Marian's heart smote her for her temporary forgetfulness of the child's
wants. It was now twilight, and Marian rang for lights, and Angel's milk
and bread, which were soon brought.
And then with her usual quiet tenderness she undressed the little one,
heard her prayers, took her up, and as she rocked, sang a sweet, low
evening hymn, that soothed the child to sleep and her own heart to
perfect rest. And early the next morning Marian and little Angel set out
by the first coach for Baltimore, on their way to St. Mary's County.
* * * * *
The Convent of Bethlehem was not only the sanctuary of professed nuns,
the school for girls, the nursery of orphans, but it was also the
temporary home of those Sisters of Mercy who go forth into the world
only on errands of Christian love and charity, and return to their
convent often only to die, worn out by toil among scenes and sufferers
near which few but themselves would venture. And as they pass hence to
Heaven, their ranks are still filled up from the world--not always by
the weary and disappointed. Often young Catholic girls voluntarily leave
the untried world that is smiling fair before them to enter upon a life
of poverty, self-denial and merciful ministrations; so even in this
century the order of the Sisters of Mercy is kept up.
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