mending to them especially a spirit of union and charity amongst themselves, fidelity to their holy rules, and a kind manner to strangers. By observing her wise counsels, the sisters succeeded in the work of charity; it went on prospering and triumphing over all the difficulties which are usually met with in th commencement of such undertakings, until it has risen to a degree of usefulness unsurpassed by any other institution of the kind in the United States. The Sisters of Charity at first occupied as an Asylum a small frame house, which stood on the site of the present spacious building in Prince Street, and only five orphans were confided to their care during the first twelve months. In the course of another year, the number had increased to twenty-eight, one third of whom were boys." The number of orphans yearly increased, until it became necessary to erect a separate institution for the accommodation of boys, which was not practicable, until 1847. Then, owing to the zeal and energy of the friends of the orphans, an eligible site, with extensive grounds, was obtained for the purpose, and an elegant and spacious building erected thereon. The number of children that would soon occupy both Asylums, would require the care of more Sisters than were at present employed, and the Mother House at Emmitsburg was not willing to give a sufficient number of Sisters for the new establishments about to be erected. This circumstance urged the necessity of having a Mother House to supply the increasing wants of the diocese. On the 8th of December, 1846, Feast of the "Immaculate Conception" of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Right Reverend Bishop Hughes constituted the Sisters of Charity in the Diocese of New York, a local community, under the title of "Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent of Paul " -the Sisters adhering, in every particular, to the original constitutions, rules, dress and customs of the Mother House of St. Joseph's, Emmitsburg, according to the primitive practices established by Mother Seton,

and their only desire is, to be found worthy represen tatives and members of the community founded by their cherished and sainted Mother. Many cf those who have established the present foundation, were her especial favorites, and assisted her in the government of the Community of St. Joseph's. A few months after the organization of the Community, at the request of the Right Reverend Bishop Hughes, "the Holy Father, by Divine Providence, Pius IX., gra ciously granted to the Community of Sisters of Charity established in New York, and now depending upon the same Bishop, all and each of the faculties, indulgences, and other spiritual graces and privileges, already con ceded to the Community of the same Sisters founded at Emmitsburg," and at the same time expresses his satisfaction and approbation at the zeal manifested for the honor of God and the salvation of souls.

In this way was the Mother House of the Society of the Sisters of Charity established in New York, on benedicwhich God has been pleased to shed so many tions; that from the time they commenced the institution, their number, which was then only thirty-one, has almost imperceptibly increased, thereby enabling them to do the good that has been witnessed and felt by all classes of persons, and has extended their usefulness to a greater number of helpless orphans of both sexescomforting the sick and the poor, consoling the af flicted, and imparting instruction daily to thousands -so that we can say of poor and destitute childrenwith truth, it is the work of God, for according to St. Paul, "Whatever tends to good, comes from God," we are not surprised to see such an amount of good accomplished by the Sisters of Charity, when we know they are prompted and encouraged by the bright example and wise precepts of their Holy Founder, St. Vincent of Paul, who constantly reminds them of the necessity of being at all times animated by the most tender piety and zeal in the fulfillment of all their duties, that they should belong to God alone, to

see him in all, and all in him,-in each other, in those whom they instruct; in the child of the opulent, (whose spiritual indigence is often extreme,) in the dear destitute orphans, who look up to them as their spiritual mothers, in the poor sick, whom they are to encourage and cherish as the special objects of their care and devotion, and in all with whom they have any intercourse. Their hearts must be enamored of his adorable perfections, deeply penetrated with gratitude for the gifts and graces bestowed on them, and with an affectionate and devoted love for him as their Father, Saviour, and All.

The Community at present numbers 178 members, 114 of whom are professed Sisters; 56 Novices, 8 Pastulants, besides the Mother House, to which is attached a Novitiate and Academy containing 200 boarders ; there are thirteen missionary establishments; St. Vincent's Hospital, accommodating, during the past year, 900 patients, many of whom were free; one Asylum for boys, containing 400, between the ages of three and ten years; six Female OrphaL Asylums, containing 700 children; three Pay Schools; eleven Poor Schools, numbering 3700 children, all of whom receive gratuitous instruction.

The Sisters of Charity, spread over a great portion of the universe, shall perpetuate forever the charity of their Sainted Father, Vincent of Paul. O, admirable effects of the mercy of a single individual, or rather of the mercy of God himself, in his faithful minister; and happy those who have the ineffable honor of being the pious servants of our Lord in his suffering members. The refuge of the miserable, the mothers of orphans, the consolers of the afflicted: even in this life it obtains for them the sweetest enjoyments by the practice charity, the "Queen of virtues," in fine, it merits for them a precious death, which will put them in possession of the brilliant and celestial crown reserved for deeds of mercy.

LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR.

pure

CARCELY fifteen years have yet elapsed since this Order, an heroic witness, amidst poverty and difficulty, of true Catholic charity, was established in a far-away town, in Brittany, by a poor priest named M. Le Pailleur. His only wealth consisted in the most and perfect trust in God; but earnestly desirous to do something for the destitute poor of his parish, he was not deterred by the total want of external means. Saint Servan, where this good man lived, is near the town of Saint Malo; and as the labouring classes are chiefly employed in fishing, or as sailors, a large proportion of the helpless women in the place are the widows of those who have perished at sea.

It was to rescue these from the misery and depravity in which too many of them were sunk, that M. Le Pailleur first organised that admirable society of Sisters of the Poor, which has by the blessing of God spread from town to town in France, and even crossed the channel, to minister to the aged and necessitous lying at our own doors. Every where they have exhibited the same spirit of simplicity and childlike dependence upon God which characterised the noble founder; and even those who would be slow to recognise the Church as the fountain from which these goodly streams of sharity alone can flow, are loud it bearing testimony