense, and when they have received the ex pression of his wishes, let them hasten to co-operate with him in executing them. This loyalty and deference will beget on his part a contidence and good feeling whioh will make the society grow and flourish in each parish better than ever. Let our society, above all, attend Holy Mass in all the splendor of their regalia, and, if possible, appro.;cb the Holy Communion. Draw to the church the crowds which are wont to be drawn away by the ex citement of street parades, and we will earn for ourselves and our holy cause the blessing of God and the gratitude of men. We will obtain the grace of conversion forumany, and express by our action that genuine patriotism which is based on religion, and ever seeks the true welfare of one's country and kindred. These thoughts, my dear sir, are the best I can offer you on the question suggested. They proceed from fall refleocion on the matter, and from a mind sad heart as si:ne -ely devoted as any can be to the honer and dignity of our race and country, as well as our holy Church. I am, with sincere regard, Yours in Christ, PATRICK BYRNE, Pres. C. T. A. U. of A. Manufactures in the South. IN. O. Price Current. Feb. 17th.I If the people of the South are ever to rise :rom the slough of despond in which they are now submerged politically and financially, it will be hastened by means of the development of other industries than agriculture alone. To the production of the raw material we must add its manufacture into forms available fur coneumers. Now we produce the raw material o be worked up Iy Northern and foreign man ufacturers at a higher profit than that which we receive as producers, while we in turn be come consumers of the article at an increased cost. The experience of civilized nations proves hat the highest degree of national prosperity is most frequently attainable by a diversity of Industries. The people of Georgia and the Carolinas appear to be alive to the importance of this subject. Already, within these States, cotton manufactures are beginning to spring up. The extraordinary success attained by some of those already in operation, and the handsome profit which they pay upon the in vestment, are attracting attention and promo ting an increased activity in each erterprises. A recent annual statement of one of these fao ories, reported an annual dividend of 25 per cent to shareholders, with a large increase in I the surplus. The National Grange, at its re oent session in Charleston, 8. C., devoted some attention to this subject, and the master, in 1 his able address, pointed out the necessity and m mportance of the establishment of Southern manufactories. The advantage of bringing the cotton mills to the cotton fields is so appa rent that it is surprising that a larger amount of capital has not been embarked in so certain an investment. The saving in the matter of transportation and other incidental expenses onnecoted therewith, bha been estimated by a corrspondent of the Pieguas eas high as $12 per bale. It is the opinion of the skllaed mad xperienoced m In eorga that aoton yars can hb made here at fe o.rAveeseatcps ' s ns i;ui S 4 Lti.ler I a- Csla ýSiiplc ýEitii cheaper than those of New England. if sold at the cost of Northern production. The devel opment of this industry would cause an increase in population and wealth, and would eventual ly transfer the centres of capital and commerce from New England to the booth. The'city of New Orleans offers an opportu nity for such an enterprise unequalldl, in some respects, anywhere in the South. An extensive ootton mill located here, if operated with a degree of skill and an amount of capital pro portionate to the mills of New England, would possessesubstantial advantages which the latter could never attain. In addition to the saving of $12 per bale above mentioned. it would have at ita door the most abundant ctton market in America, affording facilities fo selection of material unrivaled elsewhere. A copious and never-failing supply of cheap labor could always be obtained from the large un employed population of our city; while our railroad and water communication would af ford ready means of transportation to every point of the compass. That so few efforts have been made In thi direction, for the past ten years, is no doubt due to the fact that capitalists have hesitated to engage in such enterprises under the para lysing misgovernment and wholesale robbery which has been inlicted upon the South. The Louisiana Mills, of the Third District, in this city, is a case in point. We have already shown in the columns of the Price Current that this enterprise failed merely from want of suf ficient capital. The machinery was unsurpss ed in excellence. It was operated under the supervision of a skilled and experienced mana ger, and its products were of excellent quality. Unfortunately, however, it began with insuffli cient means, and could never '-get ahead." In a normal condition of things, capital could have readily been obtained to carry the under taking safely through. The Lane Mills have been more successful, and we confidently look forward to a brilliant future for that establish ment. Some years ago the canal and water power at Columbia, 8. C., one of the finest in the South, was sold by authority of the Legisla. ture, in.the hope of prrcuring the erection of a cotton factory. It was purchAsed by the Spragues, of Rhode Island, with the avowed intention of transferring thither from the North a portion of their extensive capital. Hiitherto, however, little or nothing, we be lieve, has been done upon the work. These gentlemen declared that under the corrupt government of the unscrupulous men who con trolled the dominant party in that State, there was no security to capital, and that they could not safely embark in the enterprise until a better state of things should be inaugurated. Similar instances could probably be advanced from every part of the South. Other things being equal, capital naturally and inevitably seeks the safest and most pro fitable investment. Manufactories in the South will present the most inviting field for this investment so soon as the wretched carpet bag governments can "settle down" into a stable and peaceful and honest system, which will guarantee some sort of security to invested caIr al. The present anomalous condition of things cannot last always. Politidal misgovernment and corruption, which have so long bung like a mill-stone round our necks, cannot endure much longer. At last the people of the Lited States are growing weary and sick of the mani fold misechiefs and evils which follow in the train of the unstatesmanlike and malicious policy of reconstruction. In a short time, unaler the influence of this reaction, a healthier and wiser policy will pre vail. Better laws will be enacted, and will be administered by men of character and intelli gence. The general sense of insecurity which has impeded our industries and checked the devel opment of our resources will give place to con fidence and increased activity; and capital, no ionger frightened off by the fear of robbery or revolution, will dow into its natural channel. Encouraged by these considerations, we look forward cheerfully and hopefully to the future of the Siunth. As surely as the sun shines to-day upon waste I and desolate fields, almost abandoned by an oppressed and etricken people, he will shine at no very distant day upon those same fiells teeming with the evidences of a wealth and 7 prosperaty far greater and more enduring than that which we lost by the fortunes of war ten years ago. The idea that frost renders iron brittle has been one very generally accepted, though without due foundation. By a series of tests with needles, cooled to low temperature nd then tested by fallen weights, it was clearly proved that low temperature did not aftect the toughness of the metal. As it is certain, how ever, that in winter weather the rails on rail- t roads broke more frequently than in summer, the question still remained a doubtful one, though the more experienced engineers attrib uted this to thbe hardness of theroad-bed rather than the brittleness of the rail. We learn from Nature that a strong argument in favor of this view was recently obtained in France. It ap pears that "the passing of the trains, which I run so frequently through the Batignolles Tunnel, at a distance of half a mile, was beard by them day and night, which is never the case in ordinary circumstanoes. As soon as the I thaw set in, the trains ceased to be beard; the earth having resumed its former elasticity, the sounds were dissipated as before. It has been observed by French railway engineers that I thaws are apt to lead to the breaing of axles 1 and chalns. The elasticity being only partially recovered, many shoeks at tle trains whem laag at ·a ast ratit sad se apt to led to - ~ - - PERICO THE SAD: on. .e THE FAMILY OF ALVAREDA. a [From the Ppanishb. d (Continued I r CHAPTR V. "If you ever lose you son," said Pedro, in dignantly, " you will not weep for him as I do r for mine. You have that advantage over me." S"She is so quick, so hasty," said Maria, r always ready to excuse and slow to blame, " that she keeps me in hot water." "8So, then, Mamma Maria," Perioo hastened F to say, "you are afraid of everything-and witches I" t " No; no ! no, my son ! The church forbids I the belief in witches sad enchanters. I fear those things which God permits to punish men, and, above all, when they are super 5 natural." " "Are there any such things ? Have you seen any ?" asked Rita. " If there are any ? And do you doubt that B there are extraordinary things I" "Not at all. One of them Is the day you do not preach me a sermon. But the snrper natural I don't believe in. I am like Baint Thomas." "And you glory in It! It is a wonder you do t not say also that you are like Saint Peter in that in which he failed I" "But, madame, have you seen anything of the kind, or is it only because you can swallow I everything, like a shark." "It is the same, to all intents, as if I had seen it." "Annt, what was it f" asked Elvir. "My child," said the good old woman, turn. ing toward her niece, " in the frst place, that which happened to the Countess of Villaoran. Her ladyship herself told it to me when we were superintending her estate of Quintos. e This lady had the pious custom of hpving a mass said for condemned criminals at he very e hour they were being executed. When the d infamous Villico was in those parts, com- h mitting so much iniquity, she allowed herself to tl say that if be should be taken, she would not I send to have a mas said for him, as she had for n others. And when he was executed, she kept sl her word. d "Not long after, one night when she was a sleeping quietly, she was awakened by a piti- ti ful voice near the head of her bed, calling her d by name. She sat up in bed terrified, but saw nothing, though the lamp was burning on the a table. Presently she heard the same voice, even more pitiful than at first, calling her in from the yard, and before she had kirly re covered from her surprise, she heard it a third in time, and from a great distance, calling her ft name. She cried out so loudly that those who to were in the house ran to her room, and found hi her pale and terrified. But no one else had n heard the voice. "On the following day, hardly were the candles lighted in the churches when a mass m was being offered for the poor felon, and the IN countess, on her knees before the altar was tk praying with fervor and penitence, for the R clemency of God, which is not like that of ti men, excludes none. And now Rita, what do fr you think?" th " I think she dreamed it." so "Gooduness,goodness! what incredulity," said fit Uncle Pedro. " Rita will be like that Tueero, - who, the preachers say, separated from the ye church." hi "Ave Maria! Do not say that, Pedro," ex- FI claimed Maria, "even in exaggeration ! Merey ! you may well say, what perversenese, for she talks so just to be contrary." ca A noise in the direction of the door which fa opened into She back-yard, caused Maria's lips am to close suddcnly. he " What is that ?" she said. a " Nothing, Mamma Maria," answered Perico, pr laughing; "what would it be? The wind which goes about to-night moving everything." be "Mother," said Angela, "hold me in your th lap, as father does Angel, for I am afraid." . "This Is too much," exclaimed Rite, who msa was in bad humor. "Go along and sit on the se lap of earth, and don't come back till you bring grandchildreno." c "I should like to know," aid Pedro, U I p those whs lah as that which otbas fm a " Perico I Perico I" cried Maria, in terror, I' there is a noise in the yard." " Mamma Maria, you are exeited and right ened. Don't you hear that it is the water ln the gutter ?" "I, for my part," said Pedro, in a low votes, as if to himself, "ever since there wa a stain of blood In my house-" "Pedro! Pedro! are we always to go bask to that ? Why will you make yourself wretohedt Of what use is it to return to the past, he which there is no remedy I" said Anna. " The truth is, Anna, what I saner at times overwhelms me, and I must give it vent. Often at night, when I am alone in my howes, it falll upon me. Anna, believe me, many a night, when all is still and sleep Ries from me, I see him; yes, I see him-the grenadier my son slew. I see him just as I saw him alive, is his grey capote and for cap, rise out of the well and come into the room where he was killed, to look for the stains of his own blood. I see him before my eyes, tall, motionless, terrible." At this moment the door opened, and a figure, tall, motionless, terrible, with a greg capote and a grenadier's cap stood upon the threshold. All remainded for an instant confounded and fixed in their places. " God protect aus " exclaimed Maria. Angel clung to his father's breast, Angels to the skirts of her grandmother. "Ventura!" murmured Elvira, as her eyes closed and her head fell upon her mother'sb bosom. The woman for whom there bad been aso forgetfulness, had recognized him. Pedro rose impetuously and would have fallen, the poor old man not having strength to sustain himself; but Ventura, who had thrown off his cap and capote, spring forward and caught him in his arms. The scene whieh followed, a scene of confusion, of broken words, of acclamations of surprise and delight, of tears and fervent thanks to heaven, is more easily comprehended than described. When Ventura had freed himself from the embrace of his father, who wae long in na doing his arms from the neck of the son whom he could hardly persuade himself he held if them, he fixed his eyes upon Elvira. She was still supported by her mother, who held tober nostrils a handkerchief wet with vinegar. But she was no longer the Elvira be hd left at his departure. Pale, attenuated, bhanged, she appeared as if bidding farewell to life. Ven tura's brilliant eyes became softened and sad dened with an expression of deep feeling, and, with the frank sincerity of a countryman, he said to her : " Have you been sick, Elvira You do not look like yourself." " Now she will be better," exclaimed Pedro, in whom Joy had awakened some of the old festive teasing humor. "Your absence, Veon tura, and not hearing from you, nothing less, has. brought her to this. Why, in heaven'e name, did you not send us a letter, to tell as where yon were " " Why, our sergeant wrote at least six for me," replied Ventura, "and besides, I have been in France. I have been a prisoner. All that is longDo tell- But how well you look, Rita," he said, regarding the latter, who, from the moment he entered, had not taken her eyes from the gallant youth, whom the moustache, the uniform, and the military bearing beeame so well. " Bless me! but you have become a flue woman! The good care Perico takes of you -and you, Perico always digging? Are these your children ? How handsome they are! God4 bless them! Hey! come here, I am not a Frenchman nor a bluebeard.' Ventura sat down to caress the children. Maria, coming behind him at this moment, caught his head in her hands, and covered his face with tears and kisees-Ventura in the meanwhile saying. "Maria, how much yea have prayed for me! I suppose you have made a hundred novenas, and more than a thousand promises." " Yes, my son, and to-morrow I shall sell my, best hen to have said in Saint anna's ohapel the thanksgiving mass I have promised." " Aunt Anna is the one who has nothing to say," observed Ventura. "Are you not glad to see me, madam r" "Yes, my son, yes; I was minding my Elviw. God knows," she ountinsed, observing the pallid oeenteuanos of ber ehild, "how glad I -e a eaO r t and wiu thanks I ine